Well, work on my girl is going to have to come to a halt far a month, maybe two. I cut the tendon on the back of my right index finger, not all the way, but enough that they stitched it together. Next, I have to call a hand specialist tomorrow, why, ER doctor didn't say. I am supposed to see him this week. The ER doctor only said two months to heal. CRAP! I am enjoying working on the car.It is so much more enjoyable when it isn't your only transportation. The only up side, I am a lefty. Well, the car is in good mechanical shape so I can continue to drive it, so two upsides. Well, have a better evening than I am having. Freezing is coming out now. Stay safe and healthy all. Chuck
The ER Physician put in a referral to a Plastic Surgeon for me last night. They called me at 930 AM and had me in at 10:45 AM. After my appointment with him, he walked me over to a hand specialist for assessment and therapy. I was done and out by noon. They told me that I need to wear a splint on my finger for 4 weeks and it would take 6 weeks at least to recover. They even made me a custom splint. My total cost was $4.86 for my antibiotics. I love the health system here in Canada. I hate the fact that I cannot do the work on the car I wish to do. I wasn't happy when they told me that I shouldn't lift things. My Grandchildren won't be happy about this.
I spent some time sanding on the car. I had the trunk sanded so I had my wife use Maquires Ultimate compound on it, followed by maquires Ultimate Polish. Afterward, smooth and shiny. Yeah. Unfortunately, after a few hours of sanding, it felt like my finger was on fire. Okay, I can take a hint, more later.
Yesterday my new wiper motor arrived via UPS. I put it in this morning since yesterday was 35 C (95 F). I used the washer motor from the wiper motor that arrived broken. It is nice to have the wipers back again, and since the motor is new, should last a long while. One thing though. when I ordered it through Ebay, it said it was coming from Kentucky. Good, I thought. Made in North America. Well, it shipped from Wenzoh China. That didn't thrill me at all. If I am buying from China, it should say that somewhere. While out there, I replaced the lights under my hood , topped up the washer fluid and oil. Ready for another day. I haven't put oil in it for a month. That's pretty good in my books.
Just finished the sanding (ouch), Maguires Ultimate Compound (ouch again) and Maguires Mirror Polish (Still ouches). Cloudy day, but I thought I would take a couple of pictures to post. I am happy. Not nearly perfect, but mine. Next, the waxing, but not today.
Are those your burnout marks on the parking lot? Just kidding as I think you baby your car You might of mentioned it but does it have a posi? Also take it out on a nice crisp cold day and watch how that 425 Nailhead wakes up
I am not certain about the posi. How would I tell? Remember, still a mechanical newb here. It is -1 C (30 F) here today so i am taking her out, as I do every morning. I love this car!
One way is if it has a little metal tag on the rear carrier cover. It would punch mark that says "posi". That tag me might be gone after 55 years though. Not sure on the big C body's rear end though with having this tag. If who jack up the back with both rear wheels of the ground and spin one tire, the other should spin the same direction. If the other tire spins opposite then its not a posi. This is best method I think. There is also the fun way. SLAM! the throttle from a dead stop and if it leaves 2 years tire strips then its a posi. If the right rear tire spins only, its not a posi. Not a fool proof method though as the posi units clutches can wear out.. Your in for a treat with the weather being -1 C! She will wake up and surprise you..!
Okay, options 1 and 2 I would be willing to check. Option 3 though..... If you go to Junkyard Digs channel where he tours with his 66 Wildcat with a 401, it shows at the start, no oil consumption. After numerous burnouts, at the end he says it is using quite a bit of oil now. My feeling at this statement.... well, duh. The car was 52 years old at this point without a rebuild, similar to mine. The difference, I have a small leak from the rear main seal. He has large oil consumption. I will let you know how it goes today. Have a fun, safe day!
This morning I took the car out to take my dog to the off-leash park. When I turned the key the engine turned over once, 1/2 second of nothing, then vroom off it went. I was worried when it didn't just turn over and start, but ultimately, it started and ran. I warmed it up and she ran great. It does seem to like cool weather. This evening we waxed the Wildcat with Meguiars Gold Class. Halfway through, my eldest came out and took the power polisher from me as my hands hurt like the dickens (Arthritis in both, plus tendinitis). As we had the hood done, I replaced the chrome trim from the hood. I can't wait to take her out tomorrow morning. It drew looks before, now she should really shine! I will jack the back end up Friday when the rain stops and check out the rear end for posi.
Your doing a great job of polishing it. Oh I can imagine the pain in your hands. Even without having arthritis and tendinitis is hard on the arms. When I look at the pics it always brings me back to my childhood. When I was 4 my Father and Mother pulled into the driveway with a brand new 66 Wildcat. It was a 4 door sedan though. Skyblue in and out. I would run my finger down the grill just to hear the kinda musical sound it made.. Nailheads are weather sensitive and can be dogs when its real hot but again love the cold. I hope you drive it enough to see it likes and dislikes and the best part to enjoy it! Stay safe..
Pictures taken today with the last piece of chrome on the hood. I got a thumbs up from a driver of an old coupe today.
I got the car out this morning to take the dog to the park. I then took my F150 to get snow tires put back on and put the Wildcat to bed, well, under her cover safe and sound. We are looking at 2 days of snow and I just polished and waxed her. She has to take a break until the snow disappears again on Monday. Shucks... The truck isn't as fun to drive.
Today I took the car out of her cover, and decided that enough is enough. The bench seat simply will not move forward, or back and the lever is stuck. I pulled out the seat (bolts were fun) and put it on my back deck, upside down. Hmm, just what I thought, rusted solid. I took my drill and wire wheel and cleaned of all I could. I then used penetrating oil to free everything and then machine oil to keep it free. I painted all of the surfaces with black Rustoleum paint and let it dry. While it was drying, I got under the dash (easy without the seat) and tidied up all the wiring. I got new bolts and put the seat back. It moves nicely now. A little thing, but I like things to work properly
Looking good Chuck! I might have to get you to shoot me some detailed measurements of where those cornering lights are on the fenders, I have a set for my Electra and the template I made has disappeared. I'd like to get them in and the matching tilt column by next spring if possible.
For the first time in about 2 weeks, I got my car out. Enough snow has melted that the roads are wet, but bare. It felt good to get behind the wheel of my car. We don't have any snow in the forecast for the next two weeks and above freezing temperatures. Yeah!
Today, in a fit of energy (few and far between these days), I unpacked the rear defogger motor that I purchased from Tom T. The saga of his search for this motor I will leave to your imagination, but suffice to say, Tom went above and beyond for me. I had to remember how it went together, after all, it has been about 8 months since I took it apart. I put silicone around the edge of the housing to the bottom of the rear deck to obtain an good airtight seal. It is a little noisy, but, I expected that. I didn't know it was a 2 speed setting until today. I then replaced the chrome trim on the drivers rear window. A bonus, decent rubber (mine was shot). The last piece, an upper control arm, will wait for next year. It sometimes seems like this is taking forever, but then I realize that I have only been at it since June of last year, and didn't work on it at all from October - May. Okay, I guess not so slowly then, but, I like things being done. I do know that with a classic car, there is no such thing as "done".
Chuck, Three things in life your ALWAYS working on. 1st. is your marriage 2nd. is your house/home 3rd. is your old/antique vehichle. NONE of them are EVER DONE!!!! Chuck, I HOPE you meant to say your lower left control arm & NOT UPPER. Tom T.
