1970 Stage 1 Diplomat Blue- with commentary from the original owner

Nice, thanks George! Here is one of the spots the mice did damage to my old car, Adam found a big nest in here.

 

I sold a very nice/solid Skylark shell recently. The rear filler panel was perfect & the new owner sends me pictures of the underside of the structure below the rear filler (in between the trunk hinges) & there's rust holes in that. I must've sent him 50 pictures & I'd never even looked under/up there since the filler was so nice but mice must've nested in between the outer filler & structure. Heck of a place to try & fix too with the filler panel in place.

 

George! Someone poured maple syrup in your fuel tank!

 

Interior is coming along!

 

Mouse piss is worse than acid i believe

 

It is acidic. You must have seen a urninal next to a painted wall and the paint is lifting and bubbling off.

Mice continuously piss in their nest so that nasty nest material never dries and that just rots the metal away. It doesn't take long.

 

Ethan- yes, it is… I power washed the steel frame, used a chemical “concoction” to neutralize it, then wire wheeled the rust, primered and painted…
Some of the springs are a little thin- I have new springs coming in.
Joann Fabrics has cheese cloth, cotton batting, and burlap… so I have new materials coming. I found correct 1970 upper bench seat covers, so that should be good…

Joe (thank you Joe!!!!) informed me the head will hopefully be repaired on Saturday!!!!! I need to get head gaskets and header gaskets!!!!

 

Any particular plans for the rim blow wheel? Replace, repair, cover?

 

updates! not many, I worked on a moped from the 70’s… fun. the bench at a a HUGE nest in it, it stinks, plan for the (upcoming) weeks, I would like to look it over, look at wiring, (not taking it out) just looking, replace the old air shocks, and from there idk

 

Willie from Willie's Auto Glass (thanks Brett) came down and popped in my original rear window.
He stated that the best thing to do is CAREFULLY remove the original trim and save all of the original clips.. Everything will then pop right back in- which it did.

The window channel was much better than expected... Only 1 small hole, 1/2 the size of my pinky nail...

 

Just in case people are wondering... I will supply a COST breakdown of what it has taken thus far... As old cars REQUIRE money!!! If you are one that wants to drive and enjoy a classic car, my advice (which I heard MANY times from CJP69- Chris) is to save your money and purchase a car that is already done!!! It costs pennies on the dollar when compared to a project...

Anyway...

This car, as it sat, needed the generic things...
1. Shipping. This came from Wisconsin, not drivable. That is a minimum of $1000
2. Tires- mounted, etc = $800-$1000
3. Carpet- $250
4. Sound deadner- $100 + $50 for additional sound deadner for headers
5. Tune up supplies and such- $250
6. Heads- $1000
7. Exhaust- $750
8. Rear window installation- $150
9. Front windshield + installation $300
10. Misc parts, trim, etc- $300
11. Carb rebuild--- ? yet

That is my quick math thus far on costs... I would assume just to get this thing to be a "preserved" driver will be ~ $7500-$10,000 BEFORE sweat equity and the cost of the car.....

 

Went to Joann Fabrics and bought several yards of the correct burlap, muslin, and natural cotton batting. Bought enough to restore a complete bench seat, with enough left over, just in case…as everything was on sale, it was right around $60, for correct materials. Just waiting for the springs to come in then I can restore the bench… that should complete the interior- with the exception of the headliner…

 

This is also why you have to buy a "Project car" very cheep because costs add up fast. One thing leads to another when fixing it up. You need to set a budget on cars so you make sure your not going into it to far that you loose huge or cant afford to finish it as well as enjoy it. I think you will be into the car for a fair amount but not so much you wont be able to enjoy it. It's a really hard balance when doing these cars unless you have extra funds to play with.

 

Exactly Ryan! I am at a point where I do have the means… hence why I can get what I need. Eventually, it will be restored…

 

Wow. Sorry to read this news.

 

Sorry to hear George. I have been there so I understand. I know this sucks but just know you're in our prayers bud.

 

Really sorry.. Hope everything works out.