Macadoo

This was a lot of old fashioned scrubbing. I used a gallon of straight Simple Green, a toilet brush, and a whole bunch of old tooth brushes. That's the original paint. Rattle can paint would have never stood the scrubbing.

clean.jpg

scooter123

nice work!!

Macadoo

Thanks scooter. Now that's it's clean I can start the actual work......but not today, lol.

Octania

Is that a tin can radiator hose?

Macadoo

Why yes, that IS a tin can hose. Lol, there have been a few other threads about this car but I'll sum up: I picked it up about two weeks ago at a classic car dealer. It had just rolled in the day before I got there. It's a one-owner southern "dear old lady" car and wasn't kept up very well. It has 52k original miles (we think), a nice straight, solid body with minimal rust on the rear quarters, and a good interior with some minor cracks from sun damage. Oh, and it smells like a machine shed. The maintenance has been sketchy, with the tin can, several patches on both the radiator hoses, a tripple electric fuel pump (check the thread "what's all this") and lots of duct tape and bailing wire. The carburetor gave out driving her home but before it did, she ran smooth and quiet. This will be a frame-on restoration with some modifications.

svnt442

Love the golf tees.

oldcutlass

There was an engine under there. Looks good.

mrolds69

It looks clean, good work! It actually could really have low miles, because the heater hoses look like ribbed originals. I think your heater control valve is missing, I don't see it.

MDchanic

I agree, those look like original heater hoses, and heater hose clamps.
That's also an original heater control valve.
I agree that the paint looks original, too.

Nice work!!

- Eric

oldcutlass

So now once you get the maintenance caught up, your good to go.

Macadoo

The valve is hidden by the hose, but I doubt it works. Who knows. But it looks nothing like the replacement.
Now that the engine is clean I can start replacing gaskets.
Question: Work is going to progress slowly now that school is underway. Is there anything I need to do in order for the motor to sit (not being run) for a long period of time? Would it cause harm to pump out a lot of the antifreeze in order to change the water pump and timing gears and then let the remainder sit in the block? When I change the oil pan gasket, do I need to refill with oil right away? How long can a car sit before seals start to dry out?
This is my first "project" car. I want to enjoy the leisurely nature of this resto but I don't want that to work against me.

oldcutlass

If the car is going to be inside, then no problem just keep things covered and ports plugged so critters can't make a home in there. If it will be stored outside then no to all of the above.

Macadoo

Oh yeah, inside...definitely. I shoulda' mentioned that. And heated, at least a little. I like to keep at at least 45 degrees in there.

MDchanic

In that case, don't worry about it - just keep it clean and protect it from excessive dust and crud and you should be fine.

- Eric

Macadoo

Thanks guys.

-Mac