#4 - Feat Dont Fail Me Now

Well it was a successful weekend in tearing things apart. My only hope is that I will be equally motivated and successful in putting things back together. I was going to try to start the engine this weekend. I have replaced the plugs, points , condenser, coil, distributor cap, built plug wires and ran through the elelctrical system. But one thing led to another and I chickened out on inducing a defibulator to the poor girls heart.

I disconnected the old heater hoses and plugged them to be able to have the radiator work when starting, but the radiator hoses and fan belt didnt look so good. Being the Memorial Day weekend and not much was open, I moved on. I decided to attack the brakes, what good is it to make it roll without stopping it. So all the brake rotors, master and slave cylinders have been taken off. The flexible lines which move as the front axle moves for steering were not easily acceessible, so the whole front end came off in order to be able to start and complete the brakes system. The brakes arent very complicated just large and hard to un-screw and bolt everything. Even the rear axle has to come out to free them up.

The next move is to complete the brakes and clean the engine. I wont go any foarther until I have completed these items. If not this thing will be spewed across half of Brazoria County with no idea on how to re-assemble any of it. Now I will seek new parts like a Christian after the Holy Grail. Will they be as hard to obtain, only time will tell. But Im up to the task but will try to keep the overhead down. I would like to re-build what I can, but I also now my limits and want this 2 ton hunk of american steel to stop when I want it to. My buddy Kelly came down from Austin and helped with the seek and destroy side of auto mecanices 101. He is has inept as I am but totally invaluable. He, like myself, took took physics not shop in High School. But he has the same gleam and vision in his eyes as I do.

This week will be parts shopping and learing about rust removal, priming and painting. As long as I have most of the hard stuff off , I think I will clean and paint. It was fine in Oklahmona sitting for 3 decades,b ut our humidy will take is toll. Until next time...Caio