Mr.Mk1

I just pulled the column out, got to top bolt (only just) and booster off! Can’t just paint this one..Its leaking lots of brake fluid and I’m certain it’s not supposed to. Off for a rebuild then

Still battling with the top arm ball joint. Thought I’d weld a scrap bracket on and give it a belt. it tore. sandblasted them and gave a coat of brunox in the mean time. then if by some divine intervention the mrs dragged me out of bed early for a swap meet. Chris was there flogging some of his pop’s gear (Chrysler man) and amongst it was the fucking ball joint socket! Donated to the cause along with some new valiant + Desoto ball joints, a valve stem seal set and a cool vintage car jug to carry it home in. Thanks! Can confirm the bushes are the same as those listed for Valiants too Now awaiting my tin of hammerite black to arrive so i can slap some nice hard-wearing paint on! also pulled the trans, D-shaft and exhausts out. Started into the brake booster and master but came to a screeching halt.. the last of 4 nuts up behind the dash can be seen but not touched. I got a socket on but couldn’t reach with ratchet. I got a spanner on but couldn’t turn it. Also super close to the bracket so nothing sits square on the nut...... Chunder. I’d get it if the column was pulled but I don’t really want to. Same with the dash but I don’t really want to. time will tell, hahaha I've paid 3k towards the repair panels and shipping, hope to catch the container leaving on 30th

Hot rod! wonder if it’s cammed? Lol i don’t want to go down the rabbit hole of modifying a V8 for a long while. Wouldn’t mind some extractors though. The manifold bolts were mad rusted to the flanges and extractors always look boss

I also see some double valve springs, new looking retainers and clean valves. Interesting needs a clean and some rust removal on bits..it’s obviously been pulled from the cuda or installed with no covers and some shits got I there. Gaskets cooked too so they must have put the original coronet ones back on

Sorry I missed these posts! I’ll go have a look and report back

Woohoo! it has a pinhole or two but immaculate compared!

I spent a while trying to get the bleed nipples out of the calipers.. I wasn’t successful and will get a tap to chase out the last part. Yesterday I blasted the hubs and dust plates, brunox layer and black zinc. put boots on the idler and pitman + wire wheeled and zinc sprayed the drag link. Stripped and labelled everything and whipped radiator out. Donk is out. Got top arms out too but had to cut the bolts. Then my thumb. I stopped for the day, felt like shit all morning anyway.

Sundry items! (The rad hose had the wire core to give it strength but it was squashed at work so went in the bin. It’s bloody close to my lower hose.. ID might be too big but hey, it might not be either lol

Plenty more progress since last update. Decided i couldn’t put off pulling the front off any longer. I just like looking at it. anyway..needs to come apart so it did. it went really well surprisingly! Only one retainer clip holding the valence to guard broke which meant the bolt was spinning so I cut it. Rest came out lovely. no mad shitty bits discovered either! Rust in underside bottom front of sill where the guard butts up- expect that on any car to be fair. Rapt it’s all solid otherwise and no bent bits found more bee stuff Also tracked down top ball joints, pistons, caliper kits and tie rod boots. Mrs got me a new horn relay and dash dimmer relay with a rockauto order she was doing. got the crusty pistons out, sandblasted calipers. Just trying to extract the bleed nipples then I can paint and assemble. the motor and trans is coming out shortly too so I can access the top arm bolts from the engine bay side, bang in new frost plug and replace trans seals..cause she hoses out. with that extra room I can smash out new brake hard-lines too.

One of the top arm/adjuster bolts snapped. Stoked can confirm what Clint said with the Val top BJ being too small. Drivers side top arm has a dent right beside the square nut which adds another layer of complexity so I’ll probably just weld a piece of scrap to bj and twack it. Cheers Pete!

I can’t get good purchase on that fucking square top! I’ll just tear the whole arm out and have full access. can confirm the tie-rods are the same as a VJ etc, compared at work.

Clever.. Air wasn’t budging them aye! the other side was rusty and chrome peeling under the dust boot so the are throw away.

No mad progress to report, just general fluffing, wire + connector cleaning and tidying I was trying to get dash lights on and discovered half the globes had fallen out, so I was sure the circuit was broken and I just needed to replace ‘em. what a cunt. It’s a huge car with zero room behind the dash. this lead to pulling the vents, tubes, stereo, glovebox, switch panel, and all sorts out to gain entry. replaced most of the globe holders as they have wee tab clips that just snap and that’s that. GM ones are the same shape and size but they have a better design with no tabs to snap. no dash lights. One headlight has a broken connector so maybe that’s why.. but probably not. I did get several more things working in the mean time. discovered the A/C heater control vacuum box was fucked as the back has come off. Add to cart I threw it back together for another day. I gave the side panels and seat a quick wipe and they look acceptable. Painted the arm rest backing as plastic chrome has vanished. Also been looking into steering and suspension..seems so far that tie rods and upper ball joints are the same as ozzy valiant. have stripped half down to blast and paint. Don’t think I should mess with the torsion bar/bottom arm just yet as the rusted out rail and tension means things might move in an unsavoury manner! these adjuster sleeves are a shit design with an open slot all the way down.. took head at cyclo c10 penetrant to get them loose without ruining them. I just wire wheeled the tie rods for now, chuck new boots on.. they seem pretty good and have grease nipples so I can pump/flush the old grease out while new goes in. Ball joints weren't great though. Sprayed bits in black zinc, will post a pic when dry. found some impala brake hoses at work that will fit perfectly for the front. Struggling to get the caliper pistons out..they are huge and nothing I have can clamp them! Must be 70mm, lol

Yes but nobody we know deals with him

Well it went off to the beaters on Friday for the repair cert inspection. There’s only 3 to choose from. 2 in one company. He said he wasn’t interested in any long term projects as he’s semi retired and will retire fully in December.. Said I need to look at the economics of repair. That was the whole email, lol. Mate, your the one charging $515 for an inspection! and I don’t fuck around, Im invested at 3 months turnaround once parts arrive! His co-worker is retiring too so that’s that for Hesson & Bowry. it’s not all doom and gloom, the beater is applying to become a repair certifier since there’s an opening and the current one has recommended him to the board. He has one more course to go, Only catch is he’s not going to be ready this year.. FUCK That means I either send it to my brother down south (iCar approved) and he goes through the Dunedin guy.. it means a faster turn around but out of my hands and more transport costs. OR we truck on and repair it up here with lots of photos but can’t sign it off this year. Also the trans leaked all its juice on the tow truck and the beaters workshop floor and car park n stopped co-operating + the brakes failed completely, caved in a fence. (No car damage) So yeah, really uncool and big momentum stopper. Now I’m fluffing around trying to sort out the electrics in the mean time. I also have the trans to assess (at least do a pan gasket), a leaking frost plug, a wee radiator leak, replace all the brake hardlines in anticipation for new pads shoes rotors drums cylinders hoses etc. I’ll go through the steering and shit as well. Super GC Clint sent me down some brand new ball joints! So there’s one less bulky item to get across from the land of the free. Thanks heaps mate!

20k :.-( feels more like a 15k car,haha. More work and no resale value in body swapping a unibody

Yeah man it starts nice, sounds cool. I linked a video in the first post but unsure if it worked

Since I already had the clear coat I decided to re-do the hazy rear marker lamps too. Helped! and some stance inspiration

We all know I’m impatient

Just trying to get the headrests out and I spied something inside the seat through a tear.. Another broadcast sheet untouched since forever. dunno how I’d get this out but if I do you’ll hear about it, lol

Got the other paperwork, good to go I believe. I used VHT wheel clear on the tail light surrounds, decided it was a better preservation option for the pus chrome and I don’t have to polish it again. Adjusted a door catch. Added missing chrome to the list. Thrilling stuff

I also got the title and the bill of sale in the mail! Still missing shipping documents but I’m told that’s coming. Back side of title has his name but not signed so I’ll corner him when he delivers the fuel tank within the month.

More kinda lame updates: After the rust converter cured I hit the bumper with hammerite silver, sealed the deal. Put the lenses through the dishwasher and gave them a polish. The rear side markers are half-fucked with an odd hazy crazing you’d find on the bottom of an old lady’s feet.. I gave them a wee tong up, hopefully passes the test. Can buy new for not bad coin. Polished the chrome (pot-metal craters, we all know how well that shit lasts), painted some housings, rust killed the screws, cleaning as I went. ^unmasked areas went satin black soon after.

I’ve got the flu so it ruined my long weekend plans. I managed a few wee low-key jobs though. blasted the bumper mounts and rust converted, wire wheeled inside the bumper and rust converted too. blasted the bonnet spring and painted cause it because easy access. pulled the rear side markers out pulled a drum off to determine what brakes I had, will do front shortly have made lists comparing prices for repair panels and rails so just waiting on previous owner to tell me what he has on order so I don’t double up.

Painted over lol, at least it’s not buried in bog I guess That panel is pretty sound from the underside though, seems a rust trap for lots of yank cars