65bcoda

Thank you for the kudo's..........it's just tough as I am away from the homestead months at a time and try to hit the ground running when I do get home and keep it up until I run out of steam, helps that the wife is understanding as well. How is that 383 'vert coming along ?

Pulled the e-brake and brake fluid lines from the 8.8 L3.73 rear and removed the spring perch's, did not remove the sway bar mounts as was hoping to maybe utilize the original equipment Explorer rear sway bar. As it turns out I will need to remove them as they are right where the 4-link axle mounts will need to live. As time allows, I will be mocking up the rear for suspension install and then blast paint housing, replace bearings and seals while on the bench.

I got my hands on some old vintage ET/X Competiton wheels that were pretty far gone. Started with 220 grit working my way up 320,400,600,1000,1500 & 2000 then a final Show & Shine polish. Needless to say, I have no fingerprints left and the fingernails are worn to the nub....... Pics below are as found / after sanding / polish

Good day Gentlemen, I have been poking about in the shop here of late and completed the front suspension rebuild amongst a few other items. I purchased the kit from Kanter and everything went together fairly well, the only thing I do not like about their kit are the rubber grease cups that are supplied, they are more like a rubber washer than a grease cup. I purchased additional rubber cups / bushings from Roberts that reflected the original equipment. A bit tougher going back in than coming out but with a little persistence they all went back in nicely. Did some sandblasting of parts, self-etching primer and utilized some high heat cast iron paint I had on hand. Replaced the rubber bushings on the sway bar as well. One item of note is I had purchased the Aerostar CC850 coil springs that everyone seems to use for front coil replacement to achieve slight lowering of the front end. My original spring pockets in stock condition are on the bottom side of the lower control arm vs the top so the CC850 springs seemed too loose installed so I cut 1 ½ coils off the original and installed……… we will see how this works out at a future date ride quality wise….. at least they are not bouncing around inside the pockets. Installed the ECI disc brake conversion, very nice product, only issue was needed to slightly clearance the caliper bracket around the spindle / hub area, was a little close for my comfort so a small amount of flap disc on the grinder was applied. BTW.....I do realize the upper bump stop on the upper control arm is on upside down, I placed them there as place keepers as I did not have room to install them properly until I loaded the suspension on the ground........they have since been flipped.

I'll be looking for updates on the next phase as I am currently doing a 440 as well.

I find it easy to just put the topic into the web browser with P15 behind it and the web search gives you options. I believe Sniper was the member who shared this easy search method with me when I first joined the forum........

Ron175 - I need that book something fierce........gotta' see if I can find a copy. Edit: found a copy on ebay in my cart now............. Iowa51 - I have driven further for a $20 piece on craigslist...........lol I appreciate it gentlemen, I'll post up on any finds. I will be over toward Omaha NE is a couple weeks, so if anyone knows of a honey hole over that way please advise.

Good day Gents, I travel for work a lot and I know we have members across the country, I am currently in Des Moines IA and have this weekend free / 3/30 - 31. I am looking for a salvage yard with old iron in it to pass the time and look for some small items. Normally if I am in a small town I just go to a local watering hole and can usually strike up a conversation and find out where the local yards are that have the old stuff. or the farmer with a field.of dreams. I already know about French Lake / Wildcat etc, just looking for something local if we have any members near Des Moines IA, I am willing to travel up to 80-100 miles to pass the time.

liking it......nice color combo

A modified Harbor Freight pressure pot, works pretty good with some modifications such as different plumbing connections at the base of the pressure pot, threw away the dead-man nozzle that came with it and added a ceramic nozzle and ball gate valve sourced off of Amazon. I try not to use it much for large projects thus the use of the wire wheel cup then the blaster for the nooks / crannies........

As a side note, I recently seen on this forum where another member was referencing a "Grease Joint Rejuvenator" I figured to try it out on my spindle king-pins. Before using it the spindles took some effort to swing side to side, now a slight breeze from the skeeters flying by moves them......... I flushed them first with WD40 followed by some PB Blaster then some compressor oil that had been sitting on the shelf a lil too long. The king-pins are the only part of the front suspension I am attempting to get away with not replacing as they did not show any excessive movement. Once reassembled will give a thorough greasing. Used the grease joint rejuvenator on a few grease joints on my tractor that hasn't taken grease in some time and works wonders..........well worth the $37 on Amazon.

Worked on the frame a little bit these past two weeks, pulled the front suspension and worked a 4-in cupped wire wheel a few evenings. Only one mishap where I got into the "white meat" of the backside of my left hand....should of been wearing gloves and not hanging with Mr. Daniels so much. I was impressed how clean this frame came out after 75 years of crust. After addressing most with the wire wheel broke out the sand blaster and got into the nooks and crannies. Applied Osho and let that sit for a couple days before applying some red-oxide primer then some low gloss Tractor Supply Implement paint. While I had the sand blaster out I went ahead and cleaned up the spindles and A-arms a bit before finishing the disassembly in preparation for paint.

Well said......

On these particular vintage of Chrysler vehicles....?? All I meant was that he was not only focused on a rubber / vinyl type solution but was willing to go elsewhere for the solution and that it was nicely executed.

Tired Iron, very well done sir........I really like the thinking out of the box ideas to approach things like this.

Good evening, Gentlemen, Found myself back home a few days ago and completed the trans tunnel and floor pan framing (a bit more work than I anticipated). Burned the Ol' Midnight oil a few times but got the trans tunnel sheet metal completed and the driver's side pan burned in. Hopefully find time this week to flip the pattern over and cut sheet metal for the passenger's side and get installed before Christmas, as I need to leave back out the day after...........Leaving the top of the tunnel open for install of access panels later. Yes, due to the trans tunnel mod I have fabbed up some seat brackets that will allow the original bench seat be utilized. Will still need to fabricate an access panel for the driver's footboard to allow servicing the steering gear box later if needed. A few pics for your viewing pleasure.

MAGIC......!! Seriously tho, layout the desired curve on the welding table, its just some small slices with the cut-off wheel, clamp in place to the layout / welding and flap disc grinding smooth.

Loving the tac tac tac - grind grind grind dance

Well fellas, I finally got back to the house for a week and after taking care of "have to do's" I had a day to work on the '49 before needing to head back out. Got the trans tunnel and floor framing fleshed out in order to remove the body from the frame. Before anyone warns me about the engineering of the wooden rack, know that I will be making a few mods before crawling under it or rolling it anywhere. I wasn't really expecting to get this far on such short time and just slapped it together with what was readily available at hand. Whole idea was to only keep one bay populated with the '49, be able to roll the frame in and out under the body for cleaning, a few mods, access to set up the 8.8 rear and rebuild the stock front end. At the same time have access under the body to complete the weld up of the trans / floor framing and complete the inner rocker panel repairs. Received a few goodies from ECI while I was gone, their front disc brake conversion / hubs and new brake / hydraulic clutch pedals. More to come after the 30th, will have 10 days back at the home front and hoping to have the sheet metal back into the floor and maybe have time to get some sandblasting done on the frame.........

Soon to be fabricating some on my 49 Chrysler build, I have at least four to do........

And if you're wondering what a '63 Oldsmobile Starfire console tach looks like...... the as found condition and just a quick wipe down back at the hotel.

The 49 gauge cluster (No scratches on lenses, face finish still remains real nice) Dash brightwork with the radio delete plates, glove box, ashtrays, all knobs and the cigar lighter. Alot of shine under that dull finish. Trunk lid CHRYSLER emblem all for $200 and bloody knuckles and and a little mouse droppings down my back......... Grabbed a nice set of exterior door handles as well for $15 each......

During all the travel I do for my work, I have always wanted to stop in at French Lake Auto and check it out. I had the opportunity yesterday and I shall say if your ever near you need to give the wife your credit card and tell her to go shopping and you just go on out there and take a look for yourself. Other than one other yard I visited in Colorado years ago this has got to be one of the most organized and inventoried yards out there. Everything is not only organized by make but it seems they attempt to do it chronologically by year as well for the most part. I really wasn't expecting to make a purchase, just stopping in to wander the yard, but I did come across a full set of dash brightwork and gauge cluster in a 49 Royal that I just had to have, in better shape than what is currently in the Chrysler. Grabbed the gauge cluster as well for possible spare parts. Made an evening trip to Horrible freight to grab some minor hand tools and a tarp. The tarp was to lay in the floor on top of the assumed to be rat / mouse debris while I removed the pieces in question, left the tarp at their yard door next to their "selection" of loaner tools, IE: tools your wife keeps in the junk drawer, for the next poor soul that comes along. Returned this morning with tools and tarp in hand and they even let me in the yard an hour before opening so I could beat the heat. I have to say their pricing is more than fair and the fellas at the front desk are knowledgeable about their inventory and friendly. During my wanderings down the Oldsmobile aisle, I came across a '63 Starfire with the console tach laying in the floorboard. I have been looking for one for a while to incorporate into a console for the Chysler once I have the trans tunnel done. $50 bucks later it was mine and didn't even have to bloody a knuckle for it. Another item knocked off the ol' bucket list. Still alot of good stuff out there......

If by fanning you mean fabbing, I will take it as a compliment ....... but I am far from being a fabricator, I just connect point A to point B with my limited skills and tooling. I learn a lot of things by trial and error.......