Running again, ups and downs

Post date: May 27, 2015 12:28:01 AM

Shaun and I got it running again last sunday. It sounds like a beast without any exhaust! As he said, some exhaust cutouts may be a very good idea. Or maybe the repop'd Poncho vacuum-controlled mufflers.

It's been a series of ups and downs:

Ups:

* Rear bumper installed with all the lights in it.

* Rear lights tested out OK!

* Found another dash and dash pad, should be in really good shape.

* Proved my modular wiring design by removing the wiper motor and its harness

* Borrowed a fancy alignment jig from Rob @ CO

* Cleaned up the rear windshield

* Got an appointment to install a front windshield on the day I called!

* Reconditioned the front and rear light housings.

* Got the trunk light working. It's a really questionable design, I'm amazed it ever worked.

* Used this time to do more upgrades to the blast cabinet: new gloves, lots of lights, better switch, vibrator made out of old box fan. Also started the install for another ceiling light in the garage.

Downs:

* Ordered all the lenses and gaskets for the bumpers. Whoa.

* Had the brake connector plugged into the wrong end of my cruise-control brake switch.... Easiest electrical fix ever.

* Yeah, I'm considering building up another dash and dash pad.

* Removed the wiper motor because I can't get the f'n thing to work right. Had hoped to check it on the other car (where it had worked), but completely destroyed one of the custom parts in the process.

* Learned that it's really hard to get a usable baseline with aftermarket adjustable upper a-arms.

* Rear windshield has a bunch of deep scratches that the local glass place can't get out. Oh well, a full set of glass is only $700+freight.

* Glass guy decided to come at the one time I specifically said I wouldn't be home

* Spend a LOAD of time trying to find a solid way to weatherproof aftermarket light housings. It would have been easier to get the Ron Francis pigtails, but this was still $90 cheaper.

All in all a decent week for this project.

Only a few significant things to get it road worthy:

wipers (oh boy... did I mention it appears they took that thing off the market?)

exhaust

shifter and backup light linkage (temporary, until dual gate is returned)