[Goat & Chicken Farmer]

Friday was spent repairing the drivers seat frame springs that were discovered (last week) to be broken, all three in the seat back at the bottom, and two in the seat bottom along with the side support spring. (if you can call it a spring) I went to a local upholstery shop and purchased 4 feet of S spring, got it home and it was heavier than the original and tighter S’s. I replaced the outer spring in the seat bottom (real tough to bend into the Z) and repaired the other broken springs with sections of the one I replaced and crimped them in. Got the seat back and bottom all re-assembled and ready for the new foam. Last week, as I was stretching the passenger seat back cover over the frame, I tucked the last bottom corner over and blew out the seam. (I probably shouldn’t have pulled where I did) Local upholstery shop replaced panel in seat cover for $70. (ouch) Got all seats done except drivers, they look great!

Saturday was spent preparing the weatherstrip channels for installation. (I should have removed upper spongy seal and adhesive from channel before having them polished for $350) After taping up the polished surface, I had good results with goo gone, but dad wanted to bathe them in lacquer thinner and scrub them down until you could use them in surgery! Both of the post channels need the guide nub replaced and of course the correct rivets are un-obtainable so we cant install those. We were able to source the channel corner guides (original were broken, $70 for both) and after quite a bit of massaging and buffing, (not easy without body hammers) they look pretty good. At the end of the day, dad decides he doesn’t like the drivers seat repairs that I spent all day Friday on and wants to look for the correct spring material and re-do it all again. (he might as well have poked me in the eye with a screwdriver)

Sunday was spent attempting to fit the rear quarter window outer seals which were not PY product (I don’t make the purchasing decisions) and are a Made in Taiwan product (supposedly the best option?) that don’t fit, one (drivers side) was better than the other but the screw holes don’t line up with the originals and the radius fit is gapped, also the rubber flap that sits on the paint is not as wide. These don’t seem like they are going to work for us, wondering if PY’s is the same supplier. Got the window regulators all cleaned up and found the driver door guide rod stud at the top had sheared, (don’t quite know what to do here) we will probably grind it flat and drill and tap for a new stud or even a bolt. I was able to install both quarter window regulators and guides but haven’t installed the glass yet. Shifting gears, I cut a gasket for the A/C / fan housing at the firewall instead of using the recommended calk rope seal; we used a section of 8 mil wet suit material. (Dad??)

Stay tuned…