[cleveweld]

Originally Posted by 67SS&99SS

The craftsmanship really shows in your restoration. Thank you for sharing photographs. My 62 was a factory air car and I would like to put it back on it but the only pieces I have are the shroud and the unit that goes under the dash. Where did you source your parts from for the AC system? Is it like everything else with these cars? Find good used or NOS?

Only about 1% of Tempests built in 1961 and 62 came with A/C making it a very rare option to find today. My Safari is the only 1962 Tempest wagon with A/C known to exist. I bought the car because the A/C system was complete.
Most of the A/C parts are unique to the Tempest and are impossible to find. Shown below are dryer with sight glass and condenser, under dash blower motor, compressor mounting brackets, suction throttle valve, and 2 groove pulley.
There are no parts sources or NOS A/C parts available. The A6 compressors are available. You would need a parts car to make it happen.

[cleveweld]

I have found a couple of NOS A/C parts. The first part mounts to back of compressor. The sheet metal piece mounts to bottom side of front valance and was only used on A/C cars.

[rasilverbird]

I love this car! Awesome job.

[1965gp]

Amazing job on the car- love the patina look with the restored interior/engine bay/suspension

[Old Goat 67]

Cleve, you remind of a Bulldog in a fight!

[cleveweld]

Originally Posted by rasilverbird

I love this car! Awesome job.

Thanks rasilverbird! I'm happy to share!

[cleveweld]

Originally Posted by 1965gp

Amazing job on the car- love the patina look with the restored interior/engine bay/suspension

Thanks 1965gp! I was originally going to do the bodywork too but decided to concentrate on all of the mechanical stuff so I could get the car running again. I had stripped and primered the front lower valance before deciding to leave body alone.

Below are pictures of the Safari out of the barn for first time in 2 years after starting restoration. Pictures taken June 2020.

[cleveweld]

Originally Posted by Old Goat 67

Cleve, you remind of a Bulldog in a fight!

LOL! An English, French or American Bulldog?

[cleveweld]

The luggage locker mat was an option that could be factory or dealer installed.
My original mat was in rough shape so I made a paper pattern of it. I bought a trunk mat for a coupe or convertible from AMES and cut it down using my pattern. The red hounds tooth mat shown is a factory NOS part # 989787.

[cleveweld]

In order to replace the tailgate side window rubber, I had to drill out the rivets that hold frames together. The rivets and flocked division channel are the same as used on Pontiac vent window frames.
The new rubber came from Steele Rubber. The correct size rivets came from Jay-Cee Sales and Rivet, Inc. The upper and lower flocked division channel came from Rubber The Right Way.

https://www.rubbertherightway.com/19...86842-prd1.htm

https://www.rubbertherightway.com/19...85614-prd1.htm

The lower flocked division channel I used were NOS pieces to fit unknown GM car that I cut down to fit. I have a vintage brake lining rivet tool that I used to form rivets.

[cleveweld]

The vinyl load flooring was only available with Tempest Safari. It was an option that was only available factory installed.
"...good-looking...long-wearing and easy to clean, with fine-rib design...color harmonized with entire interior."

My original vinyl flooring was beat and had even shrunken a bit. I didn't know what I was going to do for flooring material until someone told me about SMS Auto Fabrics. I contacted them and they had an exact match in stock and sent me a sample.
To cut straight edges, I placed vinyl on large piece of sheet metal and used a 4-ft square and sharp utility knife. For rounded corners, I found a socket with correct radius, marked it and cut with scissors.
I used a 3-M spray adhesive to attach vinyl pieces.

[cleveweld]

Three years ago I cleaned, painted and put in new side and rear seals on my differential. I had also drained old gear oil and added new but had never looked inside. Recently I removed the side cover and found the differential full of thick black sludge. I decided to completely dismantle it to thoroughly clean all of the sludge out.
I replaced the front and rear pinion shaft seals with NOS and the adjuster plug o-ring. The ring gear assembly was rattling loose inside case due to wear on side bearings and races. I replaced side bearings with NOS Delco. I used kent-Moore J-8901 specialty tool to install new bearings.

[cleveweld]

The pinion shaft was assembled into the case and the bearing pre-load was set using Kent-Moore tools, an inch-lb torque wrench and instructions from the Tempest shop manual.
The ring gear assembly is then installed in case and side gear bearing pre-load is also set using Kent-Moore tools but gear backlash must also be set at same time. Backlash is adjusted by moving ring gear assembly towards or away from pinion gear by the side bearing adjuster plugs. Gear backlash is necessary to allow for thermal expansion of gears under operating conditions.
I found the easiest way to reassemble differential to transmission is to stand transmission on end and lower differential down over the shaft and into place. The trans-axle is well balanced when standing on end.

[misterp266]

Nice update, you do awesome work!

[Bill Hanlon]

I never thought about the speedo gear being in the back of the car. That must be a looooong cable.

[cleveweld]

Originally Posted by Bill Hanlon

I never thought about the speedo gear being in the back of the car. That must be a looooong cable.

Yes, a very long cable and it goes to the differential and not the transmission.

[mgarblik]

Congratulations on your restoration so far. Unique cars are so much harder to restore. You are doing a superior job on all the details. It really looks great. Love the colors.

[cleveweld]

Originally Posted by mgarblik

Congratulations on your restoration so far. Unique cars are so much harder to restore. You are doing a superior job on all the details. It really looks great. Love the colors.

Thanks mgarblik! The interior was definetly a challenge because nothing is available in green.

[cleveweld]

Since I bought my car 5 years ago I have wondered whether the original paint could be buffed and shine again. I knew that if I started buffing I would have to do the whole car.
The hood and top of fenders had lots of surface rust so I started by wet sanding these areas first. I used Meguiar's Fine Cut polishing compound. It took a couple days but it shines now!
My plan is to eventually paint the car but till then it looks better. I like the shiney with less rust look. The roof was originally Cameo White but only has a couple small areas of paint left. Mostly original red primer showing with minimal surface rust.
There is an episode of "The Barn Find Hunter" where Tom Cotter found a junkyard 1962 Ford wagon and started buffing out one of the fenders. See what happens in link below. It reminds me a bit of my car.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VxVGlggg5T8

[tom s]

SMS does not have the material?Tom