[7t4mula]

Finally got my front brake lines, buttoned up, new Wilwood flexible, stainless lines running to the hardlines.

This kit is pretty nice, if it works as good as it looks, I am in business!!

Thought I would see if some of these iPhone pictures with motion would load here… interesting to see what it looks like behind the wheel when it’s spinning!

[7t4mula]

Okay! So for those who have been following this thread from beginning, I am finally caught up to date with these updates! A lot has transpired in the last year and a half, that’s for sure!

Yesterday I started work on rear caliper and lines install. Only to find I’d lost one on the 3” long cotter pins that hold the pads in place… ughhh! Bound to happen when you’ve got parts strewn across the entire garage for this long. Wilwood was kind enough to send a replacement that I’ll have soon!

The new hard-line anchors that clamp over the axle tubes arrived also. I got a double flare brake line kit so I can cut the new hard-line lines to length and connect to the Wilwood flexible lines as well

I also started the install of the E-brake cables, threading the case thru the frame here. Then you install the inner cable, threading the line through the clevis and nut to tighten it all in place. Very close to the shock on passenger side, so I always tape up, or place a rag in there like this to prevent wrench scratches…

[7t4mula]

So Wed. I ran to Auto Zone to snap up a brake line flaring tool. I had never used one before, but their rent a tool program is nice for things like this. Because it was almost 90° with 90% humidity, it was a good day to work in the basement!

I thought I would be able to clip the spring wrap with a diagonal cutters, but ended up using a Dremel with a small cutting wheel to do that. Once you pull the spring wrap back, use a small pipe cutter to cut the line to length, making sure you file and de-burr well.

And it is off to the vise to clamp in the flaring fixture. It’s a two step process, the first part you drive that black plunger down on the line to expand the line to a bulb shape. Then you remove that black plunger and use the point to drive the cone shape in. The factory flared end is on the left. The new one is on the right. I would recommend trying it on a spare piece of line like I did here first, to get the process down….

[7t4mula]

Next, it was back out to the garage to connect the new lines. The Willwood fittings that clamp over the axle tube worked pretty well to secure mounting point for new connections. Notice I left some extra length to be able to recut and flare the again, just in case I have leaks later on.

Very happy with the way this came together, nice clean installation!

[VCho455]

Your tubing looks great! Many folks really struggle with getting the right bends.

[7t4mula]

Originally Posted by VCho455

Your tubing looks great! Many folks really struggle with getting the right bends.

Thanks I appreciate that. I really took my time with this, patience pays off. Especially when you’ve never done this before!

[7t4mula]

Working on trying to finish work I. The engine bay while it’s still vacant. Need to get the components in to finish plugging some of these holes!

Note to self, remember to place this passenger side cowl plug for the Vintage AC system in place BEFORE putting in inner fenders. You can still do it, just harder to reach under there.

I tried to tell my crew chief, she wasn’t speeding the process up by breathing down my neck! LOL

[7t4mula]

So what I found worked well with the cowl plug was to silicone it in place, then grind a nice long point on the ¼-20 bolt that passes through to hold it in.

You can then more easily locate the desired position of the bar it threads into on the inside of the firewall, and tape that temporarily in place. Then thread the bolt in (once you find the hole from back) under the hood again.

A little back and forth, but sometimes tape is your friend if nobody is around to hold a component in place while you attach it. That thing was really way up in there!

[7t4mula]

Working on interior door panels now. This is the deluxe interior from my 73 formula. The bottom panels were in great shape, but unfortunately, the top ones weren’t up to par to go on with the rest of the car being so new. Purchased new ones through Ames.

Anyone have a source for these large, flathead screws that hold the door pull strap in place? I’ll bet the missing one is sitting in the bottom of the door that I sold off of the 73 decades ago.

Pass side panel had a crack, so borrowed my neighbors, plastic welder and embedded a chunk of screen and a staple in to hold together. Seems like it worked pretty well!

These rear ash trays were unfortunately exposed to a lot of humidity with 40 years of sitting on a garage shelf. Steel wool seems like it’s bringing them back pretty decent.

[TXSTARFIRE]

Wow! Those ash trays look awesome!

[7t4mula]

Originally Posted by TXSTARFIRE

Wow! Those ash trays look awesome!

I think the only thing that saved them was I occasionally sprayed them with WD-40 when I’d run across them…

They all cleaned up near the point of the one on the lower right. They’ll never be used in the car anyway, but you want them to look nice of course!

[7t4mula]

Finished mounting my new drivers side door panel today. Had to improvise a little as the 70 doors don’t have all the mount holes and detail that my 73 had for this deluxe interior.

I also sealed it up with the flashing tape, to help deaden sound a bit. That went pretty well.

[7t4mula]

So I climbed into my trunk today to mark the package tray for 6 x 9 cut-outs for speakers… Not as easy as I remember when I was 20! LOL

Figured it was a good day to apply some decals, so got busy with that. Finally found a good working typewriter so that I was able to fill out the GM tag for the door jam. Happy with the way that looks!

Wasn’t a fan of the large blank chrome space on exterior door handles, so hunted down some carbon-fiber looking decals for those. Emissions decal on the core support and jacking instructions in the trunk rounded it off.

[7t4mula]

Close-up of tag…

[SD455DJ]

Very nice!

Dennis

[7t4mula]

Bout time I update some progress here! It’s been a busy fall, with a bigger family and hunting season, I try to squeeze in project work when I can!

Was pretty sad to see the mice had gotten at my rear seats… were in pretty good shape when I put them away 40 years ago! I ordered more legendary covers for that. Foam was fine, but will have to fabricate the thin burlap section that goes across the top of the seat.

Sandblasted frames and painted those a while back. Covers arrive in Dec.

[7t4mula]

Felt good to get carpeting in and fit pretty well. I then installed rear speakers. Haven’t done that for quite a while and in and out of that trunk was a challenge! Gettin old is rough!

The wiper assemblies were so over-sprayed they took a lot of work to prep for paint. The wire wheel is your friend here!

[7t4mula]

The wipers came out great, so it was time to tackle the motor and washer assembly… was going to buy new, but realized I could quickly clean this up!

[7t4mula]

Nice to be able to work inside an empty engine bay to do this stuff! My new office cubicle after retirement! It was great for pulling wires and hoses for Vintage Air system installation.

[7t4mula]

Still much to do there, but glad to get all the hoses connected and get the unit bolted up in place…

Was warm enough to do a little touch up painting on motor, so sprayed the new water pump to match engine color, and painted some accessories bronze to match some trim color.