Ok, it’s been a little while since I last posted on this restoration thread, but not because of the lack of progress. I finally phoned a friend and enlisted his help in getting some of the things done that takes 2 people. So, the ball started rolling, and boy did it pick up steam. So far the progress is as follows....
Floor pan cut out, drivers side crossmember end was rusty, so that area was sectioned out and a new end was welded in place. Floor pan is now in and complete, all seam sealed and ready to oaint.
Next, all of the lines were dropped, new lines are installed, new master cylinder and all new brake components done, brakes bled and ready to go.
Clutch has been removed, flywheel resurfaced, new Centerforce clutch in, all bushings, linkages, shifter and all other components redone, waiting on the side cover gasket to come, otherwise ready to finish that also.
Rear end opened up, cleaned, gears inspected, new fluid and gasket, and it’s good to go.
Heater box dropped, opened and cleaned, core tested, heater controls and cables all cleaned and greased and reinstalled.
Also many small things have been removed, cleaned and inspected and reinstalled. The biggest job so far have probably been the de-mouse-ing of the entire car. The rocker plugs were removed, and boy oh boy were they packed. The hood had a nest, apparently they’ve been having a field day with something, but none of the seats in the car were chewed up, so it must’ve been in the garage where it was stored for so long.
And, speaking of that garage, maybe the best thing of all is finally getting to meet the original owner. He was a little surprised that I had the car, but the more we talked about the car, the more he started to light up about it. He confirmed a lot of what I suspected, and told me a lot of information about it that only the original owner could know. My favorite part was when he told me about the day he bought it. He sat in every Roadrunner on the lot, and this one was all the way back in the corner, it had been there over 3 months. He didn’t like the bucket seats of the other cars, but to quote him... “when I sat in that bench seat and grabbed that shifter, I told the salesman, I’ll take it” the salesman told him that It was not a 383 car as it was badged, and in fact was a 6bbl car. When he opened the hood to show him, he dragged the salesman into the showroom and they made the deal. He was just out of Vietnam, 21 years old, and it was his first car. Can’t do better than that.
So, I’m on track for a spring startup, a little exhaust work, headliner and carpet install, and I’ll be terrorizing the streets of Pinckney in no time. Until next update, keep em rolling people!
