It’s a gas!

The gas tank in the Falcon was original. Leaking and previously patched, it needed to be replaced. A search on Amazon found a new replacement along with the necessary hardware, filler neck and associate rubber fuel lines.

Taking the old tank out was a simple affair. I emptied it into 5 gallon cans, removed the connection to the filler neck and the simple push-on connector for the gas gauge. Then I removed the hold down screws and out it came.

There was some minor rust that I sanded out and then painted with “Rust Reformer”. I scrubbed down the entire trunk. The tank is the floor of trunk, unlike many vehicles that mount the tank under the chassis between the frame rails. The mounting area was lined with an adhesive putty that will seal out road debris and water. Ready for the install.

The new tank came a new gas gauge sending unit along with a pick-up tube and screen. Easy enough to install.  Plopped the new tank in position, tightened down the new hardware, made all the connections, put in enough gas to to and get more fuel. Added a new gas cap and road tested to the gas station. Fuel gauge worked, before and after fill up.

Back home, put it on the lift and checked for leaks. All good. Checked off another item off my list!

Oh, and I installed two new sets of lap seat belts (not offered when the car came out).

Hmmm, what to do next…think it’s time to look at the suspension.

Stay Tuned!

It’s plated!

When we last left, I was busy finishing the outer wall to my office space. My next step was to add electrical outlets, then put up some stuff on the top half of the wall. Guess what, it’s done!

Some plates were bought for a reason. Donna graduated high school in NH in 1965. She moved to FL in 1965. The 1962 TN tag with a 1965 sticker is what would have been on our new project car. TKNA5TH and 2ZPCDS were the original plates for our Freightliner and 5th wheel. LILLIPAD and POLIWOG were Donna's plates for her motorhome and tow car.

Somewhere in there we have a MA plate from Donna's year of birth and a NY plate from mine. The BIG mural with a RT 66 tag was purchased in honor of our RT 66 trip in 2013. We do have plates from all 50 states in a variety of years.

On the front under the plates/signs are the bigger tools I want to have plugged in. At the far end is the space where the utility sink will go.

Once done, I arranged my office space to the outside wall of the office. When the inside of the office is done (still needs flooring, plumbing and electric work), it will all be moved inside.

I'm quite happy with more room to maneuver and am looking forward to continuing work on the office as well as the Falcon (gas tank is next). Oh, and did I mention there are still approximately two dozen more plates to hang. Some will go inside the office, others will be scattered around the garage.

Stay Tuned!

Bored? Nope, BOARD!

Taking a break from working on the Falcon, I tackled the front side wall of the office space. He added electrical outlets to use for floor-standing tools, they will be lined up in front of the metal siding (leftover from the exterior of the pole barn). The top will probably be painted and then he will mount signs and maybe some of his extensive license plate collection. I think we managed to get one plate for every state, one for Maryland and my year of birth, one for Massachusetts and Donna's year of birth, as well as a few from other countries we have visited while cruising.

Here are some pics of the progress…next up in installing the wiring.

Stay Tuned!

What’s that I smell? Gas???

Blaze’s gas tank is as old as the car, 60 years!, so no telling what might be inside. On my ride to bring her home I smelled gas. At first I thought maybe the carburetor or a fuel line might be leaking. Inspection under the hood revealed no leaks. I opened the trunk and the fumes were stronger. When I got home and put Blaze on the lift I found a number of leaky areas on the tank as well as the fuel filler neck was cracked. All of this was original to the car.

Internet/google found a new tank, filler neck and associated hardware. The stuff needed was ordered and has trickled in recently. As soon as the brakes were completed I took out the old tank after emptying the gas. (I had filled it for the trip home) 15 gallons later, the tank came out. The floor of the trunk of these 60’s car is the top of the tank.

There are some minor repairs needed in the trunk area. Some rusty areas and pealed up paint. A thorough cleaning, soda blasting, rust inhibitor and paint before installing the new tank.

Stay Tuned!

She’s on fire! (Yes, she now has a name.) Work starts…

After much thought, consideration, and a test drive, a name has been selected.
She will be called Blaze!

But Blaze needed some TLC. I started with the critical safety stuff first, brakes. Gotta have them and they gotta work. The original drum brakes that came on these cars back in the 60s were adequate for the time and will continue to work for the time being. (I will upgrade to front disc in the future.) However, much of the hardware appeared to be original and needed to be replaced. The drums and shoes were new and in good shape. The wheel cylinders, hoses, master cylinder, etc were fairly new and in good shape. Here’s the before and after.

All 4 were taken apart, cleaned and in some cased the backing plates need some repair. The reassembly took a little time but was completed in a day. Years ago, I worked for Sears as a brake mechanic doing three complete brakes jobs a day. Seems I have slowed down a bit!

I replaced the front bearings and seals, then scuffed up the drums and shoes to help seat them to each other. Might have to get the drums turned to get better contact with the shoe surface. Next I repaired the emergency brake, it was assembled incorrectly. Then I put the tires back on, adjusted each wheel and the emergency brake. Road tested and there’s an improvement. Not perfect but serviceable.

I also replaced the incorrect flasher for the directionals, added some new bulbs, and freshly cleaned the rear light covers.

Next repair…Gas Tank

Stay Tuned!

I did it again!

Remember our post back in January? Engine Hoists – not just for engines! Well, he did it again! Check out the video below, compiled from screenshots from our security camera in the barn.

Here are some photos I took when the floor/ceiling was almost complete.

 Stay Tuned!

She’s here! Who will she be?

[This is Donna posting, I will be doing so intermittently on this blog keeping you up to date on Stu’s projects while he works hard on finishing out the barn AND working on his project car.]

She’s here! Actually, she was last Friday but I’m just now getting around to posting about her. The two hour drive went well, even with almost an hour on the interstate. To say Stu is happy is a HUGE understatement. He is thrilled. Not that there isn’t work to be done. There is – a lot. But hey, that’s why it’s a project car. Here are a few photos of when we picked it up and in the barn where work has started. 

The first note from Stu on Facebook:

Today was inspection and assessment day on the Falcon. Nothing really unexpected. Anything rubber will need to be replaced, much of it is original. Brakes are the priority, needed a little refresh of hardware/springs, new grease seals. The shoes and drums are in good shape.Other major items include rebuilding the suspension, replacing the gas tank and radiator. Eventually the convertible top will replaced. I might try that myself, still researching. Please if you think you want to undercoat your car, DONT! That crap peals away and traps dirt and water, causing the very thing you thought you were preventing! See the pics

She is still nameless although several have been suggested. I personally like Ember since it has two meanings: embers glow red and Stu’s Dalmatian was named Ember! Some of the others are Scarlett, Cherry, Ruby, Blaze, and Wildfire. What do you think?

Stay Tuned!