Builds 1975 frame off.

[brian]

this is pretty much it. i'm going to add some bracing to the upright yet, but this is the final form.

 

[brian]

i should also mention that it's coming back as a '75 not a 1977.

 

[brian]

bumper finished. rear emblems on, lights in bumper.
i ended up going body color on the sliders. the old front bumper with the last traces of red to be removed. i'm thinking about going pewter or pewterish for the front bumper.

just realized that is right around the three year mark of when the work really started on it.

 

[brian]

started getting the sitting arrangement sorted out.

 

[brian]

front bumper repainted...and back on.
seat brackets finished and installed, with the seats and lap belts.

 

[brian]

got its "new" wheels in order.

 

[brian]

buttoned up the passenger side footwell and pop riveted its tramp stamp back on. i deleted the rear heat for now due to a lack of a functional rear blower and a non leaky rear heat coil. however the serious desire to not drive this on the winter salt covered roads anymore means it really does not need one anyhow.

 

[brian]

i've been trying to get a radiator for this thing for a few weeks now. the problem is i've got used to dumping money into this thing with little regard. the old radiator is only 10-12 years old, but is semi custom unit from a local shop. it's a heavy duty four row thing that weights a bunch more than oem radiators. i figured while spending money, why not just get a new one? nothing wrong with the other one, no leaks, fins in good shape, plenty of cooling, but it's at least twelve years old.
well turns out the old rad shop is not closed like i thought it was. they can't get this core any more, but they are going to open it, clean it and inspect it if all is good back together it goes and all for about 100 bucks. i don't expect issues since this is almost stupid heavy. i did buy an aftermarket rad...albeit a 3pass, but that thing is not even close to the weight of my old one, so back it goes.

 

[brian]

the dash is coming along nicely.
decided to go with new oem front turn signals, instead of the cheesy chiwaness of texas that are there now....new oem fenders deserve them.
not sure if i'm doing a hardtop for it or not. kinda leaning towards bikini or topless only. maybe a duster and hard doors

 

[brian]

the sales brochure, once used to sell new cruisers. now used as a guide to return cruisers to new.

 

[brian]

decided to go with new oem parking lights as well.

 

[brian]

the electrics have returned, and most of them are going to the right places.
the turn signals and hazards are eluding me though. everything else seems to have the right amount of power, at the appropriate time.

 

[SSCR]

Looks great!

 

[bmorefj40]

Great job! are those the stock seats that you put back in?

Sent from my iPhone using IH8MUD

 

[brian]

low back procars.

 

[brian]

started messing around with the front axle overhaul.
but have ran into some issues that required some maintenance on myself, that is severely cutting into my cruiser time.

 

[RWBeringer4x4]

started messing around with the front axle overhaul.
but have ran into some issues that required some maintenance on myself, that is severely cutting into my cruiser time.

Oooof... As I'm about to take on the same project, I have to ask - how did you manage to do that? In this case, I would love to learn from someone else's mistake!

 

[brian]

had a bursa that became infected before i got it drained. so they had to open it, clean and repack.

the axle is simple, just a little messy. well simple when you're allowed to crawl around on your knees....not as much when the dr says no crawling or straining the knee.

the hold up is i can't get under the knuckle to bang the lower cone washers loose.

 

[brian]

it goes,but way slower than it should be going.
when i did this on the 60 series a few years ago, it took 3 days to finish both sides. i'm three days in, just getting the ds apart.

 

[brian]

it's looking pretty good.