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March 2021: I bought this old, rusty Cruiser in dire need of some TLC
Absolutely zero prior experience in fixing, restoring or even buying a car.
Let’s see where this takes us.
Security cam shows that it’s been delivered at the company. Employees were curious as to what’s happening, especially since they had to roll it off with no brakes and also no way to stop the engine other than popping the hood (EDIC problem)
First step:
Removing all interior seats, carpets, seatbelts.
Labeling all wires. Removing doors, hood and fenders for better access.
Removing everything in the engine bay until its just the engine itself left.
Dashboard removal - not fun, not fast.
Not looking forward to the day i have to reinstall this.
Took notes but most probably not adequate enough for when the day comes.
Anyway, future me will have to deal with that.
Down to frame and engine itself.
Rusty, but mostly surface rust. Engine starts smoothly but EDIC control rod has broken off.
EDIC itself ( or the relay) is not functioning either.
Out with the ol’ 2H!
Father lending a hand because she’s heavy!
Improvised a little to take the cab off.
We only have a little clearance in this basement to lift the body and roll the chassis out from underneath. Pulled the gearbox after.
Trimmed down the chassis assembly to just the chassis. Removed all suspension components. The VIN was accidentally rediscovered when I started to wirewheel the surface rust.
Hours of whireweeling to discover that it was more than a little surface rust… rear crossmember that supports the towhook was rotten. Got it fixed at my father’s shop.
Did some preventative welding at other areas that were slightly pitted from rust.
Afterwards the chassis was sandblasted and a protective zinc layer was metallised straight on the bare metal. Finished in satin black 2-component paint.
Some more chassis works pics.
Right after wirewheeling vs right before final coat of paint.
We redid some welds and grinded them somewhat smoother.
Took apart both axles. Was quite time intensive, especially since I wanted to learn what every component did. Will reuse most components but every seal and bearing will be replaced! All brake components naturally as well.
Drive shafts did NOT want to come loose.
Neither did any of the U-joints.
50 ton press didn’t work. Luckily the angle grinder did. Ordered some new U-joints.
Removed the steering components as well.
Thought i’d clean up the fuel tank and prep it for paint. Three hours in I discovered the area around the top cap is porous, to an extent i don’t feel comfortable ever risking to roll this car. New one ordered, but so expensive.
Fuel lines are rotten sadly, the power steering lines in the pic as well sadly. Will have a hard time finding a replacement for those.
Took apart starter motor + windshield wiper motor.
Rebuilt starter motor.
No new components, was working fine before.
Just regreased, cleaned up armature and connectors and repainted.
Windshield wiper motor is being annoying, the brushes are so hard to hold in place when reinstalling the armature housing.
Redid both axles and forgot to take pics.
All new bearings, bearing races, seals and grease.
Sandblasted and painted the parts.
New suspension loading…
OME 2” lift medium suspension.
All new leaf springs, shocks and steering damper.
Also, my original split rims have been sandblasted and repainted, can’t wait to install.
1.5 years in and it can roll again!
Suspension installed!
Cleaned up the gearbox and painted it.
Easy install with the cab off.
And yes, those are new tires. Same size but different thread. Old ones were shot.
On to the body.
Stripping it down as far as I can. Marking rust spots for eventual repairs. Brother helped pulling the windows. Removed the factory sound deadener with dry ice, the only correct (and fun) way.
