Builds Won a '74 40 on a coin toss... (6 Viewers)

[SuperBuickGuy]

that 12:00 to 12:05? that's precision that is better than factory...

 

[ginmtb]

Pls report back as to the before vs after amount of steering whee play.

On mine I can move wheel from about 12:00 o'clock to about 12:05 without really changing wheel direction... Is that much play acceptable?

I'm guessing I'm in dire need of tre's given the built up of crud and the breaking down of rubber etc..

I love this thread

I definitely will I'm excited to get this thing rolling again! I'm fairly certain I had more play in the steering wheel than that. Curious to see the difference. I'd like to think that it will tighten things up a bit, but based on what I've read there is more that can be done as well. But for now TREs is the first thing for me.

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

driving (pretty much) any leaf-sprung vehicle entails setting a course and providing (lots of) course correction as you travel. You will not be setting any records on a slalom course or impressing people with your precision moves at speed.... which is the way it is supposed to be

 

[ginmtb]

More small wins... Did the fuel line DIY spacers for the bezel and battery is reconnected and charging up! Hardly dropped was at 95%.

Getting close for its trip to the "spa"...

 

[ginmtb]

A couple more small wins! A couple of snaps on my soft top were broken so bought a tool and got them fixed!

And then instead of a knotted strap for my bow (hook and loop connection is dead) I decided to put in a couple of snaps. Nice and clean.

 

[ginmtb]

Look what I finally got! So excited! I used uship and it worked out great. The shipper is primarily on the west coast between LA and WA and was very reasonable.

 

[Racer65]

Look what I finally got! So excited! I used uship and it worked out great. The shipper is primarily on the west coast between LA and WA and was very reasonable.

View attachment 1112087

That looks great. One piece fiberglass that requires no welding right? Was this the only piece of the puzzle missing for you to piece together the top or do you still need to find a top?

 

[ginmtb]

Yup one piece fiberglass and no welding. I have a top so now need to start working on the restoration process. I think though once I get it running again I will take a little break from working on the cruiser and just enjoying it. I really like the soft top anyhow and it is too hot to have the hardtop on.

 

[vanros1]

My 14 year old daughter on the other hand totally gets it and she wants this for her car to drive to high school in a couple of years. We may have a fight on our hands... . I gave her and her friend a ride in it over the weekend and they were singing in the back having a great time! They even helped me name it - "The Turtle". Perfect! My wife of course wanted to name it, "The Jalopy". WTH?

Hilarious...that's what my wife named mine until it was completely restored...now she "gets" it.

 

[ginmtb]

My Cruiser finally made it out to Valley Hybrids (@orangefj45) Land Cruiser "spa" today after some issues with AAA towing (it got there in one piece just delayed about 6 hours). Looking forward to getting it running again! It is in good hands. I am so ready to drive this thing again. I don't know how people do multi-year frame off restorations.

 

[TheHardWay]

Dude, how long without a fix?

 

[ginmtb]

Looks like two months since the radiator leak... I know not that much time in the big scheme of things.

 

[TheHardWay]

Too long for a 40 junkie

 

[ginmtb]

Plus I'm getting sick of the crap the neighbors are giving me when I ask them to help me push the car back into the garage (uphill driveway). Funny little do they know that my car is appreciating while theirs is depreciating. Suckas!

 

[Racer65]

Plus I'm getting sick of the crap the neighbors are giving me when I ask them to help me push the car back into the garage (uphill driveway). Funny little do they know that my car is appreciating while theirs is depreciating. Suckas!

When I was selling my house many moons ago, the clueless agent advised me not to park my "odd looking car" in front of the house, as she thinks it would hurt property value. I still can't help laughing every time I think about it.

 

[ginmtb]

Down in San Diego for business and came across this beauty parked at a job site we visited.

Got a message from Georg at Valley Hybrids... "Hey Mike. Thats a nice little 40!!!!" Cool hearing that from a guru...

 

[ginmtb]

Spa update:

Distributor is in and timing set.

Exhaust bung welded shut.

Need to finish going over the desmog.

Valves sounded loose...

Getting closer! Can't wait!

 

[ginmtb]

So when I get this back I'm thinking of replacing the radio delete plate with something like this:

I'm thinking an aluminum plate painted red or black, maybe even the ash grey metallic color, rounded corners, finished as clean as I can make it. No holes drilled in dash. I'll figure out a way to secure it.

Thoughts?

 

[cruisermatt]

Even cooler is if you could make the radio delete plate fold down over it!

 

[ginmtb]

Even cooler is if you could make the radio delete plate fold down over it!

Hmm... May have to consider that. Already have some ideas floating around my head on how to pull that off.