The race is on...Rochester here I come - Page 3

imported_Thriller · November 30th, 2005

As a matter of fact, yes.

I stopped in yesterday at the body shop to pay for the underhood work and discuss the estimate for the rest of the work...good thing I was sitting down. Remember, there are basically 3 ways to restore a car - do it yourself, pay someone else to do everything, and something in between. I'm doing the pay thing and it won't be good for the bank accounts, especially considering what the value guides say a '66 Wildcat is worth. That being said, I'll be resurrecting a rusty example rather than parting it and another one being crushed. Let's just leave it at body / paint costing more than the Old Cars Price Guide says it will be worth. The estimate was for about 130 hours worth of labour. I was told it wouldn't be done in a month, more like three or four...my response was "Perfect" as that will coincide with the melting of the snow.

Anyway, the car went to the mechanical shop on Friday...I stopped in there and took the following photo:

It's already dusty, and not a great picture. Anyway, the firewall was cleaned up, but not painted. All the black stuff was painted. The inner fenders were taken down to bare metal. The underhood was sanded (not blasted to avoid raised spots) and painted as well.

The plan was for the mechanical shop to get going on the car today. I'm not exactly sure of the order they will be doing things, but they need to re-assemble some stuff (gas tank and rad had been sent out for refurbishing), install engine and get everything running, replace fuel and brake lines, etc. They expect to be done by Christmas so the car can then go back to the body shop for the rest of the winter.

I'm coming to terms with the monetary side. You can get a new car for less than what I'm putting into this car, but how many of those hold a candle to the power and style of this 'Cat?

imported_Thriller · December 8th, 2005

I got an update via e-mail yesterday...new brake lines and fuel lines are installed, the gas tank is back in place, and they were about to get started with getting the ST400 back in place. They expect the engine to be installed early next week, depending on how busy they get.

Not much worth putting any photographs to, so I don't think I'll drop by with the camera again until some time next week.

ewing · December 8th, 2005

Can't wait for the next installment with pictures!

imported_Thriller · December 10th, 2005

Should be about mid-week....

imported_Thriller · December 22nd, 2005

Well, they were delayed by additional work that came in, but the engine is now installed in the car...I'm not sure if I stopped in a day early though as they hope to be far enough along to fire it up tomorrow...if I get off work early enough tomorrow I may just pop in to hear / smell my baby. Anyway, I did take a few photos.

Here's the section of frame that got repaired / reinforced.

There's nice new brake and fuel lines....

Finally, we dropped the hoist so I could get a look at the heart...

It was all very exciting. They've had a bit of trouble finding a couple of things, so I have a shopping list now to see if I can source. The only way they were able to find motor mounts was to send out for rebuild - unfortunately, timing gets in the way of that. The mounts aren't shot, but since we are essentially building a new car, we decided it may be best to replace them. To meet the safety inspection for Manitoba, the cabin has to have integrity (so no exhaust gets in), so weatherstripping is a must. I know there is stuff out there, it is just a matter of verifying sources.

If anyone knows a source for motor mounts for a '66 full size with the 401, feel free to let me know.

imported_JohnD1956 · December 22nd, 2005

Hey Derek, Is that a copper fuel line? What did they use there, is that like the plumbers rolled copper tubing?

JD

imported_Thriller · December 22nd, 2005

It kind of looks like that, doesn't it? I was a bit surprised at the different materials, but not having seen new stuff, it didn't occur to me to ask.

imported_JohnD1956 · December 24th, 2005

It sure looks like copper to me. I wonder how that will hold up under there? It shouldn't rust but I would think you'd have to be VERY careful of any gas line freeze. At least they got it nice and straight.

Good luck

JD

imported_Thriller · December 24th, 2005

Quote:

It sure looks like copper to me. I wonder how that will hold up under there? It shouldn't rust but I would think you'd have to be VERY careful of any gas line freeze. At least they got it nice and straight.

Do you mean the line freezing or using gas line antifreeze? I can't see the latter happening as I don't expect to be driving it in cold temperatures. I didn't get back there on Friday, but I'll try to remember to ask them about that.

imported_Thriller · December 27th, 2005

I got an e-mail today that they got the car running, but they need to tune the carb and verify timing. When that is done, I'll be informed again, so I can bask in the exhaust

The mechanic working on the car has this week off, so it should be some time next week.