Laughing Coyote

I picked up the leaf springs last week and already started to put some paint on them. I've also started working the upper and lower control arms. I did manage to find a good price for the front bushings that I needed. Had to research a lot of part suppliers, but found the lowest price and free shipping. I started working the differential too. Have to rent an axle puller so I can get the axles out and pull the third member and see what it looks like. I managed to get the drivers rear inner fender well all cleaned up. Just have the other side to do. Not a fun job. I will post some pictures shortly.

While I was at the Air Force base today I came out to the parking lot after a haircut and saw this Plymouth convert out all by itself. Nice looking car.

Came across a nice 1928 Nash on the local CL. Looks to be a great restore project for someone. https://tucson.craigslist.org/cto/5444292655.html

Today I had to run errands around town and drop off products. I stopped by the coaters and asked her how much to blast the springs and she said no charge. She wants to work out things in trade. That works for me.

I now have the rear leaf springs all taken apart and ready to go the the coaters to get cleaned up. I did noticed that when I took them apart that they used some kind of webbing material at the ends so the springs don't squeak. I also found an NOS differential bumper on Ebay so that arrived today and was installed. The old one had a chunk missing. I attached a picture of the one spindle I have all done too. I have to get some caster wheels so I can fabricate a body cart so I can roll the car body in and out so it makes for ease of working on it.

Roger, All the space in that model is tight. I don't know how you even get tools or parts mounted in those areas. The windows will come to you. I'm sure you have figured out a lot of complicated things like this. Coming along very well.

Today was a good day! I received my re-built heater core and got two packages of smaller parts that I ordered for the brakes and wheel cylinders. I've been getting really busy with work so that life thing is trying to derail my progress, but I'm not going to let it. I have to stay focused and press on. I got a spindle cleaned up and painted so I have to work the other one next. Still looking into the bushing issue. One of my friends wants me to build him a good sized welding table so that will contribute to the car fund. It's always nice to get those kind of jobs to help support a project.

Thanks Greg. I will check it out. I need all the lower bushings and all the ball joints so I can complete the front end when I get to that point. Still have a ways to go, but I like to have my stuff ready to go when it's time. I have an email out to another company and I should hear back from them on their kit. I also should know about the rear ones this week too. I know PST doesn't offer the big bushing in their kit.

I will check it out Bleach. Thanks for the info. Roger, not sure why they would have discontinued something if it worked. I will have to do more research and see what I can dig up.

Here is some pictures of the anti harsh ride suspension and a picture of the frame waiting for it's big day. Other than that I have been ordering replacement parts and doing cleaning and blasting of parts. Should have more pictures to post next week.

Thanks Paul, It was factory on the 61 and 62 from what I have found in some research and they did away with it in 63. It's designed to allow the lower control arm to flex back a little to absorb impacts in the road (like big bumps and pot holes) The rear leaf springs have a rubber block that helps do the same thing. I will post some images tonight. The rear blocks I'm going to have made by the same company that did my trans mount and brake pedal pad.

Hey flyermark, I know the pains of life you're dealing with too. I told myself this year I got to get moving on it.. Was getting tired of looking at it and nothing getting done. Thanks for following the progress. I spoke with the owner of the powder coaters and she said she we can do some horse trading on the blast job of the frame. I will probably give her some cash to cover the blasters time and their media. I have been running into an issue with the lower control arm bushings. The car came with the anti harsh front and rear suspension and there is one big oval bushing that no one carries. So this posses a problem. I will have to do a lot of research and see what my options are. I may have to change out the lower control arm with a 1961 Galaxie and use standard bushings. I hope this doesn't put a wrench in it my progress.

The frame is on the trailer and have been stripped of everything. It's ready to go when I am. After hot washing the drums I had a outer bearing race fall out. I thought, "Well that's not suppose to happen". So after a closer look I found out that the one hub was about .030 bigger than the race. You could see where it wore a grove right in it. I bet that had a vibration issue. I pressed off the drums which wasn't to fun. They were on the hubs pretty good. Once off I decided to bore it out enough to clean up the ID and put in a sleeve. I machined a sleeve for it and pressed it in. After that turned the ID to the final size. Now it's just like repaired new. Waiting to get my new bearings in for them and that will be done. Put a nice coat of cast paint on them.

Today I took the drums and front backing plates to my neighbors so he can hot tank them. I included a picture of some of the parts that I have already blasted and painted. I found some marking on the outside of the frame rail so I have to measure and document them so I can recreate them once it's been painted. I will be loading the frame on his flat bed trailer until it's time to take it to the powder coater.

Yes. The car will retain all the original colors. The only thing I will be doing different is adding dual exhaust instead of the single. I like the engine to breath.

Bleach. The color is called Tawny Beige. It's a yellowish/tan color. Definitely a 60's color.

I know I said I was going to pull the frame next week. I guess it's next week already. I decided to just get it done since everything was off of it that needed to be. Didn't take much. Now I have to do some light scrubbing to see what I can see for markings. I will be taking off the last of the pieces later on in the week so it will be ready for sand blasting.

Thanks John. I got the differential pulled out after 50+ years. Still has the original shocks and they still work good. Now I have plenty of room to work under there. I sand blasted and painted the shock perches and U bolts. The rear spring shackles are all cleaned up and painted too. Will be pulling the frame next week. Moving right along now. The warm weather makes it nice. My neighbor is going to hot tank the front drums and backing plates. They're pretty greasy from the wheel cylinders leaking.

I'm glad it's not covered in heavy undercoating or rusted badly Kieser. Once the frame is out of the way I can get it done easier. Roger. I'm going to strip the frame of what I can and then roll it out from under the car with wheeled flat carts. Did some more demo on the frame today. Getting closer to getting it down to just the frame. The rear differential and leafs are ready to come out too. A lot going on now. Can't wait to get it blasted and painted. Once it's out I have to hunt for any markings so I can re add them after paint. The coils have some nice ones on them still. Got to get them cleaned up and see what the colors are. It's all in the details.

Well I have decided to pull the frame out from under the body and get it sand blasted. I already pulled the wheels and started to tear into it. The lower ball joints have been unseated and the springs are ready to come out and then I can tear down the entire front suspension. Have to get a spring compressor since all the weight is out of the front of the car. The rear diff is just about ready to come out also. The weather has been great. In the mid 80's (sorry to rub it in for the folks that are in the cold parts of the country). I should have it all out in a week or two. I have a little project to do for the powder coater so I'm hoping we can work it out in a trade deal. I'm also in the process of putting in a 400 sq ft garden. Want to try growing some good natural veggies. So, needless to say I'm very busy all the way around. I guess that keeps me out of trouble.

Here is a nice one in Tucson AZ. Not the same body style ,but a coupe that is rust free and probably cheaper than doing all the repair work one that one. Just my opinion. https://tucson.craigslist.org/cto/5433935859.html

Yes Roger they add a little pop of color. I received my power brake booster earlier this week and it looks great. Power brake booster exchange in Portland OR. rebuilt it for me. There number is 503-238-8882 if anyone is looking for a booster rebuild source. I also cleaned up my wiper cowl and put a coat of primer on it. Waiting for the heater core to come back so I can finish up with the heater box that I took out and refinished a while back. Got to get back on cleaning the under side of the body so I can get that part done.

Actually I have one and I use it quite a bit. Mainly for engraving aluminum, but I have used it for cutting out aluminum pieces that I designed. Some pieces were 1/2" thick. You take lighter cuts, not like a full size mill. They do work pretty good and hold tolerances. I bought a 2D software program that you design the part in and it will convert it to G code so you can cut. They also offer a 3D software program so you can do 3D stuff. This is what I have. http://www.taigtools.com/mmill.html

Since the weather has warmed up a bit and dried out I was able to get my hood hinges cleaned up and painted. I also received the new springs for them too. Had to put a coat of red paint on them. That's the color on the old springs that came on the car and I had some pictures of the exact same car with 18K on the clock. So I would say they are suppose to be red. The booster has been shipped out along with the heater core. Can't wait to get them back. Then off the transmission goes to get checked out.

Yes they are 14".