Ted "Wildcat65" Nagel

Plumbing- Fuel-radiator/heater core-exhaust-brake bleeding-hydraulic clutch...so many connections. Ordered long case ultra flow welded mufflers. Battery cables came but starter wire not in stock so we will clean up the old one temporarily. I was hoping to get up to the shop yesterday but had to cancel, so the bespoke and curated parts I've been collecting will have to wait a week. Happiness will be January in my rear view mirror!

WTB 65 Riviera Wood Wheel complete assembly. Hub and horn are a must. Thanks!

Wanted: one or 2 Power Seat Switch. Single toggle, mounts on the seat. Also looking for Non Power seat tracks for a 65 Wildcat bucket seat interior. I broke the toggle on my riv, Mark lost the "good " one I sent for Sahara so I sent the one off "Felix". I've 2 parts bucket power seat mechanisms and both need an inside track bit that bolts to the floor. Thank you

Every mod makes itself known when the engine goes in...brake line I fabbed in the way, line for hydraulics interfered, shorty headers close to things...but a great day to have the ol 425 back in the frame. Cheery Hello!

Moving along, great job!

Great question and well answered. Thanks!

Engine is only a few feet away from the engine bay again. One of the modifications is visible here...TA Performance shorty headers. The Tremec requires a needle bearing pilot instead of the bronze bushing I got from Carmen. I have to have a bushing fabricated that will house the needle bearing. Then we can bolt up the billet flywheel, clutch assembly and get it together for the bleeding of the hydraulic clutch. I can share that this is a critical point as there is little access to the hydraulic throw out bearing inside the bell housing once it is together. Happy new year!

1963 Grill Ornament - NOS and near perfect 1356673 LeSabre or Electra. $225 + Shipping

64 LeSabre Wagon-3.08 65 Wildcats - 3.08 with automatics; 3.42 with a 4-speed 67 Wildcat - was an open 3.08, now 3.42 69 and 70 Stage 1 - 3.64 65 Special Wagon- came with 3.23, my favorite. 65 GS - 3.31 65 Riv 3.23 65 Electra - was 3.08 - now 3.23 posi I may be a wee obsessed with them. I've got 3.91 gears for a special occasion.

Console in color now, Radio delete, shiny pulleys. Onward through the fog!

Engine for this car was built and tested on a dynomometer a few years ago. I borrowed it to make my 64 Wagon run, which it did very well! But back to its original purpose- motivation for the 65. Getting it out, cleaned and re dresssed for the 5-speed application in the next few weeks. Here it is freshly plucked from the KX wagon, the 2 engines before the dyno, the X-code manifold that is going on the engine

70 was displayed at MCACN - Speed Detailing & Jax Wax fixed the paint on the 70 so the black car will get the treatment to get the swirl marks in that black paint. I'm currently fixing the dash for the 65. Next: engine retrieval.

Door handles rechromed and installed. Locks and keys were hiding from Steve- some of my past projects have key matching problems, so I was really focused on having a properly curated lock selection Bag of keys and locks found, ready to finish this part of the job.

Steve repaired, prepped and primed the console. Next comes the red...

This under dash stuff is almost done. So much easier without the dash in the way. Hopefully the plan to put the dash in as a unit pays off. It is the last year of a very complicated assembly.

https://www.rubbertherightway.com/#loadContent.filterValuesRequest,filter_id_55=55|57,filter_id_41=41|74,filter_id_61=61|168 Maybe these guys- I've used them for 65 stuff - had to be cut to fit but turned out nice. Beltline weatherstrip. While you have the electric motors out I would take them apart and lube the gears, check the armature contacts and test run the electric motor. I helped a friend with a 69 Electra fix his driver door window motor last September. Looking good!

I saw Tom Mooney on Saturday - then later saw a picture with caption indicating he was the previous owner. Great looking car!

I did drive one into the MCACN show...not many feet but in great company! 1) Mine, Thursday night load in 2) Mike Sobotka's 71 Burnished Cinnamon Stage 1 4-speed curated by Adam and Atena Martin 3) Mike Sobotka's 70 Stage 1 Teal Mist Stage 1 Convertible - Adam's fantastic restoration.

Darwin Falk offered this on EBay so guess what. It is going in this car! Rare radio Delete plate. The only one I've seen before was on a black 4-door @ Kokomo BCA nats.

It was purchased as an engine stand but it is so cheap it stared bending when I tried to put a long block 425 on it. It is working well for a dash stand though

Of course the situation on the car is a little different. When I got the transmission I specified the shifter position to be as far back as possible. I think there are more options now but in 2003 this was the best I could do. Off to the chopper.

Meanwhile Steve has the rest of the car and we are trying to work out how the shifter and console will work. First, the shifter will have to look like a 64 "boomerang" style. Here is what I want mocked up with a real 64 stick.

Yesterday was sorting spaghetti day. Trying to assemble all the wire harness and attach with original style fasteners. I swear they hide from me the day I need them. Had to get a new soldering gun - made me realize how long I've had the old one. It would not melt butter. New one much needed. I had to harvest wires and connectors from 3 parts harnesses.

test fitting parts