Resurrection of the Red Turd, Bob's '86 SVO Mustang

[Bob Holmes]

And after today, if we catch the guys, we'll use it.

A bit of a shuffle to the left today, instead of forward progress. I didn't want to have to service the HVAC after I put the car together, so I decided to pull out the unit today. I had ordered the evaporator, so I was rearing to go. I didn't know that you had to cut an access panel in the unit to do so. Jim tells me that they are all like that, but I was surprised. If I hadn't left the system open for the last 6 years, I probably would have just left it alone.

The big killer, however, was that the blower motor looks like crap and needs to be replaced. Rusted, and ugly, it might not have failed immediately, but it was certainly going to happen. No big problem, thinks I, that should be easy to get. Nope, no store in the Sacramento region has it, no warehouse in Norcal has it. And the only one that tells me that they can get it to me by Monday is 40 minutes one-way, and won't take a CC over the phone in order to make the order.

Oh well, there are plenty of things to do, and I'll get after them tomorrow after I get back from the store.

[SuperBuickGuy]

I dunno, for an hour and twenty minutes plus fuel - I'd go all Bubba and see if it needed replacing (from Bubba's point of view). Hook the fan up, see if it's noisy. Let it run for a bit and see how hot it gets.... a bit of rust can be cured with a rattle can.

[Bob Holmes]

If it craps out I have to tear the dash out of the car...again.

Oldest son is coming over tomorrow to help. I think we'll R&R the brakes (including replacement of a broken wheel stud), get the emergency brakes hooked up, get the clutch to disengage, put the rear bumper on and put on the hood. That should take a bit of time.

[Bob Holmes]

[SuperBuickGuy]

ick

[Beagle]

good time for a heater core...

[Bob Holmes]

It has a new one, but I don't like it. Damn aluminum one that doesn't have its intake/outflow quite in the correct place.

[Bob Holmes]

Damn, hosed again. Looks like the part won't get here to earliest - Wednesday, but likely Thursday.

I took Friday off to see if I can make it driveable, get it smogged, and get to the DMV. "Watch me pull a rabbit out of my hat."

[Bob Holmes]

For those keeping score, brakes got done (broken wheel stud got removed...McParts store replacement didn't fit), part got ordered, some interior install happened. Shifter and boot installed. Niner game watched...

[SuperBuickGuy]

For those keeping score, brakes got done (broken wheel stud got removed...McParts store replacement didn't fit), part got ordered, some interior install happened. Shifter and boot installed. Niner game watched...

Let's see the score
Brakes +1
McFan -1
promised fan 0
shifter and boot +1
Niner game -9

You were doing great until the 9er game

[TheSilverBuick]

Let's see the score
Brakes +1
McFan -1
promised fan 0
shifter and boot +1
Niner game -9

You were doing great until the 9er game

[Bob Holmes]

Geebus!!!!! Its just a simple HVAC fan, why was the first one beat to shit and looked used, and then after waiting for a second one, why is it the wrong one!!!!!!!

This is the crap that sucks the fun out of the hobby. I think its time to drink...

[TheSilverBuick]

This is the crap that sucks the fun out of the hobby. I think its time to drink...

Well there's your problem. You stopped drinking to begin with.

[Bob Holmes]

Well there's your problem. You stopped drinking to begin with.

Point well taken.

[Bob Holmes]

FINAL PUSH WEEKEND!

This must be driven to work on Tuesday. I took today off to try to do some catching up, the parts snafus have been a real problem. I'm at the point where I have to decide whether or not to put back in a part that I believe will fail, the fan motor, or just leave the whole HVAC system off until the proper part shows up. Or, hack up the wrong part and force it to work. Or, pull the HVAC out of the "Hoser" and see if its better.

Then:

Get the clutch to disengage
Hookup the emergency brakes
Install the replacement wheel stud. (yet another parts snafu, apparently the SVO has a different knurl than a common '86 Mustang front disc)
Put the dash and instrument cluster back in
Bolt up the steering column
Find the right nut for the left engine mount
Rewire the fan so that it only comes on when the engine is running (Doh!!)
Align the front end.
Install the hood
Install enough of the interior so that it can be driven
Get it smogged.

YEEEEHAWWWW, we're burning daylight.