Back to the Blue Oval

[DanStokes]

Nice vid - and car. Thanks for posting that.

Dan

[langleylad]

Great job

[milner351]

Fantastic!

[mlcraven]

2013 update 24 (last for this year)

One more week at work before the holiday stand-down begins and the social demands of Christmas bring all gearhead activity to a halt. So this is the last update for 2013 -- a year which began with the expectation of project completion (didn't happen, obviously) but nevertheless saw good progress.

Since Thanksgiving I've been assembling and fiddling with front clip gaps, including fender-to-hood, hood-to-cowl and grill/bumper etc. Tedious work that began with more door hinge adjustments (does it ever end?) and die grinder action on the hood hinge bolt holes (the Crites hood has no provision for side-to-side adjustment). With the exception of the rear-of-front-fender to leading-edge-of-door gaps, which I've deliberately left wide for the moment and will tighten up later (was worried that at their final dimension I'd chip paint tweaking fenders from side-to-side) and the piece of aluminum trim that goes along the front edge of the hood (long story, but it's going to be a project in its own right), I'm calling the front clip done. (see pics at the end of this post).

So, for 2014:

Big Things (either because of expense or labor, or both):
- headliner and rear window/trim install
- window glass and power mechanism install, including replacement of 2x window motors and 4x nylon sprockets)
- package shelf/door panel refresh and install
- carpet install and door sill replacement
- seats and seat belts
- roof rail seals and trim

Not-so-big-things (he says with great hope):
- fix transmission drip (never should have used silicone sealant without a pan gasket -- stupid shortcuts = FAIL)
- troubleshoot tail/brake lights + rear turn signals (suspect ground issue, license plate light works fine)
- troubleshoot instrument lights (again, prob a ground issue)

Small things:
- adjust neutral-safety-start switch on column
- tighten up front-fender-to-door gaps to proper spec
- front end alignment
- check plugs and adjust carb jetting (if/as required)
- replace plastic oil pressure line with stainless
- re-torque all fasteners

Have the feeling that there's going to be a requirement for expectation adjustment -- Beaver Bob's 2nd Annual FE Reunion in PA at end-Apr remains the goal but hopefully there'll be a 3rd event in 2015 just in case!

Wishing all Bangshifters and their families a Merry Christmas and safe relaxing holiday season.

Best regards,

[JOES66FURY]

Boy, I am in love with that color on that car...the chrome really pops. and the light interior looks fantastic....Normaly I am a black interior kinda guy....not this time....


Great work, cant wait to see it done...really cool to see it progress to this point...

[langleylad]

Car looks great Michael , All the best to you and your family this holiday season

[mlcraven]

Car looks great Michael , All the best to you and your family this holiday season

Thanks. Wishing you and yours a good one too. Will the elf in the red suit be bringing Cougar parts?

[langleylad]

Thanks. Wishing you and yours a good one too. Will the elf in the red suit be bringing Cougar parts?

He has been here quite a few times this month already , in fact he's traded in his red suit and sleigh for a brown suit and brown truck . I have a feeling he'll be back . Funny thing is my garage feels like the north pole at the moment . Thanks

[mlcraven]

2014 Progress So Far

After a lengthy break a week ago I became keen to get this project moving again. Have my hotel room booked for the Beaver Springs FE Reunion at the end of April and would like to be there with the car, so momentum is essential.

Nothing picture worthy, but over the past few days there's been progress:
- resolved tail/brake/back-up lights and rear turn signal issue, as expected it turned out to be a ground problem. Funny how re-chromed bezels mounted to re-painted fender extensions will screw up the ground -- a pain to track down but easy to fix
- fixed instrument lights (another ground issue sorted, this time underdash)
- sorted out neutral-safety-start switch
- tightened up front-fender-to-door gaps
- replaced plastic oil pressure line with braided stainless

[milner351]

Love it.

[mlcraven]

The Cyclone is finished, completed at the end of last July -- or at least, as complete as any hobby car ever is. Bought myself some of that Hagerty classic car insurance at the beginning of August and was on the road. It's proven to be a great highway cruiser, really hauls the mail in the passing lane, and is mostly trouble-free. Certainly a fuel pig (most FEs are) but at least consistently so: 12 mpg around town, 12 mpg at 55 mph, 12 mpg at 75 mph -- makes road trip budgeting a piece of cake. Lot of lessons learned, probably the biggest of which is how easy it is to buy a $5000 car, spend $15,000 restoring it, and end up with a $12,000( my guesstimate) car. Oh well, the hobby isn't about the money, is it?

It gets lots of nice comments at local shows, even the Chev and Mopar fellows offer compliments

Few pics:

[mlcraven]

Before (Aug 2010) and after (Jul 2014)

[G-Motive]

She turned out beautiful mike. The thing I like most aside from the job you did is the rarity of the car itself, you don't see very many.

[DanStokes]

I'm guessing it's worth all of $20K. It's beautiful and rare. And fun to own and drive, I'm sure. But no, it's not a good way to make money!

Dan

[Deaf Bob]

A beauty! ..
True car guys do not stick with one brand..
I like em all.. Just happen to have chevies.