1965 pace car restoration

[TerryM]

Did you have to do any special prep besides polishing before anodizing?
Not too many shops left in the US that will anodize.

No, just had to make sure everything was polished extremely well. The shop I use has stopped doing the polishing and repair work now. So the better I prepare the surface the better the finish. It’s best to machine polish the surface instead of hand polishing. As hand polishing sometimes leaves it hazy under the surface. Machine polishing gives you a better overall finish after anodising.

 

[TerryM]

Did you have to do any special prep besides polishing before anodizing?
Not too many shops left in the US that will anodize.

There was quite a fair bit of sanding prior to polishing. Also the anodiser recommended to machine polish everything really good and steer clear of hand polishing. He said the hand polishing makes the very top layer look great but when the bits go through the process it converts the top couple of layers if that makes sense? On bigger surfaces you can end up with dull or cloudy spots. My bits should be ready by the end of next week so I will post pics of how they turn out.

 

[TerryM]

One side finished today. It was a slow process removing the old bearing and retainer but it all went together ok.

View attachment 347266

 

[TerryM]

Finished the last of the bearing and seal replacement today. Brakes are also now finished and ready for bleeding. Still need to finish setting up the park brake hopefully tomorrow. Spent a few hours installing a new windshield in my sons 42 willys Jeep.

 

[TerryM]

Received my park brake cable grommet today. This page has helped me so much with advice. Another piece of the puzzle sorted. I’ve fitted the cables and all set up and working now. I had the cables zinc plated which gives them a nice crisp look. Also sorting a little more of the engine bay. Hopefully will send the block out for a rebuild in the next month. New shocks arrived today so that will be my next thing to do. Also took a drive to check out another local 65 convertible. There’s 6 of them within a 120mile radius of me here. Not much other models that I know of except for a mates 68 sport fury convertible tucked away in a shed up the road from me.

 

[TerryM]

Installed the rear shock absorbers tonight. Need to fill the diff with oil, fit the fuel sender unit and tighten up the tank straps to finish the rear end of the car. Need to give everything a good clean underneath as there’s a bit of rust proof here and there.

 

[TerryM]

Finished the engine bay wiring today. Also fitted new front shocks, sway bar and the bump stops. Went through and tightened up the front as much as I can with my shoulders. Will have to get someone to go through and retighten for me once the car is nearly finished.

 

[TerryM]

Fitted the new rear bumper seal today. Also having some dramas with the new sender unit. Could not get it to fit. I dug out one of my spare tanks that had a sender still in it and they are totally different. I’ve used the float off the new one and will try the old sender first till I can find a better one. I’ve never had issues with Vans stuff except for this piece

 

[Clay Harrison]

Can you clarify could not get it to fit?

 

[TerryM]

Can you clarify could not get it to fit?

The angle is wrong. The tube hits the bottom of the tank

 

[Polara_500]

The angle is wrong. The tube hits the bottom of the tank

Still kinda hard to see, but I did my best to line the various incorrect ones up with the correct original.

 

[TerryM]

Still kinda hard to see, but I did my best to line the various incorrect ones up with the correct original.
View attachment 350050

I’m away for the next day but tomorrow I’ll drag my spare tank out and sit the sender in andrajj oh d some pics. I bought this sender 2 yrs ago. Not sure if there was an issue with that batch? As I’ve read someone else had same ussue

 

[TerryM]

Dropped the drivers seat out tonight so I could get under the dash and finish the wiring. Hooked the battery up just to see if anything would work. First time in over 40 years and it’s alive. I think I haven’t installed the front indicator globes as there’s a fault going on. But everything else seems to be good. I was surprised with the heater motor and wiper motor as they were both very rusty prior to me stripping, cleaning and reassembling. Horns want to work but I think I’ll chase up a good working set. I managed to get the Lo horn to work directly to a battery, but it was hit and miss. I gather they are pretty gummed up inside. Dash lights didn’t work but Hopefully will sort tomorrow. Next job is to bleed the top pump and rams and see if the top goes up and down correctly. It was really rusted up solid. I had to soak it in a citric acid bath for a few weeks and also use sone freezing agent and lots of persuasion to get it to eventually free up. It does seem to go up and down manually ok but a little notchy.

 

[bigmoparjeff]

I see that the dash turn indicators are on and you mentioned an issue with the dash lights and turn signals. If the dash turn indicators are coming on when you turn on the running lights, that's usually a bad ground somewhere.

Jeff

 

[livininharrow]

looking good brother. where did you get your rubber hood bumpers from. the ones I have seen on ebay are not even close to being the same. keep up the amazing work cheers Paul

 

[TerryM]

looking good brother. where did you get your rubber hood bumpers from. the ones I have seen on ebay are not even close to being the same. keep up the amazing work cheers Paul

Hi mate I bought new ones locally here in Australia to suit the early Valiants which the rubber was identical. I have spare second hand ones if you want them?

 

[livininharrow]

I am looking for the 4 rubbers that go along the inside of the fenders under the hood. the ones that fit into the slots. thanks bud.

 

[TerryM]

I am looking for the 4 rubbers that go along the inside of the fenders under the hood. the ones that fit into the slots. thanks bud.

Ahh ok. Mine are original ones I’ve saved. Although I don’t have the 2 front ones. I have a spare set of rear ones which I was going to modify. Hopefully someone will repop them at some stage

 

[TerryM]

Finally got the convertible pump sorted and bled. The top is still a bit slow to get moving up from the folded position. I found the frame is still a little tight. It was rusted solid in the open position for over 40years. It took quite a lot of work to eventually free it up a couple of yrs ago. I spent the day slowly getting some oil into all the pivots and working it up and down. Also got the rear seat and side covers installed. After a couple of years of drought and in the last 3 months severe bush fires, were now in the middle of flooding. Tonight trying to keep water out of the shed.

 

[LocuMob]

Stay dry!