69 Fastback: First car in 1985 - Bought it back in 2011

[TexasEd 66]

Over the Christmas break I tired to install the rear brake lines and get it out of the garage.  Found that the rear brake line nuts were too far gone and they would not thread to the new wheel cylinders so I ordered new lines.

This snowballed into replacing the rear shocks before installing new brake lines to keep from damaging the new lines.

While I waited I got all four headlights installed properly.  Most did not have the spring installed properly and one light had broken due to missing rear splash shield.

Then last week I was looking at an old picture and figured out that this month is 7 years since my car has been out of the garage.  Motivation to finish it up to drive around the block this weekend.

Last night:

• replaced the rear leaf springs and shocks
• installed new rear axle brake lines
• Started bleeding brakes but stopped when it got to late for the compressor to run

Best part was my kids are getting excited.  My nine year old daughter helped with the rear shock installation since it is a two person job.

Remaining work to get it out of the garage:

• Bleed brakes
• set timing and tune carb
• lower car and torque front suspension components under load.

Pictures of progress later today and hopefully in the driveway by Monday!

 

Her birthday was Jan 16 (iirc) and we need to throw a big five-oh party.

[TexasEd 66]

Brakes Bled, timing set (still runs rough). First time out of the garage in 7 years!

Did a shadetree alignment and drove her around the block.  Had a lot of squeaks like maybe I did not install bearings right or something.  

Looking into trailering her to a shop for alignment, checking those squeaks and fine tuning it.

[RPM 835]

Kudos! Looks like a fun time was had by all. 

[TexasEd 66]

Did a lot of work on my punch list today including

• Install front spring shields
• headlight splash guards
• fixing power steering hose routing
• fix blinkers
• re-install rear seat back (after shock change)
• mount coil
• Diagnose front wheel squeaking

 

The last one is the bad news.  I installed CSRP front disk brakes and I have the original 14" steel wheels and hubcaps.  The wheels are rubbing on the hard brake line that connects the front and rear of the caliper.  I guess I need to get new 15" wheels ordered  :)

 

[aslanefe 150]

4 hours ago, TexasEd said:

Did a lot of work on my punch list today including

• Install front spring shields
• headlight splash guards
• fixing power steering hose routing
• fix blinkers
• re-install rear seat back (after shock change)
• mount coil
• Diagnose front wheel squeaking

 

The last one is the bad news.  I installed CSRP front disk brakes and I have the original 14" steel wheels and hubcaps.  The wheels are rubbing on the hard brake line that connects the front and rear of the caliper.  I guess I need to get new 15" wheels ordered  :)

 

That is the kit that uses 65-66 4 piston calipers and rotors on 69 spindle, right? I just installed a kit like that on my 69 and one point on my 14" factory steel wheels scraped the caliper. Nothing hit the hard line on the caliper. I shaved the area on the rim that scraped. Can you bend the line a little and eliminate the rubbing? If you were looking for an excuse for new wheels, never mind my suggestion.

[Mike65 356]

I am using a similar front disc brake kit that uses 65/66 K/H style calipers with the transfer tube.  I am using 68 GT styled steel wheels that came off of a 68 GT that I had back in the 80's that had factory disc brakes & the wheels clear the calipers. Here is a link to the style wheel I am using.

https://www.cjponyparts.com/wheel-vintiques-styled-steel-wheel-14-x6-original-style-1968-1969/p/W100-V/

[TexasEd 66]

Thanks guys.  I did try to bend in the line a bit but the wheels are out of round and there is still a spot that hits and I don't want to bend the lines any more.

I have been saving for new wheels and when I get my bonus and tax return I'll place the order.

Unless I hear any red flags I'm going with Specialty Wheels Magnum 500s from Coker Tire in 15x8.   Tires are a little more tricky since there are few options for 15" but I'm leaning towards Cooper Cobra P235/60 R15 on all 4 corners.Should cost about $1250 before tax and shipping including new lug nuts and pony wheel caps. 

[TexasEd 66]

This is what you do when the old wheels don't fit over your new brakes

 

 

 

[Grabber70Mach 65]

Nice choice they look good.

[TexasEd 66]

3 hours ago, Grabber70Mach said:

Nice choice they look good.

Thanks, I like your avatar.  I need to get me a Terlingua Racing sticker

[TexasEd 66]

I've been driving the car for a little over a year now.  I think I put 1,000 miles on it in the last year going to cruise-ins, classic car night at the drive in, Mustang club cruises and photo ops at landmarks.

I have a few major expenses in front of me and I've been saving up but don't have the money for all of it yet.  Paint(!) and interior.  I'm torn about starting on the interior before or after I get the paint done or waiting.

A few thoughts - I need several replacement parts to refresh the interior.  I could just do the essential and then piece part the rest. I need new seat covers, seat foam, headliner and carpet.

With the Dark Red interior I think I'll go with TMI Sport II seatfoam and covers and ACC Looped mass back for carpet. I was going to do an original headliner but I need to wait for when the car is painted for that but the MTF headliner with console looks great.  I would just need to paint it to match.

Little things like pitted courtesy lights and sun visor brackets will probably be the items I just do piece meal over a longer period of time so I can focus more money on the big things up front.

Thoughts?

 

And for AC someone pointed out to me that Classic Auto Air makes a cabinet that looks just like my dealer AC system except for the controls.  So I think that is the way I'll go.