My 83 Wagon

[mikester]

Mich,
I hope today is a better day for you. I'm keeping my fingers crossed and keeping a good thought for you. 😣All the best, my friend.

Just came in for something to eat but I was working on the car for a few hours today. I put a mechanical gauge in place of the sender. Started the motors got close to 60lbs. I left it running at idle until it got to 180 and the pressure didnt move. Unfortunately I had to take the carb off to get the electric sender off the 45 degree fitting since I couldnt get to the fitting with a wrench. I want to take the car down the street to put a load on the motor but I cant put the throttle linkage bracket back on with the gauge mounted the way it is.
Im going back out to remove the gauge and hook it up with a length of tubing so I can try to drive it tonight. Im REALLY hoping it was just the sender. I ran out to the speed shop at 4PM to grab a new one just in case since theyre closed tomorrow. 40 minutes there, 40 back.

 

[mikester]

An update. Looks like it was bad sender after all. I hooked up the SW mechanical gauge with some tubing and zip tied it to the wiper arm. 60+ lbs at idle. Drove it up and down my street six times at different speeds. Right around 2 miles. The pressure stayed between 40-45lbs. Nothing lower.
Tomorrow morning the new sender goes in. I was sweating this one !!! LOL

 

[Longroof79]

An update. Looks like it was bad sender after all. I hooked up the SW mechanical gauge with some tubing and zip tied it to the wiper arm. 60+ lbs at idle. Drove it up and down my street six times at different speeds. Right around 2 miles. The pressure stayed between 40-45lbs. Nothing lower.
Tomorrow morning the new sender goes in. I was sweating this one !!! LOL

That's good news, Mich.
I know you were going thru a major anxiety issue....rightfully so. I'm glad things are starting to look up.

 

[mikester]

That's good news, Mich.
I know you were going thru a major anxiety issue....rightfully so. I'm glad things are starting to look up.

Jack, your right. Major anxiety ! LOL
The last thing I wanted to do is pull that motor again. After driving it up and down my road all I can think about now is getting it finished. I'll be putting the new sender in when I get out there in a little while. Then I'll probably pull the spindles apart after that. Shouldnt take that long and its not that hot out today. Ive got two bags of new shims for the front end shop so maybe I can get the alignment done soon.
Dont forget, right after this I have to yank the 406 out of the 81 to fix the oil leak. It never ends. HAHAHA

 

[motorheadmike]

It never ends.

It really doesn't.

But, this is great news.

 

[mikester]

Getting closer. Back on the ground with $50 junk tires just so it rolls.

 

[mikester]

Finally got the left inner fender in and the cars back on the ground. Lots of paint chips and scratches on the frame and suspension. Oh well, it was never meant to be a show car. Still havent purchased tires and rims. Gotta put the hood back on.
I need to have it aligned and have to get an exhaust system. Hopefully in the next two weeks.

 

[Flyers9928]

Finally got the left inner fender in and the cars back on the ground. Lots of paint chips and scratches on the frame and suspension. Oh well, it was never meant to be a show car. Still havent purchased tires and rims. Gotta put the hood back on.
I need to have it aligned and have to get an exhaust system. Hopefully in the next two weeks.

View attachment 186530

So clean and smooth!

 

[mikester]

So clean and smooth!

Thanks

 

[mikester]

All the rally wheels are now the same color. Cars back on the ground. Im getting it aligned this week. Next is an exhaust and eventually new wheels and tires. Some small things to do. I have to pop the door panels off to put in the vapor barrier and I might have the fronts redone in all cloth. I was always on the fence about the vinyl on the top. I also have to buy another set of belt moldings. The guy in the body shop did a crap job of trimming the outers on the drivers side. Theres at least a 5/8" gap at the front and the angles wrong. Hack. I should have put them on myself.

As soon as the exhaust is done on the wagon the motor on the 81 comes out for a new timing chain cover and gasket. Not like I really want to do it but I dont have much of a choice. Its leaking pretty bad. Live and learn.
While the motors on the stand Im going to change a few wires in the engine harness so it will be a little neater. Shouldnt take more than a couple of hours. When I was doing the wiring on the wagon I realized I could fit them into a much smaller diameter split loom. Looks a little better.