I generally dont like Galaxies because of the size of them, however I like this one, I have never seen such a straight clean bodied 50 year old car, you got real lucky there. Nice.
The last couple of days the weather has still been cold, so it was just a matter of doing some things that need to be done. I got the rear tires mounted on the epay Torq Thrusts. Its funny just how big the wheels look now compared to when the tires were on the Centerlines. The right side wheel mounted on the car without any issues, I knew that the fender clearance on the left side was going to be touch and go. Not only did it turn out to be touch it was more like hard pressed when the car was lowered on to the ground. So out came some tape and the angle grinder. About 5/8ths of an inch was removed from the inner lip along the top of the wheel opening. I was careful not to cut into where the inner and outer fenders are welded. The good old fashioned knockometer helped persuade the inner fender to get closer to the out fender and freeing up a bunch of room. Now the fender would happily accommodate the wider offset of the new rim at the ride height.
The weather has continued to be lousy, it meant work would continue with the dash components. The instrument cluster was hooked up, the heater controls was refitted, the bezels etc, Made sure that the controls are working and moved onto ensuring the hood to fenders and door gaps are right.
Been trying to get things done under the hood, took the 6 shooters off and rebuilt them with new gaskets to try and seal up some leaks. Got the carbs back on the car, fuel was running out of the back carb. Tried to get the float level right and it ran like a dog doing razor blades. Had to remove all the carbs to get to the back carb. Checked the needle and seat and discovered that the thread in the bowl was stripped. It was then I noticed that all the screws attaching the accelerator pumps on the 3 carbs were different. 2 of the carbs had an oversized screw that attaches the bowls to the carbs!. I was starting to get really pissed off that the carbs had been phucked with and badly! I now know the frustration that some folks here have had to endure when they have bought multi carb setups and had trouble trying to get the engines to run right. In the meantime little bro has come good with a carb that I can rat the bowl off and get the carbs back on the car.
You are correct, the issue is not the carbs, I am just a little surprised at the amateurish work that was done. Another example was on the center carb, one of the screws that attaches the butterfly was missing, so the genius who worked on it. decided to replace the screw, big problem was that it was way too long and could have jammed the throttle wide open!
Had been laid low with the flu, got to work on the car today and got the carb issues sorted out. Went through all the carbs again, made sure that the floats were all set right. Chased out a couple of minor leaks, fired her up and it ran real good, not leaks, no stutters. Another job has been knocked over.
Thanks Elvis81, the car came complete with all the trim in good condition and they only needed a polish.
Did some more work on the car, found out for certain that the ignition switch needs to be replaced. While the engine was running, the starter motor would engage! It made a hell of a racket and had to rush to turn the ignition off. Changed over the valve covers to some new pent roof ones and sort of just made engine a bit larger. Got a few more things to sort out in the engine bay before that's completed. The weather is getting better and wont be long before the clear goes on the car and can finish off the interior trim and carpet. Painted the headlight buckets, polished up the headlight retaining rings, they look like new. Still got to get a few small things like door, hood bump stops.
The picture below is just after I pulled the original valve cover off the car and replaced it with the new ones. It sort of left me a little stunned.
Beautiful car and great job. Not to knock anyone off subject but, I have never sanded/removed paint and prepped and primed a body. But I have a '65 Marauder project that I would like to try this on. No body work or color, just removal of the old paint and an attempt at the primer. You guys think this is do-able for a novice? I know there are plenty of links on the subjects and I am researching but I see something great like Wreckingball has done and I want to jump right in. Thanks
You can do anything, it's just a matter of which method, time and dollars you want to spend. The condition of the paint on my car was so bad, the only option was to completely remove it. I would have liked to have it media blasted, the dollars I was being quoted instantly killed that. I tried chemical removal, it worked on the hood, roof and trunk. In the end I used a plastic media wheel that just ripped the paint off. You have to be careful not to build up heat in the panels, otherwise its going to be more work and time to fix something that is completely avoidable.
Thanks- When I get home from this hellhole I'm in, I am going to lock myself in the garage and start stripping right away. Good luck, she's a ral beauty!
The weather finally improved where the final top coat and clear coats could be applied and this was done yesterday or should I say we finished it at 11.30 last night. I am really pleased with the result and the next stage will be to color sand, compound and buffing. The stainless will be able to go back on and start hanging the lights, bumpers etc. Bought an aftermarket ignition switch and barrel to replace the original which had been giving me a lot of grief. I removed the original and hooked up the new unit and tried to start the car, nothing? Swapped back to the original and the car started, swapped the new one in and nothing!! Its going back to where I bought it from and will be getting a refund. I did some checking and the switch was made in China. Just looking at this morning made almost forget about the ignition switch and I will be getting a new starter as the original is polling badly.
You're doing a fine job so far. I couldn't believe how great the stripped, original sheet metal was. Keep up the good work.......
Thanks to all for the good words, its very encouraging. There is still a ways to go. Will be installing a new starter as the original is polling badly, guess its due to the fact that it was sitting for so long when it was in the States,with its age and weather conditions the gremlins have gotten to it.
Its been awhile since I was able to do some work on the car, I had a bad bout of the flu and some complications had set in and still managed to damage my Achilles tendon in my right foot. Anyways things turned around, installed the new Powermaster starter and ran into some electrical gremlins. When the key is turned to Ignition, the starter engages! My brother had decided to start color sanding and compounded the rear quarter panel and here is the result. As you can see I have started to refit the bright stuff has started to go on the car and am feeling pretty good about. The coming days is going to see a whole lot more of color sanding, there seems to be acres of sheet metal that needs to be done.
Here are a couple of more pics. It shows depending on the angle and light conditions the color changes. There is still a ton of work to be done. Some of the front suspension rubbers are going have to be changed as they have perished. The seats have to be re-covered, the carpet to be installed. I have a few stainless pieces that I still need to be polish. Still got to do the window fuzzies and am trying to locate a supplier for the roof rail seals, the originals are shot and don't keep the weather or the wind out.
Man, I am sitting here at work and just read thru this entire build! This Bitch is Wicked Nice! I wish my galaxie was in half as good of shape as this one! Great job Bro! CHUCK
I'm liking the this whole car, the wheels, the color... I get to letter a '61 tomorrow for next weeks Billetproof Drags... this is just the initial Photochop.
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