This is more or less me trying to convince myself. And somewhat of a ramble about what I need to do versus what I want to do.
I am not going to take the car any further apart.
I am not going to take the car any further apart.
I am not going to take the car any further apart.
I am not going to take the car any further apart.
I am not going to take the car any further apart.
Help! It isn't working. I WANT to take it apart.
I keep reading other people's posts and it is making me want to do more than I have planned.
It is already much further apart than I had planned when I bought it. But then I thought it was complete and just needed some stuff finished up to at least be drivable.
I still need to take the rear bumper off so I can do the bumper move. I just can't decide which way to go.
I'd like to remove the reinforcement stuff for weight. But the other way seems easier to me, even though it is more work.
I guess part of the problem is that I can't picture how to reattach the bumper once the inner stuff is gone like some have done. And I really want the bumpers tucked all the way up against the body. But with the inner stuff still attached, the stupid things are really too heavy for me to work with.
Interior is out of the car except for the dash. The dash doesn't need to come out, there is nothing wrong with it or the body behind it. Repeat that until it sinks in Russ.
Trans is missing
, and engine will be out later today, I hope. Yet another thing I hadn't planned on doing, but it is really a must so I can check out the damage on the driver's side inner fender. Once the engine is out I can really start work on the engine compartment. That shouldn't take much cash. It is really pretty clean, not a lot of grease. Give it a good scrubbing, should look much better. Then I have to figure out what to do about the damaged area. Replacing the inner fender is beyond me. Most likely I will do what I usually do in these situations. Patch it up the best I can and live with it. I am thinking putting some sheet metal on the outside of it and seeing if I can weld up most of the holes. I've got two grinders, so grinding down the welds isn't a problem.
As long as the damage isn't structural I am not too worried. I'd just like to make it look better and make sure it doesn't spread. If it is structural, I am going to cry.
And then figure out how to make it safe at least. I can't lose another car to something I should have seen before buying it.
About all that is left is suspension and glass. And doors. I am NOT taking them off, I can't lift that much weight anymore. Although I do need to rebuild the hinges. If I could get an 8 inch rear I'd take this one off. But I am not doing that until I have one. Glass will need to come out when I have the car painted, but that is a long ways off. Better to keep it installed and reasonably protected. And to keep the water out when it does rain like it did tonight. About had to man the lifeboats.
I see a couple of people who have done the wooden body tilter that I had posted about a few years ago. I keep thinking that I can do that, I HAVE done that with a much bigger car. But since there is no rust on this car I don't NEED to do that. I don't think I have the room to do it anyway. Besides, I don't NEED to do that. Lather, rinse and repeat, Russ, until it sinks in.
No point in taking the front suspension off yet. I want to rebuild it, but until I have the money to do it I need to keep the car rolling at least. I haven't even really looked at it. I am just going to rebuild it, it has to be bad at this point. Rubber doesn't do well here in the desert.
And I need to work on the battery box/storage area yet. I have it pretty much planned out in my head, just need to do it. I'll have to bolt the framwork together for now, but eventually I'd like to weld it together. At least this is something I can do most of the work now. I'll have to decide what to use for the box at some point. Needs to be strong enough so that it won't collapse if I set something on it. I will have lots of framing to help prevent that.
I might as well remove the gas tank. I have no idea how long the car has sat, but I am sure the tank needs cleaned at least. i don't even know if there is any gas in it.
Thanks,
Russ