Update for October 13, 2008
Today was the first day since I got the car that I literally spent the whole day working on it (our workplace had a Holiday). In fact, my old bones are so tired right now, I won't be up late tonite!!
Todays menu:
1) Finished both rear brakes. Thanks again, Fred, for the brake drum, it really helped.
2) Changed out both rear shocks
3) Replaced the aging rear brake hose and the axle vent tube. While I hate to put new parts on a rusty axle, these things need done.
4) Bled the rear brakes. No leaks, and I have recovered use of my parking brake.
5) Replaced the master cylinder. Now I gotta tell ya, this was a >pain<, not because of the difficulty, but because of it's tight location. I really had to dink around with stuff. And the push rod to the pedal? That was weird, never having done one before. The other master cylinder was SHOT, the brake fluid was full of rust and sediment, and just looked awful.
Now, being overly ambitious, I ventured farther to bleed my front brakes and change out the hoses. Wow, first time I took off my front tires....
Mechanically, >everything< is wasted. I'm not only talking brakes, I am talking grease fittings, rubber pieces, boots, etc. Good grief, I >absolutely< need a front end rebuild - and new rotors - and new calipers - and new hoses, etc..
It started getting dark, I needed to eat dinner. I had to give up, and STILL NO BRAKES!!! Boy, it's frustrating to work the whole day and not feel like you got anything accomplished. We had to let the car back out of the garage and let gravity (carefully) do its thing. She sits, as usual, with bricks behind the wheels on the sloped drive. This car is a friggin piece of work, I must be a glutton for punishment.
More later on this developing story.....
Chris