Always has to be 1 screw...

Well...its been really nice here in Pueblo for late Jan...close to 70 degrees...so that means I've been out working on the cruiser!  I've mostly been working on paint removal.  So far I've managed to get the headlight mounts out of the bib and the bib stripped of paint.  I also worked on the bib cover...its about 3/4 of the way stripped.  I must say the paint they used on it...black spray paint most likely...really gives off terrible fumes with the paint remover.  Good thing I've been able to work out side on it.  I've also continued to remove things...the windshield wipers and motor are now off the windshield frame...I've removed a few of the broken bolts and I've continued to soak stuck screws and bolts.  I've been trying to get the windshield frame off for some time...but most of the screws are rusted into place.  So far out of the 8 screws...I've managed to get 5 loose...still plenty of penetrating fluid and beating them with a hammer to go I'm sure.  Yesterday I managed to get the top taken apart.  This was kind of challenging with all the broken bolts.  Apparently the seal for the top leaked and every one of the bolts was nothing but rust!  But I did managed to get the top sides separated from the roof.  I also managed to get the lift gate off.  I was working on disassembling it...but one screw wouldn't come out...imagine that right?  There always seems to be one that won't budge.  So its soaking in penetrating fluid.  I know one thing that I will enjoy after the restore is being able to use the rear hatch once I replace the outside handle...before you had to crawl into the back to open it.  Luckily all the hardware seems good...the lift gate shocks are good...still plenty of gas in them...now its just a matter of getting all the hardware off...painted and rusted on...

I also have done some research this week on the motor.  I know its not the original F series motor and had a nearly identical GM replacement.  I thought it was a GM 235 which is almost identical to the motor that came in it.  Well...after finding all the casting numbers and searching GM motor online info...I found out that I actually have a "hot six"...a GM 292!  So that means bigger engine...more horsepower...about 175 and I've probably been babying it too much thinking it was a smaller, less powerful engine.  I may actually be able to run 60-65 mph on this motor and push it to about 3000 rpm unlike before where I was worried about taking it over 55 mph and 2800 rpm.  Of course its still old...the date code has a production date of February 1970 if I'm reading it right...if I'm not...then its 1980 which would be even better.  Either way I was happy about the motor!

Cotter Pins...and other stuff...

Well its been awhile since I have posted, but I have managed to get several days of work in.  I finally have the dash completely dismantled...well almost...the gear shifter and steering column are still in, but everything else is out...no pedals, no wiring, no levers, no gauges...nothing!  Taking the pedals out turned out to be a tough challenge.  I figured most everything would be held in place using nuts and bolts.  I couldn't have been more wrong though...cotter pins...everything was held in place by cotter pins!  Normally this isn't a big deal...you straighten the ends and pull it through.  Well working in a tight space under the dash made the challenge about 10 times harder than it should have been!  I literally spent an hour and 10 minutes trying to get out the cotter pin that help the E brake lever on.  I just couldn't get it to slide through!  Luckily the cotter pins with the gas, brake and clutch were much easier to remove.  The other issues I had was with the 4WD lever...it was held on by a clamp that was bolted in.  From what I could tell initially it looked like all you had to do was loosen the clamp and the rod would slide out.  I beat on it with a hammer...used penetrating fluid...and yanked on it to try and get it off.  Well if I had thought of it sooner...just take the whole bolt out...which did the trick.  Now for the sad part...it took me 3 days to figure it out!  I also managed to get the rest of the dash knobs out and the dash pads.  One thing I was having an issue with was the stuck speedo cable.  I finally broke down and bought a pair of vice grips...and it came out no problem!  I'm going to have to replace a couple of gauges at some point...the oil pressure and temperature gauges haven't been connected and the auxiliary gauges just need to go.  Hopefully I can figure out how they work and get them replaced.  Among other news...I finally got the last 4 extremely rusted bolts for the roll cage out.  That landed me a few bruises on my arms because of how I had to be positioned to get the best leverage.  The only problem now is actually getting it out of the car.  The front brackets are apparently home made and are wedged under the top mounting area.  I have a feeling I'm going to have to separate the mounts from the roll cage...two bolts...roll cage rusted into place...not an easy task.  I have it soaking in penetrating fluid so hopefully a few whacks with a hammer will loosen it up!  I've also been working on the back end as well.  I finally got the tailgate off and all the associated hardware.  The bumper has everything removed as well except for the trailer hitch which I have a feeling will be a pain in the rear to take off.  I guess the next steps will be working on getting the steering disconnected and figuring out what to do with the steering box...its oozing grease and not in the best condition.  Then it will be on to paint removal and body removal so I can start tackling the frame and suspension.