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!
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