I got the car home last night for the first itme since I have owned it. It has been in the body shop for the last three months. I had to trailer it home because it has sat for the last 15 years. Once home, I began to take a few small items off to get started. One thing led to another, and now I have the entire dash out, the hood off and the right side fender.

My original intent was to get all of the wiring in order before I do anything else. I kicked on the blower motor to see if it was working, and the switch on top of the vent box where the hearter core is...started smoking, and something was burning. I don't know what it was, but the fender is off now so I can trace the blower motor problem. It was hitting something inside, and I think it was taken apart and not put back in right.

Now, this car will not turn over with the key, and it was started by jumping the starter. The wires are in bad shape, and a partial re-wire job is coming.

So, anybody else start a project and sort of hit everything at one time? I am replacing the inner fender well on that side, so the fender made sense on a few different levels.

Hopefully I will get the wiring sorted out so I can get to the stuff I am good at.

:)

one step at a time......... all too easy to get scattered all over the place..

if you haven't done so yet... make a plan... and stick to it. You will be glad you did.

I know. :) I want the wiring and related components working first. I feel it will be easiest to get the wiring fixed with the dash (guages, radio etc.) out of the way so I can get up under there. I have tried to read the wiring schematics in the manual, but I am not getting all of the symbols. If I could get the starting issue worked out, I would feel so much better.

I can only work on it over thwe eekends until summer is hare, so I'll have 5 days to think about it.

Take your time and go easy. It is very easy to forget what went where during reassembly.

I agree also take it slow.


I did remove my wire harness first. headlight harness, underdash, motor harness.

It is a good thing to do because you will find that through the years of "Wiring changes" the previous owners will go after the harness to modifiy it. and take more and more of the original wiring harness away.

When i was looking at the engine harness in my 67 it had 13 different colored and type of wires coming from the Fuseblock. so out it came. along with the " hack job" that was under the dash.

i am glad i have the new harness cause now when i do replace a swtich or look to hook up items they have the plugs to go to them.


On a side note.

get a note book and a digital camera take lots of pics before and after. it will help. and document your progress in the notebook. so you can find out what goes where and how you did it. I also picked up a organizer with 60 drawers in them. to hold bolts, clips and washers.
so that helps alot to.

Bag and tag everything. Use Zip lock Sandwich bags and a Sharpie. I ditto on the picture taking. Your first time is usually the hardest. I have done a number of restorations and I still bag everything make a list of procedures, make out a shopping list for new fasteners, put all the parts in a central location and use the digital camera on everything.

I have been tagging everything and taking tons of pictures. Many of my new parts are arriving daily, and that is pretty nice. My new interior and all weatherstripping came in yesterday. I have all new hardware, switches, and about 100 other things that are here, or on the way. Out of curiousity, I did some test fitting of some of the new parts. Some of them are pretty good, and some of them are not too good. I know I should focus on the wiring, but when I take a break from being under the dash, those boxes of new parts just call my name.

I am pleasantly surprised to see that the car is in remarkably good condition in all of the right places. All wiring clips, holders and connectors are still right where they should be.

I am avoiding the trunk replacement for now. Still a little nervous about that. I have the full trunk pan sitting up against the wall next to the hood and fender. Anyone want to come to Illinois and help me with that part. :)

I'm in Illinois all ready, would be glad to cheer you on while you cut and weld, if you teach me how to work a mig while I'm there!

I can "book" weld better than I can actually weld. In other words, I know how I am supposed to do it, but my hands and my brain can't get it together often enough to make consistently good welds. Thank god for grinders. :) As for the cutting, I plan to take little bites as I get into the danger zones so I don't take too much off. I hope that if I decide to put in a trunk mat, it isn't to simply cover my work. :)