Doing Stuff Twice

Wrapping up some of the dash project items this week:

The flipper, all flipped into place.
The flipper, all flipped into place.

I pulled the lower dash and radio access to rewire the stereo after the speaker wires checked out. Sure enough, once I ran clean power and a good ground to the stereo, the sound cleaned right up. Nice.

With all those panels already off, I readjusted the “flipper” panels (honestly, don’t know what else to call it) behind the swing away mechanism, as the push nut had popped off, making the flippers stop flipping (and just flopping). The whole area look empty and sad.

I just tell people I'm trying to cut down the weight of the car and save gas.
I just tell people I’m trying to cut down the weight of the car and save gas.

And, since I was on my back under the dash, I loosened the neutral safety switch and moved it a millimeter or two. Where it was, it was almost, but not quite, in place to close the vacuum connection to the e-brake in park.

Buttoning it all up, I hooked up the battery, cranked the tunes and went for a little joyride.

The flippers flipped, music sounded good and when I came to a stop in the garage, the parking brake engaged without a fuss.

Last week, I took the bird down to the body shop that painted the dash to have them look at the windshield leak. Turns out, the last place–shock!–botched the job, and I’ll need a new windshield gasket. The new part should arrive this week, with the work done before next weekend. Had to pull the cowl for the inspection, so I’m running around for a while without it.

2 thoughts on “Doing Stuff Twice”

  1. Discovered your blog today and couldn’t stop reading it! After reading your trials and tribulations, I’m happy I bought a 1966 Town Hardtop with 132,000 miles needing very little (comparatively speaking) work. It’s been six months, and finally got it into a competent mechanic who’s use to dealing with old cars. He checked it over and worked on what needed work, to whit:
    –replace leaking freeze plugs
    –carburetor rebuild
    –diagnose and repair fuel leak
    –replace head gaskets
    –install electronic ignition and new coil
    –new shocks and struts
    –replace tie-rods
    –replace ball joint bushings
    –inspect and service transmission and rear dif and front and rear brakes
    –replace brake booster (failed 10 minutes after picking up the car from him!)

    Okay, so it was a fair amount of work in one shot to do– but finally took the Bird on a 250 mile drive on the weekend. Car was stable and true at highway speeds (up to 75 mph); mileage increased substantially–probably now at 8mph city and 15 mph highway.

    I leave the heavy mechanical lifting to the pros–I’m no mechanic–but enjoying cosmetic work and and presently diagnosing the sequential taillight problems everyone seems to get.After that? Get the hazard blinkers to work, get the low-fuel light to illuminate, mess around with the vacuum hoses and get that center-console door unlock to work.

    One question for you: What are the big-diameter rubber ducts on either side of the trunk under the rear shelf? I’m assuming they have something to go with the cabin ventilation, but I see nothing about them in the service manual. Mine are original and crumbling into dust. How are yours?

    1. Glad you’re enjoying the blog. I think those ducts are drains–and mine are in a similar condition. Most vendors carry them, though–for a price.

      Where did you get your replacement brake booster?

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