'73 Chevelle SS Wagon (local find)

[bucket]

Interior actually looks pretty clean!

Yeah, there's way worse examples out there. Obviously the front seat needs reupholstered, the RF door panel has some significant water damage, there's a couple mouse holes in the headliner and the 3rd seat lower cushion is missing a large section of foam where a mouse had made a mansion of a nest at some point. Plus there's a general mouse piss smell.

Rock Auto had one remaining master cylinder with the proper Delco markings and bleeder ports, so I ordered it. I also ordered a pair of KYB Gas A Just shocks for the front and a pair of air shocks for the rear.

 

[bucket]

A few years ago, I bought a big bag of random springs from a hardware store. It's come in handy so many times, like today. No more throttle cable falling off.

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Today I spent a good amount of time with a heavy cut compound on an aggressive buffer pad. Looks pretty good as long as you don't stand too close, ha.

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[78C10BigTen]

A few years ago, I bought a big bag of random springs from a hardware store. It's come in handy so many times, like today. No more throttle cable falling off.

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Today I spent a good amount of time with a heavy cut compound on an aggressive buffer pad. Looks pretty good as long as you don't stand too close, ha.

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Looking great!!

 

[skysurfer]

That front seat is very uncomfortable. That old brittle vinyl is very pokey.

I was thinking you might be able to switch the front and rear seat bottoms, but taking a closer look it appears the rear seat is maybe a little thicker?

 

[yevgenievich]

A lot of switches and things might come back working after a while of use. Looks good so far and even been growing on me a bit from ugliest body to somewhat acceptable

 

[bucket]

I was thinking you might be able to switch the front and rear seat bottoms, but taking a closer look it appears the rear seat is maybe a little thicker?

They are completely different in design. The rear seat basically sits on the floor, with a couple little bolts that keep it in place. If I can find a black and white "saddle" blanket, I'll fashion a redneck seat cover out of it. That should work well until the interior gets a full renovation. Maybe by that time, new parts will be available.

 

[Keith Seymore]

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[Keith Seymore]

Rock Auto had one remaining master cylinder with the proper Delco markings and bleeder ports, so I ordered it. I also ordered a pair of KYB Gas A Just shocks for the front and a pair of air shocks for the rear.

Mine didn't have bleeder ports in it.

Just mentioning it as both may be correct; maybe a different m/c for wagon vs coupe, or maybe variation based on assembly plant (mine was built in Oshawa).

A few years ago, I bought a big bag of random springs from a hardware store. It's come in handy so many times, like today. No more throttle cable falling off.

Cool idea(s) - both having a bunch of springs on hand, and the application here. I've often said I need to just buy the whole fastener aisle at the hardware store and have it shipped to my house.

I don't think you are missing anything on the throttle cable. The shape of the fitting is what creates the crimp. Maybe yours has just lost the shape over time.

K

 

[82sbshortbed]

Well hot damn, it runs!

This here was before the initial fire up, with the carb on and most everything buttoned up.

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In addition to the little filter in the carb, I added a larger capacity filter on the inlet side of the pump, to catch any trash that may be in the tank.

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With power hooked up, one of the first things I checked for operation was that 8-track radio. @AuroraGirl has one just like it.

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That didn't go so well, lol. That radio clearly is not happy about life. It turns on and lights up, but there's an ungodly screeching that emits from the dash speaker. The fm converter didn't seem to do much besides change the pitch of the screeching.

But anyway, after filling the fuel bowl, I cranked it over (with fire extinguisher ready to go) to see what happened and I swear that sucker fired right to life in just half a revolution. It ran really well too and as an added bonus, the choke even worked properly. Yay!! Lol.

In about the first minute, the alternator started trying to lock up and it also wasn't charging. So I swapped it out with one of my spare 10si's and started it up again. No more squealing belt and it was charging too. Brake pedal is very low, but no lines popped when I mashed it. Drive and reverse both went right in. The car stopped on it's own. Not well or quickly, but it stopped.

So it ran, it moved, it steered and it turned. Good enough for me! I took it down the road and back and it was only about a mile, but I loved every second of it.

So here it is after it's first trip on the road in nearly 25 years:

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I also have a filter before pump for same reason.

 

[Corvette Ed]

A lot of switches and things might come back working after a while of use.

Spraying some elect.contact cleaner in those switches will make a big improvement.

 

[DoubleDingo]

Well hot damn, it runs!

This here was before the initial fire up, with the carb on and most everything buttoned up.

You must be registered for see images attach

In addition to the little filter in the carb, I added a larger capacity filter on the inlet side of the pump, to catch any trash that may be in the tank.

You must be registered for see images attach

With power hooked up, one of the first things I checked for operation was that 8-track radio. @AuroraGirl has one just like it.

You must be registered for see images attach

That didn't go so well, lol. That radio clearly is not happy about life. It turns on and lights up, but there's an ungodly screeching that emits from the dash speaker. The fm converter didn't seem to do much besides change the pitch of the screeching.

But anyway, after filling the fuel bowl, I cranked it over (with fire extinguisher ready to go) to see what happened and I swear that sucker fired right to life in just half a revolution. It ran really well too and as an added bonus, the choke even worked properly. Yay!! Lol.

In about the first minute, the alternator started trying to lock up and it also wasn't charging. So I swapped it out with one of my spare 10si's and started it up again. No more squealing belt and it was charging too. Brake pedal is very low, but no lines popped when I mashed it. Drive and reverse both went right in. The car stopped on it's own. Not well or quickly, but it stopped.

So it ran, it moved, it steered and it turned. Good enough for me! I took it down the road and back and it was only about a mile, but I loved every second of it.

So here it is after it's first trip on the road in nearly 25 years:

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[DoubleDingo]

Interior actually looks pretty clean!

Well yeah, he vacuum it out

 

[bucket]

Mine didn't have bleeder ports in it.

Just mentioning it as both may be correct; maybe a different m/c for wagon vs coupe, or maybe variation based on assembly plant (mine was built in Oshawa).



Cool idea(s) - both having a bunch of springs on hand, and the application here. I've often said I need to just buy the whole fastener aisle at the hardware store and have it shipped to my house.

I don't think you are missing anything on the throttle cable. The shape of the fitting is what creates the crimp. Maybe yours has just lost the shape over time.

K

The master cylinder appears to be original. Iirc, my '69 and '70 Impala master cylinders have bleeders too. I assumed it was super common on GM's of the time, but I'm not normally looking at the master cylinder when I'm looking under the hood of other cars.

A few of the listings specifically stated "except wagon" while others didn't. I'm curious what the difference was.

 

[bucket]

Today I installed the new fan clutch and also the new choke pull-off. The old fan clutch was date coded '73. It will go in the box with the other original parts I have removed. While changing the choke pull-off, I noticed something laying on the intake near the base of the distributor.

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Hey, I know right where that little guy belongs!

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I drove the car for about 10 miles, still with the old master cylinder and old shocks. Besides the low brake pedal and the seized rear shocks, the car runs great. Had it up to 55mph. Gave it a few hard stops and the brakes were actually working well. They sure put out a lot of brake dust on the front wheels though, like I had just driven it in the city for a couple weeks.

Also, I was amazed that the AC still works. The blower is still inop, but the compressor kicks on and tries to cool (low charge). I would have bet money that the AC no longer worked.

 

[GTME94]

A few years ago, I bought a big bag of random springs from a hardware store. It's come in handy so many times, like today. No more throttle cable falling off.

You must be registered for see images attach

Today I spent a good amount of time with a heavy cut compound on an aggressive buffer pad. Looks pretty good as long as you don't stand too close, ha.

You must be registered for see images attach

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That looks great! My parents had a 76 Pontiac Safari Wagon when I was in High School. It had some rust on the lower rear quarters but my dad kept it waxed and you didn't even notice since the rest of the car looked nice.