it's a restoration...it's not going to be smooth sailing

so, in my last post, i revealed my first really big step towards getting the car back together. that is, my first really big step without adult supervision. I removed the differential cover on the rear axle so i could replace the gasket. (here's that post, if you missed it)
well, not that i've abandoned that project, but i've hit a bit of a snag. the snag being my own stupidity and procrastination. basically, i went out early yesterday morning to get what i needed to move ahead, but got the wrong kind of adhesive. well, i got a silicone RTV adhesive, which i can use when i get to the window seal part of this undertaking, but i'm pretty sure it's the wrong stuff for the differential.
not a big deal, really, since i have many other things i can occupy my time with these days.
the floor has been kind of on the back burner, because i just couldn't figure out how to get the seats out, with this car stuck in the car port. well, i unbolted the seats and just moved them to the back seat, basically. of course, that made getting the carpet out, a real pain in the ass. (full disclosure: the job of getting the carpet out was done a few days ago. it took me 2 hours of struggling and repositioning the seats and eventually just pulling really hard because i could not get the seat belts un-bolted, and 2 screws on the drivers side door rail were stuck from all the corrosion.)

this is how it stayed for a long time...as i struggled to figure out how to get the bench seat out

after the carpet came out. i was able to asses the rust situation

you can see the majority of the rust is concentrated on the driver's side. where the window leaked a lot. the car sat for years without a cover

the driver's side door rail...those last 2 screws wouldn't budge.
though you can see the corrosion was so bad, i was able to just pull the carpet out from underneath

yesterday was the day i was planning on really spending time on the car. i wasn't thinking about all the time spent brushing the rust...sweeping and vacuuming...then the prepping and dry time to apply the POR-15. but that wasn't the half of it! i can find things to do while i wait for stuff to dry. the problem was the degree of rust that was going on under the gas pedal. 

a tiny hole turned into a slightly bigger hole and then i found more...which also got bigger when i applied a little more pressure and elbow grease. sadly, welding a new floor panel has become a necessity. i already have major damage inside the trunk and a little issue with the chassis...i was hoping to avoid something like this.

but i am not discouraged! set backs are inevitable with projects like this. i have a good support system in place, so i have faith.

so what did i do while waiting for cleaning products to dry?

i moved back to the rear axle. though i didn't have the sealant to get the gasket in just yet, i do have all my new brake lines, so i figured 'why not tackle that!?'

once again...a little snag. i couldn't get the brake line disconnected from the wheel cylinder. so i cut the line. and then went through all manner of pliers and wrenches and maneuvering to try the get that little bastard out...i finally managed. after the day i was having, it felt like a major victory!

I replaced the new wheel cylinders and tee and screwed in my pre-bent rear axle brake lines! again...what a victory to actually be putting things back together!

the old and the new

but then...another 'uh-oh' moment. something just doesn't match up and i think it means i need to remove axle shafts and replace the gaskets! which i was so hoping i wouldn't have to do...

unfortunately...

driver's side

passenger's side

...neither of these gaskets seem quite right...

and that's where we're left. with me looking at renting a slide hammer to remove the axle shafts. at least the axle is already off the car. 

there's my silver lining.

there's my silver lining.

one more time...

silver lining.

Can't hide the frustration

First of all...this post is going to sound a little bitchy.  For that, if you actually read to the end, I apologize.  If you're not up for the ramblings of a frustrated girl who feels utterly alone in a project she was to be a PART of...you may want to stop after I show you the new and improved 'after' shot of the seat cleaning.
So, in case you don't remember how bad the mildew was on our white interior...

Keep in mind, that I (Jen) was unaware of the fact that the window seals (luckily just the doors, not the windshield or rear window) were crap.  As we sprayed the dust off several weeks ago, the water just slipped right in.  Hence the magical amount of mildew our seats were collecting.  While I am in love with the white interior (!), I have to say that cleaning a black or navy interior would have been much easier.  Of course, while the white is not exactly white yet, I did get more gratification knowing just how much cleaner I did get the vinyl after just one scrubbing...

It's still more grey than white at the really dirty parts, but I am happy that a good cleaning is all we will need...no tears or loose stitching to deal with.

WARNING:  Now for the rant.

A quick re-cap of the history of this car:  my father bought it as a bonding project or a 'thanks for all your help' or something for my sister (Steph...the other half of this blog).  Soon after purchase, our older brother (Dan) had knee surgery and started spending time off with dad...and, making adjustments to the car per dad's instruction.  Dad, being legally blind and (at the time, temporarily, but eventually permanently) in a wheelchair; but, also a former hobby drag racer, decided to soup up the engine.
I don't know if it was smart thinking on Dan's part, or shear dumb luck due to our family's need to keep everything, but for each new part they put in, the original parts were put in dad's shed.
Anyway, the reason we are in the situation (a car with a too big engine) is not because of Dan (as Steph had suspected), but because our father thought he could make this unassuming coupe/sedan into a race car.

So, what's the big deal?  Now's my chance to learn about cars.  Not only that, but having never spent time on cars with my dad, I have the luxury of having a brother who wants to show me the things he has learned from dad.
Well, the problem is the drawn-out process of merely getting started!  How long is it going to take to actually get some work done on this car!!??
It sits there, at Steph's house...20 miles away from the only person who actually has time to work on it.  Here's the real kicker, the longer we go not working on it, the more obvious it is that we're not all at the same level of excitement anymore. 
And, financially speaking, I am likely the ONLY source of dough.  I have less faith that this will ever get done, each time I try to get things moving.

Here's an upside to the whole breakdown I'm having...Dan, bless his heart, still wants to help.  Maybe it's his desire to have a relationship with his sisters; or, perhaps he just wants to be in on any end results (such as a little cash, should we decide to sell the finished product).  But, whatever his motives, he's helping.  It looks like we will be able to move the car to my house at some point.  And Steph is okay with that.  She is more emotionally attached to the car, but she has admitted that I am clearly the major supporter of this project (especially since I'm the only one who hasn't spent my measly inheritance!).

What, then, is our next step?  Dan will either get his friend to tow the car here, from Steph's ('for just the price of gas'); or, he's considering it a possibility to simply tow the car with his new super truck.  Whatever happens, I'm guessing the car will be in my driveway by the end of September.  If it takes much longer than that to get this particular ball rolling, I may have to just give it up altogether, because I don't know how much more 'standing around' I can take.

Sorry for the ranting...I promise the next post to be actual car related information!