2013/05/10 Murphy and the 24 bolts.

It sounds like a fairy tale but these are the facts:

After parking the car in the middle of the garage the right window refuses to go down. At a test drive last night it was working now it’s just the start to what would be a difficult day. As soon as my first wave of anger cools down I’m dealing with a Jack that just doesn’t reach.Raising the car on it’s concrete supports takes about 3 hours and a lot of hassle and a head bump. WTF!

Reaching all 24 bolts of the drive shafts is the next hassle. A trip to the DIY shop secures some wrench extensions and finally I can reach all 24 bolts. As soon as they are out they take a bath in degreaser. At the end of a difficult day it feels good to raise the finger at Mr.Murphy.

2013/05/09 Mucus

On the first day of a four day wrenching stint, I open up the window engines.

What I find in there is as close to the flu as I want to get. A lot of WD40 is needed to get rid of the mucus. The worm wheel of one of the engines is bend. A few blows with a light hammer straightens it out. If I order new window switches, the gates to fresh air might open again.

2013/05/05 Motors…window motors...

In may the first signs of spring start to appear and it’s quite hot in the car. Both electric windows don’t work so  I take out the window motors for a repair/rebuild.

Maybe due to the lack of my Stella beer, I don’t understand the way the mechanism works at first but Karmeliet is a worthy replacement :-) and soon I have it all apart. 

In a couple of days I hope to get all the screws back in place.

2013/02/23 Yes,yes,yes

By the end of the month a new reservoir is fitted and we start bleeding the brakes. This job takes a little longer then expected but we do build up pressure and manage to lock the wheels. Change we can believe in!

We change the engine oil as well. The new Kroon classic 15W-50 semi synth poses nicely next to my favorite “grease” :-) 

The old oil coming out is black and ,against expectations , shows no signs of water.

For the first time in a long while the car rests on it’s own legs again and after we reconnect the batter the car starts with it’s typical growl. We take it to the streets and are more than happy although we need to bleed the system again. Brake power isn’t overwhelming. But we had a ride!

2013/02/13 Brakes,the remake

While the shark has taken on a “barnfind” look I finally manage to remount the brake calipers. The angle of the guide spring had changed and caused the drag. Now that I solved the angle it’s an easy job.

At a fair I bought the original sales brochure and it seems that the original color on the calipers was silver. I have done mine black so I decide to repaint them.

Soon they’re off and on again but not all get’s done though. The brake fluid reservoir doesn’t fit the new brake master cylinder. Another pause for shopping. 

13/01/04 I'd like to break the brake.

2 days later I’m at it again. The OPC made a quick spring delivery and I can fix the handbrake. At least the shark has some brake power back. The rear brake calipers are a no brainer but on the front they keep dragging. I don’t have the problem when I put one of the old ones on. I try common sense but that makes it worse. I’m getting violent, this brake job starts to break me. Time to call it a day, again…

2013/01/02 Spring is in the air

On the 2nd day of the new year we’re at it again. I can’t make the brake shoes fit on the right rear end. WD40, a hammer and some aggression finally release the push button lock. When I try to mount the new brake shoes one of the return springs breaks so I’m stuck. I shift my attention to remounting the front brake calipers but they keep dragging against the brake disk. Time 2 call it a day!

2012/12/29 Christmas..."brake"

During the last week of 2012 I keep going at the brakes. 

All goes well but the push button lock on the right rear wheel doesn’t move at all. Nothing seems to get it moving and I must say that the parking brake cable itself doesn’t look to good either.

A little bit frustrated I give up. The year ends with a wheelless car “floating” in the air.

2012/12/22 Santa and the GP

Christmas holiday brings along some gifts, not form Santa but from OPC and another supplier. 

I’m working slower and more accurate now that I didn’t set a deadline. A deadline seemed to add pressure and meeting them is yet another thing.

I manage to finish the painting job of the brakes but when trying to get them together again it becomes clear that my memory isn’t what it used to be. My macbook comes to the rescue but in order to keep the keyboard clean, I have to bring out the type of tool that makes U run away when seen wearing by the GP.

2012/11/11 Remembrance day

On remembrance day I continue work on the brakes. Fresh fluid was brought into the workshop this weekend and since the paint for the brake caliper needs to be “baked,

the kitchen oven is taken downstairs. An apron would be overkill but there’ll be no Pizza on offer.

A paper mould has to be made for the brake discs but this type of patient tinkering is not my forté. On cases like this the crate of beer justifies it’s presence (when does it not?) and soon I’m cutting,painting and baking.

The PO has messed up the brake pad wiring, another nice job, NOT, but for now

I’m taking a break from restoration until christmas holiday, so it’ll have to wait.