On the road!

So- I finished up the carpet install by installing new snaps into the factory locations that are used on the pieces that cover the battery boxes behind the seats.  No real problem- just a little fiddly making sure the snaps align with the existing snap receivers. 

battery box cover behing seats

close-up of new snaps- the carpets did not come with these so I bought a kit from a local marine store so they are all stainless steel now.






looking pretty good

I was looking on CraigsList for a new windshield since mine is delaminated and foggy.  I found one down in Connecticut and was driving down to New Juersey anyway, so I picked up.  But the bonus of the purchase was that the seller also had an almost mint tonneau cover from his 72.  So I bought them both, and a better armrest pad, for $160!  I have not installed the windshield or armrest pad yet.




well, at least I can wash the car now since I don't have a top yet....

I found a description online on how to bleed the clutch slave by running a small tube from the slave into a jar full of fluid.  Then just open the bleeder, push in on the clutch slave arm, and blow out the remaining air into the jar.  Then, just close the bleeder and release the slave arm.

Once I did this, I grabbed my lovely wife to come push in on the clutch pedal while I tried from underneath the car to spin the drive shaft (it obviously was in gear).  And it worked!!  I actually couldn't believe it.

So, I started the car (still on jack stands) and tested out how the clutch worked.  Everything seemed to work well and it released and about the middle of it's travel.  Awesome!

During this same time, I instaled the restored sill plates.





repainted sill plates

So, the next few steps involved getting her ready for a test drive!  I had to install a plate, put on the wheels, install a drivers seat, install air cleaners, install pedal box cover etc.  It was a mad flurry to get these things done and give her a drive for the first time in decades.







New plate





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Reday for a drive.... I guess.

So, it was time for a drive!  I fired her up to check things out, check the carb adjustments, and hopped it.  Just a few feet forward and back to check that the clutch actually gripped the flywheel- no problems and it felt pretty good!  I pulled her out into the sun for the first time in a long while and let her get good and warm.



It was time for a first drive!  I headed out for a few trips up and down my dead-end road to check the brakes, lights, steering, reverse, etc.  No real issues, except how loud she is with a very junky muffler that is full of holes......  After a few panic stops, I turned out onto the real road with  real traffic and everything.  I had a blast!  The steering is not bad at all, the suspension feels tired (but I really have nothing to compare it to), brakes are a little soft (probably needs a little more bleeding) but work fine and straight, and she shifts fine with no crunching noises (even with some downshifts).  The tach only revs up to 3K even though the engine is reving much higher, the speedo is completely inop, but all other guages seem to work.  Not bad considering.





Backing her back in safe and sound.


So- it was a big day!  I have since taken her out for a longer and further drive (maybe 20 minutes) and put some fresh gas in and got her up to mayby 50 mph.  No problems.

next- install the replacement used windshield, passenger seat, replace coolant, thermostat, coolant hoses, heater valve, etc.