My Tenth Anniv.

[roadking77]

I took the springs off of the hood hinges so I could lube the joints better. Did a quick check on utube and found its surprisingly easy to do. First close the hinge as it would be if the hood was down. This puts the spring under its max tension. I put a clamp across the spring just because. Next cut a piece of bar stock just short of the length between the hooks, notch each end. Slide the barstock inside the hinge so the notches will get a purchase on each leg of the hook end of the spring. Now open the hinge like the hood is opening and the will stay in its stretched position and drop right out.
20241116_153605 by Kerry Grubb, on Flickr20241116_153646 by Kerry Grubb, on Flickr20241117_102732 by Kerry Grubb, on Flickr

[roadking77]

After getting the new turn signal switch in place, things seem to be ok but I am having problems with the turn signal lights on the dash. All new bulbs and good sockets in the front. All lights are working. The back not so much. I had a glow from the dr. side but nothing on the pass. side. Took things apart and boy was it a mess. The sockets are beyond bad. Picked the 2 up that autozone had and 1 that I had in my drawer. Ordered the rest should be here tomorrow. I am hoping that something here was shorting out and I can see why it would. Hopefully this will get things working the way its supposed to. If not I suppose I need to pull the dash and check out the printed circuit
20241118_160012 by Kerry Grubb, on Flickr20241118_160104 by Kerry Grubb, on Flickr

The rear bumper area needs a mini resto/freshening up. It has been, well I have lost count but probably 4 or 5 years since I have done anything back there. Needs a major cleaning, buff and some paint applied. I started back here when I first started working on this car. My intention was to throw things back together and sell it. My direction changed over the years so a freshening up is not surprising to me.

[roadking77]

I also was able to get insurance on the car. So now I can get tags from the dmv. Its not exactly road worthy yet but I dont think its that far off from at least doing a short shakedown run. Started looking for tires. I want a raised white letter but the choice is pretty limited in my budget. I am looking at the BFGoodrich and the Cooper's. They are about the only ones with the rwl. The coopers are about $40 a piece cheaper than the BFG's, I know this car will never wear out a set of tires so over all wear doesnt bother me. I did find that Coker has some 'period correct' tires at over $500 a piece. But that is way over my budget. I didnt pay that much for the car Plus I need to stretch the budget enough to have the wheels refinished.

[wheels78ta]

Thanks for the tips on working with the hood springs.  I'll be doing that in the near future.

Hopefully the new sockets will take care of the turn signal issues.

[N PRGRES]

Good find on the hood springs work around!

[5th T/A]

Kerry, it’s amazing what you can find on YouTube. I am sure others will appreciate you posting the pictures of the spring removal tool. After all the work you put into repairing and painting that hood, the last thing you want is hinges that don’t move freely.

Those rear bulb sockets were pretty nasty looking.

[roadking77]

New stuff supposed to be here today. My wife (shes the amazon holder of the family ) told me my order has been delayed until next week! Autozone is supposed to have what I need and I was right there this morning. Its next door to the Lowes I was picking up materials. I'll stop by tomorrow sometime and get them. It was a long day today as well as my sons birthday, so I wasnt planning on any shop work tonight. But I would like to get something done tomorrow evening.

[roadking77]

BREAKING NEWS: Today was a major achievement in this long drawn out process. I got tags for the car
I finally decided to get some insurance on the car so I figured I may as well get tags. I am not ready for them but hopefully will be soon. I had a bit of a snafu with the title as it has had an error since day one. That took a bit of sorting out but all is good. I got my historic tags and was able to register a set of YOM tags that I have had.

[N PRGRES]

YAY!!!! Congrats!

[ryeguy2006a]

Congrats Kerry! You'll be driving her around in no time.

[roadking77]

Put the new bulb sockets in. There are 3 wire sockets and 2-2 wire sockets. The 2 wire sockets are for reverse lights. All of the bulbs went in like they should. Push in and twist, there are 2 little prongs on the bulbs that register into slots in the socket. Well, like everything else that has fought me on this car, the 2 wire sockets did not work I tried and tried to get the bulb in far enough so it would turn and lock into place. I resigned myself to the fact that the plastic was not made correct. So I had to take them apart, some careful dremel work to enlarge the slot that the bulbs seat into and now they work. Its frustrating when you buy a brand new part and it doesnt work the way it should.
20241124_102953 by Kerry Grubb, on Flickr20241124_102843 by Kerry Grubb, on Flickr20241124_102840 by Kerry Grubb, on Flickr

Everything is working ok as far as the lights go, well almost everything
There is something going on with the left blinker. I am thinking it may be a short or a ground issue?
20241123_203656 by Kerry Grubb, on Flickr
Ordered trunk weather seal, and hood weather seal and bumpers from Steele Rubber Parts came in super quick and seemed to be reasonably priced.

My brake switch works fine, but there are no stop nuts for it. So when the pedal arm hits it, it pushes back out of the way. I wanted to order a couple but the only way to get them is to order a new switch for $12. So I placed that, should be here any day.

20241124_094808 by Kerry Grubb, on Flickr
I built this cart during covid as a shop cart as I didnt want to spend any money on one. It has served me well and I will repurpose it for something. Lowes had this shop cart on sale, I have been looking at it for quite some time so I decided to bite the bullet and bought it. Early Christmas present.
20241124_094814 by Kerry Grubb, on Flickr20241124_094856 by Kerry Grubb, on Flickr

[roadking77]

20241125_141415 by Kerry Grubb, on Flickr

I bought these vintage tags at Carlisle a few years ago. They are correct for 1979 MD. I didnt even notice until I got home that my historic tags are 400!  I thought that was pretty cool. Been better if it was y89 instead of L90.

[another10th]

Kerry,
That would have been a cool plate! Still, to randomly get what you did is pretty lucky even if it won't be displayed.
Here is my YOM plate. You just don't advertise a 403 like you would a 400!!

[5th T/A]

Jeff, I like your plate and I’m envious of your lift.

Kerry, I had to look up L90, thinking it might be an option or engine that I was not aware of. 400 still pretty neat. Bummer about the light sockets, at least you got them functional. Also couldn’t help but notice you have an original ignition key.