new family member move

i started a thread in general when i bought a 77 to start work on now that i am getting some of the things fixed i think it is time to move it to the project forum, so here i start.
it is a 77 maverick with the LDO package a 250 c4 combo. also has power brakes and steering. someone has replaced the front bench with a pair of buckets from a bronco 2. there is a small patch of rust inside about 2"x6" under the high beam switch the rest still has good heavy paint and a ton of sealer on the seams. the outside has some dings and the vinal top has some holes someone did a poor patch job on. the lower rear quarters and inner fender skirts need some rust repair and it has a bad batch of bond behind the drivers door but in general everything is solid. oh yea has oil leaks in differant places and a tired motor.
Since i already used some of my pictures in the general section it won't let me repost here sorry

 

looked close and can not find any reason for the rust by the high beam switch cowling and window look clean have not removed old panel but torque box below looks & feels solid
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when i removed the heater box to check cowling then box for heater leaks box broke in half and not on the seam
lucky i had a exceptible box from the 74 i tore down for parts. put the best looking core in it and a good blower that worked and didn't squeal, then cleaned up the case. am not sure what it is with me about the black and red?
now just need to get it in.
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when i got the 77 home and started looking at the seats i did not care for how he mounted the brackets in the inside tracks on the curves of humps and some of them with sheet metal screws. so i started redoing them, turning some of the feet, moving the whole rail on the pass. side, putting reinforcements on the feet, then when i tried to get my big torso in and clubbed me self with the top of the door opening when i couldn't bob low enough, and only had one finger thickness to the headliner i also started to lower them. he had a rail system from a bronco 2 in that had a three tier slide unit i haven't completed this yet but am working on it when time permits till i get finished i better remember to duck low when getting in. also replacing the screws with welded in studs.
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there has been one other thing i have fixed since i started on this and that was the leaking power steering. after checking on prices and comparing power verses manual i changed it to manual it wasn't that much more and i wouldn't have to worry about leaks again. and i am big enough to handle turn the wheel at a stand still.

 

what next?

i took this week off to tackle converting to a manual instead of the automatic tranny, but when i heard i may have trouble because of the power brakes and the pedal hanger i changed my mind to tackle the motor. i have a spare so i was going to rering and bearings just to freshen it up. well i should have checked closer, after i cleaned the out side i went to crank it over only to find it was froze up. opened to find pistons 3&4 stuck with rust and the inside of the rest looking like some one dragged it through the local landscaping supply yard. so on Monday started calling around to price out a long block,called the third place and the guy on the phone asked if i minded doing some of the work myself. He had a short block that had been sitting around and wanted to get rid of he would sell me for 300. then rebuild my head for 200 and through in the rest for 130 including cleaning my sheet metal and rocker arm rail. Sounded good to me after he said he would tear down and recheck the short block, then all i need to do is put the head and extras on . spent yesterday and today cleaning small parts ordering extras ( water pump, rad hoses, and push rods) #1 push rods looked like they had a mohawk hair cut from the oil channel in the arm.
now to finish tear down on parts car and get rid of hull be Friday. Then wait for the motor to get done he promised it on Monday after i am back at the slave pit! but that is the same as everyone else promised also.

 

cowling

no but the wife watered it for 2 hours with the yard the other day (darn women) without a drop showing on the inside. it only rains harder then that here about 3 times a year, haven't seen real rain here in about 1.5 months


i did finally get the drivers seat put in correctly so now i can get in without nocking my self out. but will call for a little more welding to fix the old holes from the sheet metal screws Gees .

those boys at the local salvage recycle yard didn't waste any time today talked to them at 12:15 and by 1:40 they had it rolling down the road barely had time to pull the tail lights and trunk lid. off of the 72 with the bent frame

 

water leaks

as a followup to this question i do not know if i want to admit but even through a five gallon bucket down there. poured it in so fast and hard it flooded clean over the top of the passenger stove pipe scared the heck out of me till i reliezed what i did. dried out and did second bucket and only had a small amount from a seam. chalked inside will calk out side when i replace the engine soon.

 

replacement motor

finally finished the motor rebuild day before yesterday. whole new lower end with 40 over pistons. head has all new seats and replaced push rods, rocker shaft, water pump, fuel pump carb is suppose to be rebuild but may tear down anyways to check didn't run smooth before. only need to transfer a few things, distributor, exhaust, fan, pulleys, and alt. next pull motor and CLEAN engine bay

 

That engine looks AWESOME! Great to see a 6 getting a second chance!

 

clean up

well bay is finally cleaned out what a mess hosed it 4 times and still looked dirty i know the paint pens are factory but sure make it look messy
looks acceptable and yes i know i missed a spot had to catch it on the second coat. it took three days to dry enough to repaint to cold and wet.

 

started in

i started setting it in today took my time as i was working alone. hang it in bay align push move something align push check under side lower align push.
getting to old for all that up and down. and uh yea don't use 6" aligning bolts on the pass. side won't come out later! didn't finish the whole thing but it is mounted in the frame and all but one thing is finished underneath.

 

long over due

well you can tell i have been neglecting this. between overtime family matters and the time of the year i just haven't been able or have enough energy to get out there and freeze. i did finish getting that engine in and hooked up. i even had it running for about 10 minutes but shut it down to fix my timing light and when i walked back out i found water spraying out of the old radiator darn. ordered a new champion 2 core and should of payed better attention a 73 does not go right in a 77 with out extra work, just finished hooking up the tranny lines today. then finished up the engine bay wiring to put gauges inside. got tach hooked up, and worked on the mount for the other gauges to go in were the radio should be. hope to get newer better pics up next week have some new camera equipment coming this week. oh yea also fixed broken head light adjuster today.

 

Glad to see your still knocking them gremlins in the head with a sledge!
Yeah surprised your out working in this weather, just shoveling makes me wish I was living in a desert!