Captain's Comet

It'll be worth all the troubleS

 

After three aggravating sessions of trying to wrestle the A/C box into place solo and failing, a buddy stopped by and I snagged him, and had him assist under the hood, while I worked on it under the dash.

We had it in place in less than three minutes ...
He isn't that mechanically inclined, either.

Hearing him say "It's in" ... I found myself replying "Seriously?!?"

Definitely a two man job, especially with the added insulation that is in place now, etc. Having him steering it home a bit and there to put the nuts in place was the biggest help.

Next episode .... Versailles Console Restoration ....

 

Before we continue on to "Versailles Console Restoration", we will switch programs to "Cussing about Center A/C Vents", as seen here ...

http://mmb.maverick.to/showthread.php?t=81639

 

I dyed the upper half of the console this weekend ... all I can say is "Wow, wow, wow!" . It was a light tan leather. I used SEM Leather Dye and it is now black with a perfect sheen. Looks brand new. I guess it is just making such an impact on me because I have been looking at it in the "wrong color" for 15 years. It is so nice to see that it will actually be used in the car, finally.

I also painted the inside of the insert tray that has been cut for the shifter. Coming out of a Versailles, this tray had some worn-out burlwood pattern in the tray. Now black with a chrome rim.

Got to work on the lower next, polish the trim, and install the mini-gauge set that is practically made for it. Oh yeah, got to get a buddy of mine to make a new cover for the armrest. The old one had several cigarette burns in it.

One thing that did come up is that the console and the floor duct for the heater were at odds with each other, so that duct had to go. The heater plenum now will point straight at the trans tunnel, and will still probably work well enough for the three days out of the year it might be used here.

 

You tease us when you say "wow wow wow"

 

Got the gauges installed in the console and got the gauge lights and water temp sensor line run.

Went to install the oil pressure line, and I have had these gauges stashed away for so long, at least a dozen years, that as I uncoiled the plastic line, it shattered. It went beyond its life expectancy sitting in storage.

Anybody have an alternative to the white transluscent line that came with my gauges? I would imagine underhood heat would cook it, too, and create a catastrophic leak.

I HAD to buy these gauges when I saw them ... the faces are green and white with a black background ... knew they would look great. I had no clue how well they would fit in the console I didn't have yet.... destiny.

I also got the "right" center A/C vent painted and installed.

Life has had more than it's share of distractions lately, including a bit of a personal health issue that I have gotten "over the hump" with... still not all better, but with some big dietary changes and some actual exercise, I feel great... probably better than I have felt in 10 years. Getting older stinks, but it beats the alternative ... ... take care of yourselves folks. It does pay dividends.

Working on the Comet with the goal of doing "something" with the car each day ... doesn't matter how trivial ... just chipping away at it. Once you get rolling, the momentum moves you along. At 5 AM, I was done sleeping, so out to the garage I went ... great way to start the day.

Pictures soon ... I promise.

 

What abt copper line? Some use ss braided line. I use copper. My gauges came w/ plastic; I used it for a year but was uncomfortable with it. I was workin on the car one day and had the line break at the back of the gauge. I already had the copper kit so that was the opportune time to replace it. Glad it did'nt break while the car was in operation. Will never use plastic agn.

 

Everett,

Thanks. It has been a while since I installed gauges and didn't know what options were out there ... bought a copper line kit from Advance online and will be picking it up today.

You can always find some kind of discount for Advance online purchases. That is how I do it anymore ... makes me feel bad when I pick up my order and there is some impulse item that I end up buying for full retail price there.

 

Autometer makes an isolator kit that uses a braided steel line and coolant for mechanical gauges. I have installed them on fuel pressure gauges to keep fuel out of the interior.

 

Pictures, finally!

Wow ... I should have made some notes on how this thing came apart. Looked simple enough, but some notes would have saved some time. I always bag hardware and label the bag ... should have had little bags inside of the big bag... LOL.

Here it is ....





This is a Versailles console, date-coded 1976 by part number. It was leather-wrapped at the factory. I used SEM Leather Dye on it and painted the worn-out fake burlwood insert black to match. It is cut so that my Pinto shifter can poke through. The camera angle makes the gauge placement look a bit odd ... looks fine in person.


I love how the mini-gauges fit. The panel is installed upside-down and screwed to two 1/8th" aluminum bars. One bar has tabs to lock this all into the console by way of some slots I cut inside.

Still need to have a replacement armrest cover stitched up. The original owner was a smoker and left several large cig burns. I have the cover to serve as a pattern for the new one.

 

Lookin' good.

 

Nice fit and setup! Is the "drv side" first gauge amp or volts. Looks like amps, the flash washed out the dial to a great degree?

 

It is an ammeter .... it will be there looking pretty and not doing much. It will light up, but that is it.

Not going to run all that power through that tiny thing ... that would be asking for problems...

 

I like the gages there, looks factory.... On a side note, are you bringing it to silver springs in Jan...

 

Getting it to Silver Springs ...

I have been working on it cosmetically, and that is moving along faster now. I, personally, am still on the mend, health-wise, and that is vastly improving, not quite 100% though.

What can shoot this in the butt .... a lot of Christmas band gigs and the fact that I will have to wake the car up from it's years-long slumber ... this includes draining and reconditioning the gas tank, and any number of mechanical issues that can decide to act up. I expect it to run really well, so I am probably in for a letdown. Soooo ... I'll just have to see.

On the plus side, work has been light, and that means free time to work on it.

Just trying to not be delusional about getting it there, and I am more motivated to do things right, rather than fast. I do plan on cruising in this car at some point at least in the first half of 2012.

How's that for a long-winded wishy-washy answer?