73 Monaco wagon

[MonacoBlue]

Speed control looks better too, believe it or not. I scrubbed on it a bit. Maybe my pal 70SportSuburban can dig up a slightly used plastic chrome knurled rotating switch in better condition to replace this one and doll up the interior a bit more.

 

[MonacoBlue]

The tubular nuts...

The AP5195 steel nuts I got are not correct for this application. Went to test fit other letters (G) and an old nut was still (amazingly) attached at the hole. I grabbed it (the green one) and it is what I need. It’s smaller. See photos.

 

[MonacoBlue]

Stuck the letters on temporarily...for ‘encouragement’.

 

[MonacoBlue]

Took the kids for a ride - of course they BOTH wanted to ride in the rear facing 3rd row. On the return trip they were facing the sun and the car interior was heated up just a bit. So I flipped the switch on HIGH on the rear A/C overhead unit and looked in the rear view to check/see their reaction/expressions. Suddenly...hands go up to catch the breeze...and BIG smiles.

My daughter said, “Dad, how come they don’t make cool cars like this anymore??”

Ha! What a great question! I don’t know! I guess that’s why I had to drag one out of the junkyard before it went to the crusher!

What a great day.

 

[MonacoBlue]

So. The ventilation “upgrade”.

A long time ago Mr. 70SportSuburban directed me to a low budget mod that all the C-body cool kids were doing, namely, installing a RH vent on cars not this equipped from the factory.

So I procured from him the junked out RH vent and cable. Today I installed it. Photos following.

Rusty cable. I put some naval jelly on it, since no one wants a cable to break....

 

[MonacoBlue]

Cleaned and painted.

 

[MonacoBlue]

Out with the old dummy panel...

 

[MonacoBlue]

In with the new to me RH vent...NOTE...you have to “fish” the RH cable over top the plastic duct that is at the drivers RH knee...I suspect the RH vent may have been an AC delete item...ya get one or the other...?

 

[MonacoBlue]

And...after all that...just to make the really uptight people go crazy, the word “VENT” is stamped in two different locations, on either control.

 

[MonacoBlue]

Cleaned and painted.

View attachment 442455

View attachment 442456

PS yes, trust me, I did clean and paint the other side.

 

[MonacoBlue]

Having a bad dome light day.

Looked up at the nice new brilliant white headliner and noticed the dome light (in the middle) looked like 5 miles of bad road. I thought at some point I had taken care of this but apparently I missed this detail. I found a plain Jane dome light in a 72-ish Newport coupe (on the bottom) so I’ll clean up the bezel on it and swap it out. And, sadly, I broke off the black switch tab today, in a moment of carelessness. So, time to work on fixing...

 

[mopar440]

Having a bad dome light day.

Looked up at the nice new brilliant white headliner and noticed the dome light (in the middle) looked like 5 miles of bad road. I thought at some point I had taken care of this but apparently I missed this detail. I found a plain Jane dome light in a 72-ish Newport coupe (on the bottom) so I’ll clean up the bezel on it and swap it out. And, sadly, I broke off the black switch tab today, in a moment of carelessness. So, time to work on fixing...

View attachment 442475

You know, I think you could vinyl wrap the bezel in chrome wrap. I've done it before

 

[MonacoBlue]

Bezels are similar but different, so can’t swap them.

 

[MonacoBlue]

You know, I think you could vinyl wrap the bezel in chrome wrap. I've done it before

Really? Didn’t know they made it. Tell me more please!

 

[MonacoBlue]

Not perfect, but much better...I think I have a vintage 70’s can of Turtle Wax chrome polish around here somewhere...

 

[MonacoBlue]

Ok. So it’s not really from the 70’s. It’s from 1981.

 

[mopar440]

Really? Didn’t know they made it. Tell me more please!

Yes, they make it. You gotta buy quality stuff (3m, avery, kdmp)
All you'd do is cut slightly bigger than the bezel, cut the center out, at starting at one corner, slowly heat with a heat gun, and it will shrink, and you can push out wrinkles

 

[polara71]

In with the new to me RH vent...NOTE...you have to “fish” the RH cable over top the plastic duct that is at the drivers RH knee...I suspect the RH vent may have been an AC delete item...ya get one or the other...?

View attachment 442459

View attachment 442460

View attachment 442461

As far as I've seen that is true.

 

[MonacoBlue]

Ok. A little elbow grease. Gobs better.

I love doing this kind of stuff. It’s all handwork and not much brainwork.

 

[MonacoBlue]

Yes, they make it. You gotta buy quality stuff (3m, avery, kdmp)
All you'd do is cut slightly bigger than the bezel, cut the center out, at starting at one corner, slowly heat with a heat gun, and it will shrink, and you can push out wrinkles

That’s cool. Makes sense. They have every other kind of wrap, so why not. I think the wood wrap on my car is Avery. Thanks