Analog Kid
Member
I hit a milestone this weekend. After 8 months in the garage I finally took my 1972 Fury III out for a spin.
I bought it last summer in July and since it had been in a barn for the last 10 years the front brakes were seized up. However, what started out as a caliper replacement turned into a brake system overhaul and suspension rebuild. Here's a list of some of the things I've done:
New master cylinder and front brake lines
New calipers, hoses, rotors and pads
New brake cylinders, shoes, springs and adjusters
New ball joints, upper and lower
New tie rods
New bushings - control arms, strut rods and sway bar
New cam bolts
New shocks - front and rear
New wheel bearings
New fuel filter
New battery, tie down and negative cable
New tires
New distributor cap, rotor, spark plugs and wires
New time delay relay (for ignition light)
So yes...it took me awhile to do this. I am sure some people out there could do it in a weekend but I haven't worked on cars since I was in high school and I wasn't all that good at it back then. However I think what led to success here is more about patience than mechanical ability. Obviously there are a lot more resources these days then there was 25 years ago but for novice mechanics like me I think being older and having the patience to study the procedures to do it right is the key here.
So how does it ride? It rides fantastic! Floats down the road....there is a little bit of play in the steering but I still need to get it aligned so that might be the issue there. I got it out on the highway and it shot right up to 60mph...no shifting issues at all. I was worried too since the transmission had been seeping fluid since being in the garage. I think the best thing for the car now is to be driven...just in time for baseball season.
Definitely a weekend to remember.
I bought it last summer in July and since it had been in a barn for the last 10 years the front brakes were seized up. However, what started out as a caliper replacement turned into a brake system overhaul and suspension rebuild. Here's a list of some of the things I've done:
New master cylinder and front brake lines
New calipers, hoses, rotors and pads
New brake cylinders, shoes, springs and adjusters
New ball joints, upper and lower
New tie rods
New bushings - control arms, strut rods and sway bar
New cam bolts
New shocks - front and rear
New wheel bearings
New fuel filter
New battery, tie down and negative cable
New tires
New distributor cap, rotor, spark plugs and wires
New time delay relay (for ignition light)
So yes...it took me awhile to do this. I am sure some people out there could do it in a weekend but I haven't worked on cars since I was in high school and I wasn't all that good at it back then. However I think what led to success here is more about patience than mechanical ability. Obviously there are a lot more resources these days then there was 25 years ago but for novice mechanics like me I think being older and having the patience to study the procedures to do it right is the key here.
So how does it ride? It rides fantastic! Floats down the road....there is a little bit of play in the steering but I still need to get it aligned so that might be the issue there. I got it out on the highway and it shot right up to 60mph...no shifting issues at all. I was worried too since the transmission had been seeping fluid since being in the garage. I think the best thing for the car now is to be driven...just in time for baseball season.
Definitely a weekend to remember.