I
installed the left side rear view mirror, but the holes in the door were
too big for the new mirror screws. I couldn't use bigger screws because
the screw heads were too big and wouldn't fit in the recess of the mirror.
I had made a 'nut-plate' from flat "tinnerman" nuts from my hardware collection
and fastened them onto a short piece of steel 'plumbing tape'. This would
have worked, except that the nuts were spaced exactly the same distance
as the mirror mounting holes, and when I placed it inside the door panel
under the mirror location, there was a big blob of bondo where the holes
from the after-market mirror mounting holes were. I filed these down, but
there was still enough of a bump to make my special nut-plate not aligned.
I solved that by cutting it into two pieces. Problem solved. I installed
the weatherstriping on this side (just like the right side) to get ready
for the window when my part comes. Since I knew I was going to be driving
it in 35°F weather, I thought I should fix the heater. It was disconnected
a long time ago and by-passed. One of the two hoses from the water pump
to the heater was cut short and used to by-pass the connection but the
other one was still intact. I went to Advance Auto Parts to buy a hose
repair kit, and while I was there, I bought more license plate holding
screws and plastic nuts. I installed the one side of the hose repair coupling
and found out that there was about 5" or 6" of hose missing and it was
too short. Instead of going back to the store, I just grabbed a spare piece
of hose (from the air conditioning unit I ripped out) and rummaged through
my plumbing hardware box and found a brass coupling for garden hose. It
worked! Clamping this on, I thought I'd better check it out for leaks.
I tried to start the engine, but it wouldn't turn over.
I thought the battery was going, so I charged up the battery all
night long. Installed the air cleaner after assembling it.
The 'snout' has two screws that screw into the main housing, but one screw
had broken off inside the weld-nut and I tried to drill the screw out of
it, but broke the drill bit inside of it. This is apparently why there
was a sheet-metal screw screwed into that side right next to the broken
screw. I tried to set things right but failed. The new sheet-metal screw
is not original equipment, but at least it works. It doesn't look bad either,
except it probably wouldn't pass any car show inspections. Installed the
air cleaner and waited 'till morning. Still needs the hoses for the breather
cap. Tried putting the windshield wipers on but the shafts were not turned
off at the 'stopping point' and one wiper shot across the top of the fender
and put a scratch and a nick into the paint. Damn%$#@#&. Finally figured
out the positioning of the wipers and installed them, but they aren't sitting
down as much as I'd like them to. (See Photo)
January 14: I tried to start the car in the morning after charging it all night, but it did the same thing. It 'clicked' but wouldn't turn over. Now my thoughts were maybe it's the starter. You know, these things go bad eventually, and it was pretty old. I didn't think it could be the battery - after all - It was less than a year old (I had it replaced when I started this project in the summer). Well, I didn't drive it to work (or the tire shop). After work, I pulled the starter out and the cable that runs from the solenoid to the starter. The cable was cracking and pieces were coming off. Better replace that too. Went to get a new rebuilt starter and starter cable and installed them both.
Tried to start it one more time without success. Well, it must be the battery
after all. Can't imagine why though. I tried to see why the back-up
lights don't work when you put it into reverse. There is a switch of some
kind, on the underside by the shifter, that engages when the shifter is
moved out of park. One side is ground, and the other side goes to
the firewall and into the dash somewhere. Surprise! That was one of the
wires I cut off when I was pulling the air conditioning unit out from under
the dash thinking it didn't do anything. I used a volt-meter to determine
what it does. Apparently the wire is shorted to ground via the switch when
it is out of park. Maybe a bad switch or positioning? I don't know yet.
I couldn't find where I cut it from. One more thing to figure out, but
not high on the priority list. Put the battery back on the charger hoping
that maybe trying to start it with a 'bad' starter somehow drained it too
much, and now that it has a new starter, I can try again tomorrow.