1973 Convertible Project: Engine Bay Restoration

[Steve McMahan]

Thanks @Hemikiller.

Well, with the exception of those hidden frame rail compartments, I’m complete with the floor pan and rear of the car. Put the POR-15 on and now will wait 2 days for it to cure.



Next is the engine compartment. I want to weld up the holes I won’t be using, mostly on the passenger side. My 87 TBird driveline has most of the components on the drivers side. The fun never ends.

 

[Steve McMahan]

Well, 5 days of work and I finally got the engine compartment cleaned out. I don’t think I’ve been this tired in a long time.

 

[tpj71mach]

Wow, the engine bay looks great! That is a lot of work, I am sure your pretty worn out after all of that cleaning, sanding and prepping.

 

[Hemikiller]

That's a good kind of tired though...

 

[Steve McMahan]

I’m starting to feel old

 

[Steve McMahan]

Well, I posted these elsewhere, but to keep the thread going, here are the pics of the front wheel well’s restoration efforts. It was a grind off the old, brush on POR15, and then spray an underbody coat.



After the holidays, I’ll be back to it. I’ve got to apply the same process to the engine compartment front clip (if I’m calling it by the correct name). That area consisting of the top of the “frame rails” and lower members. I want to define the distinction of the front frame part from the engine compartment. Does it sound like I’ve got it right?

 

[California 72]

Well, 5 days of work and I finally got the engine compartment cleaned out. I don’t think I’ve been this tired in a long time.

View attachment 95783 View attachment 95784

For a moment, I almost had to go to the garage to make sure my car was still there. Then I thought, well maybe if it's gone, it will reappear completed. Right.

Saw all the work on the underside and I need to stop looking at everyone else's work. It's a silent "guilt-trip" forcing me into putting more effort into things. Always planned for this to be our "fun car" too but spending that amount of time on the underside sounds more like masochist mechanic, not to be confused with "Manic Mechanic". I think we're gonna need a bigger boat, I mean better creeper. Media blasting was the first choice but with an attached garage, it's becoming more a hassle with dust infiltrating the house, even with the car tented. Maybe it's time to try the contour tool for this. The wire wheels can get a little painful in an open area so not sure of the confined space between the floor and car.
Nice work!

 

[Steve McMahan]

It definitely was a marathon, not a sprint. And I did do the layers of protection from the wire wheel pieces. That’s why the winter was a good time. I was very warm, but not too bad. And, for me, there is an optimal distance between the creeper and the car, for minimal arm and shoulder pain. But, it took me so long because I knew I couldn’t do like 8 hours if it in one day. So 4 hours over more days. One benefit I discovered, I’m able to put my socks on easier; improved mobility.

But, I’m not done. So, the journey continues.