1990 country squire resto/lowrider in UK

[andyfanshawe]

looks GREAT! you have very good attention to detail. might i suggest a 2600lb bag? lower lift pressures and smooth rides. might be a must for a car thats well over 4100lbs.

Hi 351-lincoln.
Thanks for the observation.
I dont actually know what bags they are! Long time since i bought them!

But they will be in there only as far as after the engine and trans goes in. Then they will come out and be replaced by "shockwaves".

Hopefully they will support the weight of the car until then!!

Andy.

[andyfanshawe]

Boring but important bits now. Cleaning and painting.

Brake discs/rotors first. Media blasted and painted.



Heres one of the rear drums



Taped off for media blasting



And media blasted



Photo of the red painted one tomorrow.

Back axle next. I'm going to prep this best I can without media blasting and paint it with epoxy mastic paint.

Heres the rusty thing



and about halfway through prepping



Andy.

[1987cp]

I'm amazed at what you appear to be doing with so little space.


Two questions:

- What did you use for media blasting (or was it farmed out)?
- Is it just me, or do photos of English backyards always just look super-civilized somehow?

[Grand Marquis GT]

Good work!

I like where the airbag thing is goin'

[1990LTD]

I don't know if it's been mentioned before, but are you keeping the side mirrors?

[andyfanshawe]

I'm amazed at what you appear to be doing with so little space.


Two questions:

- What did you use for media blasting (or was it farmed out)?
- Is it just me, or do photos of English backyards always just look super-civilized somehow?

Hi 1987cp.
I use aluminium oxide as a media or if I'm desperate some play sand from my sons sand pit!! Bigger things are farmed out locally.

I think they look civilised because we have less space than yourselves. We have to make good use of the space and it is easier to look smart. If I had a big yard it would be super uncivilised!!

Is your backyard clean and tidy? How much space do you have?

Andy.

[andyfanshawe]

I don't know if it's been mentioned before, but are you keeping the side mirrors?

Hi.
I don't think I will keep them.
They need moving forward anyway and one of the bases is cracked and has been badly repaired.
I'm sure there are modern units that will do the job better.

Andy.

[1987cp]

Is your backyard clean and tidy? How much space do you have?

Nope, nothing like, probably because I'm a pathetic American who bought a property built, maintained, and "improved" (read: spent money to add structures and landscaping that really don't work) by pathetic Americans. :p I have 0.40 acre total, which is more than a lot of people but it's very poorly used. Someone about 80 years ago had the bright idea to plant pine trees all over the place, so that does cut into usable space a bit until I can afford to have them removed.

Lately, though, I've realized that instead of putting up ever more and larger outbuildings like an American farmer might, I need to organize what I have already, so I've gotten extra fascinated by small spaces that both look nice and aren't ruined by the guy who tramped through with car parts in hand.



I still need to get me a sandblast cabinet, though. Maybe if I can get my little 24x24 garage "tidy", as you guys put it, I'll have space for one after all!


BTW, re side mirrors, I've finally pulled one of the mirrors off of the doors I kept from my '79 Squire when it went away. I'm thinking that if I can get around to measuring the dimensions and angles of the little steel insert that supports it, it might be possible to obtain another part that's similar and even somehow trim the window glass with a diamond blade to fit. IMO, the '79-'80 Panther mirrors are just better, not only because they look nicer, but they're better placed, bigger, sturdier, and don't make the doors rust prematurely. Of course, they've been getting beyond scarce for a long time now despite their high original production numbers, so I'm interested in finding other mirrors that would work as well.

[andyfanshawe]

A 24 x 24 garage? I'm assuming thats feet and not metres!! That would be fantastic! We couldn't fit that on our back garden even.

Finally finished prepping the back axle. Only took 12 hours! Wish I'd had it media blasted now.

But thats too easy!!!

Removed the halfshafts and discovered a Limited Slip Diff. Bonus. Didn't know it had that.

Also took off the backplates.

Bit of painting later and here we are





If you look carefully under the diff, you will see a plastic bowl with a big split in it. It didn't have that split until the axle fell off the stands! guess where all the oil went that was in it? Yep, on my Wife's beloved patio. Oops! And I've still not put her a bedroom door on yet either!

While the brake backplates were off, guess what I did?.............



The diff cover was also a bit sad, so media blasted and a bit of contrasting silver paint



Now a few days off on our short easter hols in the caravan, and then I'm going to put it all together! Am I seriously looking forward to that.
1 week to get the engine, trans, driveshaft and axle in and all associated pipework/wires/fluids etc, plumb and bleed brakes, strip and paint the fuel tank, find or make a suitable TV cable and fire it all up.

Phew!
Andy.

[Grand Marquis GT]

I have a TV cable I can sell you. It's like new!

[johnunit]

Coming along nicely.


I saw you mention aluminum oxide and that you only use regular sand when you're desperate. How big a difference is there? How does it behave differently? Are there any other medias you've experimented with first-hand?

[andyfanshawe]

I have a TV cable I can sell you. It's like new!

Hi
PM me a price will you? Remember it has to come to the UK.

Thanks.
Andy.

[Pirate]

Uh, the poly frame bushings you installed (red part on top of the black frame bushing...?)....I think I see cracks in them?

[87gtVIC]

Uh, the poly frame bushings you installed (red part on top of the black frame bushing...?)....I think I see cracks in them?

Those are height adjustable spacers. You twist them and they rise. Probably just a casting edge you see.

[andyfanshawe]

Those are height adjustable spacers. You twist them and they rise. Probably just a casting edge you see.

Quite right.
The poly bushes are the black ones. If you go back a few posts you will see more detailed photos of the adjustable spacers.

Andy.