These pictures show the condition the car was in when I purchased the it, January 20, 2007.

The first step was to lift it with a crane and take it to my car & truck wash for high pressure cleaning.

Sitting in someone’s backyard between a few other abandoned cars. Windows were open and the interior is rotted.  Water has rusted a lot of the floor.  Most of the stainless belt trim is damaged or missing.

Several years of neglect and vandalism have taken their toll. People and animals have obviously stood on the roof.

The interior has rotted away from years of neglect, rain, sun, and animals. Closer inspection will show the floor pan has rusted out from water sitting in it.

There is no telling yet what internal engine damage there is, but it may be considerable. The lack of anything covering the carburetors allowed a lot of dirt and rain to enter. The air filter and various parts are missing.

From the condition of the underside, this car has seen a lot of rough roads and rocks. The gas tank is full of holes, and the crossmember badly bent.
(Picture after washing.)

These pictures show the condition of the car after one week of cleaning with high pressure hoses.

The exterior rust is not as much as it could have been in a more moist climate, but the paint has been worn down or burned by the sun at 6100 ft above sea level. The interior is rotted and will be discarded. Much of the floor will be replaced, as all interior parts except the dashboard and rear seat springs.

Week 2

The mechanical parts are now out and I’m starting my parts list and work list for machine shops. Most of the suspension will end up being replaced, whether I find original parts or end up making them.

Looks like it was used a lot on unpaved roads, as the front crossmember is badly bent. Actually, I remember that the only paved roads were 3 blocks around the central plaza of town.
Various rubber bushings have been replaced by pieces cut from tires.
There is no sign of grease on any fitting

The coil springs on the left of the car have been replaced with weaker ones with rubber spacers in between the coils. It will have to be replaced. The coupling is completely worn and oval. Tie rod end on right side has been welded.

Now it is ready for the body shop. Just waiting for the crane to put lift it and put it on the truck. Looking at the empty engine compartment you can see that the lower body panel has been folded up where there once was a grill.  Needs a complete set of turn signals and steering wheel bearings.

We are beginning to take the engine apart. We discover 4 mm of lateral play in the crankshaft, and obvious accumulation of dirt in the cylinder fins and oil cooler, as well as some rust from rain that got in during the years it was stored.

Week 3

The car is now in two places, with the body at the body shop where it is promissed for May 31, 2007. We are taking the engine apart, measuring and preparing to order parts.

Without any wheels, it takes a crane to move it. Here we are picking it up at the mechanical shop and leaving it at the body shop about 3 miles away.

Body is now almost stripped, showing more rust than noted before, including under the roof rails.. All side glass, rubber weatherstripping, and fuzzys are removed. The floor pan shows a lot of rust and will have to be replaced. The rear window will be removed and saved. The windshield will be replaced. All rubber and fuszzys will be replaced.

The damaged tail lights will be replaced by a set of tail light and backup lights

The crankshaft and camshaft appear to be straight, but the wear in the thrust bearing and shims in the main bearings are not good.  There was so much lateral play in the crankshaft that the starter could not engage the flywheel.  There is a lot of corrosion en the rod bearings.  The crankshaft looks like it can be re-ground to eliminate the wear and corrosion. I will need to machine it to .010 and buy the appropriate bearings.

The pistons have a lot of carbon on them, and a few burn or damage marks. I will replace them.

Note detail below

Zooming in with the camera we see some of the problems.

1. Cylinder filled with mud and rust.
2. Corrosion and pitting of worn main bearing.
3. Wear of Thrust Bearing and Crankshaft - 5 times the maximum.