Getting the big Fairlane back on the road.... Going the whole 9 inches

[RC10th]

After a LOT of messing around, measuring of unmeasurable angles, a couple of styrene models, cutting, drilling, soldering, cursing and test fitting it a million times and some luck I'm finally nearly over one of the biggest hurdles.

I finally got the light indicator working well, surprisingly well actually. The pivot arm is bearing supported and the whole thing operates smoothly. I just need to make an LED holder and make a nice one piece linkage rod instead of the collar arrangement.

This will allow me to use the factory indicator bar in the console using a left hand drive shifter in a right hand drive car, and no modifications have been made to the console, no ugly aftermarket plates etc...

[RC10th]

Here it is all finished with console bolted in the car. I also put the passenger seat in with only the sill plates still to go, then I can call it quits on the interior.

Next up - the engine pull.....

[DaveM]

Hi RJ,

Good work, nicely done!

Cheers, Dave.

[RC10th]

Thanks Dave,
It wasn't easy. At least we got there in the end. It looks fairly stock and is legal in the eyes of the law

[romulus22]

Been meaning to comment on this but keep forgetting.

Thanks Dave,
It wasn't easy. At least we got there in the end. It looks fairly stock and is legal in the eyes of the law

Been meaning to comment on this car but keep forgetting. Car is coming along nicely.

Are you saying an aftermarket shifter isn't legal in Aus? I thought you guys had it kinda nice after seeing many videos of the power fest event you all have. I'd really like to go to this event someday.

[youtube]GyzFhUSIpaQ[/youtube]

[DaveM]

Aussies are just crazy!

Check out this truck, he could have tried harder.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mB8Fj-ZO2Q

Cheers, Dave.

[RC10th]

Are you saying an aftermarket shifter isn't legal in Aus?

While Australia has some tough cars they also have some of the most rediculous road worthy laws.

I was planning to pull the engine out Thursday but the weather was iffy and I had other things I had to do. These last two weeks I've also been side tracked with RC again, which doesn't help my cause.

I did drop off my driveshaft for balancing only to find out the new U-joints I put in were bad.

[RC10th]

I managed to get this done today by myself, now the fun of scrubbing ,cleaning and degreasing. The complete front wiring harness will be replaced as well as the steering box. I should also replace the power steering hoses while it's apart but where do you draw the line?

Christmas makes this a year long project. I originally thought it would take no longer then 2 months when I started, a quick engine rebuild snowballed into something more.

[romulus22]

I should also replace the power steering hoses while it's apart but where do you draw the line?

If its going to be a pain to do later or its going to filth up things might as well do it now.

[RC10th]

Not much to update but I started cleaning and degreasing the engine bay. Under all the crap it appears to be in quite good shape. I wish I could of done more today but it was too hot to work in the sun. I wanted to get the wiring harness out and tidied up a bit more, but I'm just happy to have made some progress.

I will give the right side fender well around the battery a quick sand and rattle can it with a color coded can, and touch up a few surface rusted areas.

At the end of the day It will still be a piece of crap, just a polished piece of crap.

[Daryl Lane]

Looking Great - nice work!

[RC10th]

Thanks Daryl,
It's been a long process without any help, but we're getting there. I'm just happy to be on the tail end.

[romulus22]

Looking good. A little bit of white paint will go a long way in making it look newish again.

[RC10th]

Thanks Todd,
Yeah a little paint will make the engine bay look much better. No mattter what way you look at it though without a body restoration it will always be a tatty car, and honestly I think that's what makes it fun. A bit of a sleeper that you can park anywhere and not worry about it. Dragging off the econo boxes and boy racers that try to jump on you at the lights makes it all worthwhile.

I picked up my driveshaft the other day to the tune of $175 I put two new U-joints in it and took it to the only place in town that has a balancing machine. He took one look and said I was wasting my time, apparantley the U-joints I put in were a known bad brand Instead of driving an hour home, replacing the joints myself and driving an hour back I told them just to do it.

[scr8p]

Thanks Todd,
Yeah a little paint will make the engine bay look much better. No matter what way you look at it though without a body restoration it will always be a tatty car

Yeah, it's one of those those..... where do you stop sort of deals. I finally pulled the engine/trans from my 55 last week and wanted to paint the firewall before I put the new one in. But if figured screw it, look at the rest of the car. I was gonna sandblast and paint the rad support and inner pans and all that too but decided not to bother. One day the car may get a full resto and it'll get done then. But until then, I'll just keep it as is.