Nice day in PA, work starts on the SVO

[dan84svo]

Step one for the SVO is to get it running, after sitting for so long I was worried what I would find. Today, I dropped the gas tank and drained the gas that was there, thankfully there was not a lot of gas, and I had poured Sta-Bil in it. Actually still smelled like gas even after 17 years. Fuel lines were cleared out, I pulled the spark plugs and cleaned them off as well as the cap and rotor. Put a shot of mystery oil for good measure in the cylinders. Changed the oil and filter. Everything looked way better than I expected for sitting so long. Ready now for fresh gasoline and a new battery, and hopefully the old girl fires up. Too bad it's Super Bowl Sunday, I'd probably get it running tonight.

[Ford Builder]

Well good luck hope she fires up with no problems.

[MikeFleming]

Status report, Spock?

[dan84svo]

Unfortunately, she is going to need more than a shot of gas and a battery. All was so promising until the moment of truth, and then no engine turn over by key. Starter didn't kick by jumping the solenoid, so I pulled the starter. It wasn't frozen, and wouldn't kick off jumper cables. So off to the parts store for me, but not today because we are in a snowstorm... Hopefully, with a starter and solenoid she runs.

[dan84svo]

So, back to the projects section after a detour to the electrical forum to sort out the no-crank issue. The next item of importance is getting the old girl to stop on demand, since I had my moment of excitement the last time it left the garage. I ordered 4 new calipers from NAPA and installed them today, but was unable to vacuum bleed the brakes. A check of the pedal in trying to pump bleed indicated I should have ordered a master cylinder too. So now I wait for that to arrive after taking the cores back (my God the core charge was higher than the caliper cost). Trolling around, I see maybe I should order up a proportioning valve too while I am at it? Anyway, the project sits idle for another week...

[dan84svo]

Finally got a chance to get out to the garage and finish the brake job. Put the new M/C on, and of course couldn't bleed the front brakes. I saw the thread about the same problem, and took the proportioning valve off and apart. After a can of brake cleaner, some compressed air, and a couple of extra hours work, all is well in the brake pedal department again. I now am going back to the original plan of putting the car on the lift and degreasing/powerwashing since it should stop on demand again. I will post some before and after pics, but it won't be today unfortunately.

[MikeFleming]

... since it should stop on demand again. Always a comforting feeling!

Looking forward to more pics!

[dan84svo]

So I figure, today's the day to powerwash the underside. Nope. I find that the rag joint is toast, so off to NAPA I go. I replace the rag joint with a few struggles, and now I think the rack or PS pump (or both) are shot, cause the steering requires a lot of effort. So I take the small victory today that the SVO left and returned to the garage under its own power, and the brakes did not fail to stop the car like they did the last time. While it was outside, I gave her a little bath. I was going to buff the paint and remembered I loaned out my buffer and 3M finesse it, so sorry about the dull paint. The whole operation didn't cost me a pound of flesh, but she did take a little chunk as payment.
67266727672867296730

[MikeFleming]

A daily addition to the battle scars.

A sure sign of progress.

[TheSVOTrust]

Is that the "using a breaker bar on the caliper bolts" and slipped OR "thought the weight was off the jack" and slipped?? Mark

[dan84svo]

Actually it was the "wow, I didn't realize the inside lip of the K-member is that sharp" when the nut cracked loose on the rag joint. BTW, has anyone tackled a steering rack rebuild? If so, how bad a job is it, cause I'd rather spend 20 bucks on seals than buy a rebuilt rack

[MikeFleming]

Buy a rebuilt rack. Working with those teflon seals and not having the proper burr-free tools to install them means a low success rate for leak-free results.

[Meotchh]

Dave Schmitt has a contact with a shop that rebuilds the steering rack if you want to keep the original. The price is right & sounds like the work is top notch.

[Ford Builder]

Yes I would have my rack rebuilt, keeping it original you don't know what your getting , ratio quality a big factor. Ahh yes I too have lost some bark in the past taking parts off , done that been there.

[dan84svo]

Today was the big day! The car made it under it's own power to the shop and up on the rack for the undercarriage degrease and powerwash. I took some before and after shots, I think it cleaned up pretty well. Sorry about no before on the engine, I thought I had one.

Before:


675267536754


After:


6755675767586760676167626763

[Ford Builder]

The links won't open?

[dan84svo]

Sorry, I will give you a link to the photobucket account... It's the first 16 pics.

http://s71.photobucket.com/user/dh3415/library/?sort=3&page=1

Hope that works. I have links to attachments when I view the post on my end.

[rodster]

Wow, it cleaned up nice. :like2:


Good to have a lift to be able to do the pressure washing! Floors look nice and straight and I noticed some factory markings. I took the rear vibration damper off of my car and noticed yellow paint markings and it looks like your car has them too.

[dan84svo]

Yes, I was happy with the results for sure. I really was wondering what was going to be under the muck and spider's nests. I have some "must for rust", which is supposed to reverse the surface rust - we will see. Not going to worry about the exhaust, It will be a 3" soon enough! Also got on Tire Rack today and ordered up a set of Dunlop Direzza tires, Price was great, $300 delivered and for sure will outperform 20 year old tires with permanent flat spots. It was like driving on cobblestones to the shop and back!

[rodster]

Glad to hear you made it back from the shop, the engine looked soaked so I was wondering if it was going to start and run. ;)

It doesn't look like you have a lot of rust to deal with and it looks like the car was taken care of. Love the nice straight front frame rails. Lots of times they are crinkled from jacking. Sometimes a coating of grease/oil/muck can be a good thing to help preserve the metal. :)

Great deal on the tires, I need some too so I might pick up a set of them. Hard to beat the price!

Your car is cleaning up real nice.

[MikeFleming]

... and spider's nests. For future reference, it's spider webs and rodent nests.

[Ford Builder]

Thanks Dan , she cleaned up nicely

[Sick Puppy]

Great progress Dan. Hopefully I'll see you in Carlisle.

Paul

[dan84svo]

Great deal on the tires, I need some too so I might pick up a set of them. Hard to beat the price!

Yes, for sure. Don't know how long Tire Rack will have them in stock, but they are clearanced right now for $62 each plus shipping if anyone is interested

[dan84svo]

Great progress Dan. Hopefully I'll see you in Carlisle.

All I need is some cooperation from the car, and we will both be there!

[dan84svo]

Tire Rack delivered the goods and I got the new Dunlops mounted and balanced today. I cleaned up the wheels a little, since the clearcoat was peeling and the wheels were oxidized. I think if I give it a good buffing and re-do the black trim, it won't look too shabby

before:

6775

After:

6776

[rodster]

That was quick! No more flat spots. :cool:

[MikeFleming]

It was a mere 96 degrees (F) here today.

[Rosamond SVO]

It was a mere 96 degrees (F) here today.

It is nice to live in the high desert

[dan84svo]

It was a mere 96 degrees (F) here today.

We made it to 70 in central PA, back to 50's and rain tomorrow though

[dan84svo]

That was quick! No more flat spots. :cool:

Yeah, nice to have access to a shop with a tire machine and spin balancer. Guess those 4 years of auto shop weren't wasted

[SVO8T4]

Hey Dan! Any updates on the car?

[Under Pressure]

Overcast highs in the mid 50's. Friday chance of showers in the evening. More at 11