Re: Henry's 55 Constellation
Posted by Cli55er On 2015/9/3 20:21:08
since I'm on a staycation these next couple of weeks, I've been fiddling in the garage. I got a lot of little pieces mounted to the car, including the gas pedal (temporary) and linkage, kick down linkage, hood ornament, etc. I also rebuild the trico mag-u-matic jar. it was a total PITA! that plastic LOVES to crack and break. I can't blame it though.
I also finished up the heater blower motor and mounted it, but I may have to use a flat rubber washer on the part close to the fender as the bevel washer is pushing it too far out and the 3rd bolt hold isn't lining up right. its amazing how many other things you can use plumbing washer for. I got a new grommet for the wires coming from the motor housing from lowes and then stuffed the felt back in from the front.
The washer jar, I forgot a spring in the black plastic piece and had to drill out the rivets that came from McVey's that I spent a pretty penny on. I ended up just using 1/8" regular rivets to put it back together, only not fully expanding them as it would crack the plastic and did on the first one. I just got them snug and then snipped off the remaining metal and ground it flat. it looks fine.
the rest I just used stainless screws so I could take it apart much easier in the future if needed. its not 100% correct, but I doubt if anyone would notice unless I pointed it out. if it works it will be a miracle, but to be honest I don't plan on having to use it. its probably mostly for looks now. very expensive looks to say the least! There was a rubber seal missing in my McVey's kit, so I made one myself and it worked perfectly. Also one of the gaskets had a flap that wasn't on my original, but McVey's told me it was supposed to be there so I used it.
I was also missing the little metal filter screen, so I cut one from a plumbing part of some kind and shoved it in the tip of the washer pump. worked great!
The little actuator was total PITA to get those wires to connect, the solder would NOT stick for the life of me. I finally got it. the red cap wont go on unless you get it just right too. the little tips broke off where the hoses connect too. jb weld fixed that. it was a miracle I got this to work even as decently as it turned out. I don't wish a rebuild of that thing on anyone.
the power antenna....forget it....for some reason the motor burnt out and wont work now. I had to snip the wires to get the brush mount over the top of the armature so I could reset the little BB in the bottom that was pushing up the armature and making it impossible to put the housing back together. well I re connected everything and it wont work no. I tried several times and different ways. it's just toast I guess. to be honest....I don't really care...I wont be listening to the radio anyways.
my 1970 dart doesn't have water in the washer bottle nor does it have a radio and I don't miss either of them, I doubt I will in the Packard.
I don't know who reproduces the antenna to fender grommet either as its not listed on steele rubber's website. they only have the dual antenna version listed. If I can find a grommet i'll mount the antenna for looks, but if not i'll cut some thick rubber to insert as a blank for the hole in the fender and be done with it.
I had planned on using that nylon fish wire from Harbor Freight, it was only $6.49 and looked to be the perfect size to fit the antenna mast to push it up and down and flexible enough to coil up in the bottom when lowered, but alas I wont know because I'm just not going to spend money on a new antenna motor.....and it probably wouldn't have worked anyways, but it was worth a try.
I have been in touch with a company that reproduces the firewall pad for the 55/56 in both a/c and non a/c versions, but they do not have a plenum for either. Being I have the heater plenum, they have agreed to have a look at it and see about repoping it. But, alas my plenum is not in as good of shape as I remember it being.....mouse or something destroyed it in the shed I think. it used to be complete like in the first pic...but not its all ate up. I have a better one coming from Ross so I can see about sending it to them for repoping. Thanks to Ross!
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I also finished up the heater blower motor and mounted it, but I may have to use a flat rubber washer on the part close to the fender as the bevel washer is pushing it too far out and the 3rd bolt hold isn't lining up right. its amazing how many other things you can use plumbing washer for. I got a new grommet for the wires coming from the motor housing from lowes and then stuffed the felt back in from the front.
The washer jar, I forgot a spring in the black plastic piece and had to drill out the rivets that came from McVey's that I spent a pretty penny on. I ended up just using 1/8" regular rivets to put it back together, only not fully expanding them as it would crack the plastic and did on the first one. I just got them snug and then snipped off the remaining metal and ground it flat. it looks fine.
the rest I just used stainless screws so I could take it apart much easier in the future if needed. its not 100% correct, but I doubt if anyone would notice unless I pointed it out. if it works it will be a miracle, but to be honest I don't plan on having to use it. its probably mostly for looks now. very expensive looks to say the least! There was a rubber seal missing in my McVey's kit, so I made one myself and it worked perfectly. Also one of the gaskets had a flap that wasn't on my original, but McVey's told me it was supposed to be there so I used it.
I was also missing the little metal filter screen, so I cut one from a plumbing part of some kind and shoved it in the tip of the washer pump. worked great!
The little actuator was total PITA to get those wires to connect, the solder would NOT stick for the life of me. I finally got it. the red cap wont go on unless you get it just right too. the little tips broke off where the hoses connect too. jb weld fixed that. it was a miracle I got this to work even as decently as it turned out. I don't wish a rebuild of that thing on anyone.
the power antenna....forget it....for some reason the motor burnt out and wont work now. I had to snip the wires to get the brush mount over the top of the armature so I could reset the little BB in the bottom that was pushing up the armature and making it impossible to put the housing back together. well I re connected everything and it wont work no. I tried several times and different ways. it's just toast I guess. to be honest....I don't really care...I wont be listening to the radio anyways.
my 1970 dart doesn't have water in the washer bottle nor does it have a radio and I don't miss either of them, I doubt I will in the Packard.
I don't know who reproduces the antenna to fender grommet either as its not listed on steele rubber's website. they only have the dual antenna version listed. If I can find a grommet i'll mount the antenna for looks, but if not i'll cut some thick rubber to insert as a blank for the hole in the fender and be done with it.
I had planned on using that nylon fish wire from Harbor Freight, it was only $6.49 and looked to be the perfect size to fit the antenna mast to push it up and down and flexible enough to coil up in the bottom when lowered, but alas I wont know because I'm just not going to spend money on a new antenna motor.....and it probably wouldn't have worked anyways, but it was worth a try.
I have been in touch with a company that reproduces the firewall pad for the 55/56 in both a/c and non a/c versions, but they do not have a plenum for either. Being I have the heater plenum, they have agreed to have a look at it and see about repoping it. But, alas my plenum is not in as good of shape as I remember it being.....mouse or something destroyed it in the shed I think. it used to be complete like in the first pic...but not its all ate up. I have a better one coming from Ross so I can see about sending it to them for repoping. Thanks to Ross!
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