My '65 A100

looking great

Pics of the valve covers. First is with one wet sand and one not, the second pic is how they are now.

Not much done with the cold and classes. I finished patching the front floor pan area so no more holes there thank goodness. Got a reproduction clutch fork boot for Christmas and when installing it I discovered my clutch linkage was worn out. So I welded up and re-drilled the ovaled holes, tig and smooth the worn out frame side pivot ball, and painted it all. Today I got the new bushings and seal, so the z-bar will get re-installed soon. Earlier this week I gasket matched my intake manifold at school due to some ports not lining up to the ones next to them. Much better now with them all being the same size.

I'd say you have gotten alot done ! That smallish stuff takes up alot of time and sometimes you feel like you havent gained much , but that ain't true. When you do it all yourself it isnt always fast but ya know everything about it!

Yeah, but I just want to drive it. Right now I need to re-install all the clutch linkage and bleed the brakes to get rid of the spongy feel. Then I can pull it into the garage and replace the front shackle bushings.

Started to pull the steering column and steering gear this morning. Everything came loose easily except I need a pitman arm puller. I will borrow one from work tonight on my break and remove it, then pull everything Monday morning and tear it down for cleaning and any repairs as needed.

Painted the column and gear today.



After the paint has dried a few days I will reassemble everything. So far I have not found anything that needs replacing on the column, besides the turn signal cam. Plan on installing the clutch linkage parts this week and maybe the column and gear.

I have also been repairing the access panel to the gear.


I have added a little more on it since these pictures and hopefully will have it complete by the end of the month.

Does any body have any experience on replacing the turn signal cam on for the se vehicles? Hard to do?

Well I haven't got much done due to my daily needing a head gasket and head work. This is exam week so next couple weeks will be spent on the daily when I am not at work.
Since last post I got all my clutch parts re-installed. Got the spring washers needed for the shifter on the column today so column has been put back together. Won't be putting in for a while, because I will have more room to replace the timing cover and pan gaskets with it and the front of the dog house off.

Damn..I hate when newer vehicles break down. Just keep pluggin away, the painting of parts is always a good sign...

your project is comming right along....

Okay, little bit of an update. I got burned out on my daily driven Escort so I just worked on the '65 when I have felt like the last couple of months.
I have started on my dual master conversion. So far the combo valve bracket has been made and all the wheel lines made up. I just painted the area when all the parts mount and the parts and brackets I removed. Time to reassemble and run the lines from the master to the combo valve then bleed the brakes.
Clearance made for the new master.

Combo valve and the mounting bracket.

Now last week I drained the engine block, which still needs to be flushed. I removed the timing cover and oil pan to clean, paint, and install with new gaskets and oil pan stud kit. I noticed the timing chain had a lot of slack in it, but after cheking in was found to be fine. I still didn't like the slack so I bought a chain tensioner. It is listed for a 3.9L V6 but works on LA and Magnum V8s. I drilled out the 4th mounting hole and trimmed for the oil slinger. I also ordered a bolt and washer kit to delete the fuel pump lobe as I have an electric pump.

Got the brake area painted.

Engine back together.


New endlinks, modified a set for a 97 4wd F350.

Drop the gas tank.
Before cleaning:


After acetone:


Still need to use muratic acid then U.S. Standard sealer, then a new sending unit as the float was almost gone and the sender does not work below 1/4 tank.

Well I have cleaned the tank out with acid and got a pair of closed chamber cylinder heads for it and that's about it. Been paying attention to my girlfriend and then rear ended a suv with my dd, so I had to go buy a another car so I have something to drive while fixing my ford escort. On the bright side I got a '02 subaru for 3k below book value. Might be awhile before the van gets worked on again as I have one car to get caught up on maintenance and another needing a front end while I am not visiting my girlfriend who lives 2 hours away or working. Last two months have been busy and have gone by quickly. Hopefully I have no more mishaps. I have a week of vacation available after June, but I plan on saving it for a honeymoon, as if things keep going they way they are with my girlfriend I am going to propose before summer is over.

Glad to see your still working on her....the van that is...lol. Bummer on the rearender. Now if you can get that van running you could take it on a honeymoon. WIN WIN in my book.

great progress, looks good.

WOW! Youre kickin butt! Keep up the good work buddy!

Been gone for a while, but I am back. Got married Aug 2013 changed jobs March 2014 and bought a house March 2015. December 3rd I got my A100 towed to my house. Hopefully I will have the A back in a driveable state come summer.

Congrats on getting Married & getting new job,& house(Does it have Garage??(can you tell I'm single(LOL)
Hope you get some Van Time

One car garage. The house is a split-level so the garage has a hvac duct to it. Built a 8x3' work bench so I have a good area to work in now.