Progress Report [John]

Here's an approximate summary of where we are in making the Firedome Estate Wagon functional and handsome. The table shows our initial inventory of needs, far from complete as it turns out. The next section tabulates the additional issues we have found so far, and the last section lists improvements we thought we might want to make.

	Status	Notes
Needed Improvements	March 2014
Side mirrors	Done
Air cleaner	Done
Tune up	Done
Gas cap	Done
Tailgate logo letters	Done
Side moldings	Done
Replace gas filler grommet	Done
Detail dash	Gauges now work
Replace rear license bracket	Done
Front plate bracket	Done	Not original, but functional
Fix hood hinges and hood fit	Done once	Springs are weak and fit is poor
Deal with driver side armrest	Done	Both front armrests renewed
Detail interior	Partial	Needs floor covering
Clean up engine bay wiring	Mostly done
Fix cowl vent; replace gasket	Mostly done
Get all lights to work	Mostly done	No interior lighting
Fix tailgate rust; chrome or refinish hinges	Needs repair, soon
Replace weather stripping
Detail or repair spare tire well as needed
Replace window rubber
Fix horn if needed		Have horn, needs repair
Research correct color CA plates and get personalized plates to match		Maybe
Wiper arms and blades. Motor and linkage?
Clean paint off rear window frame
Dash pad
Repair windshield frame rust
Front carpet or floor mat
Rear bumper brackets
Fix heater (might need core)
Repair radio or new radio
(Maybe) repaint
Replace visor		Rust in roof frame must be repaired first
Discoveries
PS unit required rebuild	Done
Brake cylinders leak	Rebuilt	Master and all slaves
Install included wire wheel covers	Do not fit; made for some other car	Sell on eBay
Carburetor didn’t work	Rebuilt
New points, cap, rotor don’t fit	Not an issue.	Engine has been swapped. Has 330 ci Firedome from a 56 S-23
No plug wire covers	Done	Found new ones and decals
Lost “S” from hood	Done	Found another
Transmission doesn’t downshift	Fixed	Control circuit winding missing
Turn signals, brake lights don’t work	Done	Mostly bad grounds
Tires leak	Done	Bad bead seal against rusty wheels
Exhaust leak	Done	New flange gaskets
Idles too fast	Disabled choke	Pugged vacuum leak on bojack pipe to manifold
Electrical short makes ammeter twitch	Fixed	Stoplight switch wires had draped across the exhaust pipe and shorted
Fails to crank	Fixed	Replaced ignition switch; taped bare wires in dash
Weak battery	Done	Replaced
Engine wouldn’t run	Done	Changed fuel pump. Tried three fuel filters.  Boiled out and lined fuel tank.
Gas gauge doesn’t work	Done	New sending unit, adapted for the wagon’s weird tank
Temp sender not connected	“Done”	Jury-rigged. Car’s sending unit won’t fit 330 engine.
Wiper towers missing	Done	Found replacements in South Dakota
Battery tray rusted through
Grill and bumper rechrome is rough
No kick-panels
Heater controls are very stiff.
Cowl vent is dirty, leaky, and hard to close.
Options	January 2013	March 2014 outlook
Swap tires, maybe wheels,		Probably not
Improve stance	In work	New front springs in hand
New shocks		Not needed
New upholstery, or new seats		Probably not
Seat belts	Rear added	Need front installed
Repair and chrome rear bumper
Refinish or replace steering column		Might repaint
12V conversion		Probably not
Hop-up existing engine		Probably not
Manifold and carb	Have 4V setup	Probably won’t install
Cam		Probably not
Distributor and ignition	Tuned up	Ok
Swap engine		Probably not