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1/24/2011- Removed front tires, grille, turn signals, front bumper, bumper guards(2), Headlamp Bezels and Housings

1/25/2011- Polished Grille, Turn Signal Housing, recharged battery

1/26/2011- Disassembled Headlight Assemblies-cleaned off rusted areas

1/27/2011- Ordered parts for HL Assemblies, Cleaned Bumper Guards -took bumper into platers for estimate

1/28/2011- Posted web pages-log, pictures and parts manual

1/29/2011-Bought blasting cabinet- bead-blasted first headlight Housing

1/30/2011-Finished bead blasting H/L housings-primed

1/31/2011-Beadblasted Sealed beam cans and painted, Painted H/L housings black, Began cleaning hood lock assy.

2/1/2011- Removed hood, lower splash panel, AIR pump, alternator, thermostat housing, clearance lights, taillights, radiator hold-down

2/2/2011-Finished Headlight Assemblies, Cleaned Alternator, Cleaned Air stove/Paint, Cleaned Hood Latch

2/3/2011- Rebuilt Hood Lock, Safety Catch and spring plunger-Installed on Latch Housing, Rebuilt Alternator, Rebuilt License Plate Light, Finished Radiator Hold down

2/6/2011- Tail light housing, bumper guards, Turn signal housings to plater.

2/7/2011- Bead blasted air pump parts, t/s reflectors, old diverter valve and License bracket- won jump seat cushions (ebay), Finished Reverse Lights

2/8/2011- Removed both front fenders, radiator cradle, radiator, water pump, fan, heater valve, & starter

2/10/2011-Cleaned and rebuilt starter, installed new terminal kit in alternator, cleaned and painted water pump and thermostat housing, repainted license light & bracket, cleaned and painted carbon canister holder, cleaned canister

2/12/2011-Cleaned and painted AIR Pump pulley. Installed new diverter valve (Volvo), installed carbon canister bottom and filter

2/15/2011-(Before) Removed Upper and Lower Control Arms and Passenger side coil spring.  Removed front pulley and timing cover.

2/17/2011- Bead blasting continues- timing cover, all front pulleys. Order tail-light refinishing kit

2/20/2011- Bead Blasting fan. Cleaning A frames-problem with lower control arm PS-uh-oh

2/21/2011- Finished removal of all suspension components and bumper to frame brackets, removed manifolds and carb.

2/22/2011- Removed air injection manifold, master cylinder and power brake booster.  Cleaned firewall.

2/23/2011- Cleaned first set of A-frames with gasoline in preparation for the inaugural "soda blasting"

2/25/2011- Cleaned AIR manifold, began degreasing second set of A-frames (driver's side)

2/26/2011- First use of soda blaster-Cleaned control arms (before) (after), fan shroud (before) (after), radiator cradle (before) (after)  Damage to upper ball joint-passenger side

2/27/2011- Removed Header pipe, picked up replated parts (tail light housings, t/s housings, front bumper guards)-beautiful job!, Cleaned front spindle and caliper assemblies

2/28/2011- Had new header pipe made, ordered lower control arm from Arizona, suspension bumpers coming from PA, ordered brake parts, dropped off radiator for repair and cleaning. Ordered brake hoses

3/2/2011- Cleaned and straightened Parking Light Housings. Rec'd Camaro intake from good friend.  Cleaned windshield washer, Rainy day

3/3/2011- Worked on PS Upper Control Arm-cleaned down to bare metal, removed inner bushings and ball joint. Picked up radiator Ordered side marker lights.

3/4/2011- Finished TS Housings and Upper PS Control Arm, Prepared and painted intake and exhaust manifolds. Used Lower Control Arm (PS) arrived.

3/5/2011- Cleaned and de-rusted Used Lower Control Arm, Removed Bushings and ball joint-Primed

3/6/2011- Painted PS Lower Control Arm, Cleaned Cast Iron connector LCA

3/8/2011- Installed LCA Bushings, Wire wheeled  cooling shroud-primed, cleaned and painted bumper supports

3/9/2011- Began cleaning DS Upper Control Arm- Painted fan shroud-ordered upper ball joints-58 T-Bird

3/10/2011- Finished install upper control arm bushings-pass. side, cleaned water pump pulleys, AIR pulley, Crankshaft pulley-primed and painted, ordered coil springs, side markers, T/L gaskets

3/11/2011 Packaged and sent out power brake booster and front bumper for rebuilding/re-plating

3/12/2011- Removed bushing from DS Lower Control Arm, began de-rusting process. Removed Cast Iron connector LCA- Cleaned and de-rusted.

3/13/2011- Continue removing rust from LCA, applied primer to LCA

3/14/2011- Painted LCA with Chassis Black, Began disassembly of PS Spindle and Brakes

3/15/2011- Began cleaning of PS Frame, Installed Control Arm Bushings PS Lower Control Arm, Installed new suspension bumper and cast iron connector-complete

3/16/2011- Finished painting UCA Driver's side. Continued trying to disassemble PS Spindle. Grumble grumble.

Cleaned, de-rusted, primed and painted spindle parts, R&R lower ball joint.

3/18/2011- Assembled PS Spindle. Installed Lower ball joints on control arms.

3/21/2011- Disassembled, cleaned and painted DS Spindle. R&R DS Lower Ball Joint, Painted DS Impact Absorber Bracket

3/22/2011- Cleaned DS Front Frame and cross-members

3/23/2011- Cleaned Junkyard Intake and Exhaust Manifolds, Heat Stove, EGR Hold down, Bellcrank, and Choke Hsg.

3/24/2011- Continued attempt to remove all rust from exhaust manifold-slow going

3/25/2011- Primed manifolds, cleaned side marker clips & primed, primed bellcrank, energy absorber support and EGR hold down

3/26/2011-Painted Exhaust Manifold & Heated Air stove

3/27/2011-Touched up exhaust manifold, painted intake manifold, painted  energy absorber support (DS), Cleaned and painted air horn extension

3/28/2011- Second coat engine paint on intake manifold, wire-wheeled rust on radiator support panel, primed and topcoated-incomplete-ran out of underhood gray

3/29/2011- Assembled intake and exhaust manifolds, installed new EGR valve and choke thermostat. Cleaned manifold bolts and hardware. Painted and assembled calipers. Attempted repair on heat shield-failed

3/30/2011- Primed and painted frame, undercoated firewall, cleaned transmission, removed side covers on engine and rocker arm cover, prepped engine for paint, removed pan bolts. Transferred old parts to new brake rotors

3/31/2011- Cleaned frame bolts, bought used AIR Pump and Diverter Valve

4/1/2011- Cleaned AIR Pump and diverter valve, removed oil pan, cleaned, primed and painted anti sway bar, cleaned and painted vacuum advance, cleaned ballast resistor, began cleaning carburetor, AM/FM radio and trunk pieces arrive.

4/2/2011- Cleaned energy absorber-driver's side and bumper brackets (2) and primed, painted frame bracket, painted sway bar and sway bar clips, painted coil, touched up radiator support (finished)

4/3/2011- Painted energy absorber driver's side, bumper brackets and ballast resistor bracket

4/4/2011- Assembled DS energy absorber, disassembled, cleaned and primed ps energy absorber. Waiting for paint.  Cleaned oil pan, side covers, and rocker arm cover.

4/5/2011- Sanded, primed, and top-coated firewall. Cleaned and chased threads on LCA bolts. Painted engine block Chevrolet Orange. Removed hood hinges for cleaning and painting.

4/6/2011- Finished cleaning oil pan, side covers and rocker arm cover. Disassembled carburetor.

4/7/2011- Cleaned all carburetor parts and installed rebuild kit.  Cleaned all cover bolts and ps hood hinge, primered. Replaced heater hoses on new heater valve.

4/8/2011- Primed and top-coated all engine covers. Primed DS Hood hinge and top-coated both hinges. Painted starter solenoid. Cleaned and painted original bell-crank.

4/9/2011- Re-touched alternator bracket and thermostat housings.  Applied Chassis Black to DS Energy Absorber pieces.  Applied clear coat to hood hinges.

4/10/2011- One more clear coat to hinges. Replaced timing cover seal. Affixed gaskets to thermostat housing, timing cover, pan, side covers and rocker arm cover.

4/11/2011-Installed springs on hood hinges. Painted all cover bolts and water pump bolts. Painted distributor Loaded car for first reassembly day in Walnut Creek. Yay!

4/12/2011- First Assembly Day! Installed hood hinges, clear-coated firewall, installed all engine covers, starter, manifolds and carburetor, distributor, fuel pump, vibration damper and pulleys, water pump, thermostat housings, AIR Pump manifold, ballast resistor, coil, heater control, radiator hoses and alternator

4/13/2011- Installed power brake booster, AIR pump, master cylinder, heater hoses, power steering support.

4/14/2011- Removed Lower control arm bushings- ordered correct part

4/15/2011- TGIF

4/16/2011- Installed Lower Control Arm Bushings, Assembled Tail Light Assemblies

4/18/2011- Installed Upper and Lower Control Arm, Front Coil Springs, Anti-sway Bar, Spindle Assemblies, Rotors and Calipers Fabricated power steering support adapter. Installed spark plugs

4/19/2011- Cleaned and painted shock absorbers, installed tie rod end, Power Steering Support, all belts, spark plug wires, distributor cap.  Installed shock absorbers, tires and wheels.  Began removal of wiper arm bezels. Installed Energy Absorbers License plate frames arrived

4/20/2011- Installed Radiator support, radiator and fan shroud. Had  correct brake hoses fabricated.

4/21/2011- Installed Brake Hoses

4/22/2011- HVLP Gun arrived.

4/26/2011- Repaired and connected engine wiring, removed washer bezels, removed rear doors, removed sill plates, replaced instrument panel, replaced turn signal arm, connected brake pedal to power booster, removed defroster hose

4/27/2011- Bought extra thermostat housing (wrecking yard) nothing is cheap. Yikes Cleaned extra ballast resistor

4/28/2011- Cleaned extra thermostat housing. Cleaned and straightened aluminum sill plates

4/30/2011- Primed and painted extra thermostat housing. Repaired and cleaned w/s washer bezels

5/2/2011- Removed front doors, rear fenders and rear bumper Installed new ballast resistor

5/3/2011- Began removing passenger side rocker panel, dis-assembled PS rear door

5/4/2011- Cleaned all internal parts-PS Rear Door- sanded, sanded, sanded

5/5/2011- More sanding, sanded front bumper extension, dis-assembled DS Rear door. Repaired Speaker Housing

5/6/2011- Finished sanding DS Rear Door.

5/7/2011- Removed parts from a 1970 Aerobus - PS Front Door, all door panels, headliner bows, air conditioner, radiator, condenser and drier, electrical switches, DSRear window frame, DS Front Vent window and frame, battery holder-frame mount, spare tire and wheel, door sill plates, side marker lights, headlamp cans, speedometer cable, horns, windshield washer bag and pump, wiper bezels, front bumper panel, gravel guards and ballast resistor

5/9/2011- Cleaned and de-rusted all battery mounting parts, primed and painted, cleaned marker light clip, sorted all bolts and screws from 70 Aerobus parts foray. Dis-assembled Aerobus front Passenger door. Cleaned switch knobs.

5/10/2011- Finished the removal of the passenger side rocker panel-lots of chisel work.  Went to the Aerobus and removed the rear air conditioning unit.  Will try to adapt it to the rear of the a-11.  While there was ecstatic to find a relatively rust-free trunk floor. It took 5 hours of cutting to get it out but now the Checker will look a lot better.- Long long day.

5/11/2011- Slack day- Began preparing trunk floor-cutting out spot welds

5/12/2011- Finished cutting trunk spot welds, wire wheeled surface, primed and painted trunk floor. Began disassembling of rear evaporator unit from Aerobus-will adapt unit to work in A-11 rear shelf.  Cleaned 4 sill plates with wire wheel.

5/13/2011- Sanding on Passenger side front door

5/16/2011- Switched end caps on front bumper surround (brazed in place. Continued de-rusting Passenger Side Front Door

5/17/2011- Brutal day- Last day to remove parts from Aerobus. Removed front heater assemblies, defroster ducts, underseat heater, A/C compressor, fuel tank and skid plate, tailpipe shield, front and rear bumpers, floor metal and misc. wiring. 3pm 'til darkness. Luckily only intermittent showers.

5/19/2011- Disassembled under-seat heater- began de rusting, cleaned A/C evaporator-more dis-assembly

5/20/2011- Rebuilt spare alternator Parts search-online- Spring Cold begins-Yikes

5/23/2011- Dis-assembled heater motor-Began rebuilding- Cleaned under-seat heater covers and painted

5/24/2011- Pieces of motor spread over the desk-this may be interesting.

5/25/2011- Replaced broken phenolic field junction strip in Heater Motor. Re-assembled...It works! Mounted to base-plate. Fan should arrive Friday. still sick-slow progress.

5/26/2011- Repaired Fan Grill/Painted, assembled Under-seat Heater-tested. Assembled windshield washer pump. Sorted screws, nuts and bolts. Cleaned spare tire hold-down Finished horn relay.

5/28/2011- Cleaned and painted trunk support and exhaust pipe shield.

5/29/2011- Cleaned under-dash evaporator housing, cleaned and painted gas tank inlet assembly

5/30/2011- Painted under-dash evaporator and bracket. Disassembled and began de-rusting of A/C blower assembly.

5/31/2011- Last visit to Aerobus-took off fan switch, blower bracket and center link. Finished painting and motor rebiulding on A/C blower assembly. Dis-assembled and bead blasted spare heater.

6/1/2011- Finished de-rusting and cleaning spare heater housings.  Painted and re-assembled

6/2/2011- Began rebuilding speakers-ordered re-cone kits. Cleaned and categorized screws and bolts

6/3/2011- Back to the Aerobus- took off front brake assembly for CCOA member and spent afternoon getting it ready for shipping. Cleaned center link and idler arm.

6/4/2011- Purchased bumper guards and armrests, speaker re-foam kits arrive.

6/6/2011- Picked up front fenders from Aerobus. Begin restoration of fuel tank skid plate

6/7/2011- Continued work on Rocker Panel installation-chiseling. Cleaned PS floor in preparation for patching. Finished painting gas tank skid plate. Soda blasted spare DS front fender. Painted a-frame support. Began de-rusting spare fan shroud.

6/8/2011- Replaced flexible foam on Boston Audio speakers (door) Before After

6/9/2011- Prepared spare headlight bucket assemblies for painting.  Packed up drum brake parts for shipping. Sanded  spare front fenders.

6/10/2011- Continued clean-up on headlamp buckets-waiting for paint

6/11/2011- Becky's 40th birthday party-when Checker was supposed to be done...not

6/13/2011- Began disassembly and cleaning of rear A/C condenser (blowers)

6/14/2011- Finally fit the new rocker panel on passenger side in preparation for brazing.  Fabricated floor patch on PS front floorboard.  Brazed in patch with Becky's assistance.

6/15/2011- Finished cleaning parts of headlight buckets-painted all parts, painted A/C blower parts-assembled 1 of 4 blowers.  Cleaned spare license plate bracket.

6/16/2011- Cleaned and painted second blower (rear A/C), painted license plate bracket, cleaned bolts and screws from past dis-assemblies. Dis-assembled third and fourth blower. Bead blasted fans. Painted spare License Plate bracket.

6/17/2011- Painted & Assembled 3rd blower. Cleaned & Painted 4th Blower Cleaned and painted housing/

6/18/2011- Assembled 4th blower. Mounted blowers to housing. Cleaned evaporator coil and mounted. Before Finished

6/19/2011- Father's Day Lunch with Becky- took measurements for welding jug

6/20/2011- Made welding jigs, finished dis-assembling front fenders from Aerobus- cleaned ball joints from aerobus in preparation for shipping.

6/21/2011- Finished brazing PS Rocker Panel-ordered Rear AC vent 100 degrees in Walnut Creek-great time to weld..

6/22/2011- Bead blasted first 2 housings and vents for rear AC Unit

6/23/2011- Finished all 4 housings and three vents- fourth will come from Cavalier, ND off of a 57 Plymouth

6/24/2011- Begin sand blasting spare radiator support. Begin fabricating Rear A/C evaporator enclosure

6/25/2011- Disassembled spare radiator support-cleaned and de-rusted side shields and painted

6/27/2011- Finished cleaning radiator support-this was the most rusty piece so far- painted and re-assembled side shields. Spare radiator and condensor completed-cleaned and pressure checked.  Painted both.

6/28/2011- Rained out in Walnut Creek. Installed radiator cradle supports and grommets. A/C bracket from Florida a no-show. Searched the web but could find none from the early 70's and A6 Compressor.  Finally found a closed auction for Compressor and bracket from late 70's. $$$ but no choice.  This is the last piece except for hoses to do the installation.

6/29/2011- Repaired and cleaned turn signal bases and painted.

6/30/2011- In Walnut Creek. Driver's side floor repair- Cut out rotted body mount section, cut and placed patch and brazed in place. Brazed in additional patch between body mount and gas pedal-incomplete. Installed radiator strut support grommets.

7/1/2011- Picked up re-plated Spare Parking Light Housings, Under dash A/C face plate and vent housings. Re-assembled A/C vents and louvers into faceplate. Assembled Spare Parking light assemblies.

7/2/2011- Rear AC Vent arrives from North Dakota.  It's from a 57 Plymouth dash defroster-perfect match. Bead blasted and repainted.  Installed in housing.

7/4/2011- Cut Door Size jigs in preparation for installation of driver's side rocker panel.

7/5/2011- Back to the Checker's house in Walnut Creek. 98 degrees and just right for brazing on the floorpan. LOL.  Brazed in final pieces on driver's floor and last piece on passenger's front,  Began cutting out Driver's side rocker panel.  Surprised to find a panel over a panel on front section. Brazed in 3 tee nuts to replace missing caged nuts for front fenders.

7/6/2011- Walnut Creek-Continued removal of Driver's side rocker panel-rust damage more than expected. Removed fuel tank and took to shop for cleaning and coating.$$$ Yikes  Sprayed undercoating on repaired floor section.

7/7/2011- Walnut Creek-Finished removing rocker panel. Fabricated repair panel for backing of rocker panel. Positioned new rocker panel in preparation for brazing.  AC Compressor and brackets arrive.

7/8/2011- Finished cleaning all brackets for Air Conditioning Compressor and painted. Almost finished cleaning R4 compressor.

7/9/2011- Assembled painted A/C brackets in preparation for installation. Ordered seals and o rings for compressor rebuild.

7/10/2011- Designed and Produced nameplate for A/C controls on under-dash condensor. Finished cleaning A/C compressor (GM-R4) 

7/11/2011- Primed and Painted A/C Compressor. Ordered bulkhead connector and compressor hose block.

7/12/2011- Walnut Creek-Long but productive day. Installed new belts. Installed Aerobus HD radiator. Installed evaporator. Installed AC Compressor and brackets. Refitted DS Rocker panel and brazed in place-complete. Ordered radiator hose and underseat hater hoses.

7/13/2011- Picked up flushed gas tank. Painted tank and fixed sending unit. Cleaned and painted mounting Bracket.

7/14/2011- Walnut Creek-Replaced AIR Hose and heater hose to accommodate AC compressor, sanded and painted fender bolt insert on firewall, cut out trunk floor. Began cleaning and rust removal from differential and springs.

7/16/2011- Have been trying to figure out what to use for a patch for the spare tire well on the trunk floor.  Finally found a likely suspect- a garage sale wok-$1.  Fabricated two patches from wok and brazed in place.

7/17/2011- Painted patch and trunk floor

7/18/2011- Walnut Creek-Cleaned differential and axle assembly (partial0 and rear frame, springs and rear cross-member.  Picked up re-chromed hood emblems (2).Removed tailpipe.

7/19/2011- Walnut Creek-Painted differential, rear springs, frame sections and rear cross-member. Removed rear speakers, rear window defroster, rear shelf trim, rear seats in preparation for mounting rear ac evaporator. Began fabrication of evaporator housing.

7/20/2011- Continued Shroud fabrication. Installed angle iron supports and brazed in top section.

7/21/2011- Continued Shroud fabrication. Spot brazed covering to angle iron framework. Fabricated and installed end caps.

7/22/2011- Finished Rear A/C Shroud fabrication. Installed drain stubs. Fabricated access panel. Installed condensor unit.  Applied undercoating to interior and cold galvanizing compound to exterior.

7/23/2011- Bolt Cleaning-short day

7/24/2011- Final filing on evaporator shroud- ready to install

7/25/2011- Had spare tire dismounted-Thanks Paul! and packed up wheel, lower a-frame and bumper for trip to southern CA. Reordered compressor hose block and bulkhead connectors.

7/26/2011- Walnut Creek- Finished cleaning and painting rear frame. Cut out more of old trunk floor. Fit  in new trunk floor.  No brazing after dropping Oxygen regulator-damn! Installed lower radiator hose and removed PS Impact absorber in preparation for welding.

7/28/2011- Walnut Creek-Brazed in nuts for spare tire holder. Final fitting of trunk floor. Secured floor in place with sheet metal screws in preparation for TIG welding.  Weldor comes tomorrow.

7/29/2011- Walnut Creek-Had reinforcement welded on to PS Lower Control Arm. Battery support now welded to frame and trunk floor welded in place.

7/31/2011- Cleaned and painted spare tire holder, cleaned one rear bumper bracket

8/1/2011- Walnut Creek- removed all positioning screws. Seal trunk floor seams with seam sealer. Applied seam sealer to rocker panels.  Began painting trunk with spatter finish-ran out of paint. Pinole-Obtained 1/4" plate (Thanks Doug) for battery holder transition piece. Started cleaning second bumper bracket and headlight trim piece.

8/2/2011- Walnut Creek- Drilled, tapped and painted battery holder transition piece, installed battery holder.  Finished painting trunk interior, Began clear coat of trunk interior. Mounted spare tire bracket. Applied spatter finish to rear evaporator housing. Removed rear brake drums. Inspected brakes-all OK. Painted drum exteriors. Applied undercoating to driver's rear inner fender and underneath trunk floor. Installed PCV hose.

8/3/2011- Walnut Creek- Finished clear coat on trunk interior, undercoated PS rear inner fender. Installed fuel tank and skid plate, connected all fuel and vapor lines.

8/4/2011- Walnut Creek- Mounted rear A/C Evaporator. Cleaned all brazing points on body and primed. Pinole-Finished cleaning rear bumper brackets. Straightened mis-shaped bracket and primed.

8/5/2011- Cleaned bumper bolts, bumper adapter plates, Kick-pad bar. Painted bumper brackets, bumper adapters and bumper bolts.  Cleaned spare tie rod end and adjusting sleeve.

8/6/2011- Cleaned remaining bolts, nuts and washers. Painted e-brake guard.

8/8/2011- Began de-rusting process on spare fan shroud-major rust. Refilled oxygen cylinder.

8/9/2011- Walnut Creek-Installed rear bumper brackets, rear A/C drain tubes, hose transition hardware through fender and threaded inserts for front and rear fenders (3 brazed).  Cut out and fitted dash hole filler. Installed choke rod and clear coated air cleaner and power brake unit.

8/10/2011- Cut out backing metal for dashboard patch. Picked up Checker parts from auction-condensors, compressor, dash panel and gauges and jump seat.

8/11/2011- Straightened bent metal on spare radiator cradle (ebay). Welded nuts on cradle, brazed dash patch to backing. Painted cradle and dash plate.

8/16/2011- Walnut Creek-Installed filler adapter on compressor and drier and pressure switch to radiator cradle. Plugged hole in rear inner fender.  Painted drain stubs in trunk floor and installed hoses and clamps between evaporator housing and stubs. Installed cardboard cabin separator to seal off trunk from interior. Clamped and spot welded dash panel patch and primed. Attempted to install remote fan for Aerobus front A/C evaporator- wrong dash configuration... grumble grumble. Will use later model evaporator unit with integral fan. Made paper pattern for compressor support bracket. Installed patch in rear inner fender. Removed emergency brake control-broken pawl

8/17/2011- Cleaned and repaired emergency brake control, painted

Walnut Creek- Installed adapter bracket to A/C compressor mount. Filled imperfections on dash with body filler, filled with spot putty. Painted with wrinkle finish. Brazed in final patch to driver's floor and undercoated. Undercoated inner fender patch from Tuesday. Cleaned rust from kick panel area and primed. Installed emergency brake control Cleaned dimmer switch.

8/21/2011- Touched up Evaporator Vent highlights.`

8/22/2011- Walnut Creek- Install under-dash evaporator unit.  Cut hose openings in firewall and floor. Repositioned gas pedal. Undercoated firewall and floor patch. Installed AC hose tees. Trimmed adapter plate bolt. Sanded dash patch and re-puttied.

8/23/2011- Walnut Creek- Re-puttied dash imperfections one last time, sanded and painted.  Mounted under seat heater to floor-waiting for rubber seals. Repaired door pillar wiring harness. Removed remaining exhaust pipes.  Had muffler shop fabricate new pipes.

8/25/2011- Walnut Creek-more sanding on dash patch, installed exhaust system-new header pipe,2 new extension pipes, new muffler and refurbished tailpipe. Split front inner and outer fenders. Made pattern for rear shelf cover. Made clearance  opening in inner fender to clear battery holder.  Removed old battery holder from inner fender.

8/26/2011- Cleaned spare tie rod ends and idler arm. Dis-assembled spare under-seat heater.

8/27/2011- Cleaned and sanded PS Inner Fender

8/29/2011- Walnut Creek-Opening for battery holder wouldn't work correctly-rework.  Cut out old adapter and fabricated new and improved version. Mounted inner fender on car temporarily.  Measured and fabricated back seat shelf-masonite. Cleaned fender bolts and sanded and cleaned driver's side inner fender.

8/30/2011- Walnut Creek- Hung DS Inner fender, 2 front fenders, hood and rear fenders. Placed masonite shelf trim piece. Sanded Inner fender.

9/1/2011- Walnut Creek- Removed roof rack, rails, and clearance lights. Began overall sanding- roof, hood, ds fenders front and rear, ps fenders- front & rear and trunk lid.

9/2/2011- "Photoshopped" Auxiliary heater label.  Before  After  Printed on label stock

9/3/2011- Cleaned rust  and paint from auxiliary heater housings, motor, fan and grille

9/4/2011- Sanded Auxiliary heater parts, primed, top-coated and applied clear coat

9/5/2011- Applied label and assembled unit.

9/7/2011- Bought paint and primed PS front door- used old primer (20 y.o.) will redo

9/8/2011- Bought new primer $$$ Yikes. Spent the entire day cleaning the layers of dust, dirt and rust from the garage and putting away tools.  Nice to have things back in order.  Dis-assembled  DS front door.

9/9/2011- Began Sanding DS Door

9/10/2011- Disassembled spare front fender assemblies and began sanding paint and grinding rust.

9/12/2011- Sanding Spare DS front fender

9/13/2011- Sanding Spare PS front fender

9/14/2011- Cut out inner fender mud shields

9/15/2011- More sanding of spare fenders

9/16/2011- Primed front outer fenders, sanded headlight bezel (1)

9/18/2011- Sanded and primed spare inner fenders. More bolt cleaning.

9/19/2011- Walnut Creek- more sanding on body in preparation for paint.  The dust falls like snow.

9/20/2011- Disassembled DS Front Door-Sanded

9/26/2011- Sanded PS Front door- incredibly difficult to remove the Imron paint from 1982.  That must've been excellent paint back then, just somewhat toxic.

9/27/2011- Walnut Creek- Grinding more old paint into powder (sanding)- rear inner fenders and trunk lid. Pinole-Finally came up with a repair strategy for Passenger Front Door. Cut out first group of repair pieces and mounted.

9/28/2011- Continued metal forming and patch fabrication on PS Front Door.  Brazed all patches to door and did preliminary sanding.  corner   center   corner

9/29/2011- Fabricated last piece for corner of PS Front door and brazed into place.

9/30/2011- Started Bondo work on PS Front Door. Cut out rusted areas on DS Front Door. Cut and fitted patches.

10/2/2011- Brazed in patches on DS Front Door-sanded side surfaces and primed.

10/3/2011- Debacle time- Bondo from 9/30 failed to harden.  Helluva job to remove-messy messy messy. Sanded side surfaces of PS Front Door and primed. Sanded on extra rear door.

10/4/2011- Layer of bondo, sanding, layer of bondo, sanding, layer of bondo, sanding etc. on fronts of front doors and spare rear door.  Getting closer.

10/5/2011- Finished bondo filling on DSFront Door bottom. Primed

10/17/2011- Cleaned Isa's garage in preparation for bodywork and painting. Extracted compressor and loaded it into truck...heavy. Installed tow bar on Checker

10/18/2011- Unloaded compressor. Moved Checker from Becky's house to Isa's.  Gathered all body materials.  Tomorrow we begin again.

10/19/2011- Moved over doors, tools and paint supplies. Sanded more on the trunk area. Wired in compressor.

10/20/2011- More sanding 5 hours), removed body sealant from first gutter.

10/21/2011- Still making paint dust. Sanded front fenders more, filled in opera light (before, after) and CB antenna holes (before after). Filled dents in rocker panel.  Sanded upper firewall below windshield. Removed trunk lid. Big push next week.

10/24/2011- Finished sanding inside of trunk lid. Removed Hood. Sanded inside surfaces. Block sanded fenders and bondo repairs-final. Primered trunk lid interior.

10/25/2011- More sanding on roof. Primered hood interior. Removed body seal from DS roof gutter. More sanding on front fender-removed, Detail sanding on DS Inner Fender.

10/26/2011- Began the day sanding the ds inner fender, and straightening all the bends.  Removed the inner fender and continued the sanding.  This took all morning. Sanded air intakes and primered. Sanded upper firewall and primered. Hung doors from rafters so they'll be easier to prime. Sanded remaining surfaces and flanges on PS front fender.  Straightened all bends. Repeated sanding, straightening, and removal process of PS inner fender Hung both inner fenders in preparation for priming.

10/27/2011- Sanded front bumper filler and Passenger side rear door.  Cleaned and sanded all door jambs. Began closing in large openings with cardboard-beginning of masking process.

10/28/2011- Shortened Day- Continued sanding on upper firewall. Applied bondo to rear panel seams and PS Inner fender

10/31/2011- Sanded bondo on rear panel joints. Sanded headlight bezels and rear bumper filler (last panel)(before-finished)  Masked windshield, rear quarter windows and rear window. Sanded roof.

11/1/2011- Finished masking the passenger compartment, sanded bondo on inner fender. Swept down the garage, ripped rags and primered- passenger side-firewall-roof-drivers side- doors-hood-trunk opening-trunk lid-rear fenders-inner fenders. Long long day. Luckily Mami came out from San Francisco with lunch and to assist.

11/2/2011- Sanded yesterday's primer job. Spot puttied small imperfections. Applied Topcoat to PS Door Jambs, PS Rear Fender, DS Rear Fender, DS Door Jambs, Firewall, Doors, Inner Fenders, Trunk Lid, Trunk Opening, Bumper Fillers and Hood

11/3/2011- Installed DS Doors and Front PS Door. Installed hood hinges. Installed DS Inner Fender and PS Inner Fender. Installed and aligned trunk lid. Applied more spot putty to trunk lid. Sanded primer on 3 doors. Rain today-no priming. Front view.

11/4/2011- Priming Day 2. Final Sand on Hood. Mounted hood with John's help. Thank God for good friends, Cleaned surfaces of front fenders, PS Rear door, roof and hood-Thank you Mami.  Applied primer to fenders, hood, rear door.

11/7/2011- Mounted front fenders and PS Rear Door. Sanded primer on fenders, roof, doors and hood. Top-coated entire vehicle. Here are the pics   front passenger side  passenger side 2    front drivers side   drivers side 2   roof   trunk   headlight bezels  hood  drivers side rear   overall

11/8/2011- Went back over the body surfaces.  Sanded paint with 400 wetordry to remove dust specks, orange-peel and any paint imperfections- all ready for final coat but must wait another 48 hours for first coats to cure.

11/9/2011- Quick trip to Walnut Creek this morning.  Cleaned overspray from dash and steering wheel.  Good thing as the paint is hardening.  Just in time.

11/10/2011- Re-masked all door openings, Picked up my unsuspecting brother at the airport.  Drafted into service he ran the hose and lights as I put on the final coat.  Lighting still a problem but only 3 dry spots.  Will try to remedy at a later date. Pics as follows- Driver's side front    Passenger side Front   Passenger side doors    Trunk   Draftee

11/13/2011- Sanded problem areas DS Rear Door and headlight bezels with 2000 grit wet or dry.

11/14/2011- Recoated problem areas with last remaining paint.

11/15/2011- Stripped all masking from car.  Re-assembly begins. Installed rear fender welt, trunk lock  and handmade body gaskets. Mounted tail-lights, back-up lights and License Plate light Re-installed rear bumper surround.  Cut out 6 rubber gaskets for front bumper surround. Made replacement straps for tail-lights.

11/16/2011- Installed tail-light straps and secured.  Drilled fenders and connected fender support straps. Installed rear bumper and bumper guards. Installed trailer hitch. Installed License Plate and frame. Began installing DS Front fender welt. Really difficult and slow-2 hours for 3 bolts. Yikes

11/17/2011- Found I had purchased "new style fender welt" in 1990.  Took off yesterday's fender and installed both front fenders with the new welt. That was a breeze compared to yesterday.  It also enabled me to drill the missing two holes on the DS fender. Installed horns on inner fender. Installed new license plate light bezel on bumper. Installed front side marker lights. Install grille and parking lights. Made pattern for Headlight gaskets and cut out rubber ones from stock. Placed Headlight buckets in fenders.

11/29/2011- Hiatus for health concerns- Began assembly of doors (DSR). Installed roof rack strips.  Cut out rubber gaskets for door handles and clearance lights.  Repaired broken mounting stud on clearance light Installed wiper pivots and washer nozzles.

12/1/2011- Continued Assembling doors DSR, DSF and PSR complete.  Mounted remaining clearance light. Installed hood insulator.

12/6/2011- Assembled PSF door (window a problem-sticky) Used porta-power to move PS rocker panel outward. Installed main luggage rack, Installed DS Headlight bezel. Began cleaning overspray from dash.  Installed wiper arms

12/8/2011- Continued work on PS Front window assembly.  Rust problem as well as movement.  Will need to locate lower window channel. Aligned doors.  Cleaned more overspray from dash and steering wheel. Finished installing PS Headlight bezel. Installed front fender molding-passenger & drivers side. Installed hood medallion.

12/13/2011- Grumble grumble. Had some glass cut for the passenger front.  They didn't have the right tape to set it and they may have cut glass a little too thick. Yikes! Assembled but it didn't go well.  Turns out the side glass is tempered not laminated.  Must be thinking Studebakers from years past.  Have to vacate the garage as my friend has renters coming in. Packed up all the parts and supplies, moved the compressor home.  Will tow car back to Becky's on Thursday and then scrub down the garage.  Tired and sore. LOL

12/15/2011- Towed Checker back to Becky's garage.  Thank God for John's help as it was a bear to back in. Loaded the last of parts and supplies and scrubbed down Isa's garage floor.  Using his garage for painting was a lifesaver.

12/20/2011- Installed front bumper, bumper guards, license plate bracket and fog lights.  Adjusted PS rear door.  New sign Thanks Joe!

2/20/2012- After a two month hiatus, a little progress.  Installed new PS Front window and all finally works as it should.

2/21/2012- Installed horn relay. Cleaned overspray. Began re-wiring.

2/22/2012- Continued re-wiring in engine compartment. Installed gas filler and headrests.

2/23/2012- More wiring, horn relay, fog lights. Installed radio panel and AM FM radio.

3/3/2012- Patched tear in fiberboard headliner. recolored.