The trip down and back to the Valley for the interior and glass along with our trip to Don and Glenna’s for the OTHG-Phoenix Pool Party helped put 750 miles on the wagon which was helpful in creating a final punch list of things to address before I would consider her ready for the highway.

Final Punch List:

1. Touch up paint on front doors and fenders to remove scratches from installing fenders.
   – Filled chips and scratches with Easy Sand, leveled with razor blade
   – Sand filled area with 600 wet
   – Paint repairs using air brush
   – Wet Sand 1200, 1500, 2000, 2500
   – Compound and Polish
2. Clay clean the entire car to remove shop grime and over spray.
   – Washed body with mild soap and water
   – Went over entire body with Meguire’s spray detailer and clay block
3. Adjust tailgate latches to fully close tailgate to prevent rattles.
   – Adjusted latch handles to tighten closure
4. Rear Door Locks not working.
   – Bell Glass didn’t get the window frames correctly installed and the frames were interfering with the latch mechanisms.
5. Move the turn signal indicator lights from the rear turn signal lights to the front turn signal lights so the indicators wont come on every time you put the brakes on.
   – Duh, stupid mistake when I 1st wired it. Duh, Duh and Duh… what was easy to do right originally was a bitch of a job once the dash was installed… Duh.
6. Adjust the headlights.
   – Aimed them higher, will see how many drivers flash me. New high output bulbs are really nice and bright!
7. Have drive shaft balanced to remove vibration over 70 MPH.
   – Turns out Dick’s Driveline didn’t have a proper balancing tool, just a lathe. Took the drive shaft to Bill’s Machine Shop here in Show Low and it is now smooth to over 100mph.
8. Find a solution to low power steering fluid flow at low speed.
   – The major problem here was that when I swapped the Dodge PS pump for a lower pressure GM version of the Saginaw pump, I ended up with the Dodge’s larger diameter pump pulley which wasn’t turning the pump fast enough at low RPM to provided enough fluid to the Olds A700 gear box. I called Mark at Street and Performance and he recommended using a lower viscosity oil – AC Delco Cold Climate PN 12345867. I bought some from Amazon.com and also since I had an extra pump, I opened the size of the main flow valve up to 9/64ths. After spending a lot of time bleeding the pump system, everything seems to be working fine now.
9. Find and repair leak in the A/C lines.
   – I am using the stock Dodge Nippon Denso A/C compressor which I interfaced to the Vintage Air system by purchasing a set of Doc’s Blocks Dodge to AN fitting blocks. Unfortunately I had forgotten that the stock line set up had a set of gaskets in addition to the O-rings to properly seal the blocks to the compressor.  I was bright enough to go down to our local friendly Dodge dealer part department and had a talk with the parts man who clued me in on the gaskets. I now have a new set of gaskets and O-rings which I will install when my friend with the A/C gauges and vacuum pump gets back into town.
10. Find source of sporadic engine shut down.
    – Of course you just knew it had to be a loose ground, now didn’t you? Yep, Jerry Elliott was channeling with me as I was looking for the problem. The bolt holding the battery ground to the engine block had only been installed finger tight and it of course loosened up. While I was at it I added several more grounds to the engine, body and frame. So far so good, no return problem.
11. Adjust door gaps after installing door gaskets.
    – This is a PITA job that requires removing the door panels and fussing with the damn hinges. The doors shut and lock, so I am calling it just wonderful until I really get bored with nothing to do. Hell, at 60 MPH you cant tell that they are sticking out some…
12. Repair driver side windshield wiper arm.
    – the stainless on both of the original wiper arms is in remarkable good condition, but the spring that holds the driver side arm to the glass had rusted and broke. A trip to Ace resulted in a fine replacement! Good to GO!
13. Install new wiper blades.
    – Amazed to find out that Trico is still in business and is still making blades that fit mid 50’s cars. Wonders will never cease!
14. Change oil in rear end after break in.
    – Per Jesse’s instruction I broke the new gears in as he wanted and after 700 miles dumped $25 worth of synthetic oil and replace it with fresh.
15. Hook up driver’s seat movement motor.
    – Second dumb wiring mistake… I had intended running an always hot line to the seat so that it could be adjusted without having the key on. Duh! ran a line from the switched side of the fuse block… oh well, if I need to adjust my seat, I will have to turn on the key.
16. Adjust lumbar support levers so that they don’t interfere as much with the top of the console.
    – Because of the way the Dodge drive shaft is located, the driver’s seat is closer to console than the passenger side seat, hence the lumbar support lever on the driver side seat interferes with the top of the console. I found that if I swapped the passenger and driver levers that they mount backwards and give me more room. Good enough!
17. Have new windshield and rubber gasket installed.
    – Hopefully this will be straightened out this week!
18. Purchase Spare Aire for wagon.
    – Until I find a 17″ universal spare, I will use a couple of cans of air to fix any tire problems, or call AAA.
19. Purchase and install fire extinguisher for wagon.
    – Need to pick one up when I go shopping for the can of air.
20. Purchase and install floor mats
    – Done! found some nice looking ones that match the interior quite well at O’ Rieleys for under $30!

So with all of that done, I am closing the build project. Of course anyone with an old car will always tell you that they are never really done! Case in point I am still working out bugs in my ’39 which has been on the road for 10 years and 85K miles!

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 Bettie is Done!

Our 1st trip will be to Silver City in August and then we will take her to Flagstaff for Route 66 Days and then on to Utah, Washington, Oregon and Northern California! Time to travel!