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1981 Restoration

Posted: Sun Jul 31, 2011 11:01 am
by Divers
Well....end of the first day. Decided that this restore will be an interior, brakes and suspension rebuild. The engine has 110,000 but does not leak oil and runs strong. Also will have to pull the tranny and get rebuilt (or learn to do it myself). Only surprise was the rust under the drivers side (see pics). I missed this during my inspection before I bought the car. Everything is is what I expected. I have the new master cylinder in my garage that will be installed soon as I get a metric flare set (one of the fittings rusted!). The rest of the brake lines and fuel lines look good. Anyway, some pictures are attached...not bad for 5 hours worth of work on a car I never have worked on before....this forum is very helpful as I had my iPad out in the garage searching for help as I worked! Overall happy with my $900 purchase. Should be a fun time.

http://s839.photobucket.com/albums/zz31 ... storation/

Re: 1981 Restoration

Posted: Sun Jul 31, 2011 11:05 am
by Divers
Curious.....Is it better to rebuild the tranny I have (no 2nd or 4th gear) or buy a used for $125??????? The devil I know or the devil I don't......

Re: 1981 Restoration

Posted: Sun Jul 31, 2011 12:23 pm
by azruss
thats a lot of rust to be located to just one spot. check the other side closely. the tranny may be in good shape except for worn shift forks (caused by riding the gearshift knob). Always iffy buying an unknown.

Re: 1981 Restoration

Posted: Sun Jul 31, 2011 12:38 pm
by Divers
Funny about the rust...i have checked every part of the car and this is the only rust. The rust is not structural...just a thin layer of metal that is gone. The strut on the other side is fine.....very weird that the rest of the car is perfect? Go figure :?

Re: 1981 Restoration

Posted: Sun Jul 31, 2011 12:44 pm
by bobplyler
I wonder if there was water sitting there?

Re: 1981 Restoration

Posted: Sun Jul 31, 2011 12:54 pm
by Divers
Don't know....bought from second owner who had it since 1988.....he was as surprised as me.

Re: 1981 Restoration

Posted: Sun Jul 31, 2011 1:08 pm
by 124JOE
flare nut wrenches are angled on the inside
so they might fit a metric size

Re: 1981 Restoration

Posted: Sun Jul 31, 2011 1:39 pm
by Divers
After I pulled up and threw away the waffle padding stuff...under that secured very well to the floor is a layer of ???. I started removing it, but it takes a hammer and chisel....what is this stuff and does it need to be removed?

Re: 1981 Restoration

Posted: Sun Jul 31, 2011 6:16 pm
by 124JOE
sound deading as long as its down good
NO you dont need to remove it
unless you want to replace it

Re: 1981 Restoration

Posted: Sun Jul 31, 2011 6:45 pm
by Divers
I just spent 3 hours with hammer and chisel on the drivers side. I think I am happier seeing bare metal! What a pain in the rear end! I will start the passenger side next weekend.

Re: 1981 Restoration

Posted: Sun Jul 31, 2011 7:51 pm
by azruss
you are going to want to replace it. a lot of noise and heat comes up thru the floor.

Re: 1981 Restoration

Posted: Sun Jul 31, 2011 7:56 pm
by Divers
Ordered thermo-coustic from Eastwood. Was reviewed well on the site. Then 1/2 pad and carpet. Do you think this is good enough???

Re: 1981 Restoration

Posted: Sun Jul 31, 2011 8:14 pm
by 124JOE
yes i do

Re: 1981 Restoration

Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2011 9:38 am
by Divers
So...after I chisel up all the old "soundproofing" and fix the rust, I was thinking of painting the floors with rustoleum and then placing the thermo-coustic over the top. Does this sound correct.

Re: 1981 Restoration

Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2011 10:01 am
by 124JOE
yes just fix the rust top and bottom