My 96 RMW project...

I have to say a huuuuge 'thank you' to Mike for selling me the new wagon. It made it home from VA-SC on Mon with no major issues. I mean seriously?? This wagon sat for over 2 years in a parking lot and made it 460+ miles with minimal effort. Thanks to Robert as well (I hear he helped out Sun night too)

I will put up pics and Video as I go along...but don't look for real fast progress right now (still saving some money up) BUT the next bit of fun will happen the weekend of Aug 22ond. Hehe!!

This wagon has the best interior I have ever bought off the bat....but by far the worse exterior. Should be fun!


Chris

You're welcome, happy to help a fellow wagon nut.

You KNOW I'm looking forward to progress pics (and vids)!

Red Guts I love it, our creator got it rite.22 years of embalming and I have yet to see anyone with any other.

MOAR PICSS!!!!!!!!



Glad she made it home. Get as good mileage as your pace car?

toomanytoyz wrote:

Get as good mileage as your pace car?

That was a car?

buickestate wrote:

toomanytoyz wrote:

Get as good mileage as your pace car?

That was a car?

OMG!! Lol

So! I did a little side work for the inlaws today. Replaced the struts and shocks on their Caravan. It took less time that I thought it would...so I decided to work on the wagon.



Replaced the fuel filter, removed and cleaned the TB, MAF and did the TB Bypass Mod.

And Mike, the AC is still very cold! But that rear tire was FLAT. Lol

Anyhow, while I was changing the fuel filter....I noticed the brake line was kinda crusty behind the filter. I am not used to seeing that AND the rest of the lines had undercoat on them (car has seen winters).

Well, being the Southern guy I am...I kinda pick at the crusty stuff (I mean barely picked at it) and wished I could clean it off. Put the car down and decided to call it a night. Started the car to move it back in the carport and noticed the brake light was on. WTHeck?? Had a bad feeling....and looked under the car.





.

See the fountain streaming!!




So, I have never had to deal with the brake lines before. Can you Northern guys offer advise? Gotta buy the whole thing and replace it all? GM?

Chris

Same thing happened to me when I first got the wagon. Brake lines are a custom job now. Not avail from GM, or anyone else. Someone claims to make lines, but they are just pre-bent just like NAPA would do in the shop- for less. You have 2 choices at this point, either cut out the bad/rusted parts and put in a patch, or buy bulk line and replace it all. I recommend replace the whole line. Rust is contagious.

I replaced both the brake and fuel lines on my wife's 98 Malibu a few years ago after it developed a gas leak in the return line. The lines tend to rust at the line holders and in places where there is not direct air exposure (like in the rear wheelwell area). I'd make a complete assessment of the lines before I picked an approach.

The other comment I'd make is that unless you have access to a lift, it might be best to let a shop do it.

As for a parts source, you might want to call these guys: classic tube

I think Roadmattster got ALL of his brakelines in stainless from them (prebent, I believe) for less than $100 a few years ago and had nothing but good things to say.

Bummer! Guess the undercoating folks missed a few spots. No further suggestions, looks like it's been covered pretty well. I've had to replace a line or two as well. They aren't horribly bad to have bent. Good excuse to flush the brake system out too.

Do I see a window partially down there?

Don't PICK at it!!!!!

I to will be needing brake lines in the near future, man I hate rust. They are not very hard to work with and a set of jack stands should do the trick as far as raising.

Good to see some work on the new project, the little things seem to make the most improvement

Ok! Thanks for the link Joel. And other advise guys!!

I need to asses the situation, but I will replace it all for sure!!! Just have to adjust timing of things.

Funny thing is this, Mike asked if I wanted to replace the fuel filter before I left his place in VA. We did not have time. So what if I would have don it then (picked at that spot) and headed out on the Mountain pass!!!

Really glad I waited

Get yourself a brake line flare kit, and a tube bender, buy the bake line in bulk, bend them up as you go. start from the front and work towards the back.

Good luck

Well, here is the new plan.

Gonna take my front clip off..rear out...clean and paint everything underneath...and then install the new brake lines

I am doing a Sedan front clip and already have the inner fenders. Will have to go get the rest of the parts in a bit. (including new rad support) But this way I can really have everything cleaned and painted before I put the new clip parts on. Plus I can get the underside and rear done before the weather gets too cold. I will be working outside during all of this.

Then the body work and paint can happen in the winter/early spring.

Have you guys ever used products from this place?

http://www.hirschauto.com/departments.asp?dept=12

Thinking our getting the rust remover/metal prep and the rust killer paint. Seemsvery similiar to the Eastwood and POR15 products. But a little cheaper in price.


Chris

Uhm... Uh... Chris?

That may be a little bit overkill for a brake line. I mean... uhm... You do know you can do a brake line while the body is still on the frame, right?

Lol....you know I am just a clean freak. I see one thing..then another..then another...

I want this wagon to be niiice

toomanytoyz wrote:

Uhm... Uh... Chris?

That may be a little bit overkill for a brake line. I mean... uhm... You do know you can do a brake line while the body is still on the frame, right?

Yeh but it is soooo much easier without that pesky body in the way.

Chris, I can vouch for the Eastwood stuff. Their older line of rust converter and chassis black has lasted for five years now on the locomotive. Now needs some touchup but more from neglect then product failure.

They now have some high ceramic chassis paint that I'm going to try on the Caddy (project 3A-4b sub section 7) when I do the conversion. Also going to spring for their powder coating stuff and try some pieces at home. Looks like heats going to be a problem so the exhaust underhood will have to be ceramic coated.

Its a bit pricey but this tool is the best 400 bucks (maybe found cheaper) you will ever spend, especially with all the special ends that are used in our cars. You can repair/replace any of the hoses for our cars (and all your neibours cars) using this. You can even get the stuff to make AC lines from them.

http://www.mastercool.com/pages/flaring_tools.html

The first kit on the page. Does everything except the 1/2in oil cooler lines and you can buy the anvil and insert seperately.

Bill

toomanytoyz wrote:

Uhm... Uh... Chris?

That may be a little bit overkill for a brake line. I mean... uhm... You do know you can do a brake line while the body is still on the frame, right?

But Bill it's a lot easier to do with out the body in the way.....

Who hoo!! Just got a rollpan ordered $90.95 SHIPPED with ins to my door

Way cheaper than the last one I bought

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220463062092&viewitem=&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWNX%3AIT

You can use roll pans to fix brake lines? Wow, that stuff is amazing!

*cough*

Well, I just earned a little extra $ from doing work on Cara's parents and gparents vans. So I am getting the rollpan and now looking at brake line options!

Lol...yeeah. I'll jump on that Pat.

I am getting brake lines. But the wagon ain't moving anytime too soon so I jumped on the rollpan as it is in the plans. That is the same exact pan one I bought for the WB4 and it was 1/3 the price. This is the thicker higher quality one.

I do have the money set aside for the brake lines though. Just hoping to score a deal. I know someone will post up a F/S ad. I know of a complete SSteel wagon set just sitting in a heap of a wagon. (BigOldV8's friend) Would like to get those.

Monday I will order the front frame area/engine bay paint and chemicals. Eastwood is who I think I am going with! Next Sat and Sun will be fun! Front clip will be off and I will be cleaning prepping and painting

Gotta go to Louisville this weekend for gigs, so no progress

sherlock9c1 wrote:

As for a parts source, you might want to call these guys: classic tube

I think Roadmattster got ALL of his brakelines in stainless from them (prebent, I believe) for less than $100 a few years ago and had nothing but good things to say.

Woah..prices went up.

$199 in mild steel or $225 in stainless

Made it home from Louisville a little early tonight. So I decided to start on the wagon. Took the hood off and cleaned the engine a little before labeling and removing stuff. You can see my project work area. That is a huge @ss carport. LOL! Very lucky to have the space.

More tomorrow night!

Chris

That's not a carport, that's a drive-in!

Save me those fenders for my rusty 92! And the hood! And the core support! And... oh... nevermind... lol

brokecello wrote:

Lol...yeeah. I'll jump on that Pat.
I jumped on the rollpan as it is in the plans.

You seem a little jumpy,. i,d guess that roll pan has to be pretty thick to be jumped on like that,.
Guy selliing them hates canadians,. i tried to buy a couple,. guy wouldn't even return my e-mails,.
Kevin tried to buy some for us,. guy had already sold out,. *sigh*
How long before you strip this car naked too chris?
Future plans for me are to kidnap you and frank and robert,. lock you all into a well lit with plenty of neon lights garage, with two of my wagons, plenty of paint, cleaning supplies. polishes waxes etc,.Open the food slot 3 times a day. and wait a week or so to let you guys back out, and see what happens,. guess you,d need the overhead crane too tho thinking about it,..

Nick
actually been working on the flamed wagon a bt lately,.

Well...I'd be fine as long as the food was good. Lol

Robert would need lots of Cigs and a good sound system to jam to and Frank would need cases of his Yenyangling beer.

Yenyangling! LOL!

Git'r Done, Chris! Only 50 weeks to WF2K10!!!!!!

I will need all 50 weeks Bill....I really think I will!


So, a little more progress tonight. Can't really see all the little stuff I did. I hit a wall with these inner fender bolts. I ran out of daylight and will need to figure a trick to get these out. The little threaded clips just spin in the fender. Any tips Pat? Anyone? I can't really reach the middle ones to keep them from spinning. I have them soaking in PB blaster again too. I am thinking I can slip a flathead screwdriver up there to wedge that clip. I gotta keep these fenders scratch free for Mike though!

Unfortunately I will not be able to work on the wagon until Thurs. Stuff every evening from tomorrow on... and we are going to Myrtle Beach Fri after work. But next week I will hit it hard! Then I will have 49 weeks to finish. Ug.

Chris

Take the heads off with a grinder or a sawzall...

My vote is for using a grinder as the Sawzall tends to be violent in small places, lol.

Dang..that sounds violent. Lol Well, I moved some stuff around so I can work on it tomorrow too I want those bolts off tomorrow!!

I used one of these, works great, but make sure that you have not just been cleaning parts in gasoline before using this tool to cut off bolts....don't ask how I know this...

Take the tire/wheel off too!

Believe it or not Pat....I do have a cut off wheel. But no air compressor to power it (lo)

I will see what I can come up with tonight. No worries...I will take the wheel off if the sparks will be flying!

buickestate wrote:

I used one of these, works great, but make sure that you have not just been cleaning parts in gasoline before using this tool to cut off bolts....don't ask how I know this...

ROFL ! That was good! I almost spit out my coffee while reading this here at work!

And this is why we keep fire extinguishers in the garage, kids.

toomanytoyz wrote:

And this is why we keep fire extinguishers in the garage, kids.

Fire extinguisher? Please elaborate....

OK! SUCCESS!!!!!!

No fires were started though

Can anyone tell me about that options sticker on the top of the pass side firewall??


Yeah...I know I am slow...but I am alone and only have hand tools. BUT this is totally fun

I hope to have the other side off Thurs night when I work on it again.

Chris

Nice! Can't wait to see the finished project.

So... remember when I was joking about your parts for my rusty 92? Well... if you are just going to throw them out... keep me in mind.

bustedviola wrote:

Can anyone tell me about that options sticker on the top of the pass side firewall??

Chris

its a warning to SC residents stating its against the law to remove the inner fenders,.

Nick

Lookin' good Chris! How do the frame rails look now that you can get a good look at them?

you call that rad support rusty!

buickestate wrote:

you call that rad support rusty!

Wait till you see the bottom..and under the radiator. Trust me...it is bad. Mike can verify! The top is not too rusty though. I will show you once I get it out!!

Mike, the frame rails will clean up nicely I think!

jayoldschool wrote:

Nice! Can't wait to see the finished project.

So... remember when I was joking about your parts for my rusty 92? Well... if you are just going to throw them out... keep me in mind.

I know Mike wanted some parts, but anything he does not want you are welcome to have.

buickestate wrote:

you call that rad support rusty!

Yes...see! I can't have this on my baby!

Ok. So I took the other fender/inner fender off AND had time to do the bumper cover and support! Who hoo!! Making progress!

Won't work on it again till Mon night though. We are heading to meet friends for the weekend in Myrtle Beach tomorrow night.

Next week the rad support, engine and trans comes out!

Chris





..

I like this pic...looks like I have a 'Vette with the hood open! *cough* Or not.

.

convert2diesel wrote:

Chris, I can vouch for the Eastwood stuff. Their older line of rust converter and chassis black has lasted for five years now on the locomotive. Now needs some touchup but more from neglect then product failure.

Bill, I also ordered the stuff from Eastwood yesterday too!! Looking forward to using it!

Chris