12 year olds and cars - Kathryn's Fiero (Page 14/175)
fierofool JUN 05, 04:24 PM
When putting in that new console skeleton and console, be sure to eliminate the little bulbs for the ash trays and the one for the cigar lighter. They create a lot of heat and will eventually cause separation of the shift surround and the console above the cigar lighter. Those bulbs are useless anyway.
michhiker28 JUN 05, 09:46 PM
Thanks for the heads up regarding the lights under the console, we will make sure to remove them. Today we got a bit done after church.

The trim strip that goes around the sunroof has been cleaned and dyed ready to reinstall



Kathryn cleaned up the anchor belts for the seatbelts, they were a bit rusted down by the attachment points. The vinyl will still need dyed etc. but at least they are on the way. Kathryn cleaned them up with the wire wheel then primed than and got the first coat of paint on the anchor points.







We also got the headlight motor apart, and surprise, surprise, the bumpers were all disintegrated into dust. We need finish getting it apart and cleaned up then back together. We have the rebuild kit so are all set there, but it looks like we will need new motor brushes...anyone have an idea of where we could find them?





We also managed to get the new armrests cleaned up....glued and clamped. They should be ready to be dyed tomorrow.



Finally,
we started to get the door apart further. New switch gear, lock solenoids, and window motors to go in, as well as outside dew wipes, and a new door skin.





Now that we are getting into the more mechanical aspects the learning curve steepens for both Kathryn and Dad, but we continue to make progress and that is the main thing.

-MH
snowblindburd JUN 05, 10:07 PM
It's so awesome that you two are working on this together! Great job so far to both of you!
IMSA GT JUN 05, 10:21 PM

quote
Originally posted by michhiker28:


Now that we are getting into the more mechanical aspects the learning curve steepens for both Kathryn and Dad, but we continue to make progress and that is the main thing.

-MH



So far this project is great. As far as the learning curve, I will give you some simple advice since you have the doors torn apart. Definately change the window slider pads in the door. They stabilize the glass when it goes up and down. If the felt is worn, that is why the glass gets scratches in it. Also, here is a really obvious part that is often overlooked. On the outside of the door is an adjustable stop-screw that allows the door skin to be mounted correctly and then the skin is screwed on to the car via this part. Make sure the stop-screw is not unscrewed too much....even from the factory....or your door skin will buldge in the middle:
fierofool JUN 05, 10:38 PM
If you've never had a headlight motor apart, a word of advice. Note the white spot on the motor windings. Mark the side of the motor case that white spot goes into and leave the white silicone spot there for reference. If you should pull the motor completely out of both case halves and put it back, turned the other way, the motor will run backwards. I made the mistake on one and when I turned them on, one came up and the other went down. Turned them off and they reversed positions. No fun to have to go back and do them over again.

One other thing: Get that lady some safety glasses

[This message has been edited by fierofool (edited 06-05-2011).]

datacop JUN 06, 04:54 AM

quote
Originally posted by fierofool:

One other thing: Get that lady some safety glasses




+1

I have half a dozen pair sitting around my garage.. always easy to grab a set should they be needed...

And to me, they are needed any time a power tool is being used where swarf is being generated at high speed (wire wheel, grinder, cutting wheel)..
any time there's a chance of falling debris (working under the car)...
or when working with a hammer and impact tool (chisel and punches - They can mushroom on the head and the mushroom bits can fly off when struck with a hammer).
michhiker28 JUN 06, 08:06 AM
Thanks again all for the help! It is appreciated. Just to put everyones mind at ease.....Kathryn has a good pair of safety glasses, you can see them in some of the other pictures above.....she had just finished with the wire wheel and was removing the part from the vise when I snapped that photo. They are just out of sight on the workbench. I love her, but if she touches power tools without the glasses she gets in trouble and she knows it.....she holds me accountable too.

Thanks for the added reinforcement though as well. You will never find us to proud to take advice or to learn that there are better, easier, or safer ways to do things.

--MH
michhiker28 JUN 08, 07:29 AM
Well just a brief update, with a couple of more days until the big 13th birthday. Last night we went and got the front calipers removed and the brakes drained. We also set up the new sand blaster which might be Kathryn's new favorite tool.



and we also started to place the underlayment for the new carpeting.



--MH
datacop JUN 08, 07:44 AM

quote
Originally posted by michhiker28:

We also set up the new sand blaster which might be Kathryn's new favorite tool.






Hey!! That looks familiar!! She enjoys the sandblaster now.. but give it time.. I'm sure like Brooke she will grow to hate it.. ESP when it comes time to blast clean those suspension parts that are going to come off
michhiker28 JUN 08, 08:04 AM
Yeah DataCop, we stole your idea. That things works great though! Never had a nice blast cabinet to play with before, so it is nice. We managed to clean up the air cleaner canister, the prop rod for the hood, and the back deck vents last night. Powder coater is on the way so that will be another cool tool to play with. Kathryn also managed to get new grommets and plugs in the floors before putting down the first layer of foam to even out the floor prior to carpet. We didn't get as far last night as I would have liked, but at least we did make some progress.

I am sending a PM your way, if you would be willing to share some information.

-MH