1981 LeBaron coupe - from the ground up.

Being that I'm stuck in Escanaba most of the time, I decided I'd grab the majority of the instrument cluster so I could work on it here. Small progress is still progress, right? Unfortunately, being that I haven't got much in the line of tools available to me here, it's mostly inspection and planning on this tachometer and additional-gauge stuff.

I've further torn down the AutoMeter tach, and it looks like I can actually make it work. It looked like it was of fairly unitized design, but that's actually not the case. I can remove the circuit board and move it to a remote location which will save space, and the frame of the tach motor can then be ground to fit within the confines of the factory gauge carrier and be mounted with the original AutoMeter screws that held everything together in its original case. I'm excited about it, since I really wanted the accuracy of the AutoMeter unit.

If I rewire things correctly, a couple of well-placed machine screws through the back of the main cluster carrier, located in the position of the original fuel gauge's power/signal studs, may be able to provide the tach's 12V power through the factory circuit board. Since I don't have to worry about the illumination wire, that means I have only to figure out how to get the coil signal to the tach, which isn't a huge concern... it doesn't have to be 100% plug-and-play, even though I'd prefer that.

*rubs hands together* This is gonna work. :dance:

Now if I can just figure out a quick-disconnect setup for my mechanical oil-pressure gauge that doesn't involve a compression fitting. :D
 
Saturday afternoon, I stood in my garage looking forlornly at the car... Sunday, at work, I started getting fired up again about it, and bought a bunch of tools and supplies for the car, though no actual parts. This weekend, I'm off both Saturday and Sunday for the first time in a few weeks, so I'm planning to hit it hard on the LeBaron. A further incentive was my friend coming to hang out here after the Nats, and bringing me a gorgeous '81 LeBaron brochure. :dance:

I gotta slow down at work... last 2-week pay period, I posted 122 hours not including travel (walk) time. I've worked 24 days straight and when I get home I'm just too beat to work on her. :( Hopefully this weekend I'll feel the fire under my arse and get something done!
 
Dr.Jass said:
I gotta slow down at work... last 2-week pay period, I posted 122 hours not including travel (walk) time. I've worked 24 days straight and when I get home I'm just too beat to work on her. :( Hopefully this weekend I'll feel the fire under my arse and get something done!
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You own a bodyshop or somethin'?[smilie=f:
 
That may well be true, especially after the stressful days I've had due to the last manager's not giving a rat's ass and letting things slide for quite a while, all of which I'm trying to fix in as short a time as possible.

I love what I do, and I'm dedicated to it... and my view is that the harder I work on these things now, the sooner I'll be bathed in gravy like I was made of mashed potatoes. I want this store to perform, damn it, and if I don't show the dedication and effort neither will my very-capable employees. Right now, they see what I'm doing and are trying their hardest, too... and that's what'll make us a crown jewel to our employers. This crew rocks.
 
68R/T said:
Work.....:confused:

:huh:
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Yeah Yeah Yeah 68...some of us are still staring at 20+ years of work in the ass.....:D

Jass...glad your FINALY getting some time off....I believe in doing/being the best at your job...unless corporate policies hinder this....Dooh that only implies to me now...:doh::wtf:

Get to bed early on Friday then let yourself sleep in a bit saturday morning then hit 'er hard....Hope you make some good progress.... :2thumbs:
 
Wow... it's been almost 4 months since I posted anything in here. :doh:

The ridiculous hours of work, the distraction of the Imperial and the continuing battle over the Conquests has kept me from the old girl. Today is my first real day off in almost a month. 125 hours last pay period, with Thanksgiving off--but that wasn't a day for me, it was for family.

Anyhow, I'm spending time in the garage. There will be a progress post this day. :dance:
 
Well, I did make some progress today... in fact, I planned on posting it in the tech section. However, paint fumes have overcome me and I feel sick, so I'll post the pics and process later. It's good info, but at the moment I feel like I'm going to die.
 
Glad you got some work done on the ol' beast but sorry to hear you're not enjoying the paint fumes....:doh::shifty:
 
Well, I'm feeling pretty good this morning... only a mild paint hangover. I don't have time before work to document what I did yesterday so I'll have to hit it when I get home.

Then, it's back oot to the garage to finish the project. This time I'll be wearing a mask. :D
 
Dr.Jass said:
Then, it's back oot to the garage to finish the project. This time I'll be wearing a mask. :D
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If you intend to appear in any of the pictures you're posting, the mask would be a definite necessity for the protection of the eyes of the viewers. [smilie=f::bwuhaha:
 
Diplomat_Wagon said:
Should always wear a mask. :naughty:
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You know, I've done a lot of work with spray cans over the years, and though I've gotten a little "fume loopy" now and again, I've never seen the need for a proper spray mask. However this time I was using cheap paint, which is usually a no-no for me, and the amount of overspray was astounding. That, and the eight-plus hours' exposure to it was probably what did me in. I think I probably would have been OK with just a dust mask, judging by the gloss-black phlegm that came up this morning. :sick:

I do now own a proper filtered mask, though, in addition to the dust masks I keep around.
 
Ahhhh, paint boogers and slooshing brain cells. Welcome to the wonderful world of auto body & painting. :) I'm the club president, meetings are the second Tuesday of the week, and the membership fees are now due. Cash only, no cheques.
 
paint buggers!!!

the WORST by FAR is heavy primer buggers.....yes im a member of the no mask club...the fumes have never bothered me or had any effect
 
I'll tell you what... I've not led the safest of lives. I drink. I smoke. I drive (well, drove) way too fast, oft times when I shouldn't have been driving at all. I've had lots of unprotected sex with women I picked up in bars. I've skied in serious avalanche zones. I've been set seriously afire by my best friend. I even shot myself in the face with pepper spray, for Christ's sake. I'm not what one would call a stranger to reckless behavior, and lots of folks seem to enjoy my tales about it.

But I've seen what kind of damage chemicals can do to the central nervous system, and I don't care about being cool or tough--I don't want to be 65 years old and drooling on myself while sitting in the Barcalounger watching Jeopardy! that I can't comprehend in a shit-filled adult diaper, unable to remember the wild times I've had. Auto paint is more dangerous now than it's ever been, so I'll wear the mask--and wear it I did last night.

For the record, I also wear a toque and ski gloves on my winter walks to work. Would I look cooler in Mechanix gloves and no hat? Probably--to stupid 17-year-olds--but I'm warm and healthy rather than freezing and sick.
 
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