It finally feels like I'm making progress on my wagon

[Matt Haas <mhaas@xxxxxxx>]

Tonight makes the second work session where I've actually put parts back on 
my American wagon. Both front brakes are done on the car, the front tires 
are on it, and it's sitting back down on the ground (the front end was in 
the air for three weeks!).  Now all I need to do is turn the car around 
(not easy since it only has one Haas power until I get the fuel pump back 
-- I may have additional Haas power this weekend when my nephews come over 
to help me finish cleaning up from a huge branch -- about 16 inches across 
where it met the tree -- that fell down last Tuesday), do the back brakes, 
run the new brake lines, and have the master cylinder rebuilt.

Speaking of brake lines, I sent the three brake lines that are different on 
1967 American's with Wagner master cylinders off to Inline Tube 
(http://www.inlinetube.com) to have them reproduced. I'll obviously need 
those lines before I can plumb up the brakes. I also sent the fuel pump to 
carb, vacuum advance, and vacuum wiper lines to them as well (these lines 
should fit all 1967 AMC's with 1bbl sixes). I'll let people know part 
numbers when I get them.

I ended up sending my fuel pump off to Antique Auto Cellar to be rebuilt. 
I'll hopefully have that back in about a week. I picked up a fuel filter 
from Kennedy American. AutoZone claims to be able to sell you one if you 
buy it online but the one I got from Kennedy American was a little less 
expensive and the filter was actually made by Carter (I don't know why that 
excited me, must be my car sickness).

I did some more poking around and I found a source for self adjusters for 
9" Wagner drum brakes: http://www.scoutparts.com (they're in the Scout 80 
brake parts section). Just like everything else, they're twice as much as a 
Bendix system (about $22 per wheel) but at least I found a source. So far, 
mine have been good enough to reuse but I haven't done anything with the 
rear brakes yet so who knows. I also found a couple of Studebaker vendors 
selling used adjuster levers but the thought of buying used brake hardware 
just seems wrong.

Hopefully, I'll have the car back on the road in time for the Teague meet 
in Columbus next month 
(http://clubs.hemmings.com/clubsites/ohioamc/event%20calendar/OAMC%20REGIONAL%20FLYER%202005.pdf) 
-- BTW, the Len Immke show the same weekend is a wonderful show, there's a 
nice mix of everything from horseless carriages to late model stuff).

Matt

mhaas@xxxxxxx
Cincinnati, OH
http://www.mattsoldcars.com
1967 Rambler American wagon
1968 Rambler American sedan
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