Reality Check Weekend

[JOE FULTON <piper_pa20@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Well, I should be finishing my 73 Javelin (painted
months ago) and getting it ready for the numerous
local shows around Salinas.  But I have this 62
Rambler Classic wagon which was given to me last year
and had hoped to just get it driveable for the AMCRC
meet in Sacramento this June.

I got it running a few months ago and discovered what
sounds like a rod knocking.  So I bought another
junkyard 196 cast iron engine out of a 64 Classic at
Prunedale Auto Wreckers (Gwen's Rambler got the
bumpers).  Turns out Ms. Nattie Gussie the previous
owner of that car wasn't very meticulous about oil
changes and the engine was pretty sludged up.  Anyway
I was still blindly hoping for the best and took the
cylinder head to a local machine shop I trust.  Turns
out the head had had one too many valve jobs already
and the valves were not up to another round on the
valve grinder.   No problem, I had the head off of the
62 Rambler.  So I got the engine ready to pull and
suddenly came to my senses and starting really looking
over this old wagon.  There is moderate to severe rust
on the passenger side cowl extending down through the
unibody side near the front door post.

All stop (Navy term).

This wagon ain't going nowhere by June 2005.  Too bad.
 It will become a side yard ornament until I can
figure out the best course of action.  Sad, but I have
to be practical sometimes.   From what I can see
without removing any more sheet metal, I think the
rust is repairable, even with my novice mig welding
skills, but I may need some help fashioning patch
panels.  The area appears to be structural so I don't
think fiberglass repairs will be appropriate.
 
So I'll be driving either my 73 Javelin or my 80
Spirit to Sacramento in June.  The Spirit passed its
biannual smog test on Saturday.

BTW I found fenders from a 62 Ambassodor (same body
that year) in Portland, OR and will be going up to get
them in a couple of weeks.  Mine are repairable but I
would rather have good ones to start with.  I'm making
a list of other things the wagon will need.

Joe Fulton

Salinas, CA