As with most things on this car, when I look at one thing I find at least 3 more issues. This was the case today. I had always known there were lots of clunks and rattles when driving, but chalked it up to the 'character' of an old car.

Rattle source #1: 2nd gen side mirror adjuster just laying in the door.
http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/image_3.jpeg

Rattle source #2: rear regulator bolt hole in door frame had been mangled at some point, so the bolt wasn't actually clamping anything, allowing this leg of the regulator to swing free and bang about.
http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/image_4.jpeg

Rattle #3: petrified piece of tape stuck to...a mirror mount backing plate? Not sure...guessing they taped it inside the door for safe keeping, but it had come loose decades ago most likely.
http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/image_5.jpeg

I resolved the mirror adjuster issue, at least temporarily, by wrapping it up in foam and securing it out of the way.
http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/image_8.jpeg

The door frame issue was resolved with a little cleaning, welding (I'm new to welding and desperately need the practice so I chose not to just use a bigger washer) and grinding.
http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/image_6.jpeg

http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/image_7.jpeg

So there, that's a couple minor issues I don't have to deal with later. I need to get new weatherstrip for the door before I try to re-install the panel. The original ones are crumbling so no point in trying to fit the panel with rubber that won't be used in final assembly.

Hi.
 

Hi, glad to see you're making progress. I found a set of pliers rattling around inside my drivers side door, gee they've come in handy.😊 cheers trevor.

Haha, pliers, brilliant!

When I installed the DSE wiper motor I found they had left the transmission arms laying in the cowl area when they deleted (aka. Removed the wiper arms) the wipers and ditched the OE motor. What a racket those made over every bump!

I will say, it made reassembly of the wiper system a snap though!

Four improvements already! Well played!

:captain:

Not much of an update, but I will add that I've done a little shopping in anticipation of the 'April Overhaul'. I've never been able to get the SPC uppers adjusted for proper alignment specs (caster mainly) without compromising safety by having too little arm material inside the adjuster sleeve. Plus, I had reused the factory lowers with fresh ball joints and bushings. Speedtech ran a Christmas sale so I jumped on it and have new tubular uppers and lowers that should complement my AFX spindles nicely.

While at Barrett Jackson a few weeks ago, I cruised through the Ridetech booth and decided while I have the front end apart I'd might as well put some good shocks in it. I've driven a whopping 200 miles on the 2007 revisions to the suspension but that was enough to reveal the Edelbrock shocks were junk. So the Ridetech HQ single adjustables will remedy that shortcoming! I'm really looking forward to putting the front together the way it should have been when I went through it years ago.

I may have made progress on the "thick" repro door panel saga by locating some extensions for the crank stud that are splined and retained with a set screw. This definitely won't help the door-closing issues created by the extra girth of these panels but I'm hoping that will be remedied through adjustment (option A) or by undoing some staples and shaving down the foam on the leading and trailing edges (option B)

Sounds like you are headed in the right direction. I like the sound of this "April Overhaulin".

:cheers:

A couple more questions regarding my overall plan:

1) When installing DSE tubs, is it easier at all/helpful to do when the dropped portion of the trunk pan is removed?

2) Can I do the tubs now and still run normal leaf springs/hangers/gas tank, in anticipation of actually filling the tubs with tires and a 4-link in the future?

If the answer to number one is no, that may eliminate the need for worrying about question two.

We're fast approaching the April Overhaulin. Been ordering parts and knocking out some easy stuff to free up time for the items where I'm not as confident.

Out with the old:
http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s.../image_14.jpeg

http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s.../image_13.jpeg

In with the new:

http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s.../image_15.jpeg
http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s.../image_11.jpeg
http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s.../image_12.jpeg