It was a busy few weeks since the car arrived. Unfortunately, I did not do a great job photographing the work.

• New Battery. The one thing that I don't get on batteries is how we went from 72 month to 24-36 month options. Isn't tech supposed to get better? The battery cables on the car are side mounts which are not correct. The new Champion battery has both side and top mounts like the one that came out. The hold down bracket is missing. I will have to order one.

• Purchased and installed LU-166A Pertronix from eBay.

• Both carbs were seized closed (8 years, wasn't surprised). The front popped loose pretty easy. The back carb was tougher and I had to take the cover off with the correct pozi-drive screwdriver. The inside of the piston chamber and piston were both coated in carbon. It looked like some massive backfiring had taken place. I also noticed that the rear carb had become disconnected from the accelerator pedal linkage. When the pedal was pressed the rear throttle plate/shaft would not move as only one of the two expandable 'accordion' metal clamps was 'on' it. I'm not sure when this happened and if it was the original cause of the car going off the road as a driver. Cleaned out the carb's with Carb Cleaner. The diaphragms are serviceable.

• Oil Filter  & Oil Change. Wow, what a mess. Terrible filter arrangement!

• Drained the coolant.

• The wiring in this car is a mess. I will really need to dig in and see what is what. There are a lot of bypasses.

• Visited an auto upholstery shop that quoted me an exorbitant amount to redo the door panels. I therefore purchased Masonite board for an eventual door panel rebuild (the wood is falling apart) by yours truly.  I removed staples and vinyl from driver door panel. I made a trip to Joann Fabrics to pick up some felt to back the vinyl and replace the ratty foam.

• Lubed rear axles and replaced the gaiters on the halfshafts. This was challenging as I had no good idea on how to operate the wire ties that hold the gaiters in. I ended up using a cotter pin in the end of my cordless drill to hold the loop ends and twist the wire.

• When I removed the valve cover, the #8 pushrod (exhaust for cylinder #4) had slipped off the adjusting screw. I pulled the rod and it was not bent. The only thing I can think of is a valve had been  stuck when they cranked it in Wichita before posting for sale. The  valve was now moving when the engine was turned over by hand.

• I retorqued the head and readjusted the valves and #6 is still low and I am not sure what to do next. The valves appear to be opening and closing fine. I really don't want to pull the engine.....

• A compression check: #1; 190psi #2: 195psi #3: 190psi #4: 180psi #5: 160psi #6: 60psi. I added oil to 5 and 6 and let them sit for a few minutes. I ran the wet test. #6 climbed from 60 to about 90. #5 climbed from 160 to 180psi.

• I positioned the #6 piston so that the 11/12 valves were closed. I ran a pressure test as best I could. My compression gauge has a detachable hose that has an air line attachment on the end. I have a small garage and can only fit a 3 gal 100psi hot dog compressor. By the time I could get the fitting closed it held at around 85 PSI which is what the valves were holding anyway. I listened all over (Except the dipstick - didn't think of that). Even got out my old mechanics stethoscope and didn't hear a thing.

• I started to piece some things together (and praying for a scenario that I don't need to pull the engine for a piston ring replacement). The rear carb feeds cylinders 5 & 6. Compression in 5 is was lowish and 6 is terrible. My thinking is that the carbon from the backfiring has blocked a valve or two from closing all the way. Praying for good rings. All this having been said. I still am not sure if it is a ring problem or a valve problem as the compression increased 40% in #6 and 10% in #5. I should have tried the valve test first before the oil in the cylinder.

• The carb rebuild kits, radiator hoses, choke cable, and brake master on are on back-order but I think the cleaning job I did on the carbs should be enough to get it to run. It ran for a second on starting spray so I am hopeful.

• I picked up some gas additive (Seafoam) that is supposed to clean the combustion chamber. Guess we'll see.....

• My current plan is to get the fuel system in and try to start it. I guess I will be pulling the head at some point. I can't pull the engine now as the car is up on jackstands and there is no room in front to get a hoist. I'll have to wait until I get the hydraulics addressed and get the wheels back on.

Check out the Initial Maintenance Photo Album.