Pastparts

Before I took the more expensive option to go to the later brakes, I was looking for a place that might be able to resleeve the old calipers. A friend mentioned he'd seen an advert in a Classic Commercial Magazine - and he sent me the details. Alttough the details of their website were actually incorrect in the advert, I managed to work out that they are here They have details of their e-mail address on their website SO I e-mailed them. Twice. No reply so I ordered from the USA - the supplier there answers my e-mails. Sad.

Argghh Brakes

I dismantled and reassembled the left hand caliper. As soon as I'd managed to bleed the system effectively, fluid started pouring out of the outboard bottom piston (again). Worse still, the exact same thing started to happen on the other side, which, as far as I know, wasn't happening before :(

I did manage to adjust the parking brake so that it works well, much to my surprise.

A complete new front brake setup complete with spindles is now on the way from the US.

Not sure what to do with the '67 - I keep stealing parts of it for the '68 but it's a far more original car that hasn't been messed with, but it is a mess inside and under the bonnet (hood).

Ho Hum

It didn't all go to plan. I had to take the drag link off the '67 as the old one on the 68 had been damaged by the loose inner tie (track) rod. The loose joint had worn a large oval hole in it.

That sorted it was time to do the brakes. The old pipe was so rusty I had to dismantle loads and replace the flexible pipe and the fixed one beyond it to the caliper. This was all going well until bleeding resulted in fluid pouring from inside the caliper - oh well....

more steering stuff

Removing the outer tie rod (track rod end) was trickier than I thought, but with the new "pickle fork" splitter I bought it was OK in the end.

Splitting the inner and outer rods from the sleeve was tricky, too. The outer is a left hand thread, which is obvious if I'd thought about it!

MOT on the '68

I've had to change the blog title to the plural now there are two of 'em. Two of the failure items were a loose inner tie rod balljoint and a loose joint on the pitman arm. RHD pitman arms seem to be as rare as rocking horse dung, but the inner and outer tie rods I ordered arrived today, with an unexpected bonus - a Pitman arm. Sadly it doesn't fit! Next prob is getting the outer joint separated - can't get either of my pullers to fit on it. I have applied WD40 and am off to get a different puller.

Failed MOT and a new car

The Rebel failed its MOT, so to cheer myself up, I bought another one! It's a 67 model - been standing 20 years. It is very mouldy and rusty. Someone had removed the brake drums, wheel cylinders, calipers and master cylinder - not sure why. I have all the bits and I put the wheel cylinders and drums back so I could get the parking brake working.

Mileage of the '68 at MOT fail was 93615 as I had been out a couple of times not recorded in here.

Trip Out

Took the car out for a run. Now at 93582. I'd noticed a small garage locally and decided to take a drive to see if they could take care of the MOT.

Spoke the charming Lady proprietor who said they'd been looking after a Pontiac for some time and she was sure they could help. Great news, I thought. Enter the grumpy mechanic "we don't do them, we can't get the parts",he whined - I countered that I can obtain any parts with no problem, but the sour look on his face told me all I needed to know, and he confirmed it. Such a shame as the proprietor had been so polite and helpful.

Not to worry, I'll find someone else to look after my car, and hopefully with that attitude, the garage in question will be out of business soon.