Went to Northern California a few weeks ago (just before the Fun Run)to pick up the new project car... a 1960 Edsel Villager Station Wagon. There were only 216 made and less than 75 survivors. My friend Fred had started to restore the car 4 years ago, and never got back to it. The front floor pans have been replaced and a little rust on the bottom of the doors, the rest of the body looks solid. We were able to find about 80% of the parts so I will bring home a 60 Edsel for parts and a model of how the car should be put together. I will also pick up the original frame so all the numbers match, then put the donor engine and transmission in it as the original engine had water in it and was not rebuildable. The Edsel is third in line behind the 51 Ford and the 53 Kaiser. I had time to work of the Kaiser putting all the major body parts back on checking for fit and clearance with the modified parts. The only problem I found is that one of the hood hinges is badly worn and will have to be re...

Saturday morning we left the house and drove the Starliner 45 miles east on I-40 to Seligman AZ, arriving at 9:00 a.m. and lined up with the other cars along the main street getting ready for the 10:00 a.m. start of the Fun Run. Famous landmark "ROADKILL CAFE" Angel waving us off on the start (If you watched "Cars" the movie and watched the interviews at the end you will see Angel). From Seligman we went west on Historical Route 66 stopping at the Grand Canyon Caverns where Ron went on the 1 hour tour while Karen read a book and looked after the car (she is a mite bit claustrophobic). The tour was very good, you walk about 3/4 of a mile up and down stairs and inclines temp. was 56 degrees. Lots of exercise and very interesting. From the caverns we continued west thru Peach Springs, a Hualapai Indian Reservation, where they set up food, and goods, arts and native dances. Then on thru Truxton and Valentine (Where Keeper of the Wild are located). We had planned on...

The Kaiser body is back on the frame and I have started to fit the front fenders. The front inner fenders had to be cut at the bottom front to clear the new sub frame and the splash panel guards that fit around the new upper A arms had to be remade. We made a trip to Northern California for business, visit family and friends during the first week of April. I took my car trailer to pick up a 85 Ford Bronco that was left on my son's property for 5 years and while I was there I hauled off 5 other cars that he wanted to be gone. When I tried to load the Bronco it was too wide for my trailer so I had to borrow my friends Fred's trailer. Fred is currently wrecking out his field of 1959 to 1966 T-Birds and some of his Edsels, anyone that wants any of these cars or any parts can contact: Fred at beaelectsf@aol.com or call him at (415)203-2809. Fred also has some finished cars for sale. If you have any questions please call him. I will bring home a 1960 Edsel Villager Station Wagon that...

The stainless steel brake and fuel line are complete with the components purchased from Summit Racing and the new flaring tool from the Eastwood Company. I had trouble with selecting the correct AN type hose ends and adaptors that go to the double flare line fittings so I sent for a Russell Catalogue that gave a good description and picture of each fitting. Once the correct adaptors I needed arrived the lines were quickly finished. The remote fill brake lines for the master cylinder and the brake vacuum booster line will be installed when the body is back on the frame. The engine has been painted with the new intake manifold and pan installed. The new torque converter did not fit the re-built AOD Transmission so I took them to LA last week to Tim Deal Transmission who found that a AODE instead of an AOD Torque converter had been supplied. We visited the 1951 Ford 4-door while in LA to see the final paint work that is now being done. The flames look beautiful. Next the pin stripping a...

The priming of the miscellaneous parts for the Kaiser went well as the weather was nice and I was able to paint outside. I used PPG self etching epoxy primer DPLF and prepared the bare metal with "metal Prep" a 50/50 mixture with water then wiped the area down with a 50/50 mixture of PPG Dx330 wax and grease remover and lacquer thinner cleaning a 2' x2' area at a time as recommended, so as not to let the metal prep dry. I had 2 quarts of paint that make 1 gal. using the epoxy part 2 additive, and ran out of paint before I could get to the inside of the body, that turned out to be a good thing because I had to complete the center console, weld in studs to fasten the A/C system, electrical panels, emergency brake and hood latch. The 66 T-Bird console is 9" too short for the Kaiser interior so an extension piece was hand formed and welded to the back of the console to extend it to the back seat. Filler plates were cut, fit and welded into place in the top front of t...