Restoration begins on my '72 Kingswood Estate this week!

If you remove the windshield yourself the best and easiest starting point in the bottom center where the antenna is(if you have that antenna) it is soft seal byutl and the wire goes right thru just be carefull you keep the wire pointed twards the glass so it does not catch on the dash pad. Damn man why couldn't you live closer! I did mine myself removing but i have literally done thousands.

 

I forgot to add in my response to the question you asked that there was a lot of rust above my windshield, however I was fortunate that it turned out it was there because the previous owners had added so much sealer that it completely locked out all the water, but caused it to pool above the windshield molding, causing lots of surface rust.








Brandon

 

Thanks!

I will do that, thanks! That will help hold the water out until I can check it/repair properly!

Thanks for the tip!

Thanks. Yeah, mine has the antenna in the glass. I wish you lived closer too! LOL.

Thanks! Guess we will see how mine is when the time gets here. Hoping its not bad!

 

Well as mentioned in the other thread, I got the car moved to the upper part of the driveway closer to the work shop and closer to tools. No garage, so this is where most of work will be taking place. Hopefully some engine work will happen tomorrow.

 

One trick for when you put the windshield and trim back: I always spray rubber stone guard on any area to be covered by trim. This keeps the dissimilar metals out of contact, eliminating galvanic reactions, and it has give to it, so it doesn't chip off when you put the clips on.

 

Thanks for that info!

Well to update this old thread... it is almost a year later and still working on it. I finally got around to get the Chevy mechanic I found to check it. He brought some tools to the house to get an idea of what was going on with my engine (that all here know has been an issue for YEARS). He checked the timing again and it was fine, compression was fine, etc. He said the engine was strong. All along, he believes that the issue is with the transmission. He said it is 42 years old and has never been rebuilt and is just tired. He does not believe it is getting the power to the rear wheels because of it. He said he thought the engine was fine, so I guess a tranny rebuild is in order. He said he would remove it and take to a guy that rebuilds these and will reinstall it. I am not sure yet how much this is going to cost me, but I hope it works. He is going to get me an estimate within the next few days.

 

Good luck and do keep us posted!

 

I have had (in the past) tranny's do that. like they are sucking the power out of the engine. But you actually think it's the engine.

 

If you're converting to HEI, perhaps you should also drop in an OD trans with stand-alone controller.

 

According to him, that is what this one is doing. He said I may be looking at $1000, but should it be that much for a turbo 400? I had a tranny rebuilt in my '95 Chrysler in 2004 and it was only like $700.

Nope, I was going to, but all I have already spent, I am not touching the engine again... I am not even sure I can afford the tranny repair now... especially if it will be $1000. lol. I may eventually if I keep it, I may have to sell/trade it off. lol.

 

the kits are not that much for Turbo 400's and from what I have been told they are easy to do

 

If you're interested, I found a way to convert to HEI for $100 or less, including the new distributor and everything else you'll need. It should all be archived somewhere in the build. Like everything else, the worst part was sorting through everyone that had "done it right" and finding the few people that were experts on the subject that had truly done it right. It's very, very simple and fortunately, I've pretty much done all the legwork.

 

Well I spoke to my mechanic today and the car will have the tranny removed either next weekend or one day the week after next. He is going to remove it and take it to the guy that rebuilds this. Labor to remove, rebuild and reinstall the tranny will run me around $550 he said. He is also going to replace the brake lines, change the brake fluid, replace the fuel lines (flexible) and change the differential fluid. I hope to be on the road within the next few weeks! I have had the car since '07 and have not got to drive it, hopefully it will be worth the wait.

Yeah, I was quoted $300 actually (to rebuild the tranny). I am glad it wasn't $1000. lol.

I would like to convert to HEI eventually. I will have to look that up.

Yeah, he said he thought that was definitely this cars problem, we will see.

Thanks! Will do!

I think I will keep it all stock. Thanks!

 

I drove my wagon to the shop today... about 2 miles. Impressed at how well it rides and drives!

Transmission is obviously shot. 1st gear does not appear to be working, because I didn't hear/feel the first shift until about 45 mph. So, I am guessing that the low power all along was because it was pulling out in 2nd gear, plus probably slipping on top of that.

Hope to be motoring in it again my middle of next week.

 

It's funny seeing third row seats in wagons, I really had no idea they were so common back in the day. I guess since I was born in 79 and only starting paying attention to cars at age 10 onward I'd have no really paid attention before then, but it was funny seeing SUV's claiming third row seating like it was "new".