Jake Dykstra's 1962 409/409 Impala!

[Stihl]

That steering wheel is a work of art! Compare that to todays boring interior cars.

[RPOLS3]

I ended up having some time last night so I decided to tear into the steering column. I was able to get everything out and replace the column/firewall bracket. I will see if I can figure out how to get into the column itself to get the upper bearing out for replacement and replace the rubber covering on the knuckle just outside the firewall.

[olredalert]

----Keep the faith, Jake. You can do it....Bill S

[Mr70]

Jake is Proof we don't need as much sleep as we age.

[olredalert]

Originally Posted by Mr70

Jake is Proof we don't need as much sleep as we age.

----LOL!!!!....Bill S

[RPOLS3]

Originally Posted by Mr70

Jake is Proof we don't need as much sleep as we age.

LOL - that's Dave (A12pilot) not me.

[daverd]

Love your 409 !!!

[RPOLS3]

Sunday afternoon I was able to get the column blown apart. Ordered a new upper bearing (backordered of course) and lower boot. Dropped off the blue painted parts at the painters this morning along with the glove box door for a freshen up. Picked up the "new" radiator yesterday afternoon, forgot to tell him not to paint it. Dropped it off with the interior bits to get the tanks and straps cleaned up a bit with a better looking paint job than the radiator shop could do. I went with a high efficiency 3 core unit as that seemed to be the best solution for how I will be driving the car. Fan clutch is done and should be here tomorrow. Replaced the 4 main rear bumper bracket bolts last night.

Keep the ball moving forward.......

[RPOLS3]

I picked up all the painted stuff Friday on my way home to get started on this weekend. Since I got the Chevelle mostly sorted out I had some time today to dedicate to the 409 project. Got the correct radiator installed and while I had the cooling system drained down I took the heater control valve off and painted it black as it should have been. Installed the restored fan clutch and realized the fan I painted when we did the motor looks a little tired, so that will get cleaned up prior to reinstallation. One of the items I had the painter take care of was the glove box door as it was nicked up pretty good from hitting the shifter ball when it was opened. I tried brush touching it up and made it worse.......but it looks great now and since he did the column parts it was not much more to spray that at the same time. I brought the actual steering column tube to him as well as the engine compartment side was fubar'd and I couldn't fix it with a rattle can, so now that looks too nice as well. I am waiting on the upper bearing and the lower boot cover and then I can start reassembling the column. I received a good non power steering center link and the driver side sway bar bracket for a non PS car so I think I have everything to make the conversion now - but that is on the back burner for a bit.

Keep moving the ball forward and it'll get done eventually........

[RPOLS3]

I've been sneaking in some time on the 409 here and there making progress....

I think I'm done taking things apart now and parts are finally going back on the car.

As I mentioned earlier, when I got the correct restored fan clutch back I couldn't put it on the fan the way it looked, so that went off to the painter........along with the generator bracket and heater control valve. Picked all that up yesterday and re-installed last night. I got the lower steering column joint rubber boot last weekend and assembled the lower column and then installed it earlier this week. Waiting on the upper bearing still so I can assemble the upper column and put the wheel back on it.

Also instsalled the correct idler arm and hardware/spacer earlier and was able to get the non power steering center link sandblasted, will paint that this weekend.

The car was invited to participate in an event on July 25th down in Hinckley where a guy has recreated a 1962/63 Chevrolet showroom. "My Car Story With Lou" will be there to get the story on the car if all goes well. Hoping Eric can get the carbs back in time for that.