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Bertha’s loooooong saga

62156 Views 1102 Replies 55 Participants Last post by  ETriggs, 
ETriggs
Ok, I am putting this thread together so I have a record for everyone to see, suggest, comment, and critique. I have been to the first six Nationals, all without Bertha. Seventh was the lucky charm! I can't let this happen again, it feels too weird.

Here is the list of what I have remaining to do in the next 334 days. By June 24, 2022

1. Get car back home to Auburn. (Yes, it is in Defuniak Spring FL. right now.)

Sheetmetal Work
1. Buy new one piece floor and trunk floor and install
2. Install new rockers
3. Install and repair quarter panels
4. Repair rust / dents in roof
5. New hood
6. New Cowl
7. Repair dash (knee dent on pass side)
8. New trunk-to-bumper panel install and smooth into quarters
9. Align trunk lid
10. Prep and prime and paint

Glass
1. Rechrome side glass frames
2. Buy and install glass. (Vent windows done)

Wiring - install AAW kit I bought
  1. Engine
  2. Dash
  3. Interior
  4. Rear body


Drivetrain
1. Get motor running (already rebuilt)
2. Prep transmission (fluid and install filler tube)
3. Turn front brake rotors (they are new, but rusted a bit in the Florida humidity)
4. Buy and install gas tank (lines are already run)
5. Install steering column and wheel
6. Finish routing and hanging exhaust

Interior:
1. I already have a complete kit from Gina Ciadella (modified 670 trim). It is ready to install.
2. Install wipers, radio, etc. Just enough to make it fully functional

Trim
1. Buy new bumpers (front and rear) and install.
2. Finish polishing all of side trim. I have all of it, it just needs polishing.
3. Get new taillights and install


I think after this, it will be ready to drive to Nats. Not perfect, not complete, but drivable. That is what I want more than anything is for it to be drivable.

I am tossing around set on colors now, but will use a dark silver / gray metallic for the car with a dark blue metallic for trim Strato blue / white. I still have to decide on specific colors though. Paint is now a mix of the VW Strato Blue and Porsche Aetna Blue. I am sending a sample to Orion Automotive and it will be called "Bertha Blue"

Am I forgetting anything major? I have had this car for 10 15 years, I need to get it on the road!!! Finished!
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Fun56Chevy
Are you going to run heater hoses? IMO, I would recommend to remove front intake fitting with rubber end and plug it. So there’s no chance of an unnecessary leak from rubber cap.
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ETriggs
Fun56Chevy said:
Are you going to run heater hoses? IMO, I would recommend to remove front intake fitting with rubber end and plug it. So there’s no chance of an unnecessary leak from rubber cap.
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I was, but not for now. I will swap out the nipple for a plug today.
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ETriggs
I bought some of this steel at Ace Hardware to make brackets out of, it has a nice radius and doesn’t look just like plain angle iron. Will use it for my overflow tank for now, may get more for other stuff.
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ETriggs
Wood Brick Cylinder Gas Rectangle
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ETriggs
Fun56Chevy said:
Are you going to run heater hoses? IMO, I would recommend to remove front intake fitting with rubber end and plug it. So there’s no chance of an unnecessary leak from rubber cap.
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Plug in, I will wait for the sealant to harden then trim the excess.

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ETriggs
Ok, considerably more progress. Looking more like a drivable one.. soon. Again…
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hotrodg726
need to trim the excessive bolt length on the overkill clamps some, you're going to hook yourself good on one of those.
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ETriggs
hotrodg726 said:
need to trim the excessive bolt length on the overkill clamps some, you're going to hook yourself good on one of those.
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Yep, that’s on the wrap up list. I thought I was supposed to have my alternator bracket in today, but Summit shipped it from Nevada so it will be here next week. I have to install the new trans dipstick tube and I can fire it up again. If EVERYTHING goes correctly, I can do some laps in my neighborhood by next Wednesday. I also have to reroute all of the wiring, it’s a mess right now and I want it all hidden as much as possible.
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ETriggs
3
So, no work on Bertha today but her tow partner has gone on to a good home to get restored. My new truck has taken the spot. The new Frontier can tow Bertha in a pinch (6500 pound towing capacity) but it’s helping me be even more motivated to get a Bertha done. Plus I don’t have to move cars to open the workshop and pull Bertha out. (And Lindsay is super happy too!)

Last photo of “Thor” in its spot

Tire Wheel Automotive parking light Car Vehicle


New owner driving it away (my dentist)
Sky Tire Building Plant Wheel


Goblin in its new spot.
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Dragsix
Outstanding!
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ETriggs
Trans dipstick in, most stuff is ready to fire up except when I reconnected the shift lever underneath on the trans, I had the trans in Low and set the handle in Park. My back/kidney is too sore to lift it back up again and fix it today. I should be home early from the office tomorrow and off Tuesday and Wednesday and will get those finished up along with it fired up. If everything works right this time, I will put the fenders back on and drive it to the local car show on Saturday.

Door handles on and all 4 doors function properly for the first time in 16 years.
Car Vehicle Motor vehicle Hood Automotive design
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ETriggs
Got her fired up and running, she sounds much better! I put the new gaskets on the carb where the float screw adjuster was leaking and that’s fixed. She now starts and purrs with a pair of stomps on the gas pedal and a twist of the key.

She does have an exhaust leak at the header and I need to pull the headers anyway to clean, repaint, and wrap. But I also have a set of rams horns that I’m thinking of putting back on. I would like to tone down the rumble somewhat and those Flowtech header flanges aren’t the thickest ever made. I just need the down pipes made. The headers look awful right now, they burnt off all of the factory paint and are starting to flash rust.

On an interior note, I’m working on the rear seat as well, it’s not fun trying to get that to look right. It doesn’t want to play well with my foam. I need to pull some of the foam off and redo.
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Dragsix
Out standing!
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ETriggs
Dragsix said:
Out standing!
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Thanks! I was hoping to get her out and do some laps today, but I had to pressure wash the driveway as part of my Honey Do list. We have a car show tomorrow but it’s supposed to rain in the afternoon. Maybe I will get a video of her out on the road Sunday morning.
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Shadetree55
ETriggs said:
Thanks! I was hoping to get her out and do some laps today, but I had to pressure wash the driveway as part of my Honey Do list. We have a car show tomorrow but it’s supposed to rain in the afternoon. Maybe I will get a video of her out on the road Sunday morning.
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Glad you got her running again. I need your determination. I've made a ton of progress in a year and a half but getting to the stages I have no idea what I'm doing and just walk by and look at it and go find something else to do instead.
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ETriggs
Shadetree55 said:
Glad you got her running again. I need your determination. I've made a ton of progress in a year and a half but getting to the stages I have no idea what I'm doing and just walk by and look at it and go find something else to do instead.
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I’ve hit that stage several times, I just had to force myself into the mindset of, “well, if I screw it up then I know how not to do it.”
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hotrodg726
Do not wrap your headers. It holds moisture and causes rot really fast
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ETriggs
hotrodg726 said:
Do not wrap your headers. It holds moisture and causes rot really fast
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What’s a good paint for them? I was going to use some of the VHT 2000 deg header paint, will that work?
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hotrodg726
the vht is the better of the stuff but no paint holds up real well.
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ETriggs
hotrodg726 said:
the vht is the better of the stuff but no paint holds up real well.
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Just as long as I can slow the rusting down and make them look all one color. They look like they’ve been through a barn fire right now.
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