With the carbs and intake off, you can see the return port for the air conditioner oil line. A fitting is welded onto the engine oil fill tube. The return line was missing on this car.

I had trouble keeping wires on the engine manifold vacuum switch; the terminals were damaged. I found a new switch on line quick and easy and installed. I also installed the coil extension and the coil.

I looked for a self bleeding 160 thermostat and didn't have one so I installed self bleeding 180. On these 331 354 392 engines with the coolant cross over pipe, it is very easy to get an air lock below the thermostat. A self bleeding thermostat is essential.

There is a flexible gasket needed between the heater and blower box. Gary Goers used to have them but Quirey did not continue so you have to make your own. I use a piece of neoprene (rubber) 1/16" x 2.25 to 2.375" wide x 20.25" long. Use RTV to secure the neoprene and two sets of three 11" long zip ties as shown to hold rubber while RTV sets.




Here is the blower gasket finished.

Reassembly is in full swing. The front seat is reinstalled
along with the steering wheel, horn ring, and sill plates.

Installed the missing power brake booster vacuum reserve tank. The bolts didn't have much bite on the fender threads so extra nuts on the fender back side provided a secure connection. Installed wheel covers, gooseneck braces on engine and took it for a drive for the first time. The speedometer works, ammeter, oil pressure, fuel gauges work and it doesn't run hot. Steering is nice, brakes good. Drove around driveway, no smoke, has all 3 forward gears and reverse. Even the reverse lights work. Most times it starts quickly but now and then it is hard to start when hot, not sure why yet. Installed gooseneck air cleaners and Grady hood safety catch. Found the original hood catch mount plate nut had half broken at weld and was weak, plus they had the catch adjusted so it only caught the top catch. All fine now, hood shuts solid.

Here is a video of the car on its first drive.

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