I started what I hope will be a year long restoration projecton my 78 today. Unfortunately its off to a great start with half my tools being stolen last night. I found a rather interesting buba job as I was starting the tear out. There are two relays under the arm rest right behind the parking break. One of them was unplugged. The other was wired to a radio shack toggle switch. I cann't find them in my Haynes manual and my other books have not arrived yet. Anyone know what they are?

And now for the pictures
My baby coming home after Matson was kind enough to destroy my electrical system. I managed to get a whole 200 dollars out of them for it


I've got most of the interior out. I'm kind of stuck on the carpet right now, as my star key set was on of the things stolen so I cann'e take out the seat belt mounts to release the carpet. Oh well. I'm working around it for now.


Here is what I have found so far. The bottom of the windshield is almost gone, the gusset plate is rusted almost all the way through. And there is a hole all the way through the body just forward of the #2 body mount. These pictures are all driver side, passanger side is about the same, but a little better off.





And finally here are those relays. I still don't know what they are for. There are the two at the very back

 

No idea on what the switch would be for.

Just be prepared to spend twice the time and twice the money on your project. I was planning on finishing my partial restoration project in about 6-8 months and for $5-6,000. Well, 15 months and $10,000+ later I'm hoping I'll be done with my project this May.

 

My '68 is beginning to eat me alive. Now I know why they call it a shark.
I was planning to be done about 5 months ago.
Good luck!

 

I'm aware of the dangers of these things. I think I have reasonable budget. About 10k and reasonable expectations on time. Unfortunately I don't have the time or space to do all the work myself so I'm farming out the birdcage welding and the motor rebuild. It breaks my heart not to do my own work, especially stuff I know I can do, but I think it will help keep me on schedule.

 

What is included in your restoration plans?

 

no pics

 

I Hear Ya, started my project june of last year Im hopeing for march of next year, will probably be may though http://makovette.net/

 

Anyone what to comment on the levels of rust. Is it alot or a little?

 

SLooks Familiar, I bought my white 78 home last december on a flat bed....
It seems i dont have much time for it, due to swork and school so a 5 month project turned into a year long more expensive project.

as for the rust, its a bit more than what i have, i just have a little surface rust showing on my bird cage, in one small spot. id take care of that before anything....

 

I started my 68 restoration in August 1995, planned on 2 years max. I finished it September 2005, 10 years later, and this is the first summer I have been able to enjoy it. One thing leads to another and then life gets in the way and there is never enough time (or money) to do it as quickly as originally planned.
You will get there, don't get discouraged and keep records and pictures for insurance purposes in case you ever need to prove anything to the insurance company. Better to plan ahead than look back in sorrow.
Good luck with your project.
Kurt

 

Every pic of the cage shows heavy rust. You have a real project ahead of you.

 

But when you are done it will be nice