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Sat Dec 02, 2023 6:28 pm

Big moment today. I finally got it together enough to move on its own power again. Still needs to be tuned, but it drives. So, the wife got to drive it for the first time. I did a quick walkthrough video and her driving it video.

Mon Jul 08, 2024 5:32 pm

Today we loaded the car on a trailer and took it up to Debo’s Garage to get it dialed in and ready to drive. Wife and I have too many projects between the house, yard, and cars and weren’t making progress quick enough on it. He’s going to get the engine dialed in, put the new front brakes on it, a few odds and ends, and we are going to put the dash and little bit of electrical that needs work back together when it gets back. At the end of the season she wants to work on new seats, door panels, possibly a head liner, and carpet. But, it drove on and off the trailer under its own power, so it’s close. Also, her new (rebuilt) fuel pump from Sparx Werks came today. I am highly impressed. I took some pics of the one that came with the car, and the rebuilt one.

Finally filled the freshly restored tank

We’re here!

The car waiting its turn for Deno’s magic

Mon Jul 08, 2024 5:36 pm

And of course, the fuel pump:

I haven’t gone cheap on this build in hopes of many years of trouble free driving. Volkzbits for the carbs and Sparx Werks for the fuel pump aren’t cheap, but I’m extremely impressed with the worksmanship.

Wed Oct 30, 2024 4:47 pm

Well, Deno’s guys finished up and delivered the car last night. I got home from work today and started moving parts over from the parts car. Got most of the electrical system working now.

All finished and ready to leave his shop

Now a quick question. When I turn on the parking lights all 4 corners light up. When the headlights come on the front parking lights go out. Pretty sure they’re all supposed to stay on. Just want to make sure I’m right before I make sure they all work.

I also got all the gauges working. Literally none of them worked when we bought the car. Had a broken Speedo cable, fuel gauge didn’t work, clock didn’t work, and none of the lights worked. It also had a generic ignition switch that someone drilled a hole in the dash for. All fixed now.

Thu Oct 31, 2024 12:43 pm

swhitcomb wrote: Well, Deno’s guys finished up and delivered the car last night. I got home from work today and started moving parts over from the parts car. Got most of the electrical system working now.

Now a quick question. When I turn on the parking lights all 4 corners light up. When the headlights come on the front parking lights go out. Pretty sure they’re all supposed to stay on. Just want to make sure I’m right before I make sure they all work.

I think that's correct. It's been a while since I worked on an early car that hadn't had the wiring messed with. My question would be does the front turn signal lights light up with the head lights on? If so I think you're good to go.

Thu Oct 31, 2024 3:06 pm

They do not. So, I’ll have to do some playing. Thanks for the help.

Fri Nov 01, 2024 12:40 pm

swhitcomb wrote: They do not. So, I’ll have to do some playing. Thanks for the help.

It might be a fuse that needs to be spun (dirty connection), or it could be ground wire at the front corners of the trunk, or it could be a dirty 4 way flasher switch (you could try cycling it, before spraying it). Those would be the first places I'd look. Electrical gremlins are sometimes the hardest to solve (time consuming, causing hair loss requiring several adult beverages to help regain sanity).

Fri Nov 01, 2024 1:36 pm

Tried all of the easy fixes. Fuse 7 goes specifically to the front parking lights. Its good. May be that I hooked it up wrong to the headlight switch. I’ll dig back into it.

Sun Nov 03, 2024 7:35 pm

Did quite a bit of work to the Fastback this week. Pulled the seats out of the parts car and cleaned them up.

They look pretty good. Not perfect, but not the oddly fitted Ghia seats that were in it when she bought it.

Bought and fitted some H4 headlights. The LED bulbs arrive tomorrow.

And, finally, after 2.5 years, she got to drive it.

We took it and got Chinese.

Mon Nov 04, 2024 7:05 pm

LEDs are in. Much better.

Low beam

High beam

Tue Nov 05, 2024 11:24 am

Who's LED bulbs did you use? That looks like a great filament pattern for H4 lenses.

Sat Nov 09, 2024 7:01 pm

Finally got to take it out and drive it around more than a few minutes.

Sat Nov 09, 2024 7:05 pm

After we got home I started putting the dash back together. I really hate how the aftermarket dash fits.

Found a solution to the hole from the aftermarket ignition switch hole. It’s now the 12 volt power port.

Sat Nov 09, 2024 9:56 pm

swhitcomb wrote: Finally got to take it out and drive it around more than a few minutes.

Nice, the engine sounds really good to me.

I'm surprised it's not louder since it has that 4-tip muffler on it?
I remember those being super loud.

Sun Nov 10, 2024 6:32 am

EverettB wrote: swhitcomb wrote: Finally got to take it out and drive it around more than a few minutes.

Nice, the engine sounds really good to me.

I'm surprised it's not louder since it has that 4-tip muffler on it?
I remember those being super loud.

Thanks. Feels good to finally ride in and drive it after working on it for over 2 years. The exhaust is definitely louder than stock, but we haven’t put any of the insulation back in it yet either. The main thing is, she’s happy with how loud it is. It’s a lot quieter than the exhaust she’s running in her Thing.

Sun Nov 10, 2024 1:53 pm

Little project I put together. A video of all the work (most of it anyway) we’ve done to her car so far.

Please excuse the few grammatical errors. It had rendered and was already uploading before I caught them.

Sun Mar 30, 2025 2:48 pm

The weather here finally warmed up, and the salt is off the roads, so yesterday we took my Ghia, her Fastback, and met a friend in his Buggy and went on a long shake down cruise. Went well for the most part. After about 45 mins the car started running hot. We got it home and I dug into it this afternoon. The distributor clamp had come loose. The timing was off. Adjusted the valves and reset the timing. It’s running better now. Going to have to take it out for another long ride and see. I think I’m going to put the original vac advance back in. The shop I took it to put an 009 in, and I’m not a fan. I also ordered a nice Ross Wulf clamp. Either way, she enjoyed it.

Also, the ignition switch in this car is driving me insane. It’s now on its 3rd electrical portion. It’s the ISP West switch. It uses the electrical portion from a 68-70 type 1. Apparently the manufacturer of these isn’t very good. 2 have failed in a very short time. Where they are peened together works loose. This time I bought a NOS switch and peened it a little extra. Hopefully this one holds.

Fixing the ignition switch earlier this week

Quick stop for gas before we headed out

Lunch

Out on the road

Got the front parking lights working this week

Cleaned it up a little and put the powder coated lid clamps back on

Thu Apr 03, 2025 4:53 am

We have a horn. Now it can get its state safety inspection.

Thu Apr 17, 2025 3:44 pm

So, in between playing with my own 66 Fastback, I managed to find the passenger side armrest. The parts Squareback had a decent drivers side so, after just over 3 years, I have finally found both missing armrests.

Also ordered a new clamp for the distributor.

Mon Apr 28, 2025 7:36 pm

She took it to work today for the first time. On Tyoe 3 day of all days.