Rocker's 1973 Duster "Clara"
I was pretty pleased with how the pedal and latch assemblies were turning out, so I figured it was time to tackle something bigger. My wiper motor functioned just fine, but like everything else, was covered in flat black spray paint.
A few "before" shots.
I carefully pulled the top cover off and removed the actual motor. I carefully masked off the brush contact area and any other "access point" to the gears inside, then proceeded to sandblast. After blasting I noticed one of the contact brushes was cracking, so that had to be replaced (Lucky me to have a spare wiper motor too).
Right after solder and continuity check.
I was not able to remove the rubber bushings, and one even started to tear slightly. I am not sure how you would even begin the wedge a new one into place anyways, so I just opted to spend (a lot of) time and mask them off from paint, as well as the electrical.
Removing masking after paint. I used a dental pick to really get the tape in there.
Taken after all masking was removed.
Here's a shot with all components mocked up. Since this pic, the brass strip has been polished to new, and the ID tag has been sprayed as close to the original copper finish as I could get. I still need to purchase a plated bracket for the ballast resistor, then I can call this done!
Another quick project was restoring the headlight "cups". These were gently sandblasted. Although not as prominent as when new, the galvanized coating was still solid enough to see and know what it is. Clearcoated over these and called em done! To re-plate these cups would have been $100 inital fee, then the cost of parts individually. I am not going for perfect...I will be happy for pretty damn close. :D
The orange paint on the bottom right is long gone btw.
a wee bit more to come...
I was pretty pleased with how the pedal and latch assemblies were turning out, so I figured it was time to tackle something bigger. My wiper motor functioned just fine, but like everything else, was covered in flat black spray paint.
A few "before" shots.
I carefully pulled the top cover off and removed the actual motor. I carefully masked off the brush contact area and any other "access point" to the gears inside, then proceeded to sandblast. After blasting I noticed one of the contact brushes was cracking, so that had to be replaced (Lucky me to have a spare wiper motor too).
Right after solder and continuity check.
I was not able to remove the rubber bushings, and one even started to tear slightly. I am not sure how you would even begin the wedge a new one into place anyways, so I just opted to spend (a lot of) time and mask them off from paint, as well as the electrical.
Removing masking after paint. I used a dental pick to really get the tape in there.
Taken after all masking was removed.
Here's a shot with all components mocked up. Since this pic, the brass strip has been polished to new, and the ID tag has been sprayed as close to the original copper finish as I could get. I still need to purchase a plated bracket for the ballast resistor, then I can call this done!
Another quick project was restoring the headlight "cups". These were gently sandblasted. Although not as prominent as when new, the galvanized coating was still solid enough to see and know what it is. Clearcoated over these and called em done! To re-plate these cups would have been $100 inital fee, then the cost of parts individually. I am not going for perfect...I will be happy for pretty damn close. :D
The orange paint on the bottom right is long gone btw.
a wee bit more to come...
