Dave Rich Update 12/28/18

Hi Ann,

A few days of spare hands really help.  We have removed all parts from the body with the exception of the heater box, fuel filler pipe and a few petrified rubber bits here and there, which we will tidy up in the next few days.  

As you can see below, the body is now off the frame and the frame stripped of all bits except the engine and transmission.  These will be off soon and that will mark the end of disassembly of the car/frame assembly!

Body - click image to enlarge

Frame 
- click image to enlarge

There were missing clips here and there that secure brake and fuel lines and things like the emergency brake cables.  In some cases there was what looked like fence wire holding things in place!  Hey!  you have to make do with what you have sometimes!  We will source the proper clips if available or a suitable replacement if not.

The rear axle front spring pivot pins were very worn and rusted with the passenger side the worst.  They needed to be cut out.

When I drained the transmission, I found a substantial portion of a gear tooth (basically one gear is missing most of a tooth), so there will need to be work performed there and parts to source.

There was almost zero lubricant in the rear axle and of the small amount that drained out it was very burnt smelling.  I suspect it will need new bearings and seals at a minimum

The engine oil looked dirty and had a bad rotten fuel smell to it but otherwise ok. No evidence of coolant that I could see.  A promising sign.

The fuel tank was very surprising.  I expected major rust and varnish.  It looks practically brand new inside!  A very good thing since i did not find a supplier for the wagon specific tank when I looked before.

The frame is packed about halfway up the rails with dirt!  It is so heavy I can barely lift the rear rails.  it will take some work to get all of that cleaned out.  There is a slight misalignment on the driver side rear rail at the cross-member, likely from the same event(s) that tweaked the rear bumper.

Some of the body mounts have rust due to being filled with dirt and that dirt holding moisture. Some of the body mounting bolts had rusted a full wrench size smaller!   In the following picture you can note pin holes that are evidence of larger rust issues in the mounts. I found similar rust in the passenger side floor.  there is a body stiffener/mount that crosses under the seat.  It too is filled with dirt and allowed some rust.  All of it is as to be expected with a vehicle of this age and one that journeyed so far on unimproved roads.  Once the body has had the dirt liberated and been blasted clean of its undercoating, I'll have a better idea of exactly what needs replacing.

That's all for now!

Dave