Jake Dykstra's 1962 409/409 Impala!

[RPOLS3]

Originally Posted by olredalert

----Wish there was a way to keep that front to back line from being coiled up for shipping. If I can be of any help with Inline Tube (if that's the direction you are going) I'm happy to help. They are only about 25 minutes from my house....Bill S

Thanks for the offer Bill - I ordered the line from Showcars. If it is like the one for the Chevelle from Inline, it comes gently bent in half in a larger box, so once straightened out you can't tell.

[RPOLS3]

Progressing on some smaller items this week.....

I had to get the guts of the rebuilt master cylinder installed so I dropped that off at my buddy's shop and he did that for me Monday. Picked it up yesterday and installed last night. He is also installing the new bearing races and bearings in the restored hubs. I got the proper front to rear brake line ordered and should have that in a few days.

Tracked down some original bench seat trim brackets - as my interior guy said the reproduction ones weren't right when he was doing the seats and couldn't install the trim as a result. The originals do look slightly different so hopefully they should work. Sandblasted them and got them painted correctly so they are ready to go - I have an appointment for first week of April to get that done.

I didn't like the way the trim around the driver's side door handle fit and was able to get that fitting better - not much adjustment but much better. I polished the interior chrome on the two doors - armrests, inside door handle and both window cranks - so they look new. No pics of that.

Scope creep has set in again......

I took off the drivers outside mirror to polish it and it was a bit more pitted than I could polish out so ordered a new one - should be here this week.

The air cleaner snouts have gotten beat up a bit over the years and the driver's side one was massaged to clear the power brake booster and master cylinder since it stuck out so far. I dropped the air cleaner assembly off this morning at a friend's to get that straightened out and re-painted the correct gloss black. I am going to pull the radiator and fan shroud to get them repainted correctly as well - then I can touch up the core support as well.

Goal is to get the old brakes off this weekend and prep for the drum installation in the coming weeks. Our weekend schedule is getting full so I'm trying to get as much done in the next week to get ahead of things. April will be here before I know it.

[BJCHEV396]

The devil's in the details....great job!!

[RPOLS3]

Made some more progress today......decided to dive in full bore on the drum brake conversion.

Jacob decided to come home for a visit and he didn't get any work assignments today so he was able to help a bunch. Dad would be over the moon ecstatic knowing his grandson was helping turn wrenches on this project.

We were able to get both disc assemblies off along with the requisite bracketry and related. Also took off most of the brake lines (I ordered all new stuff) with two exceptions. Didn't take the front crossmember line off as I need to spend some time strategizing how to do that with limited access to the fittings on the driver's side - and I still have some challenges with the front to rear line (a la the Chevelle project a few years back......). Whoever installed the disc conversion kit did some bubba engineering to the front to rear line. I have the new line here. I was able to get the front half (it was sectioned into 3 pieces vs. 1 and crossed over the transmission to go from the passenger side to the drivers side ) of the old line removed but need a fresh mind to figure out how to get the rest of the rear section out and install the new one piece line. I haven't had to cut anything yet and I think it can be done - just not today......

I will need to spend some time cleaning things up before any reassembly (30 year old restoration showing its age) but was able to mock up the driver's side backing plate assembly to make sure everything lines up - and it does. So once I figure out the brake line challenges it will hopefully come back together reasonably quickly.

If anyone needs a compete and good functioning front disc brake conversion kit I will be listing it for sale soon.

[napa68]

A little slave labor never hurt anyone

Good to see Jacob involved!

[dykstra]

Originally Posted by napa68

A little slave labor never hurt anyone

Good to see Jacob involved!

Good to see our CFO of Dykstra Motorsports getting his hands dirty!

[RPOLS3]

Spent some time last night in the garage and was able to get the old front to rear brake line out. Went to install the new line and saw the front end flare was boogered up pretty good so that ended that project for the night. Supplier sending a new one out today.

I was able to get the wheel wells, lower firewall, and front suspension cleaned up using Simple Green sprayed directly on the components and then a warm water wipe down and rinse with a rag followed by a towel dry. I will spray some Boeshield on everything and then get some pics to post. So far pretty happy with how it looks prior to the Boeshield. I am resisting the urge to blow the control arms and related off for a full repaint but I know that will snowball into taking the front end completely apart and don't want to go there......

Speaking of scope creep...........I got some progress pics of the air cleaner assembly from the paint guy. Afraid to get the bill on that but it will look way nicer than it did. Will also do the fan shroud and radiator - and touch up the core support, and new valve cover decals......and that's it....

I ordered a windshield washer pump repair kit to make a run at getting that fixed in hopes I don't have to send it out as the wiper function works fine, just not the pump.

[RPOLS3]

I was able to spend a few hours in the garage last night and made some more progress...

Got the new front to rear brake line installed, it intermingles with the fuel line and uses the same bracketry so it took some patience and creativity to make that all work without cutting anything, having the body on the frame, and doing this on my back with the car on jack stands.......but it's done and it fits. I also removed the front crossmember line and installed the master cylinder to frame line.

I dug a little deeper into the project and took the radiator shroud and radiator out. I will have the shroud re-painted and I think I'm going to have the radiator re-cored as it has several spots were the fins are bashed in pretty well over the years.

I ordered a few more small parts yesterday and also installed a new set of valve cover decals and re-installed the opti-kleen decal that had come off.

One of the frustrating things I am finding the deeper I dig into this car is the previous restorer used a lot of generic hardware store fasteners - so I am trying to source and replace those with assembly line pieces as I come across them which is a whole other project in itself.

Last week I picked up the hub assemblies and now those are ready to bolt on.

Tonight I will install the new front crossmember brake line, distribution blocks, and hoses which should wrap up that portion of the project. Then I can get the front drum and hub assemblies installed and get brake fluid back in the system and bled.

[napa68]

The eye for detail is paying noticeable dividends!

[Lynn]

Just a few observations.
We have ice and snow today, so all our appointments called yesterday to reschedule, so I have some time on my hands.

Went back to post #1. I know I have looked at this thread multiple times over the years, but apparently did not take it all in. Just read the whole thing from start to finish. What an emotional rollercoaster.

Post #1. I laughed and cried. Love seeing the way this car facilitated the multi generational bonds in this family. Obviously a loving functional family that would have been close anyway; but things like this hobby bring us even closer sometimes. (Just ask Tony, with his recent wild snow storm, creepy hotel adventure with his son!!!).

Post #2 (don’t worry, I am NOT going to recap EVERY post) made me cry more seeing Jake the grandson sitting in the front seat. Really hits home as my twin grandsons just turned 12 on Monday. Holy crap!!! That can’t be. They were just born YESTERDAY!!!

Also got to me when Verne Frantz chimed in. I REALLY miss Verne. He was a giant in the hobby, especially the 409s. We bonded back in 2007 when I was writing the trim tag legislation in Oklahoma. Could not have done nearly as good a job without Verne.

Loved reading about the 30 year old Sears tires. I took some tires off my recent purchase (57 Chevy) that were dated EITHER 1995 or 1985; not sure which.

Three generations in the car is freakin awesome on page five. Will be doing that soon with the 57 once it is roadworthy. (Pic below).

Notable quote #1 from Big Jake: “Only in America could this have happened!”
Is this a great country, or what?

LOVE the pics of Big Jake working on the engine and trans.

Also great seeing the LONG time relationships the Dykstra family has with Bill S. I was honored and humbled to get to hang out briefly with them at MCACN 2024 (along with Tony). Best quote from Bill S: “I must sound like a broken record, but the Dykstra's are my favorite family on earth!” That’s what I’m talking about.

Best exchange:
Jake “...hopefully no scope creep on this one.”
Tim: “LOL......good luck with that.”

Best quote from a Dykstra: “Enjoy every minute with your loved ones while you can.”
Was moved to tears again at post 176. Wouldn’t expect anything less from this family.