April 17, 2022

It's been almost 2 months since my last post. Much has taken place during that time including a 3-week stay at the upholstery shop to get the interior installed - from which I drove Connie home! Another couple of days at the paint shop to get her paint polished to a high shine. And finally (drum roll please...) I completed her assembly on Easter Sunday - she is risen!

February 27, 2022

So much to do and so little time! I forgot to post progress last week and the list of remaining details gets shorter.

February 13, 2022

Connie is coming together - 10,000 details! This week her wheels were dropped at the shop for paint. I installed the remaining rubber bumpers for the hood and began assembling the left-side door. Also installed the Continental Kit anchor on the trunk lid along with fresh weather-strip.

February 6, 2022

Big progress this week as the body shop crew brought and installed the doors, fenders, hood and trunk lid. I've been installing the front-end exterior trim and the front bumper. Connie is beginning to look like a full car again!

January 28, 2022

It's been another couple of slower weeks but not without progress! The biggest visual addition is the air scoops on the rear quarter panels that provide fresh air into the air conditioning system. I had Connie fully warmed up and drove her up and down the street as I flushed and bled the brakes. I arranged a one-person brake bleeding setup using a remote USB video camera and a Zoom meeting to watch the brake bleeding hose while working the pedal. Also changed the engine oil and filter.

January 16, 2022

A bit slower progress this past week as I returned to my day job. The primary activity was re-assembling and installing the front bumper, headlight buckets and headlight wiring harness. Everything is working as designed!

January 9, 2022

My awesome upholstery guy, Abel at Express Auto Upholstery in Vallejo, crafted a new package tray after my crude version didn't fit with the rear glass seal in place. I've installed the new package tray, the trim around the rear window and begun assembling the front bumper.

January 6, 2022

More great progress this week installing the A/C compressor, completing the assembly and adjustment of the rear bumper including the Continental Kit and the installation of the rear glass. The rear glass was especially challenging as no one makes (or has) seals for this vehicle. I received an idea from Charles Thomas in Oregon to have a look at the rear glass seal from a 1956 Ford Victoria. As it happens my glass installer, Peralta Auto Glass, had success in splicing together 2 of these '56 seals to install my glass.

January 3, 2022 - Happy New Year!

It's been a busy few days to start 2022. I installed the battery and started the engine - everything runs and sounds great! Installed the windshield wiper motor with control cable, windshield washer bottle with pump and vacuum lines (first time I've seen this installed in Connie). Completed installing the body side trim and installed the rear bumper today.

December 29, 2021

After wrestling with the rear quarter windows the past two days have yielded great progress. Installed the radio antenna, radio, rear package tray with radio speaker and A/C return ducts, rear body trim and tail lights. Connected the battery and cycled through dash lights, tail lights, defroster/AC/heater blower motors and radio.

August 2020

Well it's been awhile since I published updates to the website - over 3 years! For now I'll note that the engine and transmission rebuilds went well and I was driving Connie around town for a few months. In 2018 I removed all interior and exterior trim, seats, bumpers and lights. Connie was picked up via flatbed and transported to the body shop. I then got busy refurbishing everything I'd taken off the car. In June of 2020 I finished restoring, organizing and cataloging hundreds of parts that now sit in 55+ boxes awaiting Connie to return with fresh paint for assembly. I had the bumpers re-chromed (need sunglasses to look at them) and the upholstery has been completely recovered and ready for installation. I expect Connie to come home within the next couple of months at which time I'll re-assemble her and then take her to the upholstery shop for interior installation.

May 2017

Connie didn't get much attention during March and April as we traveled and shared in family events. May is starting huge with reconditioning of the drive-train. I've pulled the engine, transmission, fuel tank and most everything associated for rebuild and refurbish. Engine, trans, radiator, heater cores and gas tank are in the shop. I've started disassembling the front suspension to replace all bushings and have the ball joints rebuilt. More updates and many more photos to follow.

February 2017

I completed the parking brake cable installation and adjustment, all good. I've continued work on the hubcaps while purchasing new defrost square ducting from Thunderbird Headquarters. I completed installation of the defrost system (photo below) and now have warm air on the windshield! Looking forward to completing the hubcap set and digging into windshield wipers.

January 2017

Not too much happening through the holidays but I've been getting an hour here and a half-day there to continue polishing. My friend Chris gave me advice long ago - start polishing! I didn't understand at the time, I do now. It takes lots of time to polish even a small bit of trim or component. The parking brake cable, which was frayed, finally broke. I've got it out of the car with all related hardware cleaned, polished and ready for assembly - waiting on the cable. I also connected all the defrost and heater water lines with new hose and found the heater control valve leaked badly. I've installed a new heater control valve and defrost control valve - we should have cabin heat and defrost (at least under the dash) when we drive next (brake cable). Lastly I've been restoring hubcaps. I've finished one and started on the remaining caps today. One prior owner used coiled wire to eliminate rattle, perhaps not the best idea as the wire rusted and couldn't get it all off the plastic center piece. More work planned in the near future, keep checking in!

October 2016

A rainy Sunday found me polishing the last bits of interior bright work and going through dash controls. The fuse for the radio antenna needed replacing. This revealed the motor and dash switch to both be working but the antenna mast doesn't operate up or down. The radio powers up and I get static from the front speaker, the rear is disconnected under the package tray. The heater, defrost and A/C dash switches all operate their working blower motors - 4 in all. I found and bolted in the defrost blower motor under the hood, all duct pieces are in parts boxes. The rear view mirror and front A/C registers shined up great. This car just wants to be driven, I'm amazed at how much works properly as Connie nears her 60th birthday in December.

Wow, I can't believe September got by without progress on Connie - we did make the LCOC picnic though and had a great time. A recent half day found me lubricating the electric, 6-way front seat adjustment hardware and all adjustments are working except forward and back. This is probably a case of missing ball bearings in the seat track, I have some of these from Bill and assume the easiest time to replace is when I take the seat out for upholstery.

I also spent a couple hours with some Killer Chrome metal polish - what a difference!

August 2016

A cool morning opening found me adjusting the parking brake and installing new rear shocks. We took Connie out for a 45-mile journey through Moraga, Concord and Pleasant Hill - she's running great and ready for the LCOC Mike Cunningham picnic in Sonoma!

25 minutes and $25 replaced both radiator hoses with new molded hoses. Fresh water and a bottle of Red Line WaterWetter and we're back on the road. I'm not sure how old these hoses were but I'm pretty sure I got my $25 worth of service. I changed the motor with Castrol GTX 10W-30 and discovered the dipstick and tube are incorrect - I drained less than 4 quarts of oil from her 6-quart motor. She is running much happier with a full cache of motor oil - thanks Bill!

A half-day with Connie found the steering wheel getting some TLC. Removal, cleaning and polishing made a huge difference. The horns and relay work, I just need to find an open somewhere between the relay and steering wheel. I found the turn signal only needed a new blinker pot, all four corners working perfectly. The find-of-the-day while looking through a parts box was brand new, in the box lenses for rear backup lights and front turn signals - wow! Need to inspect and adjust parking brake, lever doesn't feel right. Took a drive to parts store, lower radiator hose split at engine, ordered new hoses.

July 2016

A full day with Connie - first half of the day spent cleaning the dash, visors and windshield. What a difference a detailed cleaning and feeding makes. I skipped the steering wheel as I plan to remove, lube and polish soon. Also adjusted the rear bumper, it was tilted upwards. I'll be installing the Continental kit soon as well. Looking forward to next steps!

A couple of hours and I've repaired the broken wire on the drivers door courtesy light, lubed the window guides and installed the new door lock slider.

We took Connie out for a Saturday afternoon drive for some shopping, church in Moraga and finally dinner in downtown Martinez. It was her longest outing in a long time - nearly 50 miles round trip!

June 2016

One more partial day and the passenger door is now cleaned and lubed with polishing and wax for all the shiny stuff. Installed the 'new' sliding latch on the upper black panel - it looks and works great. The old moisture barrier and insulation was no good but a modern 'sun-shade' seems to fit the job. The finished door interior looks great!

Another day with Connie - lubed speedometer and heater control cables. Found one cable off its anchor and removed the heater valve from under the dash, cleaned lubed and replaced. Got the interior panel off the front drivers door - cleaned and lubed window mechanism, cleaned door panel and polished door opening hardware. Found we're missing an internal rod that connects to the sliding door lock latch on the black panel just behind the courtesy light. Need to find or make one of these - I just purchased replacement sliding latches from Old Lincoln/Mercury Parts Store.

Spent some quality time with Connie. Got her parking/emergency brake working - she's a heavy car to stop using the soles of your shoes! Brake lever and cable just needed to some cleaning and lubrication - a week later and I can bring her to a stop with it. Also got my polishing wheels setup and started with the side mirror and controls on the drivers door - it looks like new.

May 2016

Connie and I drove out the backroads of Martinez to visit fellow LCOC member, Lincoln expert, Bill Edwards. The weather was perfect and Connie glided along the open roads like a dream. We've made some decisions on restoration and I'm starting work this month - current focus is getting all electrical and mechanical systems working. More updates soon.

April 2016

It's been another long while since I've made progress or posting about Connie. Connie still started today at first crank and we've been taking her around town on grocery runs when the weather is nice. We're looking for the right shop to make her new again, drop me an email if you are, or know, who we're looking for. This looks to be an exciting year as Connie will turn 60 next year. Stay tuned!

November 2012

In early November I had Connie's carburetor rebuilt by Contra Costa Carburetor. They did a great job and turned the job around in two days. On their advice I ran Connie's fuel through an external filter to ensure the delivery lines were all clear. Upon mounting the rebuilt carb and checking for leaks I turned the key - Connie fired instantly and warmed up perfectly. We spent the afternoon driving around town with engine running great!

September 2012

The LCOC Western meet was fast approaching as I finished installing the new brakes. I was planning to drive Connie to the show Saturday morning. Thursday night, brakes finished, she wouldn't start. I checked fuel pump and gas flow from the tank - all good. No hint of gasoline smell in the carburetor so I pulled it and removed the air horn. I was amazed by the amount of sand and crud inside. I did my best for a quick cleaning Friday night and put things back together. At 9:30 Friday night Connie wouldn't start. I kept working to prime her with a bit of gas down the carb - she would start, burn off the prime and die. I was close to giving up when she finally stayed lit and was running on her own.

July 2012

In the summer of 2012 I managed to replace the failed water pump with a unit from my spare parts. I was hoping to get Connie running and take her for a short drive. She started and warmed up fine, however the years of sitting had taken a toll on the brake system - we had none. I began by replacing the master cylinder with a spare unit and confirmed a good pedal and pressure in the system. Still no action at the wheel cylinders. My attempt to bleed the system found nothing at all coming to the wheels. Digging in I would find that all rubber hoses were clogged and all wheel cylinders rusted solid. A new set of wheel cylinders and rubber lines and the brakes were good to go.

December 2011

My son-in-law, Jim, assisted me in getting Connie started. I found/fixed a broken wire connector on the starter solenoid. The engine wouldn't turn and I pulled the spark plugs and poured an ounce of Marvel Mystery Oil in each cylinder. After sitting overnight the engine turned with ease. She spun easily and quietly with the starter motor and oil pressure light showed we were getting pressure. Some investigation around the ignition found the points weren't opening. A point gap adjustment, a set of new plugs and Connie fired up! It was great hear and feel this car running again.

After running for about 20 minutes and getting up to temperature we shut it down to find the water pump seal had failed and the coolant poured onto the garage floor. It would be 6 months before I could replace the water pump...