Setting Priorities

With high temps for the next week or so predicted to only be in the 40s and 50s, I need to make sure I can use the garage as a paint booth. That means I need to get the LeMans drivable, even if it's just in and out of the garage. Since I recently completed the carburetor rebuild, "all" that's left to get a running, stopping car is the following:

Fuel:

• Come up with a temporary, gravity-feed gas tank so I can bypass the existing fuel lines and tank
• Install the rebuilt carburetor

Spark:

• Clean the points and re-set
• Clean the spark plugs and check gap
• Check the plug leads for damage
• Clean and install the rotor and cap
• Find the ignition key

Interior:

• Bolt down the driver's seat
• Bolt the column support to the underside of the dash

Brakes:

• Check the  fluid level in the master cylinder
• Inspect the lines
• Do a hard, harder, HARDER test on the brake pedal
• Check the parking brake

Once all that is done, the car should fire up and idle so I can adjust the carburetor. I'll then say a prayer and put the transmission in gear. To check the ATF level the transmission should be warm and in Park.

I bought a tube of Bondo hardener to replace the failed one (see my video). Now I can finish off the Bondo in the can and smooth out the passenger door. Next , I'll need to shoot some coats of hi-build primer before I can lay down any paint. Speaking of paint, I've narrowed the color choice down to  Wild Pomegranate Metallic and Go Mango (or some orange close to this like Kirker's Atomic Orange Candy).



A hard decision I've recently made is to stick with front bucket seats like the car came from the factory with. The deciding factors for this were 1) I really like the stock, '65, parchment, vinyl interior, and 2) I'd really like to put a manual transmission in this car someday. I am having SO much driving my stick-shift Mustang, I'd love to have the same experience when I'm finally behind the wheel of the LeMans. There's a pedal conversion kit available, but I'd still need to source things like the transmission, bellhousing, clutch, and shifter. That project is for another day, but now I can accommodate it.