- Joined
- April 1, 2012
- Messages
- 391
- Reaction score
- 42
- City, State
- Salt Lake City, Utah
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 1993 Explorer
Allow me to introduce my Galaxie
Probably more of a demolition derby contender than a tow rig, but you've got to start somewhere! I got this Galaxie from a wrecking yard earlier this year in January as a side project to get running. Long story short, it has now taken on an entirely different project than what I started with! I'll catch everyone up to speed with how I got her to this point in due time, but for now this Mad Max of a project is in full swing and this is what I've been up to for the last few days: Rear Brakes
When I went to unscrew the brake line from the wheel cylinder it just completely fell apart (rusted into oblivion). So I ran a new brake line from the wheel cylinder down to the splitter on the axle.
Ah, a happy rust free brake line! Next I stripped off all the old hardware and was left with the rusty excuse of a housing for my brake hardware.
After some wire brushing, elbow grease, and a bunch of new parts she came out looking respectable despite the 8 years of cobwebs and rust that had built up sitting in the junk yard.
Next it was on to the passenger side... I figured this was coming.
Ah, yeah. plenty of rust, enough so that it looked like it was mummified to the axle! Upon unscrewing the brake line from the wheel cylinder, as expected, the line just fell apart. What I didn't expect was for the end threaded into the splitter to be completely rounded off into a circular nut!
Well, after lots of crappy attempts, I finally removed the gas tank so I could get a really good go at it with my favorite tool; Channel Locks!
Haha! Success! Now I had a clear shot to run a new brake line down the passenger side of the axle.
With the brake lines now taken care of I could get back to addressing the actual hardware in the drums.
Yeah, definitely seen better days. On the flip side, I still had plenty of elbow grease left and the wire brush was still in good shape, so away I went!
Not sand blasted and air-brushed, but much more inviting than when I started. Next I dressed it up with some new hardware
Ah, looking much better! And quite a bit safer to boot! Now, earlier this month I had a chance to wire brush the old drums and throw a coat of paint on them.
I may be leaning towards repainting them black, but blue was the only high temp paint I had handy, so I just went with it. It definitely turned out better than expected! I decided to call it a day and chuck the rims back on so I could roll her into the garage for the night.
For a rusty old boat she is starting to go through the steps to recovery. I found myself with a little bit of time this morning to tidy up a few things and decided it would be a good chance to mock-up my plans for Mad Max.
I was smiling from ear to ear when I got done, can't wait to have this tow rig on the road!!! It is going to be a hell of a ride towing my Explorer down to Moab in my Mad Max of a Galaxie
Probably more of a demolition derby contender than a tow rig, but you've got to start somewhere! I got this Galaxie from a wrecking yard earlier this year in January as a side project to get running. Long story short, it has now taken on an entirely different project than what I started with! I'll catch everyone up to speed with how I got her to this point in due time, but for now this Mad Max of a project is in full swing and this is what I've been up to for the last few days: Rear Brakes
When I went to unscrew the brake line from the wheel cylinder it just completely fell apart (rusted into oblivion). So I ran a new brake line from the wheel cylinder down to the splitter on the axle.
Ah, a happy rust free brake line! Next I stripped off all the old hardware and was left with the rusty excuse of a housing for my brake hardware.
After some wire brushing, elbow grease, and a bunch of new parts she came out looking respectable despite the 8 years of cobwebs and rust that had built up sitting in the junk yard.
Next it was on to the passenger side... I figured this was coming.
Ah, yeah. plenty of rust, enough so that it looked like it was mummified to the axle! Upon unscrewing the brake line from the wheel cylinder, as expected, the line just fell apart. What I didn't expect was for the end threaded into the splitter to be completely rounded off into a circular nut!
Well, after lots of crappy attempts, I finally removed the gas tank so I could get a really good go at it with my favorite tool; Channel Locks!
Haha! Success! Now I had a clear shot to run a new brake line down the passenger side of the axle.
With the brake lines now taken care of I could get back to addressing the actual hardware in the drums.
Yeah, definitely seen better days. On the flip side, I still had plenty of elbow grease left and the wire brush was still in good shape, so away I went!
Not sand blasted and air-brushed, but much more inviting than when I started. Next I dressed it up with some new hardware
Ah, looking much better! And quite a bit safer to boot! Now, earlier this month I had a chance to wire brush the old drums and throw a coat of paint on them.
I may be leaning towards repainting them black, but blue was the only high temp paint I had handy, so I just went with it. It definitely turned out better than expected! I decided to call it a day and chuck the rims back on so I could roll her into the garage for the night.
For a rusty old boat she is starting to go through the steps to recovery. I found myself with a little bit of time this morning to tidy up a few things and decided it would be a good chance to mock-up my plans for Mad Max.
I was smiling from ear to ear when I got done, can't wait to have this tow rig on the road!!! It is going to be a hell of a ride towing my Explorer down to Moab in my Mad Max of a Galaxie