The last time I posted another "non-progress" progress update, the maelstrom that followed lasted for three pages. Since then, I've committed to not trying to skirt around the language filter when writing,... anndddd.......... Uhhhhhh..
something,.........it was right here a minute ago,......... Oh Yeah!, Avoiding gratuitous usage of the still offensive non-filtered ones.
So here goes:
I'll need a windshield one day. Considering that the one I had had wiper scratches, and a significant rock chip in it, I wasn't too concerned when it shattered into a bagillion pieces whilst trying to remove the thing. Months ago, on a whim, I started trying to find one from the typical glass suppliers,.. and the few that I called were making it sound like the windshield was obsolete.
Since it was so far off, I never really returned to the search effort until recently, I started looking again last week. Through another forum, I discover Green Sales. A company whose business model is to buy up obsolete N.O.S. inventory from the Ford parts departments throughout the US. At that time I was looking for the side marker lights, as mine were either cracked or broken. They had the complete set. I asked the guy if he might have a windshield for the thing, and he said that he might, if I knew the ( tag, rag, crag, lag, lot, batch,... whatever they call the identifier that helps to give the windshield a part number) I did not. He looks, and says that he doesn't but has a referall for a business whose business is to find and sell obsolete glass. ( Like mine). I call them, and after a couple of days, the nice lady informs me that she did indeed find my glass, and for the bargain price of 816.00, she'd get me a brand new windshield.
Nothing but crack.
First my windshield has one, and now this lady is smoking it.
I thank her for her effort, and tell her that I'll get back to her, (when Hell freezes over), and continue the search. I start looking at the salvage yards for windshields, and sure enough, there seems to be a decent supply of Futuras out there, but there were considerations:
#1. The likelihood that one of them has a perfect glass.
#2. The cost to get it to me.
#3. My luck.
I put the "salvage yard option" at the bottom of the priority list, and scavenged on.
Last week while looking at something completely different,I stumble onto Rock Auto's listing for one genuine DW00883N Fairmont Futura tinted windshield, one of two remaining, for the amazing price of 147.00.
( I cant get off of my wallet fast enough)
Until I read that it has to come truck freight,..........add on 170.00
Now it's 314.00.
Still better than 816.00, so this morning after making my deposit at the bank, I get online and order it. After getting in the car and driving about 30 miles, the paranoid wack job in me, calls RA to confirm that the windshield that I ordered is for the 2dr cpe., and not the sedan (box top), as I know that they are different. She confirms that it is indeed a windshield for the Futura 2 dr. coupe.
Alrighty then. I go about my day.
On the way back from the jobsite, I get to thinking about this very update. I'm thinking about whether or not I'll make the statement that I have found one of the last two, obsolete from Do-Do-Bird town, Fairmont Futura 2 dr coupe windshields,.and just come on here and dance around like the village idiot.
But then thought better of it.
Because no sooner would I do that, then somebody would paste up a link to prove that not only was the windshield not that obsolete after all, but a lot cheaper than what I paid.
So I made a call to another windshield installation company. (I think it was something like discount autoglass,..home of the "99.00 windshield installed FREE".)
I tell the lady what I got, she puts me on hold, the shop foreman comes on, asks a few questions, and then tells me he can get me the windshield installed for 300.00.
O.K., I can deal with that,..But are you sure that that windshield is for a Futura, and not the dorky assed 2 door box top?
( I didn't actually say "dorky assed" to him to be sure that I didn't offend his gentlemanly nature and all, I just wanted to point out to the two of you that reads this that I think Fairmont sedans are stupid)
Anyway, he confirms that the windshield fits all models, 2 dr, 4 dr, coupe, sedan, and wagon.
Uhh,.... wrongo Jeeves,...Futura is different. The windshield that you have fits all of those other bodies
except mine.
I tell him about the pending windshield at RA I have ordered, and there is definitely a separate model number for the one that is getting ready to get put on a truck, and again, he asks me if I know that number thing again. (Nags number)
All I know is the model number, I can't tell you about the " Nags number" But on a side note,... if he was interested, I could tell him about my exwife,... and I could give him
that nags number.
He wasn't interested.
As an example, he says the Nags number for the windshield he had was DWOO882.
HA!!! I do know it! I thought it was a R.A. part number, but it is in fact the number you want, and mine was DWOO883.
Can you get me
that one installed for the same price?
He puts me on hold, and comes back in a minute and tells me that he can. I ask Are you sure?,......cause if I can cancel the R.A. order, and lose this thing and you cant get me one when I need it,................well,........I'm gonna cuss.
He confirms that he can. I cancel the order.
We'll revisit this again in two months.
You still here?
Now I'll be a little less dramatic.
I'm pretty sure that the valve cover that I made leaks. the thing is supposed to be held down by 8 bolts, but I decided when I built the thing to omit the front, and rear bolts, as they didn't seem necessary at the time. Needless to say, there aren't a lot of options for me here. I can either:
A. Drill the two holes at the front and back, and see if that fixes the problem.
B. Have one custom made. A process that I find unlikely, because it'll take having the head as a template. (Aint happenin)
C. Pay what seems like a lot of money for this one:
This little gem lists for 439.00 AUD.
It'll cost me 110.00 AUD to get it to Birmingham.
If there is anything good to come out of it, is the US to AU dollars exchange rate. One USD is equal to 1.3 AUD
That means this megaspensive last piece of Australia that I'll hopefully ever need will only cost me 385.00 to my door.
You got any thoughts on this?
