Mustang Is Home, Etc.

Above, Earl's Family Restaurant. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

At long last, since late October, I finally got my Mustang back from Gurley Ford in Gallup.

I brought it in to have the driver's side door replaced (I supplied the parts) and they dawdled for months. Finally, last month, I got fed up and got on them and they got the work done. Due to the inordinate length of time, I was not charged for the body work.

There was only one problem when I got the car, the alternator was overcharging the battery and fried it. So I had to replace the alternator and battery. At least one of my friends was with me and recommended Leyba's Auto Clinic. They got the work done and at a reasonable price. I guess I have a mechanic in the area I can trust. That's always a plus.

Above, another view of Earl's Family Restaurant in Gallup. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

While waiting for the mechanic work to be done, Larry Lucier and I went over to Earl's Family Restaurant. They serve American (burgers, etc.), Mexican and tribal food. I had chicken taquitos. They were good. This was my first time there.

Above, the Mustang in the garage. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

After getting home, I put The Beast into the GOCO Beast Barn and the car in the garage. It has been raining off & on all day and more rain and snow are expected.

Above, the GOCO Beast Barn. The Beast is finally inside. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Well, everything is where they should be and I can rest easier. 

Mustang Parts Arrived

Above, gassing up The Beast this morning. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It's a good thing I put in a half tank of gasoline into The Beast as I had some driving to do today and tomorrow. Thankfully, with my Good Sam discount, gas only cost $2.149/gallon. That is sure a lot better than California's prices!

The parts I ordered for the Mustang came in this afternoon and I got them over to the body shop. The body shop tech looked them over and said what was needed was there.

While also in Gallup, I printed off my flight and rental car documents at the UPS Store so I will have them handy when I head to California for the Christmas holiday.

I'll have to go back into Gallup tomorrow to pick up my medication refills. I'm going to do that early in the morning before Walmart (known by the locals as "The Gathering of the Nations") gets crowded with shoppers.

Mustang Door Parts Needed...Again

Above, the troublesome door on the Mustang. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Yesterday, I was alerted by the body shop that I needed a lower door hinge pin for the Mustang. They are currently readying the door for installation and apparently I was sent two upper hinge pins. It was a little confusing as I called my parts supplier and they said that the pins are usable for the upper and lower hinges.

So today I called the body shop and got more details. The lower pin needs a Door Tension Check Arm and Door Hinge Roller & Pin.

I ordered the parts and requested that they be express mailed to me.

I wish the body shop told me of this long ago when they told me of the hinge pins. Jeez. At least I have a good supplier of parts for a 1989 Mustang.

Well, at least I know that the car is being worked on and I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Work Started On Mustang?

Above, the Mustang the day before I took it to the body shop. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Yesterday, I had to go into Gallup to the post office to ship Asya's Christmas present.

I found that the local post office at the Flying J does not handle international shipments (they don't have the computer equipment for it. The package had to be shipped to St. Petersburg, Russia. They told me that I would have to mail it from the main Gallup post office.

While I was in Gallup, as the post office was within a block or so from the body shop where my Mustang is at (to get the door replaced), I cruised by to see if work started yet. About a week or so ago, I drove by and saw that it was still in their parking lot untouched. I called two weeks prior to that and they told me that they have a backlog of vehicles to work on and they haven't gotten to mine yet. It's been there since late October (but it seems longer).

Well, the Mustang was not in the lot. So I am guessing (or, rather, hoping) that they got started on it.

Fingers are crossed!

Mustang Is Ready To Go

Above, the Mustang is ready to go. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Tomorrow's the day that I will be bringing in the Mustang to the body shop to get the driver's door replaced.

I haven't been able to use the car since July, so I have been driving The Beast. I put in a couple of gallons of gasoline this morning, so it's good to go.

I will have to crawl through the passenger's side as I can't securely close the other door from the inside. I can close it securely from the outside with some effort.

Above, the Mustang's problem door. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It will be nice to be able to drive the car (much easier on gas at 29 mpg) instead of The Beast. Once the car's done, The Beast will be put into it's GOCO Beast Barn.

Mustang Gets An Appointment

Above, the Mustang has been garaged since July. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Finally, at long last, I have confirmed that the replacement door for the Mustang reached the body shop in Gallup and have set an appointment to bring it in a couple of weeks from now.

Once the door work is done (including painting), I can drive the Mustang again and put The Beast into its new GOCO Beast Barn.

I purchased the door from Fox Mustang Restoration of Locust, North Carolina. It cost me only a $150, but the shipping was much more due to its size. It was the only place I could find (and I checked with salvage yards between and including Gallup and Albuquerque) that had replacement doors.

I have to see if my neighbor can give me a ride home after dropping of the car at the body shop. Their courtesy cars only pick up and deliver people within Gallup city limits. 

Running Around Gallup

Above, Gallup's Frame 'N Art had a number of frame styles to choose from. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

This morning, I went into Gallup to take care of several things.

First, was to get an estimate on my Mustang's driver's side door (that won't close right) at a body shop. Unfortunately, they did not want to bother with it. For a professional body shop, one would think that they would know how to repair something that is not enormously complex. I guess they have a lucrative business enough to be able to turn down work.

Next, I headed to Pep Boys for two tires. I ordered them last week and they just arrived in stock. While waiting for the tires to be mounted, I headed to the local Scottish restaurant for breakfast and then picked up a shirt at Boot Barn (they are in the same shopping center as Pep Boys).

Above, four frame styles I liked. The numbers indicate
 the order of preference. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

After that was done, I went to Frame 'N Art to see what picture frame styles they had. I saw four that I like. (While there, I sent a number of photos of them to Asya in St. Petersburg, Russia to get her opinion. I am waiting to hear back from her.) 

Afterwards, I was going to go to another body shop (located on the east side of Gallup) when, a few blocks away from the frame shop), I spotted the Ford dealership's body shop. So I decided to give them a try for an estimate. They gave me an estimate (saying it's the door, not the door pillar that the first body shop said was the problem). While there, I met a new neighbor who lives a couple of blocks away from me. She works in the body shop office. Small world!

When that was done, I headed off to Albertson's supermarket to pick up a few things and then went on home.