Ordered and received a new radiator from Radiators.com. Also, the Custom Autosound radio arrived. I hope it looks better in the car than it does right out of the box. I hope it sounds better than it looks!

[69308] During the past week, idle has gotten rougher and drivability issues have arisen. I an effort to eliminate the problems, I changed PCV valve, breather filter, air filter [Delco A212CW], the remainder of the vacuum hoses. I also found the carb was a bit loose and probably leaking vacuum, and the EGR valve I though I had disabled by putting a plug in the line, had started working again since the plug was leaking! I just disconnected the line entirely but the were still issues. So I pulled the EGR valve and fabbed a new gasket with paper and Hi-Temp RTV, and now it looks like the issues are gone! Celebrated by driving her over to Cooper's and getting a hood bumper for the left corner.

The FM modulation thing is crap. I've ordered a different kind of modulator, but I also realize that this factory stereo is just not going to do it. I ordered a USA-2 from Custom Autosound through the San Diego outfit "Garden of Speedin'". 

Got a different device for the XM (direct from Delphi) which connects between the antenna and radio. Works way better than that stupid Sure Connect thing. This will be great until my new radio arrives and can be installed.

Put Sarah Lee's Tires on Helen, installed the XM kit.

Spark Plugs

Replaced the spark plugs with Rapidfire #2's and replaced the plug wires with a tailored set from Summit. The old plugs looked very good and can't have been too old. They really seem to have kept the car up very well. Adjusted the choke to be richer.

[68960] Oil Change. Shell 10-40 plus STP Red, K&N filter HP-2003. Bought a set of rear body fillers for the bumper on eBay. Proceeded to attach the last connector so the trunk pop now works, then cleaned up the loose wires laying about, etc. I put new Bosch wipers on and added three cans of R-134a+ to the A/C System. It is blowing cold, but we'll see how fast it leaks out. Next I changed the oil. Then I changed the vacuum lines coming off the carb. The line that supplied timed vacuum to the distributor was going through a temperature control valve. I bypassed that to go directly to the distributor. I also inserted a plug in the line going to the EGR valve. I'll have to remember to change those two things back for smog testing. I was tempted to bump up the timing a bit but decided on a test drive first. She seems a lot smoother and peppier so I left the timing alone for now. Will be interesting to see how she starts up in the morning. At the end of the day, I applied a heavy coat of Vinylex to the roof, and a quick spray of wax on the paint, cleaned the windows and applied Meguires Foamy dash and trim dressing to the interior.

Left rear power lock actuator went in, had to mount it slightly further forward than I did the right side. Then the front left door... the fronts are completely different and the actuators have to mount vertically toward the bottom of the door with the action being up and down, while the rears were mounted horizontally at the top of the door. Then the right front door caused me a lot of trouble getting the linkage lined up and connected. Not enough openings in the sheet metal to get in there and work. Had a lot of trouble getting the factory linkage in the two fronts loosened up and limber enough for the actuators to work. No wonder GM used those huge (and LOUD) solenoids from the factory. With all the lock actuators working right, I put in the keyless module next. I got it working with the door locks easily but had trouble with the connector I used to tap into the parking lights. Eventually started over with a fresh tap and now the light flash function is working too. I ran short of one connector so I was unable to finish the trunk pop. Everything else is done.