Let the fun begin 7up vendo 56 restoration

[choice120]

Well couldnt get the compressor working on my 7up machine so decide today was as good a day as any to dissassemble the whole machine. I came apart fairly easy and the rust was worst than I figured. Nothing is rusted throught though. Here are the pics.
Here are the pics before dissasembly.

This is the base of the machine nothing a little sandblasting cant take care of.

This seems to be the original tag for this machine which I thinks pretty cool.

This is the base of the machine where the compressor mounts

Picture of liner taken out of machine. No pitting just surface rust.

Well thats the progress I made today. I am going to take my time with this for it will be a machine for the man room.

[RC kid]

Looks solid, like it's going to be a fairly easy resto.

I look forward to your post. Good Luck

[MoonDawg]

        While you're busy restoring the machine, keep your eyes open for another
Cavalier as a parts machine. That compressor is very common.

[bubba]

        While you're busy restoring the machine, keep your eyes open for another
Cavalier as a parts machine. That compressor is very common.

Vendorlator....

I would pay attention to the bottom tray... I think that will be pretty thin when you get done sand blasted.... I ended up welding in a new pan in mine..

[coke_and_stuff]

I sent you a PM I have several cooling units that are good originals, and even fully restored available.

Joey

[choice120]

Vendorlator....

I would pay attention to the bottom tray... I think that will be pretty thin when you get done sand blasted.... I ended up welding in a new pan in mine..

Thanks Bubba I will keep an eye on that. where did you get a new pan?

[loman4ec]

Thats going to be a really sharp machine when it is done. I really like the light up sign. Is that one 3d? Those 56's are good looking when they are done. Are you going to do it all original or are you going to do it something different? If you want to do something different I have an idea. The panel on the front left that holds the bottle door is removable. I have attached a pic of a coke 56 that I did a while back. You could paint that panel and the bottle door the 7up emerald green. That would bring some extra color to the machine. On the picture of my coke 56 it is the panel that is white on the front. Just a thought. The all white machines can look plain sometimes.

[Kilroy]

It's your choice, but I  really like Josh's idea. Something to keep in mind when you gwet that far.

[MoonDawg]

Vendorlator....

      OOps.....I'm kinda' new to this 

[choice120]

Getting ready to sand blast the inside components first liner last. Do you guys recommend blasting the can rack or not? also if I blast the rack shpuld I paint it? I am leaning toward painting the inside hammered grey. I may not do anything to the outside of the machine because it is the original finish and adds character. I would not know where to start to get decals made like the silk screen finish on the machine now. Yes the sign is a 3D sign with the flat top can. Thanks Guys

[RC kid]

Like the hamertone finish better then the powder coat. And it holds up well. The powder coat on some metals tends to bubble some where the hamertone stays smooth.

If I soda or sand blast anything, I also paint it.

As far as thet exterior is concerned, it is original only once. And there is something to be said for the patina of an original machine, it adds to the character of it, like a boxer's scar. And when we restore our machines they sometimes began to look too new. Like a reproduction. But I am not totally against a total restoration. Sometimes it is needed.

I sell most everything I restore, because it usually loses it's allure, where as an original seems to hold my attention longer. And an original usually brings more conversation when people see it.

The world according to me. and I am not always correct. The desicion is always the owners for he is the one who will be enjoying the end product.

I look forward to your future post.

[bubba]

Thanks Bubba I will keep an eye on that. where did you get a new pan?

I am fortunate enough to have a machine/fab shop at work. We made it from 18ga cold rolled steel.

[MoonDawg]

Getting ready to sand blast the inside components first liner last. Do you guys recommend blasting the can rack or not?

     No! there are a lot of moving parts in there and you will spend weeks trying to work
out all of those little grains of fine sand stuck to the lubrication. Besides your stack looks
better than any I have.

[coke_and_stuff]

If it was mine I would disassemble the can stack, blast everything, seal, then apply a good coat of Hammertone to it.

Joey

[choice120]

Got started today with the liner. Did a little sand blasting on the bottom and wire brushing. What do you guys use on the base of the liner to give it a smooth finish. The rest of the liner looks good but still have a little more to do on the base to get rid of any rust. Heres some before and after Pic

Before

After

[bubba]

Are those pinholes in the metal? Mine was bit worse, but that is why I cut it out and welded in some new metal.. I left about 1" all the way around and cut the rest out. That is pretty thin metal..

[90grad]

Those holes (if you're talking about the ones in the front, Bubba) are where the evaporator screws to the liner - I think.  My 56 has them.  I think they are also great sources of condensation infiltration underneath the liner.

I've disassembled my 56 can stack and it wasn't too hard.  Just take a ton of photos along the way.  I also make sketches as I go along.

Keep the photos coming!