[jwcfbd]

A couple of years ago I got the bug to buy a 67 or 68 Firebird. I looked for a few months and finally found one I had to see. I called the guy up and talked to him for almost an hour. I asked all kinds of questions and got the answers I was looking for. That weekend I got on a plane and flew from GA to WA to get my new car. When I finally got a chance to see it that is when the truth came out. Bondo all over the place (first question I asked). The rear 1/4 panel to the rocker was solid. After that it just went down hill. The car did run great but I just couldn't see past the Bondo. What a wasted day and trip this turned out to be. I work for Delta so at least the flight didn't cost me anything. When I started to check on return flights they were all booked. Great now I'm stuck. I went to the 7 11 to get a coke and decided to pick up the auto trader. That is when I saw it. 1967 Convertible Firebird. 400/4 speed. I had to see it. I called the guy and set up an appointment to see it the next day. I got up, drove over to the guys house just as he comes rolling in the driveway in the Bird. I was in love. We talked for a while and I looked over every inch of the car and couldn't see any signs of Bondo anywhere. We then took it out for a ride and sure it needed some work but I had to have it. Knowing that I was going to drive it all the way back to GA I asked him if he would be willing to drive it that far. The look of panic on his face was priceless and I started to laugh. I told him of my plans to drive it home and that I just wanted to see if it would make it. "Oh sure no problem at all it runs like a top." I paid the man and took the car to Walmart. I had a new battery installed (it cranked a little slow) and got the oil changed. I was off. Now the real fun begins. I drove long into the night and once I finally started to look for a place to rest of the night everything was booked. So I put the top up and tried to sleep at the rest area. Firebirds are not very good cars to try to sleep in. After a few hours I was back on the road. Now I had about 10 hours of driving behind me and all looked good. I stopped for gas and when I went to leave the car wouldn't start. Even with the new battery the car still cranked slow so I figured that the starter took a dump. I broke out the tools(yes I brought a tool box with me ) I got under the car and hit the starter a few times and nothing. I tried to jump the starter post and it worked. So I was off once again. Now every time I need gas I had to leave it running or it was back under I go. After countless hours on the road I was getting close to Denver, CO. My grandparents live there and my Dad was in town also. All of a sudden I hear this strange noise. It was here and gone in a flash so I didn't know what it was. I keep driving with the radio off and nothing. A little further down the road there it was again. Now I'm getting concerned. I pulled over, looked the car over good and saw nothing. Back on the road this happened a few more times and just as I hit downtown Denver it went soft in the backend and started making bad sounds. I pulled over again, looked it over one more time and still found nothing wrong. I was only about ten miles for my grandparents house and decided to try to make it. As soon as I started to roll the rear end felt like it dropped and started to wiggle. I last a rear axle bearing. Called Dad, the tow truck and finally made it to the house. The next morning we started working on the car. After may trips to different auto parts stores we got all the parts needed to fix it. We got the bearings replaced and got the rear end all closed up. Next we started on the starter problem. Once removed I found the mounting flange on the starter cracked almost all the way through. I put the new starter on and tried to start it but nothing happened. At that point my Dad started in asking if there was a neutral safety switch on the car. "No, there is not it a 67 they didn't what stuff like that back then" famous last words. After a few hours of trouble shooting and tracing wires I was getting mad. Dad again asked about the safety switch. So now I'm just laying on my back under the dash and that is when I saw it. This little black box on the bottom of the steering column with wires sticking out of it. Oh no it can't be. I pulled the wires and connect them and had dad hit the key. Yep, it started. The car was converted from an auto to a stick but the guy never swapped out the column. 15 hours prior I was annoyed by the gear pointer on the column being off center so I moved it. This made the car think it was in gear so the switch was doing it's job. I saw red and my Dad just started rubbing it in. So now the car was back up and running again. Back on the road again and on to TX where my sister lives. I made that leg of the trip without any problems. Then after a few days it was the last leg home and I made it.

Sure I had a few problems but when I look back I drove (at the time) a 35 year old car that I had no idea what kind of history it had across the country. It took me a few more days then I planed and cost me big in the father / son humility department. It took me around 35-40 hours and about 3000 miles to get her home but it was worth it. I have had the car for almost three years now and love it. I will always remember the trip home with it and all the looks, thumbs up, honks and people that came up to me whenever I stopped just to say nice car. It was a once in a life time experience that I don't plan on repeating. Once was enough for me.

[The Who]

great story

[nicko72gto]

that is a good story, i had to have my car towed home from texas when i bought it (no engine or tranny) i love pontiacs

[jwcfbd]

thanks guys. It was a fun trip that I will never forget.

[pavel69bird]

awesome story man

[jwcfbd]

thanks, I have sense swapt out the column so now the safety switch is gone.

[SGTGTO]

I have a story like that. My first classic car. I knew this guy out in Washington state (im from michigan) that had a 72 nova for sale. $2500 bucks and it was mine, he needed the $$$. The only time I could go out there was the day after Thanksgiving. So thats a Friday. On monday, at 1:00PM my unit was mobilizing for Iraq. I COULD NOT be late. I flew out to Spokane, WA in the morning. They guy picked me up from the airport and we went to his place. I had no idea how well this car would run, seeing as it wasn't driven more than a few times in the past 10 years. We tuned the carb, changed the fluids, and filled the tires. I left at 10am the next morning. I drove from Spokane to Sundance, WY that day. About 18 hours straight, only stopping to get gas. Dropped $50 on a hotel room that I slept in for 4 hours. Sunday morning I was back on the road. 18 hours later I find myself in the Chicago area. I stop to get gas... and find the Nova will not idle. My vaccuum gauge is going crazy. I fill up and get back on the road. I had a friend in Valpo, IN that i called, I could stay at her place that night. Every time i would stop at a light, I had to keep my foot on the gas, using the brakes against the engine so the car would not die. I make it to Valpo around 4am. Needless to say, I did not sleep when I got to my friends room About 9:30am I get dressed and head to the car. I start it and use a book to hold down the accelerator so I can find out why she wont idle. My right side exhaust pulses are way off from the left. I go under the hood to check things out. In a moment of stupidity, I figure i'll touch the header to find out if all my cylinders are firing.. down goes a gloved finger to the #7... instant sizzling and smoke. Melted the tip of the glove to my finger. That one is ok! Smarter this time, I spit on the #8 header.... nothing. Time to get back on the road, 3 hours before I had to be in uniform and in formation. I make it just west of Portage (where my unit is) on 94 when i see billowing white smoke from my exhaust. JUST GREAT! 20 minutes before formation. 3 more miles to go... ah screw it.. My eyes glued to the temp gauge... just climbing... I screech into my units parking lot and shut her down. Race inside, grab my uniform literally jump into it, shave and slip into formation exactly 1 minute late. After an hour of boring speeches, i get a chance to check out the Nova. The coolant line that connects to the top of the intake.. split just above the ring clamp. Easy fix. Off to Iraq... home on leave 7 months later... I decide to find out why she won't idle. Off comes the carb, intake, and distro. My #8 intake lifter failed, bent the pushrod, and busted the spring. I spent my 2 weeks of leave getting that car running so the last night, I could take it out and cruise with my friends. The next morning I left for Iraq again.

Thats MY story, sorry its so long winded

[jwcfbd]

Glad you made it on time. The things we do to get a new car. Gotta love it.

[bmpmdf]

jwcfbd; At least you got a very neat car, even if you have to hear it from Dad once in awhile!

[jwcfbd]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by bmpmdf:
jwcfbd; At least you got a very neat car, even if you have to hear it from Dad once in awhile! </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

This is very true and well worth it.
Thanks

[Hitman]

I've made that trip from Seattle to Atlanta 3 times, but each time I went out 1-90. I would never have the nerve to drive a old car that far. The most I've done was in a 65 Cat Conv from Chicago. I'm glad it all worked out for you, growing up in Seattle I never really saw old cars except for the ones my friends and I drove. I guess there are some golden oldies up there that arent rotted away. Congrats.

[jwcfbd]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Hitman:
I've made that trip from Seattle to Atlanta 3 times, but each time I went out 1-90. I would never have the nerve to drive a old car that far. The most I've done was in a 65 Cat Conv from Chicago. I'm glad it all worked out for you, growing up in Seattle I never really saw old cars except for the ones my friends and I drove. I guess there are some golden oldies up there that arent rotted away. Congrats. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>


I was a little nervous heading out but I was looking forward to it at the same time. Once is enought for me that was a long drive.