[kyle_blake]

fix it , restore it keep it on the road!!!

[Darth Menace]

Originally Posted by kyle_blake

fix it , restore it keep it on the road!!!

I plan on it...i'm in a little too far and would lose my shirt if I tried to sell it now. Just a bit of coin and some insanity and it hopefully will be on the road in the spring.

[north]

Originally Posted by Greg Reid

I'd get the mechanical problems fixed first so I could enjoy driving it, then worry about the finish.
If it makes you feel any better, here is just PART of what I found on my car when I got it home and started stripping paint. Talk about a few sleepless nights-
By the way, none of this showed at all before I started stripping it down.

Another reason to hate Cordova tops!!!

[Greg Reid]

Originally Posted by Darth Menace

Oh my goodness! That would kill me...I would take my car to the worst neighborhood and hope it gets jacked! Thats just me though

Just posted to let you know, regardless of how you feel initially, they can be fixed. I sucked it up, bought a welder, some donor parts and got to work.

[Darth Menace]

Well, an update on the car. I don't know if I should be happy or upset.

The good: there isn't a drop of any sort of fluid on the ground after running it. Sure it will drip from the rear seal, but otherwise nothing. Unlike what it was at the beginning where EVERY fluid was leaking.

The bad: There was some smoke coming from the lower right area of the passenger side engine bay. Looking closely I think it is just some oil burning off the exhaust....I have changed all the fluids after all and I think a bit of tranny fluid got on it.

The ugly: I don't know how to take this one, as I have never owned a carbed car before (except for a Mustang II I bought, tore apart and never drove), so I don't know if it's nature of the beast or a bad thing. During start up I expected the 15 second puff of smoke as per the norm when starting it up a few months ago, but it wasn't there which made me happy, but then after about a minute the smoke started to puff out. It is about 32F here and it hasn't been started since October, so maybe that is the norm for a big old carbed motor when it's cold? The exhaust smoke isn't any odd looking color, just regular. I tell you I couldn't stay in the garage much longer

[webfoot]

If you had a bunch of oil coming out of a VC gasket, and have recently fixed it, then what you are seeing is probably the oil burning off the exhaust as you mentioned.

When the choke is clear shut the mixture is really rich, so it won't smell too good! When it warms up and the choke opens, hopefully it returns to normal.

[Darth Menace]

Originally Posted by webfoot

If you had a bunch of oil coming out of a VC gasket, and have recently fixed it, then what you are seeing is probably the oil burning off the exhaust as you mentioned.

When the choke is clear shut the mixture is really rich, so it won't smell too good! When it warms up and the choke opens, hopefully it returns to normal.

Maybe that's what I am doing wrong. I have a manual choke. Top start it I pulled the knob as far back as it goes and pumped the gas...it took a bit of work but it started. Once it started and ran for a few second I pushed the choke knob fully in. Perhaps that was premature and I just don't know the tricks of the trade.

[Greg Reid]

What are you calling the 'normal' color of the smoke?

[Darth Menace]

Originally Posted by Greg Reid

What are you calling the 'normal' color of the smoke?

whitey/Grey...like when you see a car exhaust smoke. Just more than normal...

[b-man]

The exhaust system will be full of condensation sitting in a cold garage, takes a while to burn off. Likely won't clear out without driving it for some distance.

[Darth Menace]

Originally Posted by b-man

The exhaust system will be full of condensation sitting in a cold garage, takes a while to burn off. Likely won't clear out without driving it for some distance.

Well all this sounds positive. My lack of knowledge of properly using a choke Either way glad it's firing up and not leaking like a seive

[Greg Reid]

Sounds like you're making progress. Hard to judge what the smoke is at this point. I'd say drive it (as b-man has already suggested) and see if it clears up.

[b-man]

Even after just sitting overnight the exhaust system will be loaded with condensation, it always takes time on the road to burn it off.

[Darth Menace]

I think this project is too big for my automotive knowledge. I think it would be a piece of cake to a lot that know what they are doing. If I try and sell this will I lose my shirt? I won't sell it if I will lose a tonne of money, but if I will break even/close to it I want to sell this thing. Money is one thing getting most parts at cost, but I don't have the time/knowledge to do it.

[MD79TA]

Hi have talked to you a couple of times on here on a few posts. That is to bad that you have decided to give up. They really are an easy car to work on just do a little at a time It a tough time of year for sales but the best thing to do is post a lot of pictures. Make sure you are honest and show all the areas that you have concerns on. Then post a price you will likely take a hit but that's has a lot to do with how you present the cars pictures and what you want for it. Also are you looking for a quick sale or willing to wait for the right buyer will play a big part. I am sure you will get support on here but make sure you are sure on what you want. My son might be interested so get those picture together. Have a file so you can email them to those who really want it this forum is great but you will never post enough pictures but its a start for you to get folks interested. When you have those pics send me a set to [email protected] and best of luck.remember be honest and you cant take to many pictures.all top to bottom. Doug Last thing is think it over and make sure you want to do this

[Darth Menace]

Well, it's not a definite thing. If I am going to lose a tonne of money on selling it, I would rather spend money fixing it up and getting it right. If I can sell it for close to what I paid, I would sell it. There is no way I am going to lose a fortune on a car just to have it here for a few months and work on.

I know a mechanic, and I am getting him to look at it to assess what's wrong so I can go from there and decide.

I agree this car is easy to work on, but I suck at troubleshooting problems. If I know what is wrong I can go from there, but not if I have no clue what's wrong. I want to find out what's wrong, as this months and months of stressing and wondering what's wrong. Hopefully something simple for a pro.

[geeteeohguy]

Darth, it is time to take control of this and empower yourself so that you are no longer a victim. You like cars, so why not learn to work on them? I advise reading up on basic mechanics: ignition systems, engines, brake systems, body repair, etc. It's interesting, you'll be learning something new, and you will be part of the solution. And, you'll save a ton of money, too.

[Darth Menace]

Originally Posted by kyle_blake

fix it , restore it keep it on the road!!!

Would love to, but I don't have the troubleshooting knowledge. I'm going to get my mechanic to troubleshoot why it runs like crap and I can go from there. Knowing is a lot easier than my trying to figure it out. I picture things as worst case scenario when it could be a fwe hours work to tune/etc for a mechanic. I have to get the full picture before I decide one way or another.

[Darth Menace]

Originally Posted by geeteeohguy

Darth, it is time to take control of this and empower yourself so that you are no longer a victim. You like cars, so why not learn to work on them? I advise reading up on basic mechanics: ignition systems, engines, brake systems, body repair, etc. It's interesting, you'll be learning something new, and you will be part of the solution. And, you'll save a ton of money, too.

Don't get me wrong, this site has been amazing helping me, abnd I have learned a lot, but I am at a stand-still here. I cant assess what's wrong, and I don't want to/won't pay a mechanic to fix the problem. This was bought to be a fun family cruiser, not a headache.

I will see what my mechanic says is wrong and go from there. If it's something I can fix I will gladly do it..I have no problem learning and fixing stuff myself, but when I try to fix something and it doesn't fix (because it possibly isn't the problem) all I am doing is wasting my time and money.

I agree even with my basic mechanic skills, I have saved a tonne of money working on my own vehcles, but i've never had something this in depth

[red1975pacer]

Mr Menace, where is the car located, and what kind of money would you be satisfied with?