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Restoration Advice

220 messages, Last post on May 31, 2009 at 5:49 PM

You are in the Classic Cars Forum. Your Host is mr_shiftright

What is this discussion about? Performance Mods, Auto Body, Auto Repair, Classic Cars, Coupe, Convertible, Truck, Sedan, Wagon

Outline

Messages Page 3 of 22: 1; 2; 3; 4; 5; 6; 7; ...; 22; Prev; Next; Last

#21 of 220 Re: . [fintail] by Mr_Shiftright HOST Sep 05, 2006 (7:04 am)
Replying to: fintail (Sep 04, 2006 6:06 pm) there are a lot of 450s being salvaged right now, since when they are damaged in collision they are immediately totalled by the insurance companies (too expensive to fix relative to their value). I just appraised a 450SLC that was rear-ended, and it's being totalled. It only had 74,000 miles on the engine. So get that leakdown test and if it's bad news, start looking for a good used engine asap, would be my advice.
#22 of 220 Priorities by nosirrahg Sep 06, 2006 (5:19 pm)
Considering my El Camino is leaking oil, coolant, and power steering fluid, I'm wondering if there is a generally accepted plan of attack when bringing an old vehicle "back to life" that has been sitting in storage (or used sparingly) for an extended period of time. It occured to me that if I simply go after the "biggest leak first" I could waste time doing some things twice. For instance, my inclination is to replace the water pump, belts and hoses first; but are there other things I should simultaneously (of before)? I'm just looking for the most efficient/logical way to approach this to avoid doing things twice. I realize this is a very broad question, so if anyone can direct me to a resource (book, website, etc.) that could get me going in the right direction I'd appreciate it. Replies to this message: Mr_Shiftright (Sep 06, 2006 5:34 pm) nosirrahg (Sep 06, 2006 6:13 pm)
#23 of 220 Re: Priorities [nosirrahg] by Mr_Shiftright HOST Sep 06, 2006 (5:34 pm)
Replying to: nosirrahg (Sep 06, 2006 5:19 pm) If you want to be really efficient, I'd throw out this idea, which at first might sound horrifying: pull the engine and just keep in on the crane...you can reseal it (front and rear engine seals), do the pump, etc, and then the power steering and front end is such an easy shot. You'll learn a lot, too. Replies to this message: nosirrahg (Sep 06, 2006 6:13 pm)
#24 of 220 Re: Priorities [Mr_Shiftright] by nosirrahg Sep 06, 2006 (6:13 pm)
Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Sep 06, 2006 5:34 pm) The only way I could do that would be if I was single, and as I'm married I'd quickly become single if I did that (at which point I could probably only afford to drive the El Camino, since I'd have to sell my good car to maintain my ramen noodle supply)!! Seriously though, you're absolutely right, that would not only make working on the engine much easier/efficient, but would also make dealing with the power steering and such easier too. To go that route I'd have to find somewhere else to store the body, since I don't think my wife would give up her side of the garage, and I don't have any place outside to store it. My lot is terribly sloped too; I could probably erect a storage building of some type in the back yard and work on the engine out there, but I'd have to have some type of powered crawler to move it out there and back. So assuming for now I'd probably be better off (both financially and maritally) having some of the big jobs done professionally, and taking on some of the smaller stuff myself, would there be a logical list of things to have a shop knock out first/at one time?
#25 of 220 I remember when I had my '89 Gran Fury... by andre1969 Sep 07, 2006 (4:51 am)
it was leaking oil from the front seal, valve cover gaskets, and rear seal. Looking back I don't know why I did this, but I took it to a different place from where I normally went. I think it was because they were open on Saturdays and I wanted it done fast. Well, they came back with an estimate of $1700 to fix all the leaks! That was enough to shake me back to reality. I ended up taking it to my regular mechanic who checked it out. I remember he did the valve cover gaskets and front seat, plus put on belts that I had bought (this sucker had 4 of them) for about $230. As for the rear seal, the mechanic simply said it wasn't worth fixing. Not leaking enough. He didn't give me an estimate on it, though; he just said "A lot" Replies to this message: nosirrahg (Sep 08, 2006 2:23 pm) Mr_Shiftright (Sep 09, 2006 8:42 am) andre1969 (Sep 10, 2006 6:23 am) and 2 more...
#26 of 220 Re: I remember when I had my '89 Gran Fury... [andre1969] by nosirrahg Sep 08, 2006 (2:23 pm)
Replying to: andre1969 (Sep 07, 2006 4:51 am) I've got to take the El Camino in at some point when the weather cools down and get an estimate on getting some things like that done to it. My former 1982 F350 had the same rear seal problem; I never got it fixed because I had receipts from the previous owner which showed they'd spent a relatively huge amount of money to get the seal replaced (and of course it didn't last forever). It didn't take too long to do the math and determine it was cheaper to add a quart of oil every now and then than it did to get the seal replaced again. But if the front seal can be done without pulling the engine, and I could get the water pump and valve cover gaskets and such done all at once, that's probably the best way for me to go. If I had a stand-alone shop somewhere I'd love to tear into it myself, but at this point in life I just need to get it in good driving shape as quickly as possible. Replies to this message: Mr_Shiftright (Sep 09, 2006 8:42 am) andre1969 (Sep 10, 2006 6:23 am) Mr_Shiftright (Sep 10, 2006 8:42 am) and 1 more...
#27 of 220 Re: I remember when I had my '89 Gran Fury... [nosirrahg] by Mr_Shiftright HOST Sep 09, 2006 (8:42 am)
Replying to: nosirrahg (Sep 08, 2006 2:23 pm) You can do the front seal without pulling the engine, but you will have to pull the radiator, etc. and without air tools it could be real fun in there.... Replies to this message: andre1969 (Sep 10, 2006 6:23 am) Mr_Shiftright (Sep 10, 2006 8:42 am) nosirrahg (Sep 11, 2006 2:36 pm)
#28 of 220 Re: I remember when I had my '89 Gran Fury... [Mr_Shiftright] by andre1969 Sep 10, 2006 (6:23 am)
Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Sep 09, 2006 8:42 am) You can do the front seal without pulling the engine, but you will have to pull the radiator, etc. Actually with a 229 there might be enough room to work in there without pulling the radiator. At least, I remember my Granddad doing the water pump in my Malibu and having plenty of room. Now a couple years later when I did the water pump in my '69 Dart, I pulled the radiator for more room, because the slant six took up a lot of fore/aft space. I'm guessing though, that if you can get the water pump without pulling the radiator, you can get the front seal? When the mechanic did the front seal on my '89 Gran Fury, I dunno if he pulled the radiator or not. Considering that it was around $250 or less to do the valve cover gaskets, front seal, and the labor for the belts, I'm guessing it wasn't TOO labor intensive on that car. Replies to this message: Mr_Shiftright (Sep 10, 2006 8:42 am) nosirrahg (Sep 11, 2006 2:36 pm)
#29 of 220 Re: I remember when I had my '89 Gran Fury... [andre1969] by Mr_Shiftright HOST Sep 10, 2006 (8:42 am)
Replying to: andre1969 (Sep 10, 2006 6:23 am) It's so easy to pull the radiator, I can't imagine why you wouldn't do it. It makes the whole thing much easier and it's a perfect opportunity to have the radiator checked out, and a good time to inspect the hoses outside AND inside for deterioration. Replies to this message: nosirrahg (Sep 11, 2006 2:36 pm)
#30 of 220 Re: I remember when I had my '89 Gran Fury... [Mr_Shiftright] by nosirrahg Sep 11, 2006 (2:36 pm)
Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Sep 10, 2006 8:42 am) Actually I'm thinking I should probably pull the radiator and send it out to have it checked/cleaned, and will need to replace all the belts/hoses anyway. With the radiator, fan and such out of the way I can probably more easily attack the power steering box too. I'll still take it in to my mechanic to get his opinion on the condition of the vehicle before I put too much time/money/effort into things, but assuming he doesn't find any problems I'm not already aware of, I think I may at least give it the old college try! I can also get an estimate of what they'd charge to repair it, so if I do go it alone I can convince my wife that I'm saving money (it seems to work when she buys shoes)!!

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