My dad left me a rust bucket full of sentimentality. The car's been rebuilt maybe twice in its life, originally the car had a 289, but early in its life someone put a 351c (4v) in it and swapped the trans for a C4. The motor had a really big blower carb on it that stuck up through the hood, and higher-end specs in the heads like "solid lifters" (not sure what that means). Then my dad bought it and rebuilt it with the intent to de-tune it for more comfort than performance, considering it broke loose whenever he left a red light hahaha. My mother drove this car daily for a period of time while pregnant with yours truly.
Something tells me this car and I were meant to be together.
I'm 21 and I have a very basic understanding when it comes to working on cars. I've done brake jobs and axel bearings and small repairs on lawn equipment, but I have no experience when it comes to working on old cars.
Basically, I'm wondering if someone like me could take a car that hasn't run reliably in 5 years and make it a weekend warrior.
I appreciate anyone who clicks to read this love you
P.S. I could post some pictures of my situation if anyone happens to be that interested.
EDIT 1: Here's some of those pictures you guys might have wanted to see!!
when it comes down to it, I stare at this car for however long and never just "get it" the way some other people can.
I wish i learned more from my dad when he was around about things like this. but I didn't, and I can't change that.
thing is, this car is just sleeping (in my mind's eye anyway) and I don't have a clue on how to wake it up.
I know the engine turns. I know the electronics that control things like ignition are old, but they still work at the moment, but when the day comes that one of those components stops working, I won't know what to do or how to fix it and that scares me because ill never get it back to the way it was before I ****ed it up.
I know it sounds silly - being afraid of a car because it might break - but the state that it's in now is where my dad left it years ago, and it just feels like a really hot "torch" to pick up where he left it.
thanks for the encouragement you guys I liked to read it.
I don't have unlimited money (shocker)
I know almost nothing about engine work although if I'm being honest I'm great at using tools
I don't have a lot of time and energy and I work 50+ a week and most hours are swing shift anyway
this isn't a "complain about your situation" forum but I guess it might help someone along the way
I've decided what I want from the car is to have something on the weekends in the summer to drive around town all slow and steady like. I'm not in any position to wish for some powerful beast of a motor and great tires and running gear. HELL the thing still has drum brakes!!
what id love to do is try to make it... dare I say... reliable??
quite a loaded request I know! hahaha
I took off the power steering pump and looked around under the car to see what it was connected too and then examined that whole power steering assembly portion in the front.
lots of leaks, covered in grease and road grime and dirt and dust. id love to replace those hydraulics down there and then get an alignment once I got the engine running again.
I also replaced the gas tank because it was really gross inside and rusty and the float was basically a solid piece of rust.
I followed some of the fuel rails along the frame to check for leaks by pressurizing the line from the engine side into the tank and the lines seemed intact for the most part. this was important because well, it needs fuel first and foremost.
I also tried starting an Instagram page called "Cluelessmechanic67" in hopes that I could record what I do to it over time.
END OF EDIT 1
Something tells me this car and I were meant to be together.
I'm 21 and I have a very basic understanding when it comes to working on cars. I've done brake jobs and axel bearings and small repairs on lawn equipment, but I have no experience when it comes to working on old cars.
Basically, I'm wondering if someone like me could take a car that hasn't run reliably in 5 years and make it a weekend warrior.
I appreciate anyone who clicks to read this love you
P.S. I could post some pictures of my situation if anyone happens to be that interested.
EDIT 1: Here's some of those pictures you guys might have wanted to see!!
when it comes down to it, I stare at this car for however long and never just "get it" the way some other people can.
I wish i learned more from my dad when he was around about things like this. but I didn't, and I can't change that.
thing is, this car is just sleeping (in my mind's eye anyway) and I don't have a clue on how to wake it up.
I know the engine turns. I know the electronics that control things like ignition are old, but they still work at the moment, but when the day comes that one of those components stops working, I won't know what to do or how to fix it and that scares me because ill never get it back to the way it was before I ****ed it up.
I know it sounds silly - being afraid of a car because it might break - but the state that it's in now is where my dad left it years ago, and it just feels like a really hot "torch" to pick up where he left it.
thanks for the encouragement you guys I liked to read it.
I don't have unlimited money (shocker)
I know almost nothing about engine work although if I'm being honest I'm great at using tools
I don't have a lot of time and energy and I work 50+ a week and most hours are swing shift anyway
this isn't a "complain about your situation" forum but I guess it might help someone along the way
I've decided what I want from the car is to have something on the weekends in the summer to drive around town all slow and steady like. I'm not in any position to wish for some powerful beast of a motor and great tires and running gear. HELL the thing still has drum brakes!!
what id love to do is try to make it... dare I say... reliable??
quite a loaded request I know! hahaha
I took off the power steering pump and looked around under the car to see what it was connected too and then examined that whole power steering assembly portion in the front.
lots of leaks, covered in grease and road grime and dirt and dust. id love to replace those hydraulics down there and then get an alignment once I got the engine running again.
I also replaced the gas tank because it was really gross inside and rusty and the float was basically a solid piece of rust.
I followed some of the fuel rails along the frame to check for leaks by pressurizing the line from the engine side into the tank and the lines seemed intact for the most part. this was important because well, it needs fuel first and foremost.
I also tried starting an Instagram page called "Cluelessmechanic67" in hopes that I could record what I do to it over time.
END OF EDIT 1
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