Your Vega will really be a thing of beauty when you get her finished...
Posted on 11/17/2020 1:40:48 PM PST by fwdude
Okay, here’s my situation. Have an old 1970 model GM car that runs but need minor restoration items and some mechanical. I’ve run into roadblocks with local mechanics, who either want a quick and profitable project, or a full rebuild, but doesn’t want to work on problems piecemeal. That describes the bigger auto mechanics and chains around town.
I would love to get my hands into it, learning in the process, but don’t have the capital equipment needed or the time or inclination, so don’t go there.
Does anyone have any off-the-beaten-path recommendations for individuals, perhaps hobbyists, who have a passion for older cars and who would be willing to work at their own pace on a project car like mine? I’m in the D/FW area, but would really prefer someone in the westernmost area, preferable Tarrant County or further west.
Thanks for any help in this. I don’t want to see this car in the derby.
Okay, don’t have a photo hosting site account.
My old K5 has the typical GM cancer but I’m keeping it.
One day it will get there. Every so often I do a little to it or get some pieces powder coated.
After a week of the job and doing everything else that needs done by myself, K5 doesn’t get that much attention.
It did run a little last year. Absolutely no oil control left. I’m surprised the cops and fire department didn’t show. About 5 minutes of run time, I could not see in that building it’s in.
It took about an hour for the smoke to clear.
The 350 sounded pretty good except for a tiny bit of lifter trouble. Over 255K if the odometer is right. I expect it’s more.
I always figured on getting a crate 350 at some point.
There is a guy at work whose son builds race car engines a couple hours away.
I couldn’t afford him I’m sure.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQZV6q00sUc
She's a rocket..........
Monk!! Ha!!
“454?
Is the engine a chevy transplant.
Buick had 455.”
My 69 Electra had a 434.
Yep... the floorpans are usually cancer city but fortunately can be acquired online and not to difficult to replace if you’ve got some basic welding skills.
Prolly has the 4-bolt main block if it’s the OE engine. I’d yank it, get it bored, and run some early Vortec heads with some long tubes, mild cam (roller), etc. Beef up the tranny, go through the diffs, maybe some fatter wheels/tires and be golden.
But that’s just me.
Those huge wagons were great turnpike cruisers.
Your best bet is to go to as many car shows as possible when the idiotic coronavirus BS has cleared up. Ask for help and advice from people you meet who have fixed up cars similar to yours. They will be able to steer you toward the most reasonable and competent people that they know who do this type of restoration work.
My only caution is that you should try to have them do the minimum that is needed to get the car on the road. Any clean up and refinishing that you can do yourself... you should do yourself. For instance if the engine is running OK, don’t let anyone talk you into major work... it will be more trouble than it is worth and can lead to all manor of additional expenses and headache. We have a friend who started working on his rare 42 Cadillac. The shop wanted to do a complete engine overhaul. if he had driven it for a few thousand miles and sprayed it down with penetrating oil for a few months this might have gone OK. Instead every bolt they tried to take out of it broke off and created thousands of dollars in additional work that might not have been needed.
Welcome to my friend Jerry’s world.
“Instead every bolt they tried to take out of it broke off and created thousands of dollars in additional work that might not have been needed.”
That’s simply unacceptable. Sounds like a bad case of incompetence.
LOL funny.
Oh one other thing. Do you have any history about the car? We were talking about heads and head gaskets but it could also be a cracked block. If it was ever in cold enough weather without antifreeze, freezing could have cracked a cylinder wall in the water jacket, that is about the thinnest place of metal and if a freeze got it, that is a possibility. That is what you want to check before spending money on head jobs and such.
Your Vega will really be a thing of beauty when you get her finished...
It’s been a Texas car all along, so I doubt it has seen temps below the teens. I’m not sure how to check the ownership chain.
I’m suspecting a blown head gasket. Want to keep the engine if possible without a switch out. Soul of the car and all.
Back in the day there were certain things you looked for in a blown head gasket. Now it's a litmus paper test-chemical reaction to the exhaust gases coming out of the radiator cap opening. Then pressure test, and cooling system test. Google it-can do it at home if you are somewhat handy. Shame you don't live closer, I know a few guys...
I know how cold it gets in the dfw area, it gets cold enough there to do the damage. Also, sometimes it is not the freeze, sometimes electrolysis will create a pinhole, just saying, check it all out before spending money. If it is a head gasket, you should be able to tell by looking at gasket when you pull the head. I have been working on all types of machines and engines for the last 50 years and trouble shooting is very valuable. Just when you think you know it all, some new bug comes up and bites you in the but that you were not expecting.
You’re assuming that everyone has your knowledge. I don’t. A lot of people don’t. That’s why I’m asking for recommendation for local experts.
It’s an axiom of mine that there are a thousand ways to do something, but only one or two ways to do it right.
I had a 1972 Oldsmobile 98 with a 454 engine.
That was a most pleasant car to drive. So plush too. Could have lived in it if I wanted to. Good thing gas was cheap in those days though. It got about 9 miles a gallon.
Don’t know how old you are but it is kind of fun to learn. Doing mechanic work on your own can be a lot of fun, sometimes aggravating but you get a lot of experience and first hand knowledge. There were times when I was working 12 hour days at the plant I didn’t have time to do my own work so I relied on auto shops to do my work. Most of them are shysters, there are a few good ones but most of them are just part changers and really know very little. Most of them are on commission and the more they find “wrong” the more money they make, even if the work isn’t needed. Dealerships included, they are just as dishonest like many independents.
Yup, .35 cents a gallon was pretty cheap back then. Sometimes cheaper if a gas war was going on in town.
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