Giving up the wagon! Going to trade for a Cadillac (try)

:banghead3::banghead3::banghead3::banghead3:

You can't find anyone to fix it because they are all 3 miles away, in town. Call a tow truck, and tow it to a shop! There has to be a decent shop around. A tow will probably be around 85 to 100 bucks...another few hundred to get it diagnosed. It may be something simple, or it could be expensive. Either way, you will know what you are up against.

The idea of selling your beautiful and rare wagon at a huge loss is just stupid...there, I said it. :banghead3:
You have spent thousands buying this vehicle. Why would you sell it now, when you might be just a few hundred bucks from finding out a solution.
If you don't have the money right now, save up! Cover your wagon, and do this when you can afford it.

Tony, you are discouraged...not because this this is an unsolvable problem, but because you haven't taken matters into your own hands. No one is going to rescue you...you have to decide to do it yourself!

Sincerely,
David

(I decided your lame no-show mechanic didn't need his ass kicked, you did! )

 

Tony, you mentioned a local cruise-in at the end of this month. How about going to it (not in your wagon) and asking the other old car enthusiasts if they know of a good reliable mechanic close by?
You might find a great shop, or better yet, a guy that is a good mechanic himself. Worth a try.

David

 

I know what it is to spend a ton of $$$$$$ on something and still have problems. If you know the basics of how an engine runs and what has to be in time to make it happen, you can probably find the problem. Do it by yourself..don't have half dozen others hanging around distracting you. You can check the timing chain by putting a pull bar on the balancer bolt. Remove the dist. cap and turn the bottom pulley (balancer). Watch the rotor and see how much you turn the pulley before it moves. Turn in one direction until the rotor starts to move. Then go the opposite way until it starts to move again. This will tell you how much slack is in the timing chain.

 

Wow, that was quite a post.

Well, those "3 mile away" mechanics cant do it- at least not for awhile. I should have mentioned that... so its not like I have not been trying. I have been dealing with this for 3 years now... thats when I took the steps to pay that one so-called mechanic to replace the cam and lifters... that cost me a fortune.

About those shops that cant do it... one guy is booked up for months and he dont have room to park it there now until several other projects are gone. The other place, which is a very busy shop said that the guy that works on the older cars is on medical leave.

I know of no other local mechanics. I have also mentioned to others at the cruise and they all say it sounds like the cam or timing chain.... whats new?

I have a nice little nest egg, but thats kept for emergency, because with the economy, I need that to pay off bills if I ever need it.

I feel I have spent so much already, I cant justify spending a great deal more money on this car.

I hate to say it, but someone with a 72 Impala convertible is looking for a parts car and I have almost considered selling it as a parts car... he needs a front clip and interior - alot of this interior will match - seats and dash, etc.

As far as someone "rescueing" me, thats for sure. I never wanted a free handout though. I would gladly pay someone to fix this car. I gave up on that two years ago... not even any family member that are also into old cars seem to know or care. Thats OK though.

One of my cousins has also made me an offer on it, so I am kicking that around to... I am just afraid of what he will do with it, but its where I have to think on the practical now. Whatever happens will happen.

Its going to ruin setting here anyway, right?

So in summary, I have paid a fortune for the car, a fortune in the engine repairs that still have not helped it, redone the brakes, etc. New cam, lifters, spark plugs, points, timing set, dwell set, carburator rebuilt, etc. Stomping the pedal, it wont even spin out in mud. Pathetic.

I have checked for exhaust restriction... there is ALOT of exhaust coming from the tailpipe and the exhaust is leaking too, so I am sure its getting out, so I dont think thats it.

:banghead3:

 

Tony, I guess I came on a little too strong...sorry about that. (actually, a lot too strong...and I regret that)

You know your situation better than anyone. It's real easy for me, sitting here in Dallas, to think I see the situation clearly, when I really don't. My advice was well-meaning, but not appropriate or helpful...just bossy and obnoxious. My apologies.

You have a beautiful, rare vehicle. I wish you the best with it. Please let me know if there is any way I can help you...otherwise, I will refrain from adding my two cents.

Sincerely,
David

(that two cents thing doesn't apply to any of the rest of you! )

 

I was just looking over this thread again, and I'm wondering if we ever got a result from a test with a vacuum guage.

 

Don't think so Andy. That would've said a lot too.

 

Tony,

As mentioned before, I have just the mechanic for you here in Moneta, VA. He is an old time general mechanic who can fix anything, but his specialty is Chevrolet.

...old Chevrolets to be exact, 1970's and older.

And he is very reasonable to boot and as honest as the day is long. Even has plenty of room in the back for your car.

All you have to do is haul your car up here. I'll even keep in personal touch with him on it for you. I know it's about a 3 hour haul for you, but it will be worth it, especially if you have a reasonable way of getting it here.

Bill

 

No I dont have one. That is one thing that mechanic was supposed to bring.

Guess I will have to buy one myself.

 

Thanks Bill. If I cant get anything figured out locally, I will keep that in mind. My aunt has a 2002 GMC Yukon I could tow it with... I would just have to rent a trailer. OR... I have another uncle that has a 2005 Suburban and a trailer, but he lives in North Carolina, but if he ever goes that way for something, he might be able to bring it.... he travels around from time to time and buys old cars.

 

OK, just let me know. We're just 45 minutes off I-81, 30 minutes from Rt 220.

You can even check out my cars once you get here.

Bill

 

I posted the links to the charts on how to read them early in this thread. Don't blow the budget, they sell for about 10 or 20 bucks, Andy's got one as a tester under the hood, and I mounted a unit in my dash to watch my heavy foot get lighter while driving.

 

lol... thanks. Unfortunately, I just found out my uncle loaned out his trailer to a friend for several months, traveling across country. Also, grandparents ill, its hard for me to get away... days off are basically all tied up. I was lucky to get away to my South Carolina trip last weekend.

I plan on getting one... will have to re-read the threads... and to figure out how to use it... where it plugs in/connects, etc. You can see I know nothing about this crap.

Trying to make a long story short- most here are aware of the recent and depressing problems with my wagon by not getting it to run properly and not being able to find a mechanic, I have now found out that my "days off" car may have a leaking headgasket (externally), but I have also heard it could be something like a hose, but the make/model of car I am referring to have a history of headgasket issues where they leak coolant outside of the engine.

This is going to have to be something a shop is going to have to check and if its the headgasket, its going to cost a fortune, so there goes any plans to fix the wagon anytime soon if its something costly. I plan on getting a vacuum gauge myself and try to figure out what to do and try to check it and see if thats my low power issue. If not, well, it may have to go bye-bye. Honestly, I cant afford to tear the engine down again... been there, done that already.

With that said, I will probably end up having to sell the wagon, but not sure what its worth in its current state and wondering if some here can give me some estimates on how much I should ask... for those that dont know, its a 1972 Kingswood Estate (Caprice) 402 engine, 3-seat, tilt, AM radio, deluxe hubcaps, luggage rack, etc. Interior is very nice, not even a crack on the dash nor any cracks/tears on the seat. Woodgrain is still good... top areas have surface rust. New cam, lifters, carb rebuild, plugs, points, etc. LOW power... thats the engine issue. Could be something minor, or something still major, I dont know. All I know is I have a fortune in the car... $500 in the engine repairs alone, which didnt help. I know I probably have more than double in it than what I can sell it for. Basically I have given up and burned out on this car. NO local mechanics I have been able to find can work on it and was stood up by another potential mechanic that was supposed to check it. I am not going to beg anyone to come and check it, ya know?

I would like to sell or trade it for another wagon, preferrably another 71-73 "GM clamshell wagon", with woodgrain/3-seat or a 1973-75 Ford Country Squire.... or even a 71-73 Cadillac 4dr, as the original post mentions... a 72 Caddy 4dr was my first car when I was 16.

I will probably end up selling my other car as well if it turns out being the headgasket... I will have to find out soon. Too bad I missed cash for clunkers with this one, but the body and interior are super nice and the car still runs perfectly, so that would be hard for me to have done ya you know?

Just tired of fooling with junk ya know? Too many repairs on these cars being needed at once is killing me.

 

What are the symptoms? Cool or oil?
My neighbour has one that manifests itself as a huge oil slick under his car.
He just keeps dumping in quarts...

Take the car to the car wash and clean the engine off. It will be much easier to see where the problem is when it starts to leak out again.

 

I know my dad, 2 older brothers or myself could have that thing diagnosed and running in a few hours time. I only wish I had the money to take her off your hands. Even if the motor was needing a rebuild, I would drop in a 400 small block that my brother is holding onto for me and be done with it. I was never a big block person and a 402 would be my last choice of the BBC motors. With a 400 SBC the fender badges would be correct, even if it is not a BBC, a SBC 400 will walk all over the 402.

Figure up a price and see if someone can relieve you of your headache and take that money and buy a another that you know runs good.