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

Tony,

Sorry to hear of your problems, but you may be losing out on a lot of money for a simple fix. No one is going to pay a good dollar for something that is not running right as, which is normal and understandable, the person buying it will have to expect the worst problem. It is very well possible that it could be something very easy to fix and/or a just $50 repair to get it right. Even if it is one of the things I believe it is, like the cam or the distributor was installed wrong, really won't be that expensive to fix. Especially if it's just the distributor and timing.

I really don't like tow dolleys, but a lot of people use them. If you can borrow or rent one, my offer still goes. If not, how much do you want for the car? I might buy it myself, lol.

Bill

 

Maybe its time to take a class at a local comunity college if you dont know how to work on motors,that car is easy compared to the new ones. If I did not know how to work on then there is no way I could of afforded to mess with all the cars I had over the years.

 

Tony, I have yet to see anyone ask if the intake gasket was installed improperly.
I have seen lots of check the timing. If the person put the camshaft and lifters in where are the old parts? Did he use the old timing gear and chain, or adjust the rocker arms properly,or is any of pushrods bent? is the intake warped?

Get a can of seafoam read the back of the can it will help clean the carbon out the engine. the base of the Q-jet could be warped and not sealing properly.

Suggestion do a new thread for a work weekend supply the food drink and ask parents for a place for everyone to sleep and tear into it. I bet something wasn't done right or it's something simple.

 

lol, or time to call it quits on junkers and stop buying big block Chevys.

Yeah, thats not been mentioned yet. Not only on this site, but I have had responses from other sites... Chevy and even the Pontiac forums. I have been told many different things it could be that before I know it, I would have the entire engine tore down again. Unfortunately I paid a fortune to have that done not to long ago and cant afford it again.

I am going to try all of those simple things as soon as I get a chance... if that dont work, I am going to try to trade it for another wagon, old Caddy or let it rust to the ground where it sets. It hard to believe I had tried to buy this car for almost 8 years... practically begging that old woman to sell it to me... now I wish I had never seen the car.... thats bad.

Thanks for that additional info though... I am going to try to do more as I can. I am only off tomorrow and its supposed to rain all day... then I am not off for 7 days. :banghead3:

 

In addition, I just found out that my Mercedes, which was basically my most trouble-free car that I only drove on days off may have a leaking headgasket, causing coolant to leak outside of the engine.... Replacement is about $1300-$1500.... when it rains it pours.

 

I have friends who were Army brats in Germany...They won't go anywhere near MBZ's and BMW's...They are fond of saying,"Mercedez's and Beemers are nothing more than Chevies and Fords from Germany." And they speak from experience...

 

Good Luck with the wagon bro

 

Its time to learn how to do it your self and save a bunch of money if you are physically able to work on them,time to ditch the Mercedes and if you think you spent too much on the wagon its time to spend way more to fix it. Did anyone check the fuel pressure on the wagon as a weak pump will cause problems.

 

Ditch the Benz?! Thats been the most reliable car I have ever owned! Its also super easy to service, unlike the 90s Mercedes. Its just that the headgasket is a common problem on this particular engine, but I have been told they can go 100,000 miles like this before really needing to be replaced. It just kinda bothers me, as I dont like leaks. I am also now being told it can be a hose, as there is a hose in that area that leaks. I am going to wash it down and see where its leaking. I had another Mercedes before this, a 1985 380SE and it had 297K miles, on the original engine and transmission and never had a problem and it still ran great. I was just getting scared of the miles. If properly cared for a 1980s Mercedes will go 500K easy.

Anyway, more about the wagon... no, I have not been told anything about the fuel pump/pressure. I will add that to the already mile long list. I never dreamed an old American car can be so hard to diagnose a problem. :banghead3:

 

Troubleshooting: The systematic process of elimination of everything the problem isn't until the only remaining possibility is your solution.

 

Or a cure to a problem you didn't know about.

 

Tony, Just want to point out again that it may really not be that hard. You just need to get the right person under the hood. Those engines are pretty simple really.

I had a problem once with my 292 6-Cylinder in my '64 Chevy 1-Ton truck. I checked and tested everything, over and over and over and finally needed my professional Chevy mechanic friends help. He determined it had to be something with the cam or timing gear. He pulled it apart and sure enough it was the timing gear. On those engines the timing gear is pressed onto the cam. Whoever rebuilt the engine, decided to "hammer" it on instead and it didn't seat right and it was actually wobble-ing. It finally wore a pretty wide groove in the keyway on the gear and that put the timing all over the place.

What I'm getting at is if I knew what it was in the very first place, we could have had it fixed in no time.

You just got to get the right guy under the hood.

What's strange to me is that you are in NASCAR country. There has to be dozens of old time mechanics in your area that could help. In my area here, I could find a dozen in about an hour, even tho I do about 95% of my own work anyway. Here's hoping your luck changes and don't forget about my offer. Keep us posted.

Bill

 

I want that car running great and looking like the one in the brochure!

 

You would have it fixed by now if you knew how to work on it and not depending on others,if you want to have old cars you need to know how to work on them or you will be spending plenty of money. It should cost way less to get it running right then it will cost for a head gasket replacement on the Benz,those cars are so simple compared to the modern cars.

 

Bill... it probably is something really simple.... maybe I can find it soon. There are probably many people around here that may can work on it... finding someone good is the trick. The guy that did the work initially was supposed to be one of the best... that was a joke.

Nascar country, but most of the people that come to the races are northerners. There are really not as many mechanics/shops around here as one would think... it is strange really. Metro population is about 400,000, but our city is about 50,000... there are very few repair shops in the immediate area. Strange.

If I was a millionaire I would have it fixed too. lol.

I know some about old cars and have owned several over the years... most were also early 70s GM cars... I just have never had an issue like this out of the 15 or so I have owned. Its always the big block Chevys that give me issues. I had this problem 5 years ago with a 1969 Caprice sedan I had... it was a 396 car. I had a knock... had to put in a new cam... knock was gone, but it ran poorly, but it had power.... lots of it. I rebuilt the original Rochester 2bbl carb and all was well. We did it ALL ourselves, me and my dad. Its not like we are morons, its just got us stumped... even my dad that has owned tons of old Chevy V8s since the early 70s. He completely restored his 69 Camaro... rebuilt the engine... its a perfect running car, but even this has him stumped why this wagon dont have the power it should have.

Maybe I can find out what it is, or find someone that may know that wont charge an arm and a leg.