What have you done to your wagon lately? (Let's keep the thread going!)

(it fell in the drain pan)
If I had a quarter for every oil drain plug that fell in dirty hot oil I'd have enough to buy more oil!

Bought a 3-pack of copper oil drain plug washers today around $3.50. Same thing in those crappy white plastic washers that leak is $3.50.

 

Now you know why I carried a pen magnet at work. It takes a couple minutes to fish it out, but no zorched hand.

 

Yea but you should see how soft and smooth my hands are now!

 

The 'Check Engine' light has been on since last November when a shop (tried, but failed) worked on the Way Back Machine for drivability issues.

Yesterday, finally decided to do something about it. Took it to another independent shop that had previously worked on my Focus. They told me that as long as it wasn't the carburetor, they would work on it. Well, I think it is the carburetor, so I took a pass. Went to another shop here in town, and saw good things going in - a beautiful yellow '62 Impala they were working on. It was lunch hour, so there wasn't anyone there to take a look at it.

Just got a call back from the shop. Car was throwing a couple of codes, which they traced to some kind of valve in the carb (enrichment valve?), which was pouring more fuel than necessary into the cylinders. The service manager said he could try putting a new valve in the carb, but wasn't sure the carb would then be OK. He recommended a new carburetor.

A new Edelbrock is going on.......

Maybe the Way Back Machine will finally get its power back.....

 

Did it have a Q-Jet on it originally? Are they replacing it with a spread bore Edelbrock Q-jet replacement or a regular square bore Edelbrock? I thought Edelbrock stopped making the direct Q-Jet spread bore replacement. Otherwise I guess they will have to install an adapter between the carb and the intake.

 

He said something about there being 2 different options, and I asked him if a new intake manifold would be needed. He said 'no' on that question, and i got the impression that what's going in is a direct bolt-on replacement. I'll find out more tomorrow.....

 

The Edelbrock square bore is a Weber unit. The Q-Jet replacement that they used to make, and may still have some of on the shelf was made by Carter. In either case they are way better than the funny Quadrajets that GM was using in the 80s. The old Quadrajets from the 70s are also a great carb and easy to rebuild.

 

Finally got the Way Back Machine back from the shop yesterday, after 9 days...

It runs better than it ever has in my possession. Still needs a smog canister (i think) that the shop had to order. That remaining issue somehow makes it stumble a bit above 50mph.

Next project; I'm going to finally prep/paint/install those dang rear bumper fillers...... Might even give the WBM a wax job. Might all take a while. Gonna get a bit busy in the Krash household over the next few weeks. Daughter #1 and BF will be visiting for a couple of days next week, then after that we have to drive down to SF to meet friends and daughter #2 and bring them all back up here for a few days. Then, after that, might make a quick trip over to Carson City to visit family.

 

Nice you are visiting etc..... BUT what a better way find out just what daughters Bf is all about..... drag him out for 'just a minute' and put a polisher in his hand...or at least cloth and by hand. .... A neighbor of mine around both same ages as us is taking advantage of this as I type.... New BF is digging up the yard every night installing a sprinkler system, young buck has the look of fear to say no..... I think the guy REALLY likes the girl..... good way to weed out the wrong ones....put'em to work and see what happens

 

Well I've been driving Lil Sis back and forth to work just about every day since we got it back from the garage. It sure cruises well on the highway and no more KA-LUNK.
There is a slight virbation but hubby thinks that may have something to do with the hub caps???

 

Drove to the gas station, filled up and a guy with a Reliant (I could post his name here but unless he's OK with it I'm not going to) commented saying the car looks awesome; He even took a photo of it. After that I drove for about 166 miles, down Pittsburgh way and: Visited my Grandfather and uncle who was there; Went to Harbor Freight; Sold a video-game system I had picked up in the morning at a yard sale; Went to Whole Foods and finally came home.

I also added about half a bottle of STP (and I'm still doing it as I type this, it's still draining) in the oil.

 

You may have something there, Tedy.........

 

Did they wind up using a square bore Edelbrock with an adapter plate? Does your car have O/D or a 3 speed trans?

 

Rubber Stuff

Progress. Replaced the not so old rubber fuel line from tank to frame on the 55 Chevy wagon. Why? Because the crap got soft and would collapse. Went to newer better more expensive crap that probably will do the same in a few years. I love Chinese parts!
Also dropped off the AC rubber lines with fitting on ends and marked at NAPA on Thursday to be crimped. Still waiting. Odds are they lost them.:confused:
I'm sure those rubber lines and fittings are also made in China so maybe the AC will last a few years. Did I mention I love Chinese.................. food!

 

I didn't ask about that, and i haven't looked at the carb yet. I'll check it tomorrow. Trans is an OD.