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

Daughter came to visit us from New Mexico. She drove her 96 Roadie up. Before she left it needed a new battery (simple right?). Well her hood cable snapped and the guys at auto zone did not do her any favors. They removed the grill broke the latch and gave her a ratchet strap to hold the hood down! She drove up to Mchenry IL with that jerry rigged mess and it was "Daddy can you fix this" before even hello. Anyway I had an extra hood latch from another RMW project and made a new cable insert. reinstalled the grill (new hardware they lost that). The joys of owning old cars from 1200 miles away!

 

What can I do about the "low washer fluid" light in the 1990 Grand Marquis? I don't have low fluid but it still turns on when I push the squirt button.

 

sounds like the sensor in the tank (washer) has gone bad. Locate it on your cars washer tank unplug it from the harness and put an OHM meter across it and check to see if the switch is closed. If it is then the switch in the tank is the issue.

 

Thanks.

 

Did a little towing today!

I used the Electra to pick up the Caballero's frame today.
The frame looks great, except for a bend in one of the front frame horns that I didn't see before. DOH!

The Electra wagon did fine!

 

That wagon sure looks like it has "status" to me.


-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Samsung S7 case

 

59 Edsel Villager came out of shop recently after trans fix. Was spraying ATF on exhaust pipe when at speed. Thatz what smoke at highway speeds was about, was not engine smoke. Worn out seals and a few bad clutches. Trans all cleaned out and new torq converter. Broken driver door window mechanism fixed. Brake light wiring fixed. Made switch from generator to alternator. Leaking water pump replaced. Now good to cruise. Couple more lesser fixes to do.

 

Looks like you have been busy!!!

 

I fired up the Kingswood for the first time in at least a couple of years. I had to take it out of the garage to take pic's for the insurance co. A little cranky at first but with a battery from my Camaro, a booster pack, some fresh gas down the carb, and 3 litres of tranny fluid, I finally got it going and it came out of hibernation on its own power. We have had a very mild winter here in Eastern Ontario with very little snow so far or I wouldn't have attempted it till spring. Its a 400sb with the 2bl carb. I want to get it plated this spring but it won't pass a saftey check because the rear window cable became disconnected and the window won't go up. I've held off on that because I don't want the headliner messed up.

 

Just got done swapping an engine in the '73 to keep it mobile.





Link for reading all the drama...

I will say that I am VERY tired of buying cars that are supposedly daily drivers or only need basic maintenance and finding out the HARD way that things have been neglected, monkeyed with, and downright lied about on other ends. I got spoiled on my first old car experience 17 years ago, it was exactly as described and needed next to nothing but basic work over the 14 years I had it and drove it almost daily. Seems like everything I buy these days needs major surgery or systems that were supposedly "new" aren't or are so shabbily done they might as well have never been done.

 

In the middle of a suspension refresh and swap to 4 wheel disc brakes on my 67 Country Squire. Today I pulled the rear axle out. Axle housing and rear control arms need to have the nasty old bushings pressed out, then going to sandblast and powdercoat to match the fronts (just gloss black nothin fancy). All new front suspension bushings, cut 1/2 a coil from the front springs, swap to 69 T-Bird front disc brakes. Swap to 05-14 Mustang rear discs. All new lines/master cyl/booster. Switching the factory plastic fuel line thats patched in 3-4 places over to steel while the axle is out and im under there doing the brake lines. Aside from the brake lines, the front is ready for reassembly so today it was on to the rear.

 

Upgraded the steering wheel in my Buick

 

I hear ya on some level, my 1999 Chevy Suburban K2500 Turbo Diesel has been one thing after the other. I'm not counting it as a Station Wagon, but more of a Truck Wagon.

Known issues upon purchase:

Fixed/Replaced:

Cracked Windshield (Replaced);
Wheels needed aligned (Done);
HVAC system had no blend door motor (Replaced);

Still at large at this time:

Rust on panel above Tailpipe (Have part);
Rust on rear barn doors;
Oil Pressure and Fuel Level gauges non-operative;
Gauge Cluster non-original (Reads 405,xxx, actual mileage supposed to be in the 170-180k range);
CD Player didn't work.
A/C not charged, don't know if it works.

Perks:

Little other visible rust on body, no rust on frame;
New Tires;
New Shocks;
Was inspected at purchase (also made it through the next inspection after purchase).
Harmonic Balancer was in good shape on purchase;
Drive Belt was in good shape.

Found later:

Fixed/Replaced:

>Coolant system leaked at the nipple by the water pump (Fixed)
>Transmission rear gear gave out not 800 miles after purchase (Trans rebuilt)
>Emergency/Parking brake cables all worn out (Fixed)
>Leaky fuel injector (Fixed)
>One engine mount was bad (Replaced)
>Rear door didn't lock (Fixed)
>Clamp on exhaust rusted (Replaced)
>Brake Pedal Pad worn (Wasn't paying attention - Replaced)
>One bolt on the rear differential plate was rounded over (Removed and replaced)
>Tracking for the driver's window rusted through as I was using it (Fixed)
>Front passenger door had surface rust on the inside (Painted.)
>Block heater temporarily didn't work (Cord needed spliced back together in an easily accessible place)
>Batteries didn't work in my colder environment (Replaced)
>Windshield Washer Reservoir was cracked. (Replaced)
>Power Steering fluid was burnt, black and hard to use (Flushed with Seafoam Trans-Tune, replaced with new fluid. Still would like to flush it again.)
>Likely had conventional 15w40 in the engine at purchase (I prefer Synthetic or Biosynthetic 5w40 or 0w40 for higher fuel economy, easier starts and less engine wear.)
>Blower made a screechy sound upon startup
>Passenger Front power lock didn't work
>Painted a few small areas with touch-up paint

Still at large at this post date:

>Big rust under covers above rear wheels
>Gear shifter doesn't go all the way to 1
>Leaky fuel tank or fuel tank seal (Only leaks near the top of the tank)
>Roof Rack rusted on
>Rear Differential Gasket broken at top (Still holds oil)
>Interior Carpet could use a cleaning.
>Power Locks don't work on driver's side doors (Front one's my fault, done while replacing the window tracking.)

Also the car had five owners before me and upon purchase as the previous owner was cleaning out his stuff from the car he took the registration card so I went home without that in the car the whole time. He did send it to me by mail though.

Come to think of it I've made much more progress on this vehicle than I was giving myself credit for, how nice.

 

Settled on the 77 Lincoln Deep Jade Green for my 67 Country Sedan. Took over the rear wheel well and back trim pieces that need to be fitted and mounting holes drilled and nubs added to the CS rear quarters that were repaired (1) and replaced (1). Painting starts next week.

 

Rebuilt the shifter in the '67 after getting it un-stuck from in between gears. The car is coming along and will be a driver yet!