advice: Now What

Well the 85 Colony Park arrives by trailer tomorrow. Have never bought a car on Ebay before and while I saw the car 2 years ago in NJ, never test drove it. The seller told me what he had replaced, but most of what he replaced he need to get it to run, Distrib, Spark plugs and wires, starter, battery etc. I am not a mechanic - and never will be - so I am have the car looked over once it here. It's and 85 with 55,ooo miles - but am concerned with things like bushings; springs, tie rods; gaskets, hoses (all) brake and power steering lines, shocks
Don't want to go blinding into the night and replace everything so from those of you that have been thru this before - where do I start?
thanks in advance for all your help

 

You start with the professional looking it over. What does it need to run, if it doesn't? If it runs, will it go into gear? If it goes into gear, can it move? Can it steer? Can it stop? Does the battery hold a charge? Does the alternator charge when it's running? It's gonna be what's in the front end of the car, and the rear axle out back. Then you have to look at what Virginia will require to allow you to finish the title transfer to get your plates and tabs. Let the tech do their job first. But, if you are not inclined to do any work yourself, be prepared to prioritize to get it running, and able to move, steer and stop. Form follows function because function follows form is useless. That said, the above pic is sharp, at least on this side. Is there a pic of the driver's side? And when you get the car, will you take a big slew of pics to post up?

 

#1..........BRAKES. No matter what anyone says have the brakes, lines, hoses, pads, etc checked over and preferably replaced. These parts are not expensive. Everything else is important, like the steering. But if it won't stop you can still steer into something soft or cheap, like a Prius.
#2.........Closely check all fuel lines, fittings, filters, the tank and pump. Chances are there will be rust and sludge.
#3.........Make sure the radiator, hoses, thermostat, and heater hoses are in good shape and clean.
98.7% of break downs are no fuel supply and over heating.

 

If your power steering's tough or if it whines you could try using some Seafoam Trans-Tune to clean the whole system before refilling with P.S. fluid. Even if the fluid in your system's pitch black it cleans good. (I speak from experience.) It may cause leaks to spring up but I see you're having the lines checked anyway. Then again there are gaskets in the pump, aren't there? (I'm not fluent in power steering pump. )

 

Yours is a similar situation to when I bought my '81 Bonneville Safari, approx. 4 years ago. It had 21.5k on the odometer when I got it, but it was far from perfect. I had to meet the shipper 100+ miles north in Portland, so at least I had the drive home to check out a few things.

Other than what's already been stated, I would first look at things that can decay just from age - tires, vacuum hoses (big issue on mine - still), rubber (other) hoses - coolant, etc. Then, after you make sure it's safe to drive, just make a list and tackle one thing at a time.

First thing I had to do was replace my headliner.......

Before:


After:


Really looking forward to more pics!

 

There is a valve or something (I forget part name/function at the moment) near the climate control compartment in the engine bay which if it breaks,will leak exhaust fumes into the heater/AC. I've had four of those '80s Ford/Merc wagons in the past,and that is the thing I would check!

 

You're referring to the Thermactor inlet at the back of the engine; the pipe the one-way valve is attached to can break (so can the lower pipe to the cat converters) and pump exhaust up to the HVAC inlet. If it's going PUH-PUH-PUH-PUH while it idles, the system has a leak and needs to be fixed. If it's the upper one, I do have that pipe with good one-way valve.

 

Mak, like others here I have been through what you're about to embark upon. My most intense experience was with my 1970 Caprice Coupe (which I've since sold). It was in every sense of the phrase a "barn find". I plucked it out of a climate-controlled barn after a 22 year hibernation with 87K original miles. When it arrived on my front door step, it was complete with cob webs and seized brakes. But it still ran, albeit rough. The very next morning I limped across the street to my trusted professional mechanic (I am not a mechanic either). $2K and a week later, we were on the road. All she needed was new brakes, tires, hoses & belts, fresh fluids and a full tune up. I also had the gas tank dropped and scrubbed clean. (The only thing the seller did was replace the battery and toss in a few gallons of fresh gas).

If I would sum up my advice on what to have closely examined right away, it would be brakes and just about anything rubber. No matter what, replace all fluids for a fresh start. As for tires, don't let a good looking deep tread fool you. If you (or the seller) don't know the age of the tires, replace them.

Good luck and I too look forward to updates and more photos!

 

Does this apply to the models from 1990 as well? (seeing as I have one.)

Oh and to reiterate the brake line part, my grandpa had a 1995 F150 behind his house and one of my first cousins once removed ended up with it. Uncle told him he should replace all of the brake lines, he did that... After they broke, one after the other. That truck hadn't been driven for years.

 

Also not a mechanic but I like to replace the tires, hoses/belts and spark plugs. But we are just shooting in the dark. Until you have a professional put in their 2c you won't really know which direction to go in.
Tomorrow, how exciting. I hope there aren't too many issues that need attention and I am also looking forward to a few more pics.

Congratulations again.

 

Are those two cents Canadian?

 

Thank you for all the insight so far, Car was delayed - it's now tomorrow
Delivering to the Lincoln dealer in town, yes I know a dealer - yikes! know owner, know lead sales - used to work for me
Owned a 05 Crossfire Convert for a while and had 4 tires places tell me to take the car to this dealer to have aligned - they were the best. so I am somewhat comforted by all this - which could always mean nothing

Here is the limited repair history - Stereo & speakers nice - but wouldn't be on my list unless mechanically it was perfect
New starter and solenoid 10/15/14
Recent full tune up- 07/15/15
Wires, plugs, cap, rotor, and throttle position sensor.
New belts.
Recent battery
New White wall Tires , aligned 12/10/16
Blue tooth stereo;New speakers. installed

 

Make sure to specifically request they slow charge the battery while they do the inspection, then load-test it before trying to start the engine with it. Have them look to make sure there's no moisture under the ignition cap, and no rodent nest inside the air box under the air filter. I've found a few over the years.

 

It's HERE!!!!!!
ok tractor trailer dropped the car off at a shopping center, doesn't like dropping to dealers - ok not end of world.
Car was filthy after being trucked from IL - signed all paperwork and then drove to car wash.
Original sale posting in Jan 15 mentioned buffing burns - yup they are there but from 5' can't see.
Car is as described - I do self clean car wash - left car running - no issues.
OMG - forgot what a boat these cars are - all I can see is sea of silver hood! very winding here in VA today - so was it steering or wind - who knows - what a beast - drove it down I-81 for 6 miles and then back to dealer to inspect. no issues
left them a list to check - thanks for advice
Service guy was amazed, his eyes went bug eye - he had never seen 1 - car is 5 years older than he is - car just turned 56,000 miles today.
Some surprises -
rust see photo's - Roof drives side - looks wood grain but is only reflection; Front passenger door; not bad - this I can fix - used to spray paint railroad cars
original owner manual, - had to look didn't know how the fuel door worked. duh
Seats had been redyed - red dye on both door plates - no big deal to get off
More to come, and then I'll tell my wife I got it!!
thanks for listening!

 

Sounds great so far. Congratulations on the new toy!