Re: IML: 18 Year Anniversary

["Pete Engel" <peter.engel@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Yeah, isn't that the way it always goes?  I try to be optimistic but
repeated bad experiences have hardened me to the harsh reality of 40+ year
old cars.  There's ALWAYS something wrong that you didn't expect and it
ALWAYS takes more time and money to fix it than you expect.

Case in point is my recently purchased 66 New Yorker.  I was captivated by
the rust free body and that clouded my judgement, I guess.  The "miss" that
I heard 2 years ago prior to buying the car had graduated to "won't run" by
the time I made it mine.  Long disuse, water in the gas tank, a corroded AFB
float, and fuel-flooded cylinders (4) caused stuck valves.  I did manage to
get the valves unstuck and start the engine but I think there's a slightly
bent valve.  Now the heads have to come off.  Aaargh.  I just went through
this on a 65 413 for another project and reconditioning the heads cost me a
grand.  Here we go again...

On an Imperial note, my local demo derby fanatic who recently destroyed a
decent 76 Cordoba and a nice 81 Mirada in one weekend has located and closed
the deal on yet another Imperial.  This one is a 72 or 73 and supposedly
teal like my 70.  He swears that the thing has 4-wheel disc brakes but I
won't believe it until I see it.  I think it may be a Sure-Brake car, the
first I will have a chance to check out in person.  I'll see what I can
save.

Pete in PA



Date: Sat, 13 Aug 2005 19:56:48 -0700 (PDT)
From: Kenyon Wills <imperialist1960@xxxxxxxxx>
Subject: IML: 18 year anniversary
Reply-To: mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
That's how long it's been since my last engine
rebuild.

Remember that spun bearing on the 1962 that I was
going to try a get-me-by on?  

nope.

Well the crank was really fried.  I used a mens belt
with sandpaper and polished it, but it looked like
marbled meat with all the grooves and pits in it.  

My $100 repair is now sitting at $600 and I've lapped
the valves, gotten a replacement crank (free!!!), 2
new con-rods, new bearings all around, and gasket
sets. 

<snip>




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