So I recently got beck from a visit up north to visit my Mother-In-Law (great woman, I love her), Raymond and Gordon (oldest brother-in-law). While I was there, I asked Ray how much I owe him for the rebuild on the Wildcat's 425. He asked why and I told him that we are financially strapped and I will sell the Wildcat to pay him back. He looked at me and said it was $2500 and... Happy Birthday! You could have knocked me over with a feather. I told him there was no way I could take advantage of him like that. He said that he stayed with us for 18 months in the late 90's when he was broke and unable to find a job. I told him that was my honour to have him with us as he did the chores I didn't have time for. (fencing, caring for us while we were all sick, dishes...) He said "Too bad, I won't take your money!". I couldn't ask for a better family to have. I hope you all have a blessed day!
So, I turned 400 miles on the rebuild and changed the oil today. I thought about going synthetic, but found I had 2 - 5 L (~ 10 quarts) of 10-30 standard oil. So, oil change. No leaks, I am not certain that would be true with synthetic.
I took the car out this weekend (Street Wheelers in Lethbridge, everyone brings out their cars). I kept an eye on the gauges, just to be cautious. The car runs between 175 and 185 degrees F in town and on the highway. (@ 30 C temp ~86 F). The oil pressure runs around 35 lbs. in town (hot) and 40 lbs. (hot) at 2400 RPM. I am very happy with my cars engine. Tomorrow, Bob, my local mechanic, is going to time the engine and set the carburetor up. We took it into him on Wednesday and told him it was rebuilt but needed these things. If I bring in one of my Fords, he says in a couple of weeks. With the car, he came right out, listened to it run and told me to bring it in Monday morning. My wife is right, he loves my car. He is not alone I need to let Ray know how well the car is doing, but, after Bob.
So, I was driving along the other day with my wife and grandchildren when about 2 miles from my house, bam, no fuel. I pulled up into the Peterbuilt dealers lot with the speed I had left and popped the hood. Fuel filter looks dirty, replace it with the spare. Uncouple the fuel line from the carburetor and tried to suck fuel. Yup, I can suck fuel through the filter and pump. Have Jenny turn it over, no pressure. I can only think of two things here, bad (new) fuel pump, or, that little offset bell where the pump rides is loose again. Since it is 37 C (98.6 F), I just don't feel like being under the hood. I think my next chance will be Monday as I have the kids for 4 hours tomorrow morning while Mike (Daddy), Jenny (Wife) and William (Eldest son) play D&D with their online friends. Curious though, if that bell is loose, how to fix it.
While I had the filter off, I replaced the short rubber hoses. I thought that new was probably a good idea. Still haven't got out to fix it yet, it is almost 37 C (98.6 F) here again today. Way too hot to be under the car.
This morning was cooler, about 24 C (~75 F), so I went out to look at the fuel issue. I took the new fuel pump off, and, on a whim, started pumping it to see it could draw fuel. I pumped it for about 30 seconds and fuel started spurting into the filter. Okay, pump is good, the lobe is not tight. I shook my head and thought about it. I crawled under the back and located the fuel line from the tank and contemplated getting an electric fuel pump to put there. At that moment, I saw my neighbour across the alley working on a motorhome. He works on vehicles and specializes in classic cars. I walked over with my book (Rebuilding the Nailhead) and waited for him to come out from under the vehicle, when he was ready. I asked him if I could talk to him and he said "Sure, is it about your gorgeous Buick?" I said, "Yup". He asked what's up, so I described the condition, the lack of fuel and the loose lobe on the front of the cam. He walked over, looked and said it wasn't a huge job, but had to be drained and parts removed. I explained that my arthritis, and lack of experience, prevent me from doing it. Not to mention, I am not allowed to do major repairs in the parking lot. He told me he was busy, but would try to find time to look at it. He asked if I could help with it and I explained, arthritis, vertigo, and lack of experience. He said I could hold, lift, tighten... I stated I would be glad to. He then looked at the hoses to the radiator and told me that I had to replace them as they have some bulges. He told me that if he was going to work on it, they had to be replaced. He pointed them out and I promised to purchase new hoses, which I just did. I was thankful for his noticing this as my new rebuild would have been ruined if a hose failed while I was out driving. So, that's it for now, until the parts come.
Ray video called us today and we BS'ed for about 20 minutes. He then asks me if I got the Wildcat running yet. "Nope!" I said. "Why not?" he asked. I told him between babysitting my Grandchildren 5 - 6 days a week, a severe lack of funds (Have to fix my wife's escape first for winter) and a complete lack of knowledge (and confidence), the car is just sitting right now. The neighbour from across the alley might be able to help me, but it will cost me. He said when he gets his work done up there, he might try to grab some tools and come down. I told him I have all of the tools, just used them for telecommunications, not automotive. I can build you a DMS, a DSLAM, Fibre Shelf, Rack, Low Speed Data (T1, HDSL, Span lines... this stuff is old though some still use it). So, there is a glimmer of hope that we will be back on the road again. I can hardly wait. (This time, I will put some red thread lock on the bolt holding the lob for the fuel pump.) You know what I really need... Wildcats for Dummies. Anyone up to writing it?
Hahahaha! I could only write that book for a single year, 1967. Probably could do two if Electra was included. I think V8Buick.com is the best "* for Dummies" book ever written. Sifting through and searching particular subjects is tough, but it sure beats the days of library microfilm and dime paper copies. Enjoying your progress, Devon
I told Ray when we chatted again today that if he does come down, I will stand him to a round of gold at any course in southern Alberta. I don't golf, but he loves it. It would be the least I could do. I know Ray, he will try to say he was coming for a visit anyway. Between you and I, that would be BS. He doesn't travel unless there is a reason. Ray likes to help and I appreciate him so much. Well, I had better get to bed. It is after 11:30 PM, and our Grandchildren are sleeping over (Friday nights...) and are early risers, like 5:30 or 6 AM, every day. So, goodnight all, and, while out driving, just remember what my Dad taught me, many decades ago. Keep the shiny side up, and the greasy side down. Or... For every mile of road, there are two miles of ditch. And his last one.. Keep it out of the rhubarb!
Yesterday, there was somebody ringing my back doorbell. I answered and it was the neighbour from across the alley, Terry. "I haven't forgot you." he said. He asked me to push the car across the alley and we would fix the car. . Mike and I pushed it over and we started right in. He first asked me "Are you certain that the lobe is the fuel problem?" Fairly sure. We drained the radiator and removed the hoses and fuel pump. He took a scope and and put it up the hole and said he could see the lobe was loose. We took it apart, with me assisting and cleaning parts, including the bolts. He put Locktite on the bolt for the lobe and then told me I needed a new front seal. I ordered one from a Bumper to Bumper and then Ray called to talk and told me I have a rope seal in the leftover gaskets. YES! A little later today I will take it over and assist reassembling my girl. I am such a happy camper! Getting my car fixed, and learning about it. He made me feel like a teenager listening to my Dad, except from my new "aged" perspective, I listened, and tried to absorb the knowledge. Who says you can't have your cake... and eat it too?
We started to clean things to put it back together today and when it came to the new front seal, Terry said he wanted to replace it with a "double-lip seal". ? I said whatever you feel is best. He said it is in your and my best interest as they won't leak. He ordered it after a number of measurements. Then, he told me to go buy a new top rad hose, a new rad cap, and a new alternator belt. I agree with him, do it right, do it once. drive it forever. Everything is supposed to be in tomorrow, so, back to it again. Only a day to make it better, I can wait....
I picked up the parts that Terry requested (I would say asked for, but, getting the parts requested was in the deal.) and brought them over to his place after lunch. He looked them over and told me they look good, but the seal he ordered will be a couple of days before it arrives. Okay. I find the waiting, after starting, to be the hardest.
So, I was sitting next to Jenny, my wife, and thinking about my car (still waiting on that seal). Jenny asked me what I was thinking about and, I told her. Then she askes "Haven't you already changed all of the parts for new?". I said "No.", then got to thinking....hmmm Rebuilt engine (New crank shaft, cam shaft, all bearings, all seals, gaskets, rings, lifters, rods, timing chain...) Rebuilt Rochester Q-Jet carb New alternator New water pump New Fuel Pump New oil pump New gas tank float New back springs/shocks New (well, new to me) hood springs New tires/spare New windshield New hoses New belts New rad cap New gas cap (locking, I lost a tank of gas) new antenna 2 new light sockets in tail lights backup camera tire pressure monitors stereo (in a plywood console with cup holders and 12 Volt/USB outlets) LED lights under hood Okay, maybe she has a point (quick, distract her!!). She knows that I have to do an exhaust system as the Y pipe is rusted and leaking. At least, with Terry helping me, the cost of repairing the loose fuel lob is minimal, a few hundred dollars. I told Jenny today that she has attracted the attention of a monster next door. She looked at me and went "Whaaaattt?" I explained that when I was working on the car with Terry, he looked at it and said "No air conditioning?". I said "Nope." He then stated that it would be dead easy to install in the car, just need to mount a bracket, hmm, here. I explained my shoestring budget (and that string is getting thinner all of the time .) and told him while it would be nice, it wasn't in the cards for me. To that, he didn't say anything, just looked. When this was told to Jen, she looked at me and said "Great, now there's two of you!". I looked back and said "And asking Terry was your idea. I wouldn't have had the gumption to go over if you hadn't told me to." She admitted this (Right, need to mark the calendar that I was right, at least this day.) and said that we just don't have the money. I agreed, then left the room. I know when to back off a subject. Well, it is almost 2 AM. I had better go to bed as I do have the Grandkids for a while tomorrow. I hope everyone has a great day. Chuck
So, Terry called me today and told me the seal was in. I went over and we put the engine back together. Terry had me put in an new rad cap, new belts, new front seal and new rad hoses. Everything was given a thin coating of blue form-a-gasket as well as the gaskets.We added the Antifreeze and then Terry told me it has to wait until tomorrow before we start it up. I am so excited to get my girl home. We are going to take the Grandkids to DQ for ice cream tomorrow in the car.
I went over when Terry called me around noon and we put the rest of the anti-freeze in the rad. We tried to fire it up, nothing. He put gas in the carb and it fired up, but stalled as soon as he stopped. Turned out there was a crack in the fuel line between the filter and the pump. After that, it started fine. Terry adjusted the choke to make it start easier cold and then adjusted the timing. Now, we just have to do the exhaust, but, Jenny's '08 Escape comes first.
