1978 with 1600 miles

[GTOguy]

OK. I skimmed the video. My verdict---super low mile car that was stored poorly. The '66 GTO convertible I picked up 6 months ago after sitting for 42 years has less surface rust than this car. And it was driven 114,000 miles before it was parked in a cement floored, insulated garage in Idaho. And yes, I had to do the brake system on it. And the engine overhaul and cooling system is coming up. The transmission (4 speed) and rear end are still perfect.

[Steve_R]

Originally Posted by ptindall

Dude really picked the wrong car. There were lots of used cars the guy could have spent the same money on in 1978 and done fine.

Late 70s were not good years for investment in cars. Best selling car was the Olds Cutlass, which would be pretty worthless now.

[ptindall]

Originally Posted by Steve_R

Late 70s were not good years for investment in cars. Best selling car was the Olds Cutlass, which would be pretty worthless now.

Not good years for investments in new cars. Low mile used cars? I think you could do well if you selected wisely. I wonder what Cobras were going for in 1978.

[Steve_R]

Originally Posted by ptindall

Not good years for investments in new cars. Low mile used cars? I think you could do well if you selected wisely.

Most definitely. Probably could have still bought a '70 Plymouth Superbird in 1978 at a decent price, and worth a fortune now.

[Yadkin]

Originally Posted by GTOguy

OK. I skimmed the video. My verdict---super low mile car that was stored poorly. The '66 GTO convertible I picked up 6 months ago after sitting for 42 years has less surface rust than this car. And it was driven 114,000 miles before it was parked in a cement floored, insulated garage in Idaho. And yes, I had to do the brake system on it. And the engine overhaul and cooling system is coming up. The transmission (4 speed) and rear end are still perfect.

When I restored the engine bay on my Fiat and had the engine on a stand, I cleaned it, disassembled it into its major components, did not touch the rod bolts, checked the crankshaft for play, cleaned off the tops of the pistons, then reassembled with a new gasket set and painted. A pleasant afternoon job, and the full gasket set and head bolts cost about $100.

[ptindall]

This discussion reminded me that I did have to put valve cover gaskets on the Falcon. And the RMS does leak some. And I did replace all the door seals, widow sweeps, and trunk seal. I find work like this so little of an issue that I forgot I even did them. I have considered pulling the engine just to change the RMS and repaint it. The reason I haven't done so isn't because I consider that a lot of work, I just think its cooler that its never been done. Running the original radiator, carb, and fuel pump. Intake manifold has never been off. I'll dig into this stuff if I have to, its not a museum piece. I just like that its original.

[ptindall]

I pulled the engine out of my '46 CJ2A just to reseal it and paint it. When I pulled the timing cover off, I found the timing chain so loose it had jumped a tooth. After putting it back in time with a new timing set, it ran exactly the same.

[Mick]

Originally Posted by Aerovette

How would valve covers have paint missing? It looks like oil vapor blowing by the PCV, which is not all that uncommon, but at 1600 miles, I would only expect oil residue or slight paint discoloration.

The big ass-print on the driver's seat looked a little suspicious to me. Even my fat ass wouldn't make a dent like that in just 1600 miles.

[DDSLT5]

Originally Posted by ptindall

Did you watch the video? You saw the inside of the air cleaner and think this car needs an engine and trans rebuild? We may find out. If you watch the video, they say there are plans for one of the cars to be made road worthy again by another youtube channel.

Sounds like a "Road Worthy Rebuilds" video coming up! Derek can get this rig running inside of 3 hours. Done and Done.

[GTOguy]

Originally Posted by Yadkin

When I restored the engine bay on my Fiat and had the engine on a stand, I cleaned it, disassembled it into its major components, did not touch the rod bolts, checked the crankshaft for play, cleaned off the tops of the pistons, then reassembled with a new gasket set and painted. A pleasant afternoon job, and the full gasket set and head bolts cost about $100.

My '61 Corvette needed a freshen up, which I did for $700 including parts and labor. Bearings, rings, hone job, valve job. It's a 389 stroker built off of a '68 big journal 302-327 block. It had been a fresh build in 1980, but got ran hard on a dirt track with no air cleaner, so the rings were wiped out. I'll post on the GTO's rehab. It runs like a Swiss watch but has a lot of blow-by. So it's going to have to come apart. If the cylinders check out, it'll get the minimum to put it back into specs.

[zeek]

Something very satisfying watching the years of dirt being washed off. At the same time, very annoying that he didnt start from the top and center of the car.

[Tikiman]

In 1978 if you were to take all the vacuum lines and place them end to end, they would reach from Pittsburgh to Cleveland. All to make a ground-pounding 185 horsepower.

[Aerovette]

Originally Posted by ptindall

Looks the same as the distributor cover, air filter lid, and cruise control servo to me. Basic surface rust. I would expect oil residue to prevent surface rust, not cause it.

First the paint came off, then it rusted. In 1600 miles, what made the paint come off?

My 75 Corvette had 150,000+ miles plus and did not have paint missing in the engine compartment.

[ptindall]

Originally Posted by Aerovette

First the paint came off, then it rusted. In 1600 miles, what made the paint come off?

My 75 Corvette had 150,000+ miles plus and did not have paint missing in the engine compartment.

What made the paint come off the distributor cover and air cleaner lid?

[Aerovette]

Originally Posted by ptindall

What made the paint come off the distributor cover and air cleaner lid?

Exactly my point. Seems like a hard 1600.

[ricks327]

Originally Posted by zeek

At the same time, very annoying that he didnt start from the top and center of the car.

I was thinking the same thing.

[Yadkin]

Originally Posted by ptindall

Not good years for investments in new cars. Low mile used cars? I think you could do well if you selected wisely. I wonder what Cobras were going for in 1978.

Who cares? Those were lost years. from '73 to the early 80's, cars just plain sucked.

[ptindall]

Originally Posted by Aerovette

Exactly my point. Seems like a hard 1600.

So you think oil was sprayed all over there? And oil removes paint? Then the oil evaporated?

Judging by the insulation on the back side of the hood, I think mouse piss and/or moisture trapped in the sagging hood insulation is much more likely.

[LATB]

Originally Posted by Tikiman

In 1978 if you were to take all the vacuum lines and place them end to end, they would reach from Pittsburgh to Cleveland. All to make a ground-pounding 185 horsepower.

Also in 1978 if you drove a new corvette you would have seen a lot of panties hitting the floor.

[GTOguy]

Originally Posted by LATB

Also in 1978 if you drove a new corvette you would have seen a lot of panties hitting the floor.

And those would have been pre-AIDS and full Seventies Bush with no tramp stamp on the side--- panties.