by Guest Thu May 07, 2009 4:43 pmI have posted a few questions already over the past couple weeks asking questions regarding my possible purchase of a 1966 Chevy G10.
So... I got it.
Flew down to South Dakota from Toronto, Canada. Saw it, and bought it on the spot. I then drove it back to Toronto - with all the stops for gas and food and a 3 hour sleep at one stop, and a huge delay at the border, (thats another story) I wound up getting home 22 hours after I left. These are the things I thought about during that drive, (with no radio).
The engine was 'ok' as per the previous owner, but it was old and had only a few minor repairs done to it, so any major problems that might happen, wouldn't necessarily not happen. They just hadn't happened yet. The head gasket was new, but there's this other gasket below that, (between the engine and the oil pan), that was instantly leaking. I wound up putting about 8 to 10 quarts of oil in during the drive back. Ok, if that's the worst of it, fine. Clutch seemed good, lights worked, should be ok.
Then I started thinking about the drivers position, (instant death in a head on). That combined with the obvious softness of the front tires. They were old. The previous owner said "they're ok?", with no real conviction. I wondered how the steering would react to a front tire blow. There's a lot of weight up front, (engine, and driver). Seem's a front blow would be followed by a very difficult pull. So I had that on my mind, especially when I was on a two direction highway with on coming trucks sometimes almost perfectly timed to pass me in the other direction seconds after I would hit a big pot hole with my front tires.
So after hours and hours of that, and crossing the border, I finish my marathon drive in the dark, in the rain along some of the worst pot hole highways yet, and to top it off, its like all the trucks decided to come out all at once in that last stretch.
I was screaming along seemingly at 160km's, (whats that... around 100 mph), but the fact is, the engine is so loud, the body interior rattles so much, and the alignment was out a bit to add to the vibrations, that grandma speed was a thrilling and riveting experience. I'd say I was the Pass'er about 2% of the time, and 98% pass'ee, (humbling when your passed by middle aged women in a tercel).
Anyways, that's my story. And I own this van now. So my mission is to convert it into a better ride. Along the way I changed my priorities drastically. I am focused on the engine, suspension, wheels, and dash elements first, then I"m going to do my utmost to insulate and gasket every potential rattle and sound leak. Only then will I play around with the exterior beauty factor. That may be the reverse of how a lot of kids do it, but I don't know if I would enjoy this van if it looked way better but still drove and sounded like it does.
Eh! what a you gonna do!.
Cheers,
Heavy
So... I got it.
Flew down to South Dakota from Toronto, Canada. Saw it, and bought it on the spot. I then drove it back to Toronto - with all the stops for gas and food and a 3 hour sleep at one stop, and a huge delay at the border, (thats another story) I wound up getting home 22 hours after I left. These are the things I thought about during that drive, (with no radio).
The engine was 'ok' as per the previous owner, but it was old and had only a few minor repairs done to it, so any major problems that might happen, wouldn't necessarily not happen. They just hadn't happened yet. The head gasket was new, but there's this other gasket below that, (between the engine and the oil pan), that was instantly leaking. I wound up putting about 8 to 10 quarts of oil in during the drive back. Ok, if that's the worst of it, fine. Clutch seemed good, lights worked, should be ok.
Then I started thinking about the drivers position, (instant death in a head on). That combined with the obvious softness of the front tires. They were old. The previous owner said "they're ok?", with no real conviction. I wondered how the steering would react to a front tire blow. There's a lot of weight up front, (engine, and driver). Seem's a front blow would be followed by a very difficult pull. So I had that on my mind, especially when I was on a two direction highway with on coming trucks sometimes almost perfectly timed to pass me in the other direction seconds after I would hit a big pot hole with my front tires.
So after hours and hours of that, and crossing the border, I finish my marathon drive in the dark, in the rain along some of the worst pot hole highways yet, and to top it off, its like all the trucks decided to come out all at once in that last stretch.
I was screaming along seemingly at 160km's, (whats that... around 100 mph), but the fact is, the engine is so loud, the body interior rattles so much, and the alignment was out a bit to add to the vibrations, that grandma speed was a thrilling and riveting experience. I'd say I was the Pass'er about 2% of the time, and 98% pass'ee, (humbling when your passed by middle aged women in a tercel).
Anyways, that's my story. And I own this van now. So my mission is to convert it into a better ride. Along the way I changed my priorities drastically. I am focused on the engine, suspension, wheels, and dash elements first, then I"m going to do my utmost to insulate and gasket every potential rattle and sound leak. Only then will I play around with the exterior beauty factor. That may be the reverse of how a lot of kids do it, but I don't know if I would enjoy this van if it looked way better but still drove and sounded like it does.
Eh! what a you gonna do!.
Cheers,
Heavy
