One of the last times I took the El Camino to a repair shop for anything, I decided my time was worth more than $45 for a tune up. That was pre-header days.... now it's about an hour and a half, or $75 of my time. Anyway, I paid the $45, and got the plugs changed. That was it. It was a Computer controlled carb, and they didn't do anything to that. When I opened the distibutor cap, because it looked like the same one, the center carbon electrode had broken in half, and fell out. Obviously, the tune up didn't include a cap and rotor. I was so pissed, I don't take anything to a mechanic any more, unless, after reading about the procedure, I don't have the tools, or I have potential to do serious damage if I screw it up (Like timing belts on the Pathfinder.... I paid for that). I may farm out the A/C, but only after I can find the right parts to put hoses back on. There are missing parts after the conversion to serpentine. I found one on eBay for about $80, after I spent 20 for one at a junk yard that ended up having holes in it. I have been putting off the body mount project I am in the middle of for literally YEARS. Now I have to weld on it to get it back in shape, but the welder arrived today. It came with everything to use the CO2/Argon, except the tank. Before I spend the money right now.... on the setting inside the welder, it says to use heavier flux core for the 1/4" steel. That would mean no gas. Should I spring for the wire and hold off on the gas for the moment? Anyone with welding experience out there??? Get a Edelbrock carb from Chris and bolt it on yourself Saul. It was a piece of cake when I did it, changing from the computer to non. I had to change the distributor too, and you won't have to do that. 4 bolts and linkages, and you will be home free for 2 or 300 I think. Check it out! JC On Tue, Sep 20, 2011 at 8:12 PM, Saul Marsh <saulmarsh72@xxxxxxxxx> wrote: > Hello all, > > Been two weeks since I sold Clustertruck, and I don't miss it as much as I > thought I would. We've had some nice days that would have been great for > working on cars, so if I feel like picking up a wrench I'm just gonna have > to do maintenance on my new Sprint or work on the lawn mower or something. > Anyway, the new Sprint (the '76 I bought in May) is in the shop, and I now > remember why I don't like bringing cars to a mechanic. Just expensive. My > intent was for the guy to rebuild the VIR in the A/C system, just like he > had recently done to his own '76 El Camino. However, he found a few more > problems and it looks like I'll be getting those fixed instead. The > carburetor has a fitting that leaks and won't tighten, and might need to be > replaced with a rebuilt carb. I thought the car smelled awfully bad of > fuel, but Clustertruck smelled even worse so I just assumed that smelly cars > is something you lived with when you drive a '70's carbureted car. > Apparently not the case. I hope this helps. I also will be getting an A/C > hose replaced, the system evacuated, and refilled with R-12. But I'm not > quite clear on whether this means I'll be getting nice cold A/C again (of > course....right as the temps have dropped where I don't need it anyway). > The mechanic said the windshield defrosting in the winter could be affected > if the A/C system gets too dry. I don't know. If I had more time I'd read > up on it in my repair manual. For now I'm taking the guy for his word, and > realizing it will be a little bit of time for me to save up money before my > next repair (whatever that may be). Right now, the only thing wrong with > the car is that the "ice cold" A/C is at best mediocre. When I drove it in > our triple digit heat this summer, I ended up smelling bad due to sweat, on > top of smelling bad due to a leaky carb. > > And I took the bus home today, while I leave the Sprint at the repair shop. > It took an hour and a half for my normal 25-minute commute. Would love to > take the bus more often, but that's just too much time. > > Anyway, that's all for now. > > Saul > '76 GMC Sprint > >