[elky] Re: Sprint in the shop
- From: John Christensen <johncgg@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: elky@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Thu, 22 Sep 2011 06:33:05 -0500
Chris can get anything! If he can't he knows where to get it. He is where I
go first, if it's not something that I buy at the local parts store for
instant gratification.
Check this out: http://www.partsforspeed.com
Looking forward to the report Chris, and wish we could have met. Maybe I
need to plan a Southern vacation! Frank, Chris....
JC
On Wed, Sep 21, 2011 at 11:49 PM, Saul Marsh <saulmarsh72@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> Chris sells carburetors too? I was under the impression that he sells
> chemical compounds like POR -15.
>
> ------------------------------
> *From:* John Christensen <johncgg@xxxxxxxxx>
> *To:* elky@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> *Sent:* Tuesday, September 20, 2011 8:43 PM
>
> *Subject:* [elky] Re: Sprint in the shop
>
> 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
>
>
>
>
>
>
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