[elky] Re: Sprint in the shop
- From: Robert Adams <elcam84@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: elky@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Sat, 24 Sep 2011 10:18:03 -0500
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.
>
If it's the big one that holds the filter there are repair ones
to fix that. It rethreads as it goes in.
> 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.
>
Without AC you will have no windshield defrost. The AC drys
the air and gets the moisture off the inside of the glass. In mine without
AC and if it's raining and humid I have to use a rag to keep wiping the
windshield so I can see. Very dangerous to drive a car without AC in the
rain when the temps are just right.
> 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.
>
Well stinking due to sweat is normal in the summer here and
everyone understands. When it's 108* every day we all stink.
>
> 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
>
Yup public transportation doesn't work. Takes way
longer and still doesn't get you to where you need to go. There is a train
from Dallas to Fort Worth... Nice idea but it takes twice as long as driving
in rush hour traffic but you aren't driving so it does have a slight
benefit. Also with public transport you can't stop and do your grocery
shopping etc. Cars are here to stay and can't be replaced with public
transport. Ever tried to haul stuff home from home depot on a bus?
Robert Adams
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