[elky] Re: Sprint in the shop

I remember going on vacation in San Francisco without a rental car, and we got 
very used to their public transit system during the week we were there.  The 
San Francisco bus sytem can get someone across town in half the time as the 
Wichita system.  But I guess that's what it takes...a huge city with a well 
established public transit system.  

Thanks for the informative posts Robert. I may get a new compressor once my 
system becomes weak again.  I think this '76 Sprint should be able to last at 
least another ten years.  By then, I guess the car might be considered old.

Saul
'76 GMC Sprint


________________________________
From: Robert Adams <elcam84@xxxxxxxxx>
To: elky@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Saturday, September 24, 2011 10:18 AM
Subject: [elky] Re: Sprint in the shop





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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