Just venting!!!! I am trying to get my Grabber road ready for the season. I'm not restoring it, I just want to fix what is broken. Everything!!!! So far this year I have : replaced the heater core replaced all hoses replaced all vacuum hoses replaced all belts new spark plugs, wires, rotor new air cleaner changed oil and filter new fuel filter replaced door hinges did dash bulb upgrade replaced dash pad replaced light switch knob added coolant overflow tank (custom made) replaced battery tray replaced windshield gasket restored heater/fan cover plate pertronix and coil various other little things like cleaning and painting all things that I have to take off the car. I can't put something back on the car without cleaning it or repainting it. It is this problem I have. Mavaholic calls it analism. Last year the list was a lot larger such as replacing trim, carpet, replaced carb, new stereo, power disc brakes, lines and proportioning valve, replaced gas tank and sections of gas lines, insulation, seats, dyed interior parts, new suspention, lowered car, new rims and tires, so on and so forth. Can't list everything, just major things. Yesterday I rebuilt my 1 year old carb because it wasn't getting gas to one side of the engine and shooting gas all over the place. When I went to start the car and test it the battery was dead. I charged the battery and managed to start it. I saw this fluid all over the intake so I thought the carb was at it again. It was my new coil, it has a crack in it. The carb works better than it ever has. I put my old coil back on and I'm sending the new coil back to Summit. When will it end!!!!!!!! I just want to drive the car. I am restoring my other Maverick and it seems like I spend more time working on the one that I'm supposed to be driving. Maybe the next thing I buy should be a for sale sign!! If my Grabber was a human I would be charged with murder. Next weekend I am supposed to drive it in a local parade (Manassas), I hope it makes it. Driving it to Kentucy Rocks in July should be insane at the very least. Just venting, it just doesn't seem to end. Fix one thing, something else dies.
welcome to the world of "old cars"...like you, i am replacing things i just put on new in the last year. (Manassas) never heard of this place before and have heard it 5 times this week... ...frank...
NICK DOMINICK, I feal you`r pain . I thought the van needed a tune up so I did the cap, rotor , plugs , wires , ect. It still ran like crap , it turnd out to be the timing chain so I replace that. Now the needle and seat is sticking open and its flooding so I get the joy of rebiulding the carb . I hope that new coil gets ya back on the road .
Just thought of more things that I have replaced this year. One of which is the neutral safety switch. A simple bolt on except the wiring harnass was messed up and I had to make it work. Seems like nothing just bolts on and works without some trouble. This car has me talking to myself.
Yes Nick,,, I too feel your pain. My Stallion is giving me fits, nothing is going as planned and as usual, everything I am doing to it is behind schedule. At least it keeps me outta the bars. Dan
AH the OL love/ hate thing... I feel your pain and a few new ones of my own! Out of bars and not behind them......Priceless. Hang in there it is worth it ( repeat this between every cold drink)
I feel your pain. My 73 Comet has been running like crap. I've been putting it off since December. Last Friday I decided to give it a tuneup. New plugs, Cap & rotor. The problem I was having was, when I got on it, it would fall on its face & the engine felt like it was going to come out from under the hood. Figured the tuneup would take care of it. Fired it up & took it up to about 2000 rpm & it had a terrible miss. Went got a beer & thought about it. Figured maybe the advance in the distributor couldn't keep up with the RPM. So, I disconnected the vaccum hose & plugged it with a golf tee. Fired it up & took it up to 2000 RPM, no more miss. Got a new vaccum advance & it runs like a raped ape. Love it, when a plan comes together. Now I need to get a new power valve for the Holley carb, it has a slight hesitation. I figure it took out the power valve, when it back fired a couple of times in December. It just never ends with these old cars. But, Hey! It keeps me out of trouble....
Personally, I love doing this stuff. Have a few friends over, to me it's fun. Only thing I can honestly say I HATE doing is getting exaust manifold bolts loose.
At least you didn`t have a bolt break off in the head . I`ll prolly just teach myself how to port on that head and use a 78 - 83 head on the 250 .
old cars Didn't see redoing the wiring on your list. Get ready to do it. especially the firewall plug in and fuse box. Lots of problems from this area. With cowl leaks and age, dry wiring insulation and corraision and connectors, "Let the Games Begin".
some cars have personalities and some are just little bi**hes..... my mav has been good to me....and i want to start tearing it apart and fixing it...but then i am scared to because once i start working on it....my other car might break down.....the maverick runs and drives great,....jsut has a lot of rust.....and i need to fix it
