Make that $7k… I could not get rid of a mysterious deep seated engine vibration, tried changing out the AAMCO installed flex plate, harmonic balancer and I just now pulled the pan to make sure it did not have a late model 302 crank. The block was changed to a 1972 302 when it was rebuilt a few years ago. Cannot figure it out so off it goes to my machinist to get balanced… There is no way I am going to drive a car that rattles the windows at certain RPM’s! Now I am so conscious of getting buried in it financially I am contemplating doing my own headliner. Yep… Starting to sound just like the customers I talk to everyday.
Don
I have a similar vibration issue in the 68. Get a vibration around 1500 rpm. Thought it was the engine but it is till there after I replaced the original 302 with a 5.0 roller motor (and changed to 50oz flexplate)
I wonder if there is an imbalance with the 68 C4 that was cured by the mass damper - which is missing from my transmission
Turns out it was a defective torque converter. It was driving us crazy, pulled the tras 3 times, changed the harmonic balancer and was contemplating sending the engine in to be balanced. Now I get to tackle the interior. The previous owner was surprised to hear last time we talked there was pest damage, “Really? I did not know…” Buyer beware!
I bought a '65 Econoline van that had been used to deliver food from the St. Mary’s Food Bank to the Helping Hand Mission in central Phoenix. After picking up a load of beans rice and coffee the van developed brake problems. One of the “guests” of the mission decided that he could fix it up. He disassembled the brakes on all four wheels and lost about half the parts, leaving the van immobile. In short order the van was invaded by squirrels, and the food at that point was determined wasted. I am pretty sure the “squirrels” were actually rats. No one wanted to go close to the van after they really settled in.
Fast forward about twenty years. The mission is long gone, it was razed to become a parking lot for the new ballpark. The founder of the mission passes away and his grandson is charged with cleaning up what is left. By this time the van had been parked under a carport in the desert for about 20 years. The grandson opened up the doors to discover a massive pile of something nasty in the back. He took the entire van to the land fill, where they weighed going in and weighed it going out. He emptied 1300 lbs of coffee beans rat turds and God knows what else. He made a valiant attempt at cleaning it out with a pressure washer but ultimately the brown water dripping from the ceiling grossed him out completely. He decided it was better to sell cheap as is. Somehow the rice had protected the van and there was almost no rust. The rice could do nothing for the wiring, and the rats had eaten most of it.
Always being on the look out for the smoking deal I could not resist. I bought the van and finished the pressure cleaning and rewired it. Of course an old Econoline only has like 4 wires in the whole van. My question is this: Should I name the van Shit Box or Rat Hole?
I vote for option C: St. Mary
D: St. Mary Elephant
The car fought me every step of the way, cost a small fortune to go through but in the end it came out great and was a nice touch for my daughters wedding. Letting the groom drive her away in his old clapped out BMW was not an option…
That’s awesome, Don!
Really cool Don: congrats & best wishes to the newlyweds!
Looks Good! Congrats!
How about a picture of the happy couple? I mean besides the back of their heads!!
Being the father of the bride I did not get many chances to take pics of my daughter whilst on my arm, she did not want anyone but the professional photographer running up to her to take pics of them so not many circulating yet. Here is one from a couple of months ago. The first time he showed up at our house he jumped right in to weld the core support on my sons car he was struggling with, he put the floor pan in this cougar so right away he earned some points with myself and my four boys!
Wish I could afford to get my daughter a nice Cougar and get rid of her old clapped-out BMW. Not impressed…
This was just a loaner, the new owner picks it up tomorrow. Would have gladly given it to her in lieu of the wedding I just paid for! BTW, that is me driving her to the venue, proud papa moment if there ever was one…
Outstanding way to create a lifetime memory for all! Congratulations Don!
Nice! 
I could’ve sworn that the groom had long hair this summer, tho?
Congratulations Don, to you and the newlyweds. The memories you created for your daughter on her wedding day are priceless. She will remember them for a lifetime. Well done.
Steven
Awesome. Congratulations Don.
Well played, Dad!!! Tears in my eyes as I type. Congratulations to all!!!
They do make a lovely couple.