February 20, 2007

Got the radiator back in place. I learned one thing, make sure your clamps are on flush and straight before you tighten them or else all of the fluid you add will leak out. I also got the oil changed. The oil that came out was cleaner than I hoped. Pull the plugs, to get some oil to the cylinders to make sure they are free to move. I'll also be draining the gas tank and fuel lines this weekend.

February 10, 2007

I happen to be under the dash this afternoon and started fooling with the ignition switch. I got the ignition switch body back into the housing so that it matched up with the key switch. While still hanging half out of the car, I reached up and slowly turned the key. I figured nothing would happen, but suddenly the engine bumped and the car jumped forward an inch or two!! I was so convinced it wasn't going to turnover that I hadn't even taken it out of gear. I can't do anything else until I get the the radiator back in and the oil changed. You would think that the oil change would be easy, and I'm sure it will be, except that the jack that came with car won't even fit under the car! Thanks to my friend Tom who gave me a jack and I will be getting to this project this week.

February 9, 2007

Haven't made much headway. Its been too cold. I plan to change the oil, pull the plugs, and get some oil into the cylinders so it will be ready to turn over shortly. I have a remote starter that I got from Autozone for $9.00. Since the ignition switch is disconnected this will at least allow me to turn the motor over and make sure that the engine is "free" before starting.

February 1, 2007

I have pulled the radiator and sent it out for boiling and pressure testing. I discovered that the ignition switch is disconnected and that the toggle switch in the center of the dash that I thought was a starter switch isn't connected to anything at all! I have located a number of blown fuses and wires that are disconnected or simply cut off.

I am now pulling all of the accessories and gadgets out of the car that were added over the past 36 years, including a 1990 vintage CD player (you put the CD in a cartridge before you insert it!), an alarm system complete with a starter disable who's wires were melted at the fuses, 4 pairs of speakers, 2 sets of driving lights, and an amplifier. My thinking is to get things back to basics first before searching for electrical problems.