Dean_T
07-21-2005, 11:49 PM
I just spent the last 6 weeks working on a worthless '78 Fairmont wagon.
I thought I'd save time by having the '78 Friggin' Futura's engine and trans rebuilt so all I would need to do was yank the wagon's engine and trans and slap in Friggin's. The wagon had over 200K miles and was puking oil out of every orfice due to horrendous blowby. The trans was a continuous leak. The last straw was it failed smog even though I had rebuilt the emission control system 4 years ago (and it had passed HC and CO standards clean enough to meet 2001 model year specs).
The engine/trans rebuild went like clockwork. Yanking the old engine /trans took one weekend. Installing the rebuilt stuff and screwing around finding all the parts took 5 weeks. I didn't want to strip the old engine of the periphials - I intended to store it whole to lessen crud from getting inside it - what a dumb idea!
Anyway - Today, removed the distributor and primed the oil system. Spent 15 minutes screwing with the distributor to get it back in right.
Turn the key and it won't start. Install jumper cables and it barely turns over. Wait a bit and then hit the starter and it cranks... and cranks... and cranks....
Plenty of air and fuel but no spark. If this car had points I'd be all over it but it has Duraspark II - OOO! HTF can one debugg a black box?
With registration coming due in August and I have to go on travel starting August 1st, I only have 1 week to get it running, smogged and registered.
So... I decided if I can't get it running by Sunday the 23rd, I'm yanking engine and trans and junking the damn thing. The damn parts wagon is going into the scrap heap too. I've had it with these cars. I want the drive way back and those two POSs are in the way.
I could have spent the last 6 weeks getting the '84 Notch up and running or working on Friggin' Futura. Instead I wasted 6 weeks on a cracked windshield-rusting-dented-worn out-POS wagon that won't start for no stinking reason.
Ah, I feel better now - sorry for the long rant.
Dean T
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I thought I'd save time by having the '78 Friggin' Futura's engine and trans rebuilt so all I would need to do was yank the wagon's engine and trans and slap in Friggin's. The wagon had over 200K miles and was puking oil out of every orfice due to horrendous blowby. The trans was a continuous leak. The last straw was it failed smog even though I had rebuilt the emission control system 4 years ago (and it had passed HC and CO standards clean enough to meet 2001 model year specs).
The engine/trans rebuild went like clockwork. Yanking the old engine /trans took one weekend. Installing the rebuilt stuff and screwing around finding all the parts took 5 weeks. I didn't want to strip the old engine of the periphials - I intended to store it whole to lessen crud from getting inside it - what a dumb idea!
Anyway - Today, removed the distributor and primed the oil system. Spent 15 minutes screwing with the distributor to get it back in right.
Turn the key and it won't start. Install jumper cables and it barely turns over. Wait a bit and then hit the starter and it cranks... and cranks... and cranks....
Plenty of air and fuel but no spark. If this car had points I'd be all over it but it has Duraspark II - OOO! HTF can one debugg a black box?
With registration coming due in August and I have to go on travel starting August 1st, I only have 1 week to get it running, smogged and registered.
So... I decided if I can't get it running by Sunday the 23rd, I'm yanking engine and trans and junking the damn thing. The damn parts wagon is going into the scrap heap too. I've had it with these cars. I want the drive way back and those two POSs are in the way.
I could have spent the last 6 weeks getting the '84 Notch up and running or working on Friggin' Futura. Instead I wasted 6 weeks on a cracked windshield-rusting-dented-worn out-POS wagon that won't start for no stinking reason.
Ah, I feel better now - sorry for the long rant.
Dean T
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