Well the 73 is back in running condition

[vigman]

So after a long slumber in my garage, my 73 is back online ( almost ) .....
It had a bad case of sitting to long itis......

Long story short ( er )
Retired on 7/30/13 ( OH FRICKING YEAH PLAY TIME )
Took a week out and literally dug the 73 out of the garage...
New battery, drained fluids, replaced said drained fluids... and on the 3rd crank ( after a few minutes with cranking and NO SPARK to get oil pressure up ) she FIRED..... and ran .. well like a car that had been sitting for a while...

So little by little we replaced that... ordered something else... etc etc..

Starting last sunday My son ( David ) & I determined the timing chain was gettin loose..
Today we finished a timing chain, new harmonic, new coolant lines, water pump, valve adjustment, compression test 150 X 8 +/- 3 psi... new plugs, wires set dwell ( yeah still points but not for long ), ungooed all the " vintage oil " in the mechanical oil pressure gauge & lines. And after all that..... The car ran like CRAP...
Low vac....VERY lumpy idle... well check the simple stuff first... PVC NFG... PHEW...

So David took it for a little cruise and came back grinning.....So he went back out to fill the tank... on the way back
The overflow cap popper off ( plastic rotted ) and landed on the exhaust Thought the car was on FIRE... and a few seconds later the PS quit.......LOL

And that's where we are today

 

[vigman]

And a bit more eye candy

This car survived 2 divorces, 1 PSYCO girlfriend ,The Northridge earthquake.. oh and me in Highschool-college.

 

[Bob Chadwick]

Congrats on getting the Beast running again!

 

[Toms007]

so cool to see it back and "running". Looking forward to the complete resurrection.

 

[bill81vette]

I'll bet there were big smiles when the vette fired up and ran!!!!!
I'm sure you will get it fixed and running!!!!

 

[LT4man]

Great to see your Vette running again!

 

[vigman]

Thanks for all the welcome backs & congrats ~

There's many years of aging issues.. like OH that was rubber at one point so it will be a SLOW SURE STEADY progress....
Main priority get her to be a reliable runner.. So there are still a PILE o things under the hood to do.....
My 64 was ( is ) still a lot like this.. and many years later it's " nice" but not " DONE " ... but then we are never " Done" are we gents?!

Mike

 

[vigman]

For many years this was her fate then things happened

1) For many years she sat in silence till 9-10
2) It took a WEEK to dig her out
3) Just to get HERE 10-3
4) Days of final prep.

 

[Mac]

Congrats on the retirement! Playtime, indeed!!

Mac

 

[navy2kcoupe]

YEP! Like a buddy of mine in Florida has in his email signature..........
"Every day's a Saturday!"
Andy

 

[vigman]

Expensive setback

OOPS.... Well things were going a bit to well on the 73 project...The rear main seal dribbled.. and now I have oilsoakedslippyclutchitis. Well considering front harmonic balancer seal was no longer rubber but black NON rubber, the rear must be FAR WORSE. Can't complain it's still the same "racing clutch" from 1985 !?! So back in the garage she goes till post tax time..Sigh...