Man i hate when i do stuff like this,
One year ago i bought my 1st wagon off ebay.When it was shipped to the house the description wasn't exactally correct.Imagine that somebody on ebay not being honest. >:(
The body was pretty straight but not as good as the write up.The smog was removed which makes reselling it a problem.He somehow got a smog cert. from shady mechanic so he could sell it to some poor sap like me :ih8u:
Anyway i spent another $1000 dollars and 100's of hours getting this beast ready for the wife to drive.I stripped the fake wood trim sticker stuff off "what a pain" Welded up the old trim holes bondoed it ,shot primmer blocked it and finally sprayed color at the end of summer.Redid the interior lights new hoses ,so on so on.
The only thing that wasn't done was the very tired 2.8.I looked on the web for almost a year for a good replacement engine
.Thats when we ran across the new wagon .Way cleaner 52,000 miles almost perfect.The wife fell head over heels for the new little pony. :-*
Now the other wagon just sits looking lonely.I cant decided if i should strip it down and save the parts.Or file for a nonop and put some nasty butt engine in it.It just happens to be a 78 just like my new one.I really don't need another car clogging up the shop.We have six others between the two of us. Just so you know there all cherry no junk.
I guess I'm on a rant ! Really no need to reply ! Unless you can enlighten me ???
:peace: Mad in sebastopol
Hello Imhoppy,
I am sorry to hear what you went through. But it sounds like you have allot into that car. It just so happens that the 2.8 is the easiest to do the v8 conversion to because you dont need to beef up the front end to handle the extra weight of a 302/289 and it already has the 8.8 inch rear end. I was also pleased to find that the v8 distributor of that same 70's era plugged right into the existing wiring as well as the throttle cable was just the right length to work as is with a modified bracket.
I take it from your comment about finding a new v6 online that you dont do your own engines. well that v6 is not a bad little animal if rebuilt properly. Based on what you said you did to the car you would probably get away cheapest by having that engine done locally. You can save some money by taking it out and diassembling it yourself and then putting it back in. Let me know, i'd be happy to advise you if I can.
High_Horse
Imhoppy....Saw were you live...
Sebastapol....I went to High School in Forestville...El Molino.
I remember Sebastapol from 1968 to about 1973.
Camero's and Corvettes back then....$1200 For my First 1968 Camero...
Dave in Az.
I feel a little better today maybe a wee bit less bitter about a relatively trivial problem as a extra wagon.
That is pleasent news about the V-8 transplant.If i did that i would have to make it a screamer.And race it over the hill at sears point raceway.Drove by it today when i noticed the sign for wed. night grudge races.I raced down at baylands in Fremont 20 years ago.
I do have a passion for wrenching as well as bodywork"Most people hate body work but i kind of like it".
My dad built his own cars when i was a kid so i learned alot of tricks by watching him in his shop.He could beat out a panel and get it almost perfect with heat and a rag.Me i not as patient. A thin layer of glazing putty is good enough for me.
The deal with the engine is i was looking for a cheaper alternative to rebuilding it myself.As well as the time factor i tend to move from 1 project to the next.So when i set a goal i work like mad to finish it the goal on the wagon was paint.After i finished spraying the pinto.I was chomping at the bit to restore a 74 Datsun z.Now that its done.Along comes another pinto.
Oh well Ill make the decision this long weekend on the fate of the wagon.
Thanks for the reply high horse more food for thought.
Wow Dave small world we actually live in freestone.Since you know where sebastopol is you might remember the "village" as the local hippies call it.My oldest boy went to EL MO the other one went to Analy H.S The A is pronounced like the a in apple, not like the place you poop. :showback:
The oldest was real academic takes after mom.The younger one liked cars,football and girls takes after dad.They are both off to college now so i guess the California school system didn't fail this time.Anyway if you ever make it up this way let me know.Ill give ya beer.
See ya Mike
Great..I get up there every year or so...Was there 5 weeks ago to go up to Sac and get a 71 Pinto.
Sorry the "Analy" was a dig. Who won the Golden Apple last year?...I wasn't a jock but a Gearhead so I just watched the games. In 73 the Apple was handed over from one football captain to another after the win...Both were on strechers!!!! I really can not remember who won???? More intrested in Girlfriend after game :amazed:
My parents moved the family to Forestville in 1968 so we did not have to go to school in San Francisco....The local bar "Spears Market" had a sign on the door NO HIPPIES.
I was the only white kid among 50 mexicans ( wow It was strange) picking apples because I wanted money for a car ( first car 13 years old, first ticket 13 years old)...Dad said earn it! Now that area is all grapes! Those were REAL good years.
Remember Pocket Canyon between Forestville and Guernville? One guy at the Standard Station in Forestville...One guy at the Shell station in Guernville. Both on phione with stop watches...16 miles of twisty rode (hwy 116). Anyway we raced timed between the two stations a few minutes apart because it was too dangerous to race side by side!
And now I am in a Pinto ha Ha Ha. I wouldn't even consider anything without a V8 then..Oh yeah Gas 28 cents a gal..
Bye for now,,Dreamin' Dave
hate to rain on your parade, but the 2.8 v6 is actualy LIGHTER than the 2.0/2.3 4 cylinders, so the springs are actualy a worse choice for a V8 swap.
-Harry