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Along the lines of Justin's "abandoned" thread, thought some might enjoy my weekend with the '72. I parked this old car out at my place about 15 years ago. Was a tired old driver, and not worth much back then. Motor was barely moving any air, and leaving a blue haze wherever you travelled. So out came the motor. It got rebuilt, but somehow I just never had the time or urge to re-install it. Now with the value of "longhoods" (that seems to be the new term, but I never called them that)going through the roof, I thought it might be in my financial interests to have a look at the old '72T. I posted a feeler out on the Pelican last week, and was deluged with interest.
I took the first steps this weekend to evaluate the old '72. Took me half of Saturday to chop the weeds and brush away from it. First time I'd looked inside it in several years and the initial look wasn't good. Wood rats had moved in and made an extensive home of it. I almost gave up right then and there. They line their nests with cholla thorns. One hell of a mess! But I persisted, put some tires on it that held air, and tried to move it. To my surprise, It rolled easily after releasing the handbrake (got my first handful of cholla in the process). Rolled it around to the front and opened it up to let it air out.
Sunday I started cleaning it out. A tedious and unpleasant job, and many times I scolded myself for letting the car get like this (out of sight out of mind I guess). The worst is over now, but it will still go on for a while. In the process I got some inspection. As I expected the perishable stuff (carpets, upholstery, rubber) is completely shot. But underneath it all it was in perfect shape. Floors are still great. It will all clean up fine. Didn't get a look at the rear seat or parcel shelf area yet, but given what I've seen so far, I think all that probably survived well also. The factory sport seats (!) will need thorough refurbishing of course, but operated fine and the bases had no corrosion.
Then I moved up to the front compartment. No rats, but mice had built a nest behind the fuel tank. Less painful to remove than the rat's nest, but smelled worse. Found an obvious rust-thru on the fuel tank support on the passenger side by the battery. Battery acid, and probably a little water got in there sometime. From the bottom all looks well around the suspension pan, but at least that one area will need attention. Everything else looked pretty good. The front lip on the front bulkhead that holds the rubber body/bumper seal is still intact, which I always consider a good sign. At least so far, I have not seen any sign of chewed wiring, which was my biggest worry.
Then I took look inside the smugglers box. It contained the mummified remains of a 4' bullsnake. He was all wrapped up around the AC stuff. I suspect he was enjoying life in his Stuttgart smorgasborg, ate one mouse too many, and got trapped by his own fat belly. After much finagling, I was able to remove him (in pieces). Finished up the evening with one more good vacuuming and blowing out, and moved the car into my workshop. So the process is started. I'll keep cleaning and inspecting. Maybe next weekend I'll dig the motor out from under my bench, and get the transmission down out of the loft.
So here it is, rodent free and moved inside my shop. Its still a really good old car. Straight, solid, and generally un-screwed with. A shame I've let it sit out there for so long. But if nothing else, the Pelicanite requests for pictures encouraged me to get off my butt and do something with it.
Now if I just don't die from hantavirus, or come down with the bubonic plague!
Take care,
DG
I took the first steps this weekend to evaluate the old '72. Took me half of Saturday to chop the weeds and brush away from it. First time I'd looked inside it in several years and the initial look wasn't good. Wood rats had moved in and made an extensive home of it. I almost gave up right then and there. They line their nests with cholla thorns. One hell of a mess! But I persisted, put some tires on it that held air, and tried to move it. To my surprise, It rolled easily after releasing the handbrake (got my first handful of cholla in the process). Rolled it around to the front and opened it up to let it air out.
Sunday I started cleaning it out. A tedious and unpleasant job, and many times I scolded myself for letting the car get like this (out of sight out of mind I guess). The worst is over now, but it will still go on for a while. In the process I got some inspection. As I expected the perishable stuff (carpets, upholstery, rubber) is completely shot. But underneath it all it was in perfect shape. Floors are still great. It will all clean up fine. Didn't get a look at the rear seat or parcel shelf area yet, but given what I've seen so far, I think all that probably survived well also. The factory sport seats (!) will need thorough refurbishing of course, but operated fine and the bases had no corrosion.
Then I moved up to the front compartment. No rats, but mice had built a nest behind the fuel tank. Less painful to remove than the rat's nest, but smelled worse. Found an obvious rust-thru on the fuel tank support on the passenger side by the battery. Battery acid, and probably a little water got in there sometime. From the bottom all looks well around the suspension pan, but at least that one area will need attention. Everything else looked pretty good. The front lip on the front bulkhead that holds the rubber body/bumper seal is still intact, which I always consider a good sign. At least so far, I have not seen any sign of chewed wiring, which was my biggest worry.
Then I took look inside the smugglers box. It contained the mummified remains of a 4' bullsnake. He was all wrapped up around the AC stuff. I suspect he was enjoying life in his Stuttgart smorgasborg, ate one mouse too many, and got trapped by his own fat belly. After much finagling, I was able to remove him (in pieces). Finished up the evening with one more good vacuuming and blowing out, and moved the car into my workshop. So the process is started. I'll keep cleaning and inspecting. Maybe next weekend I'll dig the motor out from under my bench, and get the transmission down out of the loft.
So here it is, rodent free and moved inside my shop. Its still a really good old car. Straight, solid, and generally un-screwed with. A shame I've let it sit out there for so long. But if nothing else, the Pelicanite requests for pictures encouraged me to get off my butt and do something with it.
Now if I just don't die from hantavirus, or come down with the bubonic plague!
Take care,
DG
If the deal should fall through for what ever reason please let me know.I was really looking forward to a trip the states.All the best,Duncan
That strange habit they have of wearing skirts you know.
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