My neighbors 'new' 70 SS convertible. - Page 3

Hank70SS · #21 09-22-2012, 06:46 PM

Thanks Tony, you're welcome to come down anytime. Drag Kathy along and we'll make an afternoon out of it. Hey, maybe we can drag Ray out of his cave too. Of course Ric is always welcome too.

As far as his car, I'm trying to step back and let him decide how to proceed, he's a funny guy. A nice guy, great neighbor and good friend but... well I'll leave it at that.

He knows some of the things that are wrong, runs hot, wouldn't idle for shit, windows don't line up, top doesn't seal, oil leak, loose control arm bolts, no grease in front end. I've told him more than once that I'd be glad to help and he can borrow any tools he needs anytime he needs them.

He's funny though, "Well I need to buy my own tools, I can't be borrowing yours all the time and I need to learn how to do this stuff. I don't want to be coming over all the time bothering you."

I told him, yes you can borrow my tools, why buy something you may only use once if I have it. You can learn on your own but you'll screw up a lot just like I did. Maybe I can help you from screwing just a little. As far as bothering me, hell I'm retired, what else do I have to do, besides I like playing with Chevelles.

Anyway, it's only been a week, he needs to get over the new car excitement. Then maybe decide how he wants to take care of all this stuff. He knows he'll need some help, he's just reluctant to ask.

BTW: You didn't get any tickets in the mail from when I drove the Nomad did you? I hope not, I don't think they have a lot of video cameras in Frankenmuth so you're probably okay. If you do I think you can use your BI 'Perks Club" earnings to pay them.

FlintTony · #22 09-23-2012, 06:11 PM

BTW: You didn't get any tickets in the mail from when I drove the Nomad did you? I hope not, I don't think they have a lot of video cameras in Frankenmuth so you're probably okay. If you do I think you can use your BI 'Perks Club" earnings to pay them.

Well that explains the 500 dollar ticket that arrived in the mail from the FPD. Says that I was "driveing recklessly and appeared to be intoxicated". I guess that beings I'm such a fair guy, just send me half of the fine and I'll cover the rest.

Hank70SS · #23 09-24-2012, 06:58 AM

I'll get that check in the mail today Tony. Our mail man is pretty unreliable so no telling how long it will take to get there.

Hank70SS · #24 09-24-2012, 06:33 PM

So the latest is he's going to take it to a local GM dealer so they can put in on a hoist and determine if it's a rear main or oil pan leaking. Then, regardless of results he's renting a trailer and hauling it to the OH-PA border where the builder will take it the rest of the way. They'll take care of the problem then reverse the process, meet at the OH-PA border, to return the car.

Not sure why he needs to take it to a dealer if the builder is going to deal with the problem whatever it is.

Oh this is good. old guy that lives next to Darryl, across the street from me, was a manager of an engineering group at the GM Milford proving grounds and the Warren tech center for like 200 years. Okay, I exaggerated, he's 81 and just retired a couple years ago. Started at GM as a teenager, I hear they forced him out.

Anyway, he says GM won't warranty the rear main seal because they didn't install the engine. The installer could have nicked the seal while installing the trans so they won't cover it. Let's see, you have a 14" diameter flywheel bolted to the end of the crankshaft, along with the clutch assembly, while trying to installing the trans. You could hurl that trans at the back of the engine all day long and never hit the rear main seal. Might screw-up the clutch assembly, hell, maybe even bend the end of the crank but you'll never get close to the rear main seal.

Even with no flywheel you would have to work pretty hard with a pick or something to nick the rear main seal once it's installed. I decided to concede and walk away. It's a mute point since the builder is going to deal with the issue whatever the problem is. Got better things to do than debate the issue with an 81 year old guy.

Oh, this is good too. I should stop but this IS good. Okay, maybe I'll start a new post, "My neighbor Gus"

Bowtie-Bri · #25 09-24-2012, 11:57 PM

Hank,

If it turns out to be the rear main seal, I hope they install a Felpro one piece pan gasket when they reinstall the oil pan.

Hank70SS · #26 09-25-2012, 07:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bowtie-Bri

Hank,

If it turns out to be the rear main seal, I hope they install a Felpro one piece pan gasket when they reinstall the oil pan.

Engine comes with a 7 gt pan with 1 piece pan gasket. The GM 4 qt pan kit, which the claim they used, comes with a new 1 piece pan gasket. Also a dipstick, new oil pickup and 4 main cap bolts. You have to remove the windage tray and the 4 studs that it mounts to.

I used the GM kit on my 454HO and reused the gasket that came on the engine, it was still brand new. About the only thing you can do to that gasket is over tighten the pan.

Ms Grumpy · #27 09-25-2012, 08:36 PM

Wow. What a mess. I hope he gets it straightened out.

Hank70SS · #28 09-29-2012, 06:30 PM

Well Nancy, I got a chance to mention the other stuff I saw. I needed the right time to bring it up. He was already a little pissed about no grease in the front suspension and loose control arm bolts. I asked him if he was going to have them adjust the convertible top rails while they had the car and he said yes. We had looked at before I and it was obvious there was still an 'S' in the rail when the top was up. I also said once they got that right they needed to adjust the window properly.

He said he already started a list of things and told Tony that if they couldn't adjust the windows properly he wanted them to reinstall the non-power windows. I had mentioned before Tony's excuse about after market stuff didn't fly. If they're that bad he should have told Darryl up front, not use it as an excuse later.

So I mentioned the dash pad and showed him. Actually the pad is at least an inch further away from the windshield on the passenger side. I also asked why the rear lower control arms were silver when they should be black like the frame, he said he would ask.

So he brought it over today so we could check the timing and adjust the carb. I would say they used an impact wrench to tighten down the distributor but I know you can't get one in there. I did hit the vacuum advance can while loosing it. It moved a little and I tried to put it back to where it was, I wanted to know where they had it timed at.

Well when I checked it, it was at 4* after TDC. I'm sure I didn't get it back exactly where it was but I know it wasn't more than a few degrees off. I set it to 14* for a start and adjusted the carb. While adjusting the timing and the carb the temp only went to around 190. It was over 200 when they were messing with it the day they delivered the car and it was cooler outside that day then today.

Oh, he told me that Tony said they have an engine guy that spends 5 hrs setting up the engine. Maybe 4hr 59 minutes sitting in a chair next to it and 60 seconds getting it to idle at 1,200 rpm without stalling.

Ms Grumpy · #29 09-29-2012, 08:41 PM

Hank, it sounds like he was willing to listen to what you had to say about the car. He seemed to have taken it well, and according to your post he even had more items to add to his list after talking with you. I am glad that you were able to talk to him about it, and I bet you might even feel a little better having that off your chest. Now lets hope that he is able to get all the problems taken care of. I am keeping my fingers crossed for him. Let us know the progress.

Hank70SS · #30 09-30-2012, 04:02 PM

He does trust what I say, God knows why, and has quite a list for them. I just needed to hear from him that he wasn't happy and wanted to find out what else I thought.

Like I said, it can be a tricky situation. Don't want to insult the guy or his car, needed to know he was looking for input.