It's been a busy summer and while I haven't had a lot of time to work on the car, I have been enjoying it. In driving it around, I have had several instances where the car would pretend to have a dead battery.
The previous owner had replaced the battery and put a modern alternator with a built-in voltage regulator on it -- the battery is fine and charging system is fine. The cables to the body and starter seems to have developed some corrosion and fail to let enough voltage through to turn the car over.
When the car won't start, I get out, jiggle the negative and positive wires at the body, starter connections and viola. I need to get disconnect, lightly sand the connections, and put some dielectric grease on them to prevent corrosion from building it back up and preventing the starter from turning over.
Monday, July 7, 2008
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Spring Sprung
Had the car out for a few drives this past week and really need to get these leaks stopped. It was just warm enough to have the top down, but windows up; and as long as the sun was out, it was nice. Sure was nice to cruise around again. With 93 octane pushing $4/gallon its a little pricey to drive around.
The battery has needed to be charged a couple of times, and I can't figure out where the drain is.
In the past few months, I've purchased a view things from eBay, I have the 68 Fischer Body Manual, and the 68 Pontiac Service Manual; both original publications, which I purchased for about $20 each. Reprints are going for $30-40. The books are give very good detail, with reasonable assembly diagrams. I couldn't see why I would by reprints when I could get originals for less.
One of these days, I will have to try to do some forensics on the 350 motor that is in it. It is a Chevy, not a Pontiac -- which I really don't have that much of a problem with but it would be nice to know more specifics about it. It doesn't seem like a crate motor, it seems like it was taken out of one car and put into this one. I would not be surprised if this car started life as a 6 cylinder. Actually, for $50, you can get the Pontiac Historical Society to look up the original equipment and copies of the dealer order forms, factory billing history and other information about the car's original configuration, like color, options, hardtop, etc. I could see where that would be important for a correctly restored car, but this Le Mans is unlikely to ever be restored to original condition... and usually, this restoration kind is generally reserved for Le Mans' big brother the GTO.
The battery has needed to be charged a couple of times, and I can't figure out where the drain is.
In the past few months, I've purchased a view things from eBay, I have the 68 Fischer Body Manual, and the 68 Pontiac Service Manual; both original publications, which I purchased for about $20 each. Reprints are going for $30-40. The books are give very good detail, with reasonable assembly diagrams. I couldn't see why I would by reprints when I could get originals for less.
One of these days, I will have to try to do some forensics on the 350 motor that is in it. It is a Chevy, not a Pontiac -- which I really don't have that much of a problem with but it would be nice to know more specifics about it. It doesn't seem like a crate motor, it seems like it was taken out of one car and put into this one. I would not be surprised if this car started life as a 6 cylinder. Actually, for $50, you can get the Pontiac Historical Society to look up the original equipment and copies of the dealer order forms, factory billing history and other information about the car's original configuration, like color, options, hardtop, etc. I could see where that would be important for a correctly restored car, but this Le Mans is unlikely to ever be restored to original condition... and usually, this restoration kind is generally reserved for Le Mans' big brother the GTO.
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Winter Time is Forever in the East
Winter has never been longer than this past winter.... The convertible has been just sitting in the garage looking at me the whole of winter. Even so, it has been tough to find the time (or desire) to go out in the freezing garage and poke around.
I find it hard to get started on a project that you don't see immediate benefit from. Maybe I'll be more likely to start working on getting her back out on the road. I literally have done nothing but start it in January. I did try to start it last week and the battery is dead. Early spring time, I want to address the transmission leak -- jeeze, seems like deja vu from last spring; give it a tune up and oil change and enjoy it this summer.
Here's looking to April and May and the end of being in limbo.
I find it hard to get started on a project that you don't see immediate benefit from. Maybe I'll be more likely to start working on getting her back out on the road. I literally have done nothing but start it in January. I did try to start it last week and the battery is dead. Early spring time, I want to address the transmission leak -- jeeze, seems like deja vu from last spring; give it a tune up and oil change and enjoy it this summer.
Here's looking to April and May and the end of being in limbo.
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