Project Cars--You Get to Vote on "Hold 'em or Fold 'em"

fintail · May 6

There's also a "lost title" process at least in WA, but I am unsure how it works.

gsemike · May 7

oldfarmer50 said:
I noticed that at least one of the cars said “no title”. How could you ever register it regardless of restoration. Are there special exemptions for cars over a certain age?

In NY, titles are only issued for 1973 and later. Anything earlier only gets a transferable registration

sda · May 7

@gsemike said:
In NY, titles are only issued for 1973 and later. Anything earlier only gets a transferable registration

And the registration is the proof of ownership?

gsemike · May 9

@sda Yep

Being how few 73 and older cars are left on the road, I am surprised that haven't gone back and issued titles retroactively.

To transfer ownership, all you do is sign that back. Back then the receipt used to be written on a torn out piece of notebook paper

explorerx4 · May 15

Last fall I changed the oil in the Mustang for its' winter hibernation.
When I went to drop off the old oil at Advance, the rear brakes started making a scraping noise.
Needs new brakes but it can wait until the Spring.
About a month or so ago, took it to the gas station to put a few gallons of fuel in it.
Weather hasn't been good, so it sat since then.
Yesterday I decided to take it to a local shop that always has a lot of older cars being worked on.
This were thngs got weird.
I walk into the customer area and don't see anyone, so I fugure I'll just wait a bit.
Then, I hear a noise behind the counter, so I decide to just wait.
After a bit, a lady pops up and I tell her my car needs new rear brakes.
She was literally hiding from me and tells me they have no appointments until mid June.
I'm ok with that, as I don't need to drive the car.
She goes into the working area and a guy comes back with her.
He goes into this rant that he's unbelievably busy and call back in a month and a half.
I say OK, I'm not in a hurry.
Then says I have to take care of my customers that have been coming here for 35 years, I have to put a steering rack in a DeSoto, I charge $185 an hour for labor, if your car is older I charge $250 and I don't make any money.
I said I'll call you back in a month in a half, then I left.
When I told my wife about this, she said sometimes you scare people.

I'm working on plan B now.

kyfdx · May 15

Holy crap.. sounds like the guy can't keep any mechanics to help out. My independent has the same problem.

But he doesn't hide from me

ab348 · May 15

I think I mentioned my friend who has a 2008 S-class M-B bought pre-owned (3 years from new) at the local M-B dealer. He has always returned there for maintenance and repairs ever since. Last year he called to make an appointment for an oil change and they made it clear they didn't want to do that unless he did the full C level service which is very pricey, especially from them. It took some calls to inside people he knew from years ago (he has bought several Benzes from them over the years) before they deigned to do the oil change. But it obviously left a bad taste in his mouth.

I discovered today that the indie foreign car shop that used to be here has closed as the owner retired. But the reviews from M-B owners looking for a new indie shop all point to a place out in the suburbs whose website shows lots of examples of their work on lots of tricked-out Japanese performance cars like GT-Rs, Subie WRXs, Euro exotics, and similar high-dollar cars. I'm guessing an oil change on a Benz won't faze them much.

fintail · May 15

Yeah for an 08, find an indy. Probably not much cost savings on a simple oil change, but the savings on bigger jobs will add up fast.

Next week the fintail goes in for annual service, I am still thankful I found someone who will take it in.

oldfarmer50 · May 16

explorerx4 said:
Last fall I changed the oil in the Mustang for its' winter hibernation.
When I went to drop off the old oil at Advance, the rear brakes started making a scraping noise.
Needs new brakes but it can wait until the Spring.
About a month or so ago, took it to the gas station to put a few gallons of fuel in it.
Weather hasn't been good, so it sat since then.
Yesterday I decided to take it to a local shop that always has a lot of older cars being worked on.
This were thngs got weird.
I walk into the customer area and don't see anyone, so I fugure I'll just wait a bit.
Then, I hear a noise behind the counter, so I decide to just wait.
After a bit, a lady pops up and I tell her my car needs new rear brakes.
She was literally hiding from me and tells me they have no appointments until mid June.
I'm ok with that, as I don't need to drive the car.
She goes into the working area and a guy comes back with her.
He goes into this rant that he's unbelievably busy and call back in a month and a half.
I say OK, I'm not in a hurry.
Then says I have to take care of my customers that have been coming here for 35 years, I have to put a steering rack in a DeSoto, I charge $185 an hour for labor, if your car is older I charge $250 and I don't make any money.
I said I'll call you back in a month in a half, then I left.
When I told my wife about this, she said sometimes you scare people.
I'm working on plan B now.

My indie mechanic has accommodated me occasionally on the same day for unexpected repair needs. Appointments are available usually within a few days to a week at most. I imagine classic cars are in a different category though. Modern mechanics rely on scanners and electronic tools so they get frustrated by the straight mechanical designs of older cars.

xwesx · May 16

I cannot understand how ANYONE would want to trade the simplicity of mechanical systems for the insanity of all the electronics on more modern machines.

@explorerx4 Wow.... that's quite the shop story! Clearly, they don't want your business, so I'd take them at their word and maybe add a few more plans to that list. If you don't have it sorted by August, we can just make a Saturday of it.

explorerx4 · May 19

After my interesting experience at the repair shop lwat week, when I had my wife's Corsair in for service, I asked about getting the brakes looked at.
Brake inspection is $30 and I asked to get a price to do the work.
We will see how it goes. I just want to get the ball rolling on the long list of things that need to be done.

tjc78 · May 21

I’m surprised they don’t do a complimentary brake inspection at oil change time.

explorerx4 · May 21

@tjc78,
I should have been more clear. The brake inspection was for the Mustang.
Brought it in yesterday. The rear brakes were literally falling apart.
Paid and arm and a leg to get them rebuilt and brake fluid flushed but I picked it up today.
They kind of had me over a barrel but I didn't want to drive it without functioning rear brakes.
I forgot how the car felt with a normal brake pedal and no scraping noises when stopping.

ab348 · May 21

Now that the ATS is 8 years old, I tend to be a bit more liberal in doing what the dealer suggests at service time, at least at times. It was in for an oil change yesterday ($89 in worthless Canadian dollars using their coupon) and I had them do a brake fluid flush, which had never been done before. Pads are 8mm all around, so that’s good. With their coupon they are not any more expensive than an indie shop for those sort of things, plus they pay for a Uber to take you home after you drop off the car and also for one to bring you there when it is ready for pickup. I was surprised when the paperwork showed they had used Wynn’s brake fluid instead of genuine GM stuff, which I would have expected. No issues found.

tjc78 · May 21

@explorerx4 said:
@tjc78,
I should have been more clear. The brake inspection was for the Mustang.
Brought it in yesterday. The rear brakes were literally falling apart.
Paid and arm and a leg to get them rebuilt and brake fluid flushed but I picked it up today.
They kind of had me over a barrel but I didn't want to drive it without functioning rear brakes.
I forgot how the car felt with a normal brake pedal and no scraping noises when stopping.

Gotcha! Were they they original brakes? Did the Mustang have four wheel disk then or drum in the rear?

explorerx4 · May 21

@tjc78,
Yes, original brakes all around. Rears are drums, fronts are disks. Fronts are still ok.

xwesx · May 21

explorerx4 said:
@tjc78,
Yes, original brakes all around. Rears are drums, fronts are disks. Fronts are still ok.

And, I've been jipped out of another explorer Mustang automotive project. Who needs enemies?!

But, hey, at least now you get to drive your car all summer.

explorerx4 · May 21

@xwesx,
Thar was my thought, at least now I can drive it. IF the rain ever stops.

fintail · May 23

Got the project car back from service, no big issues. Every year I ask for a basic inspection for roadworthiness and I give a budget where they don't need to ask to proceed with work. This year the old dear got the usual LOF, they repaired a inop license plate light (the car has two, the other has always worked) that I think never worked in the time I've had the car, and the biggie, a new battery, as the 11 year old unit failed a load test. Not a huge deal as it owed me nothing at that age especially being on a generator car - new battery was $281 + tax for the large unit that looks like one may find in a big diesel truck.

I liked the comment "normal oil leaks for this vintage of car", it does have a smallish drip that I am sure is easier to live with than what might be some wild engine-out repair. I also asked to look into a front engine clatter that goes away if I spray water/lubricant on the belts/pulleys, but comes back when the engine is hot. They claimed they didn't hear anything odd. The car should be good for another year of pleasant weather driving.

fintail · May 26

Had the old car out in the warm weather yesterday, performed fine and wasn't too unbearable with the windows down. I notice the new battery cranks faster than the prior 2014 unit. I took a friend for a ride in the car, someone who hasn't experienced a car of that age, his reaction was amusing. The airplane style seatbelts and woodwork in the car were most interesting to him, and also reactions from others - "people are looking at this car", "just saw a thumbs up" etc. The car was all shined up as I give it the annual detail after it is serviced, such an unusual sight that I don't know if a new Ferrari would get more attention, and probably less positive attention.

oldfarmer50 · May 26

fintail said:
Had the old car out in the warm weather yesterday, performed fine and wasn't too unbearable with the windows down. I notice the new battery cranks faster than the prior 2014 unit. I took a friend for a ride in the car, someone who hasn't experienced a car of that age, his reaction was amusing. The airplane style seatbelts and woodwork in the car were most interesting to him, and also reactions from others - "people are looking at this car", "just saw a thumbs up" etc. The car was all shined up as I give it the annual detail after it is serviced, such an unusual sight that I don't know if a new Ferrari would get more attention, and probably less positive attention.

The weather has been so bad that I just pulled the convertible out of the barn 15 minutes ago. It needs a wash badly.

fintail · May 26

oldfarmer50 said:

fintail said:
Had the old car out in the warm weather yesterday, performed fine and wasn't too unbearable with the windows down. I notice the new battery cranks faster than the prior 2014 unit. I took a friend for a ride in the car, someone who hasn't experienced a car of that age, his reaction was amusing. The airplane style seatbelts and woodwork in the car were most interesting to him, and also reactions from others - "people are looking at this car", "just saw a thumbs up" etc. The car was all shined up as I give it the annual detail after it is serviced, such an unusual sight that I don't know if a new Ferrari would get more attention, and probably less positive attention.
The weather has been so bad that I just pulled the convertible out of the barn 15 minutes ago. It needs a wash badly.

Mother nature's car wash?

sda · May 27

@ab348 said:
Now that the ATS is 8 years old, I tend to be a bit more liberal in doing what the dealer suggests at service time, at least at times. It was in for an oil change yesterday ($89 in worthless Canadian dollars using their coupon) and I had them do a brake fluid flush, which had never been done before. Pads are 8mm all around, so that’s good. With their coupon they are not any more expensive than an indie shop for those sort of things, plus they pay for a Uber to take you home after you drop off the car and also for one to bring you there when it is ready for pickup. I was surprised when the paperwork showed they had used Wynn’s brake fluid instead of genuine GM stuff, which I would have expected. No issues found.

Thoughts of what may replace it and when?

Michaell · May 27

sda said:

@ab348 said:

Now that the ATS is 8 years old, I tend to be a bit more liberal in doing what the dealer suggests at service time, at least at times. It was in for an oil change yesterday ($89 in worthless Canadian dollars using their coupon) and I had them do a brake fluid flush, which had never been done before. Pads are 8mm all around, so that’s good. With their coupon they are not any more expensive than an indie shop for those sort of things, plus they pay for a Uber to take you home after you drop off the car and also for one to bring you there when it is ready for pickup. I was surprised when the paperwork showed they had used Wynn’s brake fluid instead of genuine GM stuff, which I would have expected. No issues found.

Thoughts of what may replace it and when?

The independent shop I've been using for the Outback has a Durango as the shuttle vehicle; when that's not available, they set me up with an Uber/Lyft to/from the shop.

ab348 · May 27

Michaell said:

The independent shop I've been using for the Outback has a Durango as the shuttle vehicle; when that's not available, they set me up with an Uber/Lyft to/from the shop.

Up here, it seems all of the dealers got rid of their service shuttle vehicles and the drivers when COVID hit, and never brought them back.

xwesx · June 2

So, this is a real hen's tooth... at least here in Alaska. Seemed like a pretty honest ad, though (if anyone can see it?):

ab348 · June 2

Hard to imagine it once looked something like this:

A shame it is so far gone.

texases · June 2

What's the problem? Just drop by your neighborhood Nash dealer for parts...

explorerx4 · June 2

It almost looks like 2 different style cars put together.

xwesx · June 2

Well, give that it looks mostly complete, it is probably not a horrible place to start for a resto-mod project.

oldfarmer50 · June 2

xwesx said:
So, this is a real hen's tooth... at least here in Alaska. Seemed like a pretty honest ad, though (if anyone can see it?):

At least it’s still on it’s tires and not sunk in the mud.

fintail · June 2

If you're in Fairbanks and need an insane labor of love project or a pile of unusual parts, might be a deal.

explorerx4 · June 5

Back in 1964, Mercury Comets lapped Daytona for 40 days, until they hit 100K miles.
I wonder if they were sold as low mileage cars after rolling over the odometers?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHJIs8tFaQg

fintail · June 15

Out on a warm final Sunday of spring - into the 80s so windows down weather. Car started and ran sweet as usual, got a thumbs up but no comments:

Happy Fathers Day to all the dads out there, I know it was my dad's presence who got me into cars. I just wish he had been more sentimental about his cars, and had taken pics of them and him/us with them. Even cars he really liked are hard to find in the albums, a big hassle in the pre-digital days I suppose.

Project Cars--You Get to Vote on "Hold 'em or Fold 'em"

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