1966 Wildcat Sport Coupe

Wow... go-go juice is expensive up there!

Keep up the awesome posts, Chuck. I always enjoy reading them!

 

US $4.79

 

Well that doesn't seem as bad, but it's $3.29 FL/US right now...

 

My wife had me get this made in West Edmonton Mall before we came home. I know it is off center. I will fix it....



I like it. That should fend off the first question I usually get anyways.

 

So, payday comes and I get permission to fill the fuel tank of the car. I found fuel for 1.50 a litre ( $6.00 a US gallon), so went down to fill up. I had 1/8th of a tank so knew it wasn't going to be cheap, but.... $114.20 to fill. I wasn't thinking and was watching the pump from inside the station, so when it showed 63.4 I was happy, until I realized that was litres, not price. I went home and confessed to the wife how much it cost to fill. She does out budgeting so I tell her everything I spend. No nasty surprises for her, and no lumps for me.

We went swimming with the Grandkids yesterday and, when we were getting ready, Aria said she wanted to drive in the car, not the Escape. Okay, it does have a full tank, so, why not?
It starts so much better now with a fresh(er) battery in it. The alternator gauge doesn't swing back and forth, just stays around 13.6 to 14 volts. I am so happy with that.

Well, nothing else really to say, mainly an update on the battery and the scary fuel costs. (Truck, with a 140 litre (37 US gallon) tank, is near empty, that is a scary thought.)

Have a great day all!

 

WoW, $6.00 per gallon.
Well Chuck, I guess I should stop complaining about gas prices at Shell stations in Northern Va
$3.58 per gallon for 87 octane and $4.60 per gallon for my Buick (93 Octane).

 

When I went to our local Triangle station (locally owned station, I try to support local when I can), I let the guy fill my car (I usually do it since most of them can't find the gas cap) and went inside since it was raining. I was talking to the young lad behind the counter and he said "Wow, $114, she must have been thirsty." I replied "It's not far to empty with a 425." The lad looked at me blankly and I didn't bother to tell him I was paraphrasing a quote from the James Garner movie Tank. The sheriff tells his posse "Everyone knows, it's not far to empty on a Sherman Tank".

Sorry, I'm rambling, but I love James Garner movies!

 

What a great thread,
Just read the whole thing.

Thanks for taking the time to write it all up.

 

Thank you. I find if I put things in writing, I can sometimes answer my own questions.

Have a wonderful day!

Chuck

 

$6 Canadian is comparable to $4.60-ish American.

 

The thing is an employee making $12 US has more buying power than a Canadian employee making $12 an hour. Our dollar presently sits at $.74 of a US dollar, but we have higher taxes, a lower population making things more expensive as it travels to each place... All I know is, with the small pension I have, driving the Wildcat is an expensive endeavour, but I still love it.

 

Chuck, you go ahead and enjoy your Buick as much as you can.
Life is way to short not too.
I've only had my 70 GS for 3 1/2 years and I try my best to drive and enjoy it as much as possible.
I have saved to buy a Buick for way to many years not to enjoy it. I don't like spending a lot of money to fill up the tank, but, i'am going to enjoy my Buick as long as i'am able to drive.

 

I took the Grandkids out to play this morning while Mommy Hiked and Daddy, Nana and Uncle Will played Dungeons and Dragons. We spent 2 hours at a park, until the heat increased, and the wasps came out. By then, it was 11:30, so I took them to McDonalds with a play place in it. pulled in and a gentleman in a late 90's Chevy P/U and camper complimented me on the car. I thanked him and ten he asked if it was for sale. I replied "No, sorry." and went inside. When we came out, another gentleman was looking the car over and said you don't see many old Buicks on the road. I replied that they were never a large segment of the GM lineup, but they are out there. I told him that there is a '70 Wildcat with no motor in it for sale on Kijiji, but the owner was adding in a 427. I know that the appropriate engine would be a 430 or 255, but, what can you do.

I really appreciate the comments I get, well, the positive ones anyway. I guess it is time to sign off and have lunch. Have a great day all!

 

Today was a work on the car day! Yeah!!! We got our Grandchildren to school (Short walk down the back alley) and, then I did my chores (dishes, bird cage, kitty litter....). After that, I went out to the car. Now to decide what to do today. First, I sanded down the fibreglass that I put on the fender before we went on vacation. Once it was sanded a little lower than the rest of the body, I washed the area down and let it dry. I mixed up a golf ball sized glob of body filler and started at the back. I ran out and had to mix up the same amount again. Once it was on, I went in to the house for a hour to let it set. After that, rinse and repeat. I haven't sanded the second coat yet. Tomorrow, I need to pick up some glazing putty. For now, it looks so much better already, at least to my eyes. I knew when I saw the bubbling paint that I was in for fun, or trouble. It all is your frame of mind I guess, eh? (Sorry, Canadian and I have to do that occasionally.)

 

I managed to put two more thin coats of body fill on the car, then fell over. My vertigo is just killer today. I got back up after a few minutes and put small daubs of fill in the low spots, then left it to dry until tomorrow. After I do my chores and take the Grandkids to school, I will be back at it. A little more sanding, then a little more... with ever finer grit sandpaper. I know, preaching to the choir here. I need to get some primer on it before tomorrow night as we are in for a day of rain. Inconvenient, I know, but we really do need the moisture.

I am far from a bodyman, and have no access to a garage or welder, but I do what I can. I like the way it is coming al0ng. Takes a while to do, but totally worth the effort to maintain the body on my girl.



Well, that's all for now. Busy day tomorrow so, goodnight all and, keep on truckin'. (Sometimes I think I never really left the 70's. )

 

Sand, add putty, sand, add putty... I have spent the last few days playing bodyman. I can now recall rebuilding a 1978 Subaru that had terminal rust on the front fenders. I rebuilt them with printer tin from the local newspaper and plenty of bondo. Painful recollections as I was young and broke. Now, I am old and.... broke. At least, this time I know better how to keep it from coming back right away.

I was not satisfied with the area at the top of the fender, so added a touch more. The front of the fender well and the rear are not too bad, so I thought. Once I added primer, I saw the one spot. Not too bad, in my opinion. I expected much more. I need to let it dry until tomorrow. Tuesday we have rain, so I need the primer and paint on it before then, or, back under the car cover.

No more holes. That makes me happy. I know how my old girl feels though. I feel like a little sanding on my rough edges would help me too!

Have a wonderful day, I am!

 

They moved the rain forecast up! Now, rain tomorrow afternoon, so, on with the paint. I can see areas where it is wavey, but, it sort of matches the rest of the area around it. I have two coats of paint and when it dries, I will clear coat the fresh paint. I had one area where there must have been a little moisture. I waited an hour, sanded it down again and re-painted it. The spray can is close, but not exact. At least no holes or bubbles.

 

So, as I am resting in bed, my eldest son, William, comes into the room. I could tell by his nervous attitude that he had something to ask me. "Dad, I just checked my account and I was wondering, if I put some gas in the Wildcat, can I use it today?" I looked at him with pride and said "Son, you do not have to put gas in the car, If you want to drive the Wildcat, that would be fine. I haven't been driving it since I got sick (two weeks, yikes!) and I would be pleased as punch if you drove it." He said that he would put some gas in it anyways and tried to hand me the keys to his Focus. I told him to hang them up, that Mom isn't going to let me drive yet anyways. He went out and had a big grin on his face as he drove away. I guess it is true, love of our cars is contagious.

 

It is so nice to be healthy again. One month of sick it too much, I don't wish that on anybody. So, my wife, Jenny, and her sister Jill have gone up to Mom's place for a week, back tomorrow. In this week, I have had the Grandkids since there wasn't school. Will decided, since Mom has his car (cheapest to run, a 2 Litre Focus SE), he would drive the Escape (3 Litre 4x4). That left only one vehicle since Jenny convinced me to put one vehicle into storage for the winter. Choose the F150, or the Wildcat to drive, she said. Tough choice, I'll drive the car! So this week, I have been driving the kids around in the car and they love it! Can't say I blame them.

While driving around, I noticed that the seat back, 0n the drivers side, doesn't stay in the hole where it is keyed. Hmm, what is going on. I took it apart and the hole is worn out badly so there is nothing to keep the tab in place. Being flat boke (as usual), I needed a plan. I looked at it for a few minutes, went inside and got my drill, bits, a washer, a file, and my rivet gun. I filled the hole out more, filed a keyhole groove into the washer, riveted it on and made, small adjustments until the seat works properly now. If you look down when you get in the back, you can see the washer with the seatback forward. Other than that, you cannot see it. I know, not really the proper way to fix it, but, I grew up with a Stepdad who tried to teach me to be self reliant, and to be able to fix things in the bush where parts are not always available. I am a bit of a failure in that department, but not because Dad didn't try. My fault entirely!

Well, am out of things to say today. Sorry for taking so long, but, wow, that illness really put me flat on my back. I pray no-one else gets it, ever!

Chuck

 

Today was payday (means fuel for the old girl!) and my wife and I took her Escape out to do our shopping and other things we needed to do. When we got home, I realized I forgot fuel for the Wildcat, so, I asked Jenny (better to ask permission than forgiveness, trust me!) if I could fill the car and go to the thrift store. She answered yes, so, off I went. I fueled up first ($55.00 for a 1/2 tank)and then drove over to the thrift store. After picking out a few items for my grandkids, I went back out to the car, started it up, pulled on the headlights and, no wait, where is the low beam on the drivers side. It was on when I arrived.... I went home, dug a spare low beam out of the trunk with a screwdriver and took it apart. As I was about to unplug the light to change it, I had a funny feeling, so, I got out the contact cleaner, cleaned the plug and the light, plugged it in, turned it on and, shining brightly (well, brightly for a halogen low beam will go). I put it all back together, checked it again, for peace of mind, put the new light, and the screwdriver away and, viola, all done.

That is the thing with these old cars, I guess anyways. They keep you one your toes all the time.

Well, have a great day to one and all, I know I am!

Chuck