I love my '68 GS400 Convertible, but sometimes I just get frustrated that there always seems to something that needs attention. It has a "Miss" on one of the cylinders when it is cold that I just can seem to find the cause of. As I drove to work with it this morning the slight lifter tick along with the rear differential "Hum" just pissed me off more than usual. Then I go out at lunch to see a small pool of antifreeze on the ground by the radiator . I think (I hope) one of the hose clamps just needs to be tightend a little more (easy fix). I know that this is part of the hobby, but sometimes I get sick of throwing time and money at it (both of which I do not have a lot of). :gt: Sorry, had to vent... :spank: I really don't know what I would do without a classic Buick in my garage.. So in the end I guess its all worth it..
I know mine really isn't a classic, but it definitely is a project. When I finally pulled it out, something would go wrong every 2 days like clockwork. And with this car, you can try 10 different ways to do something and it still won't be right. case in point - I needed to get out the O2 sensor, so I used a socket wrench, right? wrong. got it on jackstands and tried a breaker bar. wrong again. ran the car for a good 30 minutes till the manifolds were nice and hot. still wouldn't go. finally broke out the propane torch and cooked it for a good 10 minutes while my dad (lots bigger than me) was throwing his weight on it. well, that got it loose and his hands slipped and he cracked a knuckle so bad he needed 2 stitches. Another time, we tried to get the thermostat housing off, but the steel bolts were corroded in the aluminum intake so they both broke off. couldn't use an EZ out because they were too hard. used a drill and cracked 4 bits, tried carbide and cracked 3 of those. Then we got out the grinding stones and got them out, but really gouged out the holes too. so we used JB weld on them and threaded it and put in helicoils, and the JB didn't stick to the aluminum, so we needed to replace the manifold. Getting that done, I had vacuum leaks in random spots for over 3 months (you try to find all the vacuum ports on a 307). At times, I hate this car.
Its all part of the "fun" .....if you wanna play, you've gotta pay - one way or another. This was the 10th year owning my GS. For the first 6 years, it was "Attempt to fix 1 thing, Break 2 other things in the process, and find at least one other thing wrong while fixing the first 3....." Since the Resto/new motor in '98 I haven't had too many things go wrong. I can usually just go out to the garage, turn the key, drop the top and Zoooom !!! .....except for blowing the head gaskets .....and blowing the rear end (that doesn't sound right uzzled: ) .....and the converter bolts coming loose making me think i blew up the motor .....and a few set of header gaskets AND ......I've still got the carpets to do ......I ripped the newish drivers seat cover this year (sitting in it with a screwdriver in my back pocket ou: ) .....The Power window harness in the drivers door is shot Which reminds me .... The rear power window switches have never worked .....The horn mysteriously doesnt either now ......Ohh !! and neither does the fan blower Ohhh Heyyy !!! I got a Turbo car and a SportWagon too begging for attention that I've let sit all summer !!! thats why I sold my other GS convert. and the Skylark o No: Anyone know where the money went o No: Mike - You're not alone Buddy
I've felt the same way. I have so many other projects, I don't get to work on the Buick much. Last February I put another motor into it, and took me six months to get that motor cleaned out enough it would not overheat. So I want to drive it to the racetrack two months ago and I check the brake fluid and there is none! 1st: New master cylinder 2nd: notice rubber brake hoses cracked 3rd: Brake bleeder screws off trying to bleed brakes 4th: New wheel cylinders on back, now doesn't stop... Still have to put hoses on front and rear and replace front wheel cylinders.... I'm working on it this weekend. I get really frustrated with it, but it's my long term project. If I have a week between problems then it doesn't bother me so bad. I just want to be able to drive it when I feel without something breaking. But I love it!
I guess I am not alone. I think it just got to me this time because both of my daily drivers have to go in the shop for some sort of ABS repair and neither of them are under warranty. My 2000 Cavalier has the ABS, Service Engine and Traction Control light come on anytime the temp drops below 40 deg F. My 2000 GMC Jimmy has some sort of "pump" running (drivers front side) when it first starts up (runs for 30 seconds and stops). Dealer (over the phone) thinks it may be the ABS pump going bad?. I have to take (schedule some time) both in to be checked on their machine. $$$$$$$$$$ I am sure. I guess overall cars S#$k. :blast: But, man my GS looks good sitting in the parking lot today.. :TU:
You're "preachin' to the choir" Mike! And all I can say is... AMEN! Take your frustration.... and multiply it by how many cars we have.....and you're walking in my shoes. :gt: But I wouldn't have it ANY other way! :laugh: :beer
This sounds like your AIR pump. It will run at startup, and if I am not mistaken, at WOT. It pumps air into your catalytic converter so that the vehicle meets clean air standards. If your hearing it, moisture may have invaded it. I had an '01 Sonoma, and the AIR pump was on the driver side, seemed like right behind the radiator down at bumper level.
Oh no, not the air pump:eek2: I had that thing replaced 6 times (no lie, almost every 3 weeks) last year between December and March by the dealer. Moisture was getting into it and causing it to freeze and then seize... At that time the truck was under warranty, but not any more... I did get a letter from GM stating that the pump was covered for the next 5 years but I bet I will still have to pay for labor..:af:
Don't you just hate it when it's your own fault something get broken/damaged? At least it went into the seat cover instead of the other direction! :eek2: :jd:
Yeh, I used to get really bent when it was my daily driver, always fixing something. That's why I decided to do a total resto. Now I get frustrated 'cause I can't find the time to work on it and when I get the time I'll probably run out of money. The last car I built (an SS Chevelle) only gave me trouble cause I hammered on it harder than it was built for other than that it was very dependable. My plan is to do this one right so I can enjoy it as much as possible even if it does take for ever. :gt:
I feel your pain! Although I have been blessed from time to time with the generosity of several members here. You guys all know who you are! :TU:
Frustrated? No, never. Having the nut pull out of a lower ball joint while driving down the highway one week and then dropping a valve the next didn't frustrate me one bit. I enjoy spending all my free time working on my car, it lets me wear smelly greasy dirty clothes and beg loaner cars from people. I also enjoy dealing with parts managers at auto parts stores who have no flipping idea what they're talking about, it's good practice for keeping my temper when they say things like, "'70 Buick? Jeez, gonna be a hard time finding stuff for one of them front wheel drive Buicks that old. What's the motor, a 307? A 455? Chevy made them, thought it was 454....oh, it's a Buick motor? Made them 'till '76? You sure? That big? Wow, good engine, always liked the Rockets" ~disclaimer- that is half of a conversation I had today with a manager who not only couldn't find head gaskets, he said "not a chance of getting them" So no, my classic car never frustrates me.
Gee, I guess I should consider myself lucky. My 31 year old 225 is my daily driver, about 8K-10K miles a year, and I've only broken down twice. Once, when the battery went kaput, and once when the starter went kaput. Otherwise, its been more realiable than my grandmother's '92 Park Ave. I even slid it into a ditch once. Come to think of it, I've had good luck w/ my two cars so far. My '78 Impala had no major problems either. Only broke down once in that car from a dead alternator. Had to put a master and water pump in it. Otherwise it was still running w/ over 150,000 on the 250 when my stepdad sent it to the junkyard :af: .
