Previous Owner Strikes Again!

"jlmounce" (jlmounce) 08/25/2014 at 13:04 • Filed to: Firebird

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This weekend I finally had some time to see about moving my 1969 Firebird from it's current stored location at my parents place to my new house. I borrowed my uncle's pickup, hooked up my dad's trailer and set out to get the car on it.

That didn't happen as planned

The car has been sitting, unstarted, for about 4 months now. No fuel in the bowls, unlubricated engine etc. Compounding this is 462 cubic inches and over 11:1 compression. To say this engine eats batteries is an understatement.

The night before I put the battery (a 825 CCA, 1000 volt edition) on the trickle charge and let it feed for 24 hours. I got precisely 2 solid turns before I couldn't get the engine to turn any longer.

This particular battery was rather new, but I figured I'd take it in and get tested. On a load test and volt test the battery showed it was strong. Over 12 volts on an idle battery and it pulled 800 cranking amps without issue.

So....uh why am I not able to get this thing fired. Terminals are new as well as the battery cables. Checked the grounds. Last item...the starter.

Crawled up under the car and found a cheap knockoff factory replacement. One that would be been meant for a low compression 350. It's not bad mind you, it just doesn't have enough torque to turn the large, high compression engine. Especially with it dry.

Just another example of the previous owner cutting corners on this car. I'm gonna make one more attempt to fire the car this week and get it home. Then I'll call up RobMc and get a high torque Pontiac specific model.

Sadly, these little things that need attention are eating in to my wheel and tire budget. While I'll have to wait on my nice wheels (True Forged Chicanes in Matte Black)

On the up side I am picking up a set of these, which while cheap, I think are extremely cool and novel. Bassett DOT rated NASCAR steelies. These will function to get the car back on the road and once I pickup my good wheels, they'll retire as my race wheels.

lone_liberal > jlmounce 08/25/2014 at 13:09

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That sucks. On a related note, I tried starting my Camaro that has not run in years yesterday. It turned over few time, we put some gas in the carb, turned it over some more, it started to fire, put a little more gas in the carb, and then I got "click". Then when I tried it again I got silence. Battery is good, wires are good, so I'm guessing the starter or solenoid didn't want to actually work for a living. I have another one to put on but didn't have the time to do it and since the car is at my parents house I'll have to wait until I have the time to get up there again. I was so disappointed.

jlmounce > lone_liberal 08/25/2014 at 13:13

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It's a frustrating scenario to say the least.

lone_liberal > jlmounce 08/25/2014 at 13:15

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Yeah. It's nice when a car you have is an actual automobile, isn't it?

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > jlmounce 08/25/2014 at 13:16

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We really ought to have an ongoing series or even a tag along the lines of "curse you, previous owner!" So many good stories would result.

jlmounce > lone_liberal 08/25/2014 at 13:24

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I'd be super pissed if it was the auto I rely on for basic transportation. The fact the car is my toy makes it a bit easier to stomach.

jlmounce > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 08/25/2014 at 13:24

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That's not a bad idea!

KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 08/25/2014 at 13:31

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I could write an entire book about "Curse You, Previous Owner" with regards to my *house*.

PVC water supply lines are just the beginning.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > jlmounce 08/25/2014 at 13:32

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I know I myself have a sizable library from cars in the family, even if I'd have to spend some time collecting them. Like how the Ranchero had the whole cab roof replaced with a hand-hammered sheet of metal that was disguised with Bondo, or how my VW had the AC compressor mounted with stacks of washers, or how my Rover had floor patches which were installed on top of other (brazed) patches with rivets, or how my younger brother's Astro had the ABS light covered up with tape...

lone_liberal > jlmounce 08/25/2014 at 13:36

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That's very true. Disappointing but not a emergency situation. Still, I'd like to not have to answer the "are you going to get that running soon?" question anymore.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs 08/25/2014 at 13:37

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I'm thinking a series.

Book One: The Exorcism of Mickey

Book Two: The Ceiling Demons vs. The Lesser Woodstock Railroad

Book Three: The Case of the Painted Lightbulb

Book Four: Ritual Chambers of the South, or, Disembodied Daleks in the Festive Crawlspace

Book Five: The Murder Porch Experiment

Book Six: What the Woodpecker Heard

minardi > jlmounce 08/25/2014 at 13:38

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These were postedon oppositelock about 18 months ago I was looking for them! Thanks!!

camaroboy68ss > jlmounce 08/25/2014 at 13:39

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I though I had a starter issue this spring on my 68, pulled it out for the first real road use in two years, get in, find the key was left on(oops) well ok points are probably fried now, pulled cap and try we're luckily open(saved). So put the battery on a charger for a coue hours, nothing, ok let it sit for a little longer thinking wasn't charged enought to turn over, still nothing. Jack the damn thing up check cables, still nothing, ok has to be a starter, so pulled it and checked the solenoid. Looked good so put it back together and in the car again, nothing, pulled the starter and swapped it with another I had laying around. Got it turn over once, tried by passing the key by jumping the posts, finally went a bought a new battery and that was it. The other battery just would not charge at all.

KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 08/25/2014 at 13:44

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Book Seven: Under Pressure, the water-supplying Queen Story.

Book Eight: Dali and Architecture of the Late 1980s' Contemporary Style.

Book Nine: Weathering the Elements: Bob Vila on Sheds and Treehouses.

Book Ten: How to Install California Landscaping On Your Property. (You Too Can Look Like You've Lived Through An Earthquake!)

jlmounce > minardi 08/25/2014 at 13:47

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www.bassettwheel.com . They sell the DOT version in 15x7 and 15x8 in about any backspacing you could want. I spoke with Steve who was super nice and knew what he was doing as well.

jlmounce > camaroboy68ss 08/25/2014 at 13:48

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That's still on my mind. The battery tested fine, but I've seen batteries test fine, even on load, but were in fact bad.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs 08/25/2014 at 13:49

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Best to cut off at ten. One doesn't want to seem greedy. You can save remaining anecdotes for your autobiography or gardening guide.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > jlmounce 08/25/2014 at 14:07

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I was having trouble with the Montego one year and pulled the starter to see if that was the problem, took it in to have it tested and it almost ripped itself off of the machine after it was strapped down by two people. They said it was the strongest starter they ever tested....and to keep looking lol.

I like those wheels (the cheap ones) I'm gonna go look those up!