Look what followed us home - wife says I can keep it!
#1
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St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18-‘19-'20-'21-'22-'23-'24
Look what followed us home - wife says I can keep it!
Well a couple weeks ago there was a project '64 on the "Opinions on these C1-C2's For Sale" thread which caught my eye. Contacted the seller but he said it was sold. A couple days later I got a message saying the deal fell through.
Long story short, between a very understanding wife, and some advice and support from Benton (ChattanoogaJSB) I reserved a Uhaul "just in case" and we made the 990 mile trip from western NY to northern Iowa.
It has the usual problem at the kickups, not sure if it's repairable or needs a new frame. And the hood cable is broken and I don't even know whether it's a 250 or 300hp. Birdcage looked good through the remote probe. I have the car's entire history, even the owner's manual, radio instructions, and other paperwork. From what I can tell, it is very close to original although obviously quite ratty.
We came to a price fair to both sides given the unknowns involved, moved it from where it has sat for 10+ years, and uhauled it home. Once I knock down a wall in the garage and make some space, I'll go over it in detail and no doubt will have a ton of questions here. (unlike n00bs, I DO know how to use the "search" function ). .Plans are to keep it fairly close to original, but not go the NCRS route, but to have fun tinkering, and ultimately driving the wheels off it.
And while it's great to have a C-2 after 40+ years without one, I have no plans to get rid of our C-4, either.
Long story short, between a very understanding wife, and some advice and support from Benton (ChattanoogaJSB) I reserved a Uhaul "just in case" and we made the 990 mile trip from western NY to northern Iowa.
It has the usual problem at the kickups, not sure if it's repairable or needs a new frame. And the hood cable is broken and I don't even know whether it's a 250 or 300hp. Birdcage looked good through the remote probe. I have the car's entire history, even the owner's manual, radio instructions, and other paperwork. From what I can tell, it is very close to original although obviously quite ratty.
We came to a price fair to both sides given the unknowns involved, moved it from where it has sat for 10+ years, and uhauled it home. Once I knock down a wall in the garage and make some space, I'll go over it in detail and no doubt will have a ton of questions here. (unlike n00bs, I DO know how to use the "search" function ). .Plans are to keep it fairly close to original, but not go the NCRS route, but to have fun tinkering, and ultimately driving the wheels off it.
And while it's great to have a C-2 after 40+ years without one, I have no plans to get rid of our C-4, either.
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04-15-2018, 10:06 AM
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St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18-‘19-'20-'21-'22-'23-'24
Cliff notes - details of the transaction and trip. Feel free to skip if you don't care to read it all!
Y'all might enjoy hearing a few details of the process. As I said, I was not even sure what it was like. Seller was the niece of the previous owner, and while they were wonderful people neither she nor her husband are "car guys". To complicate things after the previous buyer backed out when he saw the bad kickups, the couple was headed to Vegas for a few days and could not take more pics. And as I said the hood would not open.
So we arranged to make the trip, they agreed since we were making that much effort they would not sell it till we got there. (the guy said once the Craigslist ad went up he was bombarded with replies, and was having a time of it responding to all). So I loaded every possible thing in the truck "just in case" - jack, jack stands, cordless drill, PB Blaster, every hand tool I could think of, and more.
When we got there and met them at 8:30AM the car had not moved in 10 years at least, she said it may have been 20. The uncle had bought a '93 Vette and I think after than he didn't bother with the '64. Right front was flat and I jacked it up and the wheel would not turn, no surprise. They really seemed like straight shooters and she assured me the car was running when parked so I didn't even bother trying to open the hood.
The previous lookers who backed out, or called and made offers and never showed up, helped because I was able to say "I am here now, I can pay now, and it will be out of here by tonight". We made the deal - we came to a number that they would accept, but which recognized I was taking some risk with the unknown parts.
I hit Harbor Freight for a come-along and a set of the sliding wheel dollies. Sprayed the heck out of the brake drums with PB Blaster - and managed to free up that right front. Jacked it up and put the dollies under, swung the car around to the garage door. Picked up the U-haul which I had reserved and used a chain and the come-along to crank it up the ramps. Tires were so shot we had to keep airing them up so it would roll (did I mention I also brought along a small pancake air compressor?)
So we had arrived at the shop at 8:32AM, and at 2:52 PM we pulled out onto the highway to begin the trip home. The seller had tears in her eyes several times during the process, she remembers riding in the car as a kid and as I mentioned the uncle had the car from the mid-60's until he passed away a year or so ago. After the deal and some work the husband asked half joking, half serious "Have you got it sold yet?" I assured them both I am not flipping it and will be giving it as good a home as I can. I could see her perk up at that.
Sorry to ramble but some of you guys asked for more details so there you go. They ARE still out there, and once in a while the whole thing comes together. I know there is a ton of work and expense ahead, but I'm looking forward to it!
Y'all might enjoy hearing a few details of the process. As I said, I was not even sure what it was like. Seller was the niece of the previous owner, and while they were wonderful people neither she nor her husband are "car guys". To complicate things after the previous buyer backed out when he saw the bad kickups, the couple was headed to Vegas for a few days and could not take more pics. And as I said the hood would not open.
So we arranged to make the trip, they agreed since we were making that much effort they would not sell it till we got there. (the guy said once the Craigslist ad went up he was bombarded with replies, and was having a time of it responding to all). So I loaded every possible thing in the truck "just in case" - jack, jack stands, cordless drill, PB Blaster, every hand tool I could think of, and more.
When we got there and met them at 8:30AM the car had not moved in 10 years at least, she said it may have been 20. The uncle had bought a '93 Vette and I think after than he didn't bother with the '64. Right front was flat and I jacked it up and the wheel would not turn, no surprise. They really seemed like straight shooters and she assured me the car was running when parked so I didn't even bother trying to open the hood.
The previous lookers who backed out, or called and made offers and never showed up, helped because I was able to say "I am here now, I can pay now, and it will be out of here by tonight". We made the deal - we came to a number that they would accept, but which recognized I was taking some risk with the unknown parts.
I hit Harbor Freight for a come-along and a set of the sliding wheel dollies. Sprayed the heck out of the brake drums with PB Blaster - and managed to free up that right front. Jacked it up and put the dollies under, swung the car around to the garage door. Picked up the U-haul which I had reserved and used a chain and the come-along to crank it up the ramps. Tires were so shot we had to keep airing them up so it would roll (did I mention I also brought along a small pancake air compressor?)
So we had arrived at the shop at 8:32AM, and at 2:52 PM we pulled out onto the highway to begin the trip home. The seller had tears in her eyes several times during the process, she remembers riding in the car as a kid and as I mentioned the uncle had the car from the mid-60's until he passed away a year or so ago. After the deal and some work the husband asked half joking, half serious "Have you got it sold yet?" I assured them both I am not flipping it and will be giving it as good a home as I can. I could see her perk up at that.
Sorry to ramble but some of you guys asked for more details so there you go. They ARE still out there, and once in a while the whole thing comes together. I know there is a ton of work and expense ahead, but I'm looking forward to it!
#5
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Congratulations! Well done. Happy wife...happy life! Glad to see you and your wife are safe and sound back home AND the new addition is in your garage.
Jim
In God We Trust!
Jim
In God We Trust!
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nice project. did you finish that truck you where working on
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Congratulations. Looks like a worthy project. Nice road trip to get it. Have fun with the resto and keep the pics coming.
Good luck with it.
Good luck with it.
#8
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Don, if that car has a blue interior it's the same combo I bought in 1965. Wife drove it while I was in the Army and never had a problem. We sold it to make a down payment on our first house. I wonder sometimes whatever hapend to it .
Earl
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St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18-‘19-'20-'21-'22-'23-'24
My heart has never left the C-2 world (nor the C-1 world either, for that matter!)
Wife is a keeper for sure, a wonderful woman who has put up with me for over 36 years and somehow has not wound up in the looney bin from it. I knew the kickups were bad and eventually convinced myself the birdcage would be totally shot so why bother. She insisted that if I did not at least go and see for myself, I would always be kicking myself in the rear. True!
I know it's not perfect, but half the fun for me is the work and the skinned knuckles and the satisfaction. I believe this car has enough work to be fun, but is not so far gone that it's foolish.
Wife is a keeper for sure, a wonderful woman who has put up with me for over 36 years and somehow has not wound up in the looney bin from it. I knew the kickups were bad and eventually convinced myself the birdcage would be totally shot so why bother. She insisted that if I did not at least go and see for myself, I would always be kicking myself in the rear. True!
I know it's not perfect, but half the fun for me is the work and the skinned knuckles and the satisfaction. I believe this car has enough work to be fun, but is not so far gone that it's foolish.
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St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18-‘19-'20-'21-'22-'23-'24
No, Keith, I have only been working on that truck about 30 years. But it's getting there!
Had a great road trip, took the wife to a nice dinner the night we arrived but before we saw the car the next morning. Coming back was no fun - I was paranoid to leave the C-2 on an open trailer at a motel, I have heard of such things vanishing. So we spent the morning and early afternoon getting it to roll and loaded up, then drove all the way home and got here 10:30AM this morning.
Had a great road trip, took the wife to a nice dinner the night we arrived but before we saw the car the next morning. Coming back was no fun - I was paranoid to leave the C-2 on an open trailer at a motel, I have heard of such things vanishing. So we spent the morning and early afternoon getting it to roll and loaded up, then drove all the way home and got here 10:30AM this morning.
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St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18-‘19-'20-'21-'22-'23-'24
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No, Keith, I have only been working on that truck about 30 years. But it's getting there!
Had a great road trip, took the wife to a nice dinner the night we arrived but before we saw the car the next morning. Coming back was no fun - I was paranoid to leave the C-2 on an open trailer at a motel, I have heard of such things vanishing. So we spent the morning and early afternoon getting it to roll and loaded up, then drove all the way home and got here 10:30AM this morning.
Had a great road trip, took the wife to a nice dinner the night we arrived but before we saw the car the next morning. Coming back was no fun - I was paranoid to leave the C-2 on an open trailer at a motel, I have heard of such things vanishing. So we spent the morning and early afternoon getting it to roll and loaded up, then drove all the way home and got here 10:30AM this morning.
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St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18-‘19-'20-'21-'22-'23-'24
This Vette has the original wheel covers, I removed them and put them in our pickup. And at rest areas, we took turns so someone was at the truck at all times. Nothing suspicious happened but you never know.
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St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18-‘19-'20-'21-'22-'23-'24
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Great project!
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Only 2 or 3 years ago on here there was the story of someone who had a Vette and a Harley in an enclosed trailer at a motel. In the morning all that, plus the pickup he was towing with, had all vanished.
This Vette has the original wheel covers, I removed them and put them in our pickup. And at rest areas, we took turns so someone was at the truck at all times. Nothing suspicious happened but you never know.
This Vette has the original wheel covers, I removed them and put them in our pickup. And at rest areas, we took turns so someone was at the truck at all times. Nothing suspicious happened but you never know.
#18
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You can drive yourself batpoo crazy worrying about theft, muggers, ninjas, ISIS, etc..
Insure the car and don't be so paranoid you can't enjoy it.
Insure the car and don't be so paranoid you can't enjoy it.
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St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18-‘19-'20-'21-'22-'23-'24
My first C-2 was a '67 with Rally's, and my '63 had plain steel wheels with no covers IIRC. If you say these are 63's I won't argue, I'm still real new to the nuances of 64's. What you see in the pic was what was on all 4 corners.