Stick a fork in me....

[turbojimmy]

....I'm just about done.

I've had a lot of stuff break this year. Transmission, torque converter, fuel pressure gauge, fuel pump, front brakes, Powermaster is leaking, MT Drag radials are toast, exhaust system hanger snapped, and there's still something rattling underneath.

I'm trying to catch up. I replaced the fuel pressure gauge so I could watch the pressure from inside the car. It's dropping pretty fast, so there's some fuel delivery problem. My punishment for replacing the gauge was losing a T-top on the highway yesterday. The FP gauge is in the a-pillar. To remove the a-pillar you need to remove the trim above the windshield, which of course requires unlatching the top. I forgot to latch it.

I went out to the garage tonight to basically stare at the car. To plot my next next move. WTF is this?!. Windshield is cracked. It's cracked beginning at a trim screw for the aforementioned trim above the windshield to about half-way down the windshield. Evidently the screw I put in there was too long. I'm pretty sure the screw I put back in was the one I took out, but there it is. The windshield is pretty beat (lots of stone chips from years of use) but geezus when does it end?

Just venting.....hopefully I can catch up with this thing before I'm broke.

Jim

 

[Pablo]

You just described the story of my life

with every car I've owned.

I suppose it would help if I had the cash to buy low mile pristine examples.

The key is to prioritize what you need to do on a list and then start forking out the cash. Figure out how long something is going to take you to fix, and how much its going to cost. Now multiply that times three.

I think you need to be making atleast 100g's a year to really enjoy cars as a hobby, or maybe not since when you are broke you take more pride in your ingenuity to get around issues

I wouldnt know if it becomes more fun when your only limit is your imagination

 

[turbojimmy]

I suppose it would help if I had the cash to buy low mile pristine examples.

The key is to prioritize what you need to do on a list and then start forking out the cash. Figure out how long something is going to take you to fix, and how much its going to cost. Now multiply that times three.

Yeah, a low-mileage, pristine example would be nice. But then I'd feel bad about tweaking it. Mine was a 90k-mile, totaled recovered theft when I got it. It had been taken care of otherwise and was in decent shape. I guess if I look back it's been pretty good. It just sucks when all the little things gang up on you.

I have access to '86 and '87 NA donor cars. The windshield won't cost me anything but time. I can ditch the PM and use one of the donor's vacuum brake systems. As far as priorities go, #1 is to get it running right again. Screw the brakes and windshield for now. I have a new Walbro on the way - should be here tomorrow. Once it runs right again I'll have the mental capacity to focus on the other stuff.

It just sucks to knock down one problem and have two other big ones appear. The fuel pressure gauge has been a problem for over a year. The isolator was leaking fuel into the interior of the car and the gauge no longer worked. I finally installed a full-sweep, electronic gauge ($$) and it is a work of art. Works awesome. I was staring at it when that t-top lifted off and shattered in the median. Now the windshield.

I'll sort it out. I've owned this car longer than any other car and there's a reason for that. It sounds corny, but every 'relationship' has its rough spots. I need to get through this one before I set the car on fire and push it down the driveway.

Jim

 

[darkred87T]

I need to get through this one before I set the car on fire and push it down the driveway.

Jim

Make sure you call me if it comes to this. I'll bring the white 87 and the wrecked 86 over. Between the three of them we can have a hell of a bon fire!

 

[petesgn]

When it Rains it Pours...talk about bad luck. :frown:

 

[Slo86GN]

I would be happy to be having odds/ends problems, just as long as the car ran. Mine has been down since December and I'm tired of it being a yard decoration. Bad thing is I don't have a shop anywhere close by that I can use to start putting it back together. The garage I used to pull it apart was a friend's, but he has 2 Camaros and a '65 Chevy P/U undergoing various work now, so no space for the Buick. It sucks to have $$$ tied up in a car and it be nothing but a yard ornament. On top of that, one of my heavy travel seasons begins in a week, so I may not be home for 3-4 months. I'm at the point I'm ready to just give up and part the dang thing out.....or maybe a tree will fall on it if that storm gets close enough....lol. Be glad your car runs...it could be much worse.

 

[turbojimmy]

I would be happy to be having odds/ends problems, just as long as the car ran.

I guess I should count my blessings. It does run. Not well (can't get into the boost) but it is mobile.

New fuel pump arrived today, got a t-top on the way. Priced out some windshields (in case the donors don't work out) and rebuilt Powermasters (holy chit!).

I'll catch up eventually but I'm strapped for cash and time. It's frustrating.

Jim

 

[Chris McDade]

Look at it this way. If the car is paid for which I hope it is being a 20 year old car. Let it sit in the garage until you get the money to fix it right. Do a little at a time. Things are going to go wrong. These cars are 20 years old. If you fixed something on the car make sure that you do your home work and fix it right. Things will happen to these cars. These cars are not getting cheeper. The value goes up each year on the GN's and the t-type's, so the money you spend you will get 80% back when you sell it. We all know that you don't ever get all the money back that we put into these cars.

Keep your head up and good luck!!!!!

 

[Tony87gn]

Im about in the same boat just getting bored with it and am ready for something new. Thinking about getting an 03 Cobra to fool around with.

 

[DaJoker]

Im about in the same boat just getting bored with it and am ready for something new. Thinking about getting an 03 Cobra to fool around with.

My thoughts exactly.....I'm tired of something breaking every other week. I hardly use the car and I am constantly spending more money on it. Low mile cars are NO guarantee of reliability...they are hardly used and when used break often. I don't even want to think of all the money I've spent in one year of ownership. Had an 03 Cobra and I may sell the TTA and buy another!

 

[turbojimmy]

I dunno. I'm not so disgusted with it that I'd actually buy another Ford, though the Cobras are nice. I can get cheap insurance on the GN because it's a collector car. Plus I've made an investement in it so I'm going to maintain it. And it's just too damn cool. It gets reactions like no other car I've owned (Mustangs included).

New fuel pump arrived yesterday, t-top is in the mail. Now I need to schedule an appointment with the windshield people (decided to go new rather than used). I'm going to hold off on the Powermaster for now. It's a slow leak. The car stops most of the time .

Jim

 

[Tony87gn]

Yeah I just drove to Toledo and back from Cleveland and I have never got so many compliments and burnout requests in my life. I had at least 5 people ask to buy the car. Hell if I do sell the car Im just going to drive around until I find a buyer

 

[DaJoker]

I was just venting. My TTA's in the shop now, after sitting for 2 weeks, and I can't wait to take the tops off and go for a ride! :redface:

 

[turbojimmy]

I got a driver's side top in it today. The generosity of folks on this board never ceases to amaze me. While whining about losing a top Quick-n-K.C. offered up a top he had laying around. It's an '85 top so it's a little different but it locks into place on my '87. Keeps the rain and wind out.

Took the car to work today to burn more fuel. Got it down to 5 gallons which is low enough to drop the tank and replace the fuel pump. Hopefully that will cure the fuel delivery problem and I can really hammer on this new Vigilante converter and CK transmission.

Went to the local pizza place at lunch time. As I'm paying for lunch some guy demands loudly to know whose GN that is. I say it's mine and he tells me all about how his aunt had one and how much he loves them and how much they've skyrocketed in value and how beautiful mine is, etc. and so on. I guess he didn't notice the cracked windshield and the leaky Powermaster and the squeaky brakes and the rattle underneath and the fuel pressure problem.....sometimes as owners of these things you don't realize how they look to other people. You get frustrated and wonder why you torture yourself by owning it and other people would kill just to get close to one.

Jim

 

[acoen]

"You get frustrated and wonder why you torture yourself by owning it and other people would kill just to get close to one."


You are soooo right. Hang in there it will get better. BTW hot wire the fuel pump using the wire behind the alternator and pump the remaining fuel through the fuel rail, you will get it all our minus a gallon or so.....Good luck..

 

[Slo86GN]

I guess I should count my blessings. It does run. Not well (can't get into the boost) but it is mobile.

New fuel pump arrived today, got a t-top on the way. Priced out some windshields (in case the donors don't work out) and rebuilt Powermasters (holy chit!).

I'll catch up eventually but I'm strapped for cash and time. It's frustrating.

Jim

I wouldn't be so aggravated/frustrated if I had a garage I could stick the T in, throw the cover over it, and leave it be for a while. But since I don't, it bothers me to see it sitting next to the house under a cover. Heck, I don't even have a clean/dry place to put the new engine unless I finish rebuilding the shelter/shop behind my grandmother's house. That's going to be a while, especially since I'm expecting a phone call any day now from my service manager, sending me off to who knows where for a few months. Time is definitely against me, plus not exactly running over with money right now either....lol.

 

[turbojimmy]

So the fuel delivery problem was either the pump or the sock. The sock looked bad. I replaced both the pump and the sock and now that's fixed.

Then I crawled under it to find the source of the clanking. Turns out it's the upper control arm bushing (or lack thereof) on the RH side. (sigh).

Jim

 

[DaJoker]

Got my TTA back yesterday and have been having a blast!!! Still happy even though the mechanic told me that what I thought may have been a valve cover gasket leak was actually the REAR MAIN SEAL!!! Oh well.... :redface: :redface: :redface:

 

[darkred87T]

Got my TTA back yesterday and have been having a blast!!! Still happy even though the mechanic told me that what I thought may have been a valve cover gasket leak was actually the REAR MAIN SEAL!!! Oh well.... :redface: :redface: :redface:

My engine still leaks oil after a rebuild. Even my brand new transmission leaks trans fluid. I eventually learned to just accept it.

 

[DaJoker]

My engine still leaks oil after a rebuild. Even my brand new transmission leaks trans fluid. I eventually learned to just accept it.

So I guess I should wait until the tranny goes before fixing it??? Trust me its not stopping me from driving it...who sees the underside while cruising anyway??? If I sell it and somebody asks about the stains in the carport I'll blame it on my Mustang LOL!!