Father, son and a V8

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Discussion

LincolnLovin

Original Poster:

2,732 posts

217 months

Friday 20th July 2018
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Replacement parts ordered £880 :cries: but hopefully the transmission and engine are ok - can't really test until these bits are sorted sadly.

LincolnLovin

Original Poster:

2,732 posts

217 months

Thursday 2nd August 2018
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Parts have arrived, I now just need to source a replacement brake disc backing plate and then it can be reassembled.

LincolnLovin

Original Poster:

2,732 posts

217 months

Monday 13th August 2018
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Today I have sourced:

A replacement wheel, - £101
A replacement tyre - £105
Replacement front and rear springs (as the current set are clearly shagged after 30 years) - £88
Replacement headlamp bezels (to replace the current wood ones) - £119
Replacement center cap - £35

Total £647 (including shipping from the USA, import tax, VAT etc)

This get the car back to one piece and at least in a position where I can then make the final decision about selling it.

jamesson

2,977 posts

220 months

Tuesday 14th August 2018
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You can't sell it! weeping

Mr Scruff

1,322 posts

214 months

Tuesday 14th August 2018
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jamesson said:
You can't sell it! weeping
What he said, you've come so far...!

aww999

2,068 posts

260 months

Tuesday 14th August 2018
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I totally understand the emotional tie to a car your father bought you . . . but now it's starting to own you. You will probably never have as much free time and opportunity as you do now, don't waste it mucking around with an old car if it's not genuinely making you happy.

All of my free time and disposable income went on my beloved turbo Supra when I was young, I thought I was enjoying myself at the time but looking back I should have struck a better balance between "car stuff" and "everything else". And I know it's tempting to think "I'll just fix this that and the other, and then I can enjoy it for a while without any more bills" but in my experience, on something like this, the bills never stop coming!

Can you store it somewhere and go back to it once you can pay someone to get it perfect? Sell it to a friend/family member and get first dibs on buying it back? I think you need a reboot.

LincolnLovin

Original Poster:

2,732 posts

217 months

Wednesday 15th August 2018
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aww999 said:
I totally understand the emotional tie to a car your father bought you . . . but now it's starting to own you. You will probably never have as much free time and opportunity as you do now, don't waste it mucking around with an old car if it's not genuinely making you happy.

All of my free time and disposable income went on my beloved turbo Supra when I was young, I thought I was enjoying myself at the time but looking back I should have struck a better balance between "car stuff" and "everything else". And I know it's tempting to think "I'll just fix this that and the other, and then I can enjoy it for a while without any more bills" but in my experience, on something like this, the bills never stop coming!

Can you store it somewhere and go back to it once you can pay someone to get it perfect? Sell it to a friend/family member and get first dibs on buying it back? I think you need a reboot.
I'm already getting someone to fix it up for me as I have zero time, but the bills are really starting to mount up June - August is the best part of £3k I think and there is this constant fear/stress that something is going to go wrong whenever I drive it. The drive down for that stag do was the first time nothing went wrong and I even posted to Facebook about it. As soon as I did so I thought - "hold on, you haven't driven back home yet....."

I agree that the car has come a long way, I just need to figure out how I feel about it once this latest work is completed. My dream was that this summer it would get a lot of use, but we're already a ways through and I've driven it twice.

I also need to get the rust sorted before the wings properly go.



Edited by LincolnLovin on Wednesday 15th August 10:05

skyrover

12,668 posts

203 months

Wednesday 15th August 2018
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Personally I would keep the car... it's not a common vehicle in the UK and as far as sentimental value goes it's priceless, but with it comes an understanding that it's an old machine which will need time and money to stay working.

Of course if you have somewhere to store it, it won't cost you anything while it's parked up, but of course you won't be getting much enjoyment out of it just looking at it.

I do believe that if you sold it, you would regret it years down the line.

LincolnLovin

Original Poster:

2,732 posts

217 months

Wednesday 15th August 2018
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True, true.

It would be easier if it was some form of iconic or real classic but putting all this cash into a Town car is laughable smile

Oh well lets see how we go.

LincolnLovin

Original Poster:

2,732 posts

217 months

Wednesday 15th August 2018
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Ordered 2pm from the USA on Monday, arrived 12pm today. Damn impressive:



Wheel and springs. Just waiting for the tyre, headlamp covers and the new centre cap.

LincolnLovin

Original Poster:

2,732 posts

217 months

Wednesday 15th August 2018
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Parts dropped off to the mechanic, work on the car starts Monday.

LincolnLovin

Original Poster:

2,732 posts

217 months

Wednesday 15th August 2018
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One bonus is that the car parts came with some sweet fridge magnets.

Google [bot]

6,682 posts

180 months

Wednesday 15th August 2018
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Where did you get the parts from? Need to get me some engine mounts and my usual places are out.

The Dictator

1,365 posts

139 months

Thursday 16th August 2018
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You must keep at it, that car is a legacy which must be nurtured and retained at almost any cost :-)

I posted on your thread two years ago ref my now 37yr old Mercedes 500 SEL and I still have it. I bought it 20 days after my son was born and the plan is that it will be his in years to come, he has just turned 4 so that is some way off in fairness :-)

This level of enthusiasm is not about the money, if it were, no one would do it. I have spent at least twice what the car originally cost me on doing things to it, some out of choice and some necessary.

I would say about 75% of the time I go out in him, I get a positive comment from someone. A lot of delivery drivers comment on it when they come to the house. Whilst not a reason for buying it in the first place, it is certainly something that now gives me a lot of pleasure. Other people enjoying my car, enhances my own enjoyment.

I have done a couple of proms for friends children and a wedding (although being a black limo, it is more of a funeral car) this gave me enormous enjoyment and the most recent prom was great fun. I turned up with three kids in the car and all their friends rushed over and were very jealous :-)

Keep at it, the sting of the expense will be short term, the satisfaction of ownership is much more enduring.

LincolnLovin

Original Poster:

2,732 posts

217 months

Thursday 16th August 2018
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Google [bot] said:
Where did you get the parts from? Need to get me some engine mounts and my usual places are out.
RockAuto and eBay USA

LincolnLovin

Original Poster:

2,732 posts

217 months

Saturday 18th August 2018
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ARGHHH only gone and ordered the wrong tyre and fitted it to the wheel.


LincolnLovin

Original Poster:

2,732 posts

217 months

Monday 20th August 2018
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ordered the correct tyre for the TC - if anyone wants a unused whitewall tyre 225/75/r15 let me know!

LincolnLovin

Original Poster:

2,732 posts

217 months

Monday 20th August 2018
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New spindle, hub, disc, caliper and front spring installed today.

Also new brake lines when the old ones snapped off



LincolnLovin

Original Poster:

2,732 posts

217 months

Tuesday 21st August 2018
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New brake line fitted:



Alongside new rear springs:


LincolnLovin

Original Poster:

2,732 posts

217 months

Tuesday 21st August 2018
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Side profile. The ride height hasn’t changed much, will be interesting to see how it drives this weekend.

The rust really needs to be taken care of next, as it’s worse than I thought.

An expensive year.

Edited by LincolnLovin on Tuesday 21st August 16:49