...my car is 42 years old...and some parts need replaced. I went to my local "good old boy" for an allignment, cause my front tires are TRASH after about 7,000 miles..and before he started, he took a look at the front suspension and steering components and said I need new Lower control arm bushings (they are trash) center link, and idler arm...all of that on top of new tires and allignment.. So what I thought was going to be a 250 dollar venture has now tunred into a nearly $700 one. I'm bummed...

 

bummed? It's gonna drive like a new car when he's done!

 

You optimists!!!

I guess thats a good way to look at it...I just didnt think I was going to have to dump that much money into it is all....but yeah...she should drive real good when I get the $$ to do it!

 

Ahh the joys of old cars lol

 

Went ahead a got the Grab-A-Trak center link, and polyurethane lower contol arm bushings from mustangplus.com tonight. I held off on the idler arm cause I was confused on which one to get. I'm going to try and install them myself probably next weekend if they get here...so all I have to do this week is get new tires, and try to keep it parked in the garage...

 

 

You're gonna love the way it handles with the new stuff.
Eons ago when I had my '67 Barracuda, I drove it for two years on worn out parts. Front end chased every crack and crevise in the pavement. Got stopped twice because cops thought I was drunk.
When I finally put the new suspension in, it was like driving a new car.
Take my word for it. Once the handling parts are in, you're not gonna want to leave it parked.

 

I am an optimistic pessimist.
When I have built old cars, I have always expected the worst.
I have therefore been pleasantly surprised on many occasions when I looked more closely and said,"Wow, at least that part looks good".

 

I like your perspective on things, man

 

here are the most recent pics I have....its was a horrible camera..I'll try to get some better ones soon...

 

Good lookin car

 

AWESOME!!

 

Thanks for the complements!...Just picked up the Idler arm tonight...I'll keep you updated on the repairs and tires!!

 

Ahh great, now I'm worried about taking mine in for an alignment. I picked up new tires last week and was just going to do the toe myself but my bushing were pretty shot. My toe is about an inch off and it really caused my front tires to go fast.

 

Just something everyone deals with when it comes to having an older vehicle, unless it was purchased already restored. If those are original parts, they lasted pretty darn long. Nice car, BTW.

 

Thanks!!! I took some more pictures of it on Monday with my sisters camera...for some reason...the digital shots are HUGE!!!! I'm trying to figue out how to make them smaller....they are crazy big!! I dont have this problem with the church camera...

Anyway....more woes to catch you up on....Turns out that the tires I have arent made in my size anymore!!! ....225/60/14...so in order to get replacements, I would nedd to get a different tire, or buy four new ones to get them to match!!!! BUT!!!! I was smart...and thought... what about a similar size... Sure enough...a 225/70/14 exhists in my current tire...so what we will do is rotate my current rear tires to the front, and put the slightly taller 70 series tire in the rear....little fatter rubber should look pretty good.

Just for once... I wish something would go "as planned!!!"

 

i understand your pain. i almost lost a finger doing my fathers 66 suspension. Alll control arms, tie rods, bushings, brakes, everything. well now its awesome and "rides better than my grandfathers lexus" remarked one of my friends. A set of leaf springs, eibach fronts and kyb gas-a-justs, that car will be awesome. I know you are sad to see the money go into it, but its better than leaving it alone, and on a rainy night (saying if you for some strange reason get stuck) and hit a crack in the road, and end up on the side of the road with a wrecked mustang. the 700 now is better than that loss.


sorry to ramble, but i love these old cars.

 

very nice 66 btw. i like the color

 

Thanks. Its always hard parting with the money but you're right its usually worth it. My car really needs it though, aside from the tire wear it pulls too much under hard breaking.

 

Codeman, you car looks awesome. Don't sweat the 700 it will be well worth it in the end. How much work have you done to the car? It looks like the paint is in good shape and the strpes look great, Did you do that your self? Keep up the good work.