1960 Valiant Restore: advice welcomed.
So, to get it to pass inspection, need working wipers. The original knob is there, but it is frozen, so the guess is the switch component is corroded. The replacement arrived today, it's a universal knob, so the hope is to replace the switch and reattach the original knob.
Next up is the speedometer. This little adventure is making me sorry I didn't argue the price down. But there it is, my problem now. The needle is missing, assumed it broke off, and what Forum guys are telling me is that it probably broke off from a worn out speedo transmission gear failure, causing the needle to rattle off. The NOS speedometer arrived today, well it looks the same. And I got a cable. The devil is to replace the speedometer gear, which is likely toast. Or at least the bushing is.
I am not keen to go grubbing around underneath, and prefer to hire someone to do it. Therein lies the rub. I call transmission specialists and I get three kinds of answers:
The supremely confident: oh, yeah, bring it right over.
The flat no: nope, we don't do vintage.
And the hesitant: well, I don't know. Had a '67 in here with a bad carburetor, and we replaced it with a new one, and it still didn't work right. I guess so, bring it in Tuesday...
My problem with the supremely confident is that modern transmission shops appear all about swapping out transmissions, one for the other, and not about repair.
My concern with the supremely hesitant, is that even though the man is in his 60's, and should be familiar with older cars, he appears to be telegraphing that he is not good at diagnostic work. A carburetor swap on a '67 should not be a big deal for an experienced mechanic.
Next on the list is a power steering cap. How the Hell do you manage to lose that?? Tried to find one on line, ordered it, will see if it fits. Or not. The "universal" one purchased at O'Reilley's was not even close.
Other tidbit is a flasher unit. That should be easy...right...the one in there works hesitantly or not at all.
So, to get it to pass inspection, need working wipers. The original knob is there, but it is frozen, so the guess is the switch component is corroded. The replacement arrived today, it's a universal knob, so the hope is to replace the switch and reattach the original knob.
Next up is the speedometer. This little adventure is making me sorry I didn't argue the price down. But there it is, my problem now. The needle is missing, assumed it broke off, and what Forum guys are telling me is that it probably broke off from a worn out speedo transmission gear failure, causing the needle to rattle off. The NOS speedometer arrived today, well it looks the same. And I got a cable. The devil is to replace the speedometer gear, which is likely toast. Or at least the bushing is.
I am not keen to go grubbing around underneath, and prefer to hire someone to do it. Therein lies the rub. I call transmission specialists and I get three kinds of answers:
The supremely confident: oh, yeah, bring it right over.
The flat no: nope, we don't do vintage.
And the hesitant: well, I don't know. Had a '67 in here with a bad carburetor, and we replaced it with a new one, and it still didn't work right. I guess so, bring it in Tuesday...
My problem with the supremely confident is that modern transmission shops appear all about swapping out transmissions, one for the other, and not about repair.
My concern with the supremely hesitant, is that even though the man is in his 60's, and should be familiar with older cars, he appears to be telegraphing that he is not good at diagnostic work. A carburetor swap on a '67 should not be a big deal for an experienced mechanic.
Next on the list is a power steering cap. How the Hell do you manage to lose that?? Tried to find one on line, ordered it, will see if it fits. Or not. The "universal" one purchased at O'Reilley's was not even close.
Other tidbit is a flasher unit. That should be easy...right...the one in there works hesitantly or not at all.
