On the cusp of A-body ownership: Help me with a 1969 Valiant!
I just made quite the discovery - only the left side of the car has been repainted. Left fender, both doors, rocker, and quarter. The hood, trunk, cowl/filler panel, and right side haven't been touched.
That's 45-year old single-stage factory paint, and it's held up pretty darn well!
I was rather surprised to find - upon running a VIN search - that this car was part of Ted Vernon's (South Beach Classics) stock about 720 miles prior to it working its way to me. Given the mixed bag of stuff that's on his lot, I'm surprised this made it there (and out alive).
Ironically enough, the lot where it was sold is directly across the street from a Wendy's which sits on the former lot of the Ford dealership that sold my '71 Mustang Mach 1 originally. Guess I buy all my cars in one spot.
EDIT: FYI, for those following the no-spark condition, these were the results of my testing today:
Ignition lock cylinder/switch: Continuity on IGN1 and IGN2 at RUN and START
Run circuit (brown) @ ballast resistor: 10.3v @ START, 7v @ RUN
Start circuit (blue) @ ballast resistor: 10v @ START, 8v @ RUN
Start circuit (blue) at coil +: 7v @ START, 10v @ RUN
Coil primary resistance: 1.8 ohms
Coil secondary resistance: 9K ohms
Strangely enough, my timing light IS blinking for Cylinder #1 on crank, but is doing so very faintly.
Welcome!
What's your goal with this car? It's a great find! I drive a '72 Valiant 4dr with 225 slant daily, very comfy and practical and always gets admired, yes a 4dr Valiant!....just love the car!
What's my goal? Drive it, enjoy it, and try to keep it as original as possible.
My only concession to originality - down the road - may be to add discs in front, and a Grand Cherokee drum rear end - thus going to LBP throughout the car.
That, and I'm considering going to a Carter BBS over the existing Holley 1920. It's a question of whether I rebuild the 1920 or get a nice BBS from Omar at Just Carburetors down here (
This would require going up to stock-appearing 14x6" wheels though, and with Mopar originals being next to impossible to find in this town, 1971-73 Mustang 14x6" wheels (non-Mach, which would be 14x7) would be the quickest and closest option - and still look original.
-Kurt
