New wheels
#11
Senior Member
Glad you now have the manuals!
Just keep plugging away one by one on the to do list.
I am confident with a few beers and some sunny days, you will have it running right and leaks solved etc.
Just keep plugging away one by one on the to do list.
I am confident with a few beers and some sunny days, you will have it running right and leaks solved etc.
__________________
1997 Buick Pk Ave (Soft Ride) Suspension!
1997 Buick Pk Ave (Soft Ride) Suspension!
#12
Senior Member
True Car Nut
Thread Starter
$300 later, the car is rolling with a new engine mount and 4 wheel alignment. It still has front camber issues that need to be addressed (another $160 worth), however it now drives straight as an arrow. It will also go for a tire rotate and balance once the alignment issues are squared away.
Now that the engine stays put, it'* a whole different car. For some reason, however, I have trouble bringing myself not to drive it like a grandma. It moves pretty decently when I give it a poke, but even so it just feels tight and unnatural, and downright scary when I give it the full stab. Before I lost the water pump in the PA, the pedal got mashed without giving it a second thought.
I also took a crack at the A/C. Compressor would kick over on command, but kick out pretty quickly, with no cooling achieved. I threw the gauges on it, spotted a low charge, and on a hunch, popped them off, only to have the low side valve stay partially open, and dump what was left of the charge. I was really glad I didn't stick anything in it at that point. Serviced the low side port, dumped a 1 oz oil charge in, with 3 cans refrigerant (system calls for 2 lbs, cans are 12oz a piece), and I now have A/C that was trying to crack below 40* before the compressor was kicking out on a 65* day. High side port may have been bleeding slightly, but I think it may have settled in overnight. I also put the original service caps back on, which I believe are supposed to retain pressure as well, just in case. I then plan to never touch it again unless I have a good reason to.
Also, the 1st tank of gas with seafoam treatment came in at 18mpg. I really was hoping for better, but then again, this is only just the beginning.
Next items are getting the driver seat back in the right spot, because my head just don't hardly fit, and window fixed. Brakes are on standby right now, and seem to be behaving a bit better lately. Thankfully it seems like the opening rounds are starting to settle down, which is good, because now I have to stick a waterpump on the other car.
Fun times!
Now that the engine stays put, it'* a whole different car. For some reason, however, I have trouble bringing myself not to drive it like a grandma. It moves pretty decently when I give it a poke, but even so it just feels tight and unnatural, and downright scary when I give it the full stab. Before I lost the water pump in the PA, the pedal got mashed without giving it a second thought.
I also took a crack at the A/C. Compressor would kick over on command, but kick out pretty quickly, with no cooling achieved. I threw the gauges on it, spotted a low charge, and on a hunch, popped them off, only to have the low side valve stay partially open, and dump what was left of the charge. I was really glad I didn't stick anything in it at that point. Serviced the low side port, dumped a 1 oz oil charge in, with 3 cans refrigerant (system calls for 2 lbs, cans are 12oz a piece), and I now have A/C that was trying to crack below 40* before the compressor was kicking out on a 65* day. High side port may have been bleeding slightly, but I think it may have settled in overnight. I also put the original service caps back on, which I believe are supposed to retain pressure as well, just in case. I then plan to never touch it again unless I have a good reason to.
Also, the 1st tank of gas with seafoam treatment came in at 18mpg. I really was hoping for better, but then again, this is only just the beginning.
Next items are getting the driver seat back in the right spot, because my head just don't hardly fit, and window fixed. Brakes are on standby right now, and seem to be behaving a bit better lately. Thankfully it seems like the opening rounds are starting to settle down, which is good, because now I have to stick a waterpump on the other car.
Fun times!
#13
Retired Administrator
True Car Nut
Randall, very nice find and nice story behind the find. Looking forward to hearing about all the things you do to bring the Regal back to life. $700 seems like a very good buy for a car that has no rust.., and not seen salt.
#14
Senior Member
True Car Nut
Thread Starter
600 miles have rolled on the odometer since purchase. Took a 250 round trip in to the mountains, and the car did develop a misfire at high load low RPM, usually when starting to pull a mountain while still locked up in OD. That trip netted 25.7mpg, which I thought was 21.6 mpg until I looked at the fuelly text again, it was also a fair amount of mountain climb, and 80mph on the highway the rest of the way, with a speed limiter tag on the trip as well.
Still needs a tuneup, but it really is nice to drive now, and seems to be getting better day by day.
I also stumbled on this ebay, and snatched without thinking twice:
Actron CP9145 Superscanner | eBay
Gut says it comes with the ALDL obd1 cable, which will work with the Park Avenue, but even so the OBD 2 cables aren't deal breakers either. A $40-$60 solution to a $150 problem in my mind is a no brainer, and it lets me service mom'* '95 Blazer as well.
Still needs a tuneup, but it really is nice to drive now, and seems to be getting better day by day.
I also stumbled on this ebay, and snatched without thinking twice:
Actron CP9145 Superscanner | eBay
Gut says it comes with the ALDL obd1 cable, which will work with the Park Avenue, but even so the OBD 2 cables aren't deal breakers either. A $40-$60 solution to a $150 problem in my mind is a no brainer, and it lets me service mom'* '95 Blazer as well.
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BillBoost37
Your Ride: GM Pictures & Videos
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08-16-2005 10:27 AM