Mark,
Here are a few things to look at which I overlooked when I was in your
situation. These are items which are peculiar to the TR6 so your previous
automotive experience may not clue you into these problems.
1. The front right diff mount is prone to failure. It is very hard to see
unless the car is on a lift. If you are paying market value for the car be
sure to check this on a lift. This could be a big problem to fix if the
mount has cracked, and or the stud has loosened from the chassis.
2. The rear hubs are very expensive and also known to fail. Again, the
wheels must be off the ground to check for excessive play here.
3. Have someone drive behind you during the test drive, and see if the car
tracks straight while driving, or slips "sideways" while driving straight.
This could indicate a rear toe problem, possibly the notorious rear trailing
arm mounts, another big repair. It is difficult to pick up on this from the
driver seat.
Best Regards,
Joseph Garruba
-----Original Message-----
From: Creamer, Mark <CreamerM@cintasmail.com>
To: '6pack@autox.team.net' <6pack@autox.team.net>
Date: Thursday, July 20, 2000 3:10 PM
Subject: RE: OK, I'm spooked
>Tim, what ballpark readings should I be looking for on the water temp and
>oil pressure?
>Thanks again
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Timothy Holbrook [mailto:tjh173@yahoo.com]
>Sent: Thursday, July 20, 2000 1:11 PM
>To: Creamer, Mark
>Subject: Re: OK, I'm spooked
>
>
>If it starts and runs well after it's warm, drive it. Maybe this guy
>has spent so much on the restoration that he is scared to drive it
>(trailer queen). Take it for a 15 minute test run around the
>neighborhood, run it through all the gears. If you don't hear any
>weird noises and everything feels okay, you'll be fine. Make sure the
>oil is topped up but don't worry about changing it, a 2 hour drive on
>dirtyish oil won't hurt. Just change it when you get home. Make sure
>the water temp doesn't go too high and the oil pressure is good. Also
>make sure the brakes and clutch work well, and check the master
>cylinder levels. Basically it's all common sense. This guy is
>worrying too much. I've driven my car at 80+ mph all day long (10
>hours) on highways without a hitch. It's my daily driver (no backup
>cars either), and has never let me down.
>
>Tim Holbrook
>1971 TR6
>
>
>--- "Creamer, Mark" <CreamerM@cintasmail.com> wrote:
>> Guys,
>> my prospective seller has me spooked. Here's the deal. I'm going to
>> look at
>> a 73 TR6 this weekend, and while giving me directions, his e-mail
>> said "by
>> the way, be sure to trailer it home if you buy it, remember it's a
>> 25-year
>> old car."
>>
>> It's only 2 hours away, and I'm looking at presumably a
>> professionally
>> restored car in top condition.
>>
>> I questioned what he meant, and he said "I meant that the
>> car probably shouldn't be driven at high speed on the interstate for
>> a
>> prolonged period of time. You will want to have the oil changed when
>> you get
>> it just for your own piece of mind, and maybe tune it up but other
>> than that
>> it is a great driver."
>>
>> My intention is to find a car that I can drive almost daily, except
>> in bad
>> weather. When I'm not driving, it will be kept in a garage, and
>> maintained
>> religiously. Should I be concerned about this, or is this the same
>> advice
>> you guys would give a new owner that has never owned one of these
>> before?
>> Remember, this isn't going to sit in a museum, I want to drive it.
>>
>> Thanks for any thoughts...
>> Mark Creamer
>
>
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