Hello David,
1.) being serioulsy mechanically challenged is NOT a hindrance,
so long as
a. you are willing to learn.. pick up a shop manual (benlety
or haynes or BOTH... you can learn as you go... I DO!!
b. you have deep pockets.
c. BOTH
2.) the cars ARE out there for reasonable (but going up every
day) prices. always buy the best example that you can afford
when buying a collector car as the cost to get one up to that
state is more than the cost of the car itself.
3.) tops are available.. hard tops are expensive, and/or hard
to find. soft tops and tonneaus much easier.
4.) you're looking for a driver.. $6000 -> $12000. at the high
end it would be in very nice condition. very nice, but NOT SHOW
WINNING quality.. don't let that stop you from taking YOUR
pride and joy to the Field Meets. .. i always hated having to
say .. "oh, i have one but i left it home".. better to show a
fright pig than to have to say something like that!
5.) they can't make you retrofit safety equipment... to the
point that you can take a 2 year old without seatbelts OR a
child safety seat riding in your car and they can't give you a
ticket. (NOT THAT IT'S SMART TO DO SO!).. also NO DEQ!
6.) you've come to the right place to find mechanics! you live
within the OSHIT area! (i'm jealous)
7.) the cars are out there.. ... keep a good eye on ebay!..
listings from AUTOTRADER are usually too high.. people think
what they have is worth more than it really is! .. also listers
here occasionally sell their rides because they have another
project... and they let lister know BEFORE they go on the
"market" knowing they are going to good homes, not just to
collector bozos.
there are a few regular maintance tools that make upkeep
simpler.. everyone on the list has their own opinions as to the
usefullness of various items, but i find a CLICKADJUST
invaluable (for setting the valves, something that i had NEVER
done on any car and can now accomplish in 15 minutes or less,
valve cover off to valve cover on! also a colortune for setting
the mixture... ..
these cars are THE BEST place to learn mechanics, as everything
is exposed and works on the most basic principles!
GOOD LUCK.. HAPPY HUNTING..
--
Best regards,
Bill mailto:pythias@pacifier.com
"66 Sprite
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