Carb Rebuild is Sweet, Nigh-Epic

[fannishliss]

Rhianan was having some trouble with uncontrolled revving. We were told she need a new carburetor.  I did not like the thought of going online and buying some random refurbished carburetor.  Urgh.  Then I happened to see a bunch of fifties fins sticking up in this one industrial neighborhood, right in my own stomping grounds. So I knocked on the door.  Turns out it is a full-on restoration outfit.  The whole place is crammed with cars in various stages of rebuild, like, from the shell of the car being completely empty on up. 

I left Rhianan there for like a week.  The guy called us to come pick her up yesterday.  He rebuilt the carb and took out all the non-functional smog control devices and various unnecessary hoses and wires, and fixed a couple broken things (principally the accelerator cable) and tightened the belts. He assured me she would run much better now.

It is a world of difference.  She purrs like a kitten!!!  I am so excited.  It is truly the excitement of a midlife enthusiasm. 

I may not ever have my 69 Camaro again, but my 81 Firebird is so, so sweet.  :D

Comments

[swordofmymouth.livejournal.com]

OMG, yes to the Firebird. That is frickin' awesome that you found that outfit. Out here in Jersey there's never a shortage of vintage cars and I looooovvve it.

[fannishliss.livejournal.com]

I love my car so much. See my icon for a little toy version of the car my dad drove when I was little -- until I was 8 or 9 years old, we had the 1969 Indy pacecar Camaro. I remember every sensory aspect of that car.

I acquired my Firebird just about one year ago. :) The 1981 Firebird is the last year of that body style from the late 60s -- so my Firebird is kind of the little sister of my old Camaro. :D She went on sale by the owner posting a flyer in our local supermarket -- and she had been parked right around the corner from my house, so I'd already been coveting her for like a year when she went up for sale. Oh the gnashing of teeth when I was trying to decide whether to buy her or not! but I'm so glad I did. :D

I am really happy with the work the guy did on the Firebird. She is only 30 years old, so she is in pretty good condition, and was in working order when I bought her.... so I have the luxury of making repairs and upgrades as I go, while still being able to drive her around. This latest round of engine work has really made a huge difference. I'm so relieved I found the right guy to rebuild the carb, and one with enough experience and know-how to remove all the catalytic converter stuff that was shot and was never going to be replaceable. YAY!!!!!

I am in Maryland. We are practically neighbors! :)

[swordofmymouth.livejournal.com]

I understand Maryland is the "better" neighbor, if you will...Jersey is sort of like the run down house across from Maryland's much nicer digs. ;)

[datenshiblue.livejournal.com]

Sweet!!

The first car I ever owned ( I was like 30) was a 72 Ford LTD, being sold by one of the mechanics at the gas station we frequented in our neighborhood. He was selling her for $400 and she wasn't cherry, but her engine was in fantastic shape. She was so quiet! And huge... I'm 5'3" and I could sit in the middle of the back seat and stretch both arms out fully to either side.

She was a lady, and always treated us right. I eventually sold her to one of my roommates when her car got totaled, because I ended up with my mom's car after she passed and didn't need 2 cars. The roommate drove my poor lady to death. :(

Side note? When I met my life partner, jupiterjones, we were both in high school, and she had her first car...

A cherry red 1967 Ford Impala.

I'm not kidding.

When we saw Supernatural we were like... hey! that's your car, only black! :D :D :D

It got destroyed in an accident she was able to walk away from, while I was out of town. T-boned. In fact I credit the car with the fact she wasn't killed or seriously injured.

*sigh*

[fannishliss.livejournal.com]

Wow, it's awesome that you two met in high school!
*starry eyes of romance*

I also met my husband when he was sweet sixteen, though I was two years older. :P

I bet you can still remember the engine, and smell the interior, right? It never dies.

Thanks be to sweet Impala. She was a hero that day!!

[datenshiblue.livejournal.com]

That she was. :)

<3