Garage find and transport Questions

Porchdog · 11-02-2013, 06:26 PM

So the car in question is a 1964 Pontiac Lemans convertible. My buddie's sister bought it new and drove it until 16 years ago when she parked it in her garage. She wants to give it to him. He thinks he wants it.

Here's the problem - She is in Livermore California. He is in eastern PA.

No photos yet, the car is under and full of junk.

It is supposed to be clear of rust and was a driver when it was parked.

Neither my friend or his sister are mechanically inclined.

So the questions:

How to determine if it is worth spending time and money on it?

How to get it east if it is worthwhile?

My friend would like to get it fixed up for his son.

I suggested that if we can find a local mechanic, We should be able to get a quote to make it roadworthy. Once it is in driving shape, fly out and drive it home.

Tobra · Tobra's Garage

You would have to go through all the rubber on that thing to drive it, which would probably run into a fair chunk of dough if you paid someone else to do it.

I would be more inclined to ship it, but I like the idea of the epic road trip home.

onewhippedpuppy · 06:47 PM

Hasn't driven in years. Buried under junk. Almost 50 years old. All the way across the country. Yeah.......

What it needs is called a restoration, which usually takes months to years and thousands of dollars. What does your non-mechanically inclined friend think, that you just hop in and turn the key? Every mechanical system will need refreshed, every rubber hose will need replaced, every fluid will need to be changed. That's if he's lucky and the engine isn't seized or rats haven't eaten the wiring. Furthermore, what does he plan to do with a 50 year old car if he can't fix it up? I hope he has a healthy bank account, because he's going to need it.

GWN7 · 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

Hasn't driven in years. Buried under junk. Almost 50 years old. All the way across the country. Yeah.......

What it needs is called a restoration, which usually takes months to years and thousands of dollars. What does your non-mechanically inclined friend think, that you just hop in and turn the key? Every mechanical system will need refreshed, every rubber hose will need replaced, every fluid will need to be changed. That's if he's lucky and the engine isn't seized or rats haven't eaten the wiring. Furthermore, what does he plan to do with a 50 year old car if he can't fix it up? I hope he has a healthy bank account, because he's going to need it.

That's what is know as reality talking........

A 64 Pontiac Convertible is worth between $20,000 to $30,000. Now saying that, that is if the car has bright shiny paint with a nice interior and the top looks great. The chances this car being stored with stuff piled all over it has those three things is almost nil. Also some parts for a 64 Pontiac are NLA. A buddy had a 64 for the past 5-6 years. He sold it this summer. He had to do a transmission swap because there are no longer any rebuild kits available for the stock trans. I think it cost him about $2K for the trans upgrade.

To determine what it's worth take the market value of the car and start deducting the costs to make it a driver and then deduct what it costs to make it look great. Start with the cost to get it home. -$2,500 to -$3,000 to have it towed across country

Porchdog · 11-03-2013, 05:28 AM

Ok - we looked at the towing cost. Nobody wants to spend that just to decide the project is to big once it gets here.
He only wants to bring it here because he wants that car - he's not out looking for a 64 Lemans convertible. He won't restore it himself - he wouldn't redo the brakes himself. Brake pads, spark plugs and fluids are about as far as he goes and his son is less handy.

My thought - if it can be made safe to drive for $5000 and he can then drive it home, he's about 1/3 of the way into it. I don't think he would ever give the car a full-on restoration. He's thinking a weekend cruiser, not a showpiece.

If it has issues that kill the deal - like serious rot, He should know that now and walk away.

We have been kicking this around all week. The more expensive it sounds the less he likes the idea.

Gogar · 11-03-2013, 06:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GWN7

A 64 Pontiac Convertible is worth between $200 to $30,000.

fixed it!

RANDY P · RANDY P's Garage

Car was built in 1964.... Rubber is the least of your problems. The electrical system is the big one. Can you trust it? Without driving around locally to ensure no issues you can't tell.

Don't even think of driving the thing. Go out there, get it started, check it out, arrange transport and fly back. Rubber and fuel is not a big deal to fix, the electrical system is. There's an overwhelming chance you'll drop dead or catch fire driving back. Unless you get to spend a month driving it around to figure it out, it isn't a good idea.

Take a vacation in CA, visit the nice sister, pull car out and get it running so you can drive it onto trailer and either U-haul it home or pay a shipper. When you get home, find someone you know you trust and if you are over your head, sell it and that's it.

Coming from another Pontiac owner (I have a 70 LeMans Sport with a nasty 462",) buying Pontiac stuff isn't common, nor is it cheap. Along with that, these aren't Chevys- there is no such thing as a cheap crate motor, you can't find parts many times at any auto store, and many around town just don't know anything about these things anymore.

Frankly, going the checkbook route on a mechanic and still being on a budget is a bad, bad idea. $5K isn't going to buy you much and the results will likely be disappointing. I suggest you have your buddy get some tools from Sears, some jacks and spend a bunch of time researching small things. Better learn to like auto work. It isn't hard on this car and it's rewarding.

Two most common questions I get about my Pontiac:

1)- dude is that a big block Pontiac?
(Ponchos are all ONE block size-Duuuhh you idiot. it's Chevys that come in big and small)

2)-Why didn't you build a chevy?
(because Pontiacs are high nickel blocks and undersquare so there's lots of torque and you don't need to rev 'em. They last forever too. Chevy = butthole engine, everyone has one)

rjp

PS- Another option- donate it to me

tl;dr- don't drive it home, you'll never make. it. If you can spend $5k now, just fly out for a vacation and check it out. if it's all there it's worth shipping home via transport. Shouldn't be THAT much to do

rsNINESOOPER · 11-03-2013, 07:16 AM

Cheapest solution will be to unearth it and have a good look at it. As others have said it will not be cheap. At minimum to put it on the road it will require the fuel tank to come out to be cleaned, fuel lines, all rubber hoses, all fluids, rebuild brake system including new master cylinder etc. Rebuild entire fuel system such as carb, fuel pump, etc.

If the car is fairly clean/ good "patina" a minimal mechanical resto and good scrubbing to bring it up to "survivor" status cold be 10,000 if you do some of the work yourself.
To go all in and do a complete resto will be more than it's worth.

onewhippedpuppy · 11-03-2013, 08:53 AM

$5k might get it good enough to drive onto a trailer. Across the country, no way in hell.

johnco · 11-03-2013, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

$5k might get it good enough to drive onto a trailer.

this is the type of vehicles I've bought and owned all my life. I've had dozens of them. either I'm pretty good or very lucky since I haven't found one yet that after a couple hours and less than $100 I couldn't get it going enough to drive it down the block and back.

onewhippedpuppy · 11-03-2013, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnco

this is the type of vehicles I've bought and owned all my life. I've had dozens of them. either I'm pretty good or very lucky since I haven't found one yet that after a couple hours and less than $100 I couldn't get it going enough to drive it down the block and back.

Yeah, but you probably weren't paying a mechanic to investigate and repair either.

Porchdog · 11-03-2013, 01:45 PM

I appreciate the advice guys.

I'm a Pontiac guy (my grandfather was a Buick-Pontiac dealer) and I've been doing my own wrenching all my life. If it was me getting the car I would fly out, unearth it and make my own decision about towing it or limping it home.
I'm not afraid of road trips and I don't mind doing repairs along the road.

I'm pretty sure the 62 Buick I drove home from Indiana would make this thing look like a jewel.

My friend on the other hand is no mechanic. I agree he's likely in over his head. He's decided that he wants this thing. I'm trying to decide the best way to either get it back here (she did buy it here), or talk him out of it.

I like the idea of going with him and making it a road trip - but I won't be retired for another 20 years - if ever.

Randy - if it's going up for sale I'll let you know. It should go cheap.

Thanks Guys

rcooled · 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnco

... I haven't found one yet that after a couple hours and less than $100 I couldn't get it going enough to drive it down the block and back.

Right...this isn't as scary as some make it seam. Cars of this vintage are very simply made and are easy to fix. Shouldn't be a problem to get it going again. Of course, that's assuming that everything was in good order when stored. The sister might consider paying a mechanic for an hour of his time to see what the car's needs are before going any further.

If the car winds up being shipped, give these guys a try. I've used them before and they provided great service at a fair price. Picked up on time, delivered exactly when they estimated, and they run their own trucks.

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