[Dave at Pelican Parts]

1. Fix this by cutting off all of the rusted metal and welding in new stuff. This is the "dreaded suspension console rot", and it sounds like the part where the inner end of the trailing arm mounts has already broken off completely. Bad news. Chances are, if the suspension console rot is this bad, that you have rotten longitudinals as well. Check them very carefully, as they are the major fore-and-aft structure in the car. Screwdriver or icepick time--if that goes through, the panel needs replacing.

2. There is supposed to be a left seat adjuster. Early (70-71) cars had no *right* seat adjuster, because the seat was hard-mounted to the floorpan. The "loop" on the end of the adjustment handle (for fore-and-aft, not the tilt mechanism) often breaks off. The metal eventually fatigues and fails. You can still reach under where it was and push up on the tab. Replacement handles (plastic) are available from this site.

3. This is a sign of an old engine. The light comes on somewhere between 3 and 7 PSI. The owner's manual says that it is not unexpected for the oil light to come on while at idle with the engine warmed up. I personally think that's an indicator that the engine is pretty tired, and may need a rebuild in the near future. You can mount an oil pressure gauge, and if you're running <10 PSI per 1000 RPMs, that's a good sign that you should start saving a rebuild budget.

4. Sloppy shifting is a known quirk, particularly on pre-73 ones. But there's sloppy, and sloppy. Bushings will help, though not all slop can be eliminated. Things like (on a 73 and later car) the set-screws holding the rear shift rod to the rest of the linkage, wear on parts that go through the bushings, and other wear can also affect it.

This car sounds a lot like a basket case. It is going to take a lot of time and money to make it into a good driver again. From a quick look at your website, you may very well have the skills needed. (Do you weld? I couldn't figure that out--and you'll need to weld a lot on this one.) Good luck with it!

--DD