Bought My Wife a New Car - 67 Tempest

Blackwalls and the correct hub caps look absolutely perfect on that car. You don't need to change anything. Man! Like you picked it off a used car lot in 1969. Preserved for you! Those 60 year old control arm bushings may start to crumble with use.

 

It wasn’t so much that the chain wore or stretched in my case. Rather large segments of the nylon teeth decided to migrate from the aluminum gear and make their way to the oil pan.

Depending on which segments fell off the chain, the TDC and rotate the rotor may or may not tell you failure is imminent.

The broken nylon segments may stay in place….until they don’t.

 

I went back and looked at the pics I took when I had the timing cover off and appears the chain and sprockets have been replaced as best I can tell.

 

I failed to mention that my wife drove the car quite a bit Saturday morning around town. She really likes it but she says it takes some getting used to since she hasn't had a car like it for quite a few years now. Hopefully she will take it upon herself to drive it and not need me to prompt her.

 

You know which car my wife likes to drive? Whatever one she doesn’t have!
I sold my 4 speed GTO to my son a couple years back. She CAN drive stick, but doesn’t like to. I bought that car in ‘07, and she never once asked to drive it. The day I told her I was selling it to my son she says “I was just going to ask you to show me how to drive it.” Um…
The ‘63 LeMans sat in the garage ready to drive any time she wanted. Now I have the engine out for a rear main leak and refresh. Now it’s her “favorite”, and wants me to get it done so she can drive it. The ‘55 Catalina and ‘62 Merc are sitting right there and run fine.

 

Understood and can relate at times. We (she) currently has an off topic 2005 Jaguar that sits 99% of the time that maybe we can now sell. The main thing I know about that one is that even though it is not an expensive car at all now, it sure is expensive to work on any time any little thing goes wrong. And, seems lots of things go wrong mainly from it just sitting. But, we will see.

 

Well, don't mansplain that those little things that make it different to drive are what vintage gearheads appreciate about older cars!

Be glad she is not only willing to put with your ruffian quirks, but has embraced it enough to take on a bit of it herself!

 

I was reminded by a buddy that she also had a 67 Malibu before we ever met. So, seems she had at least a little interest before I was around...lol

 

While I may enjoy most things I did as a youth, there are a few that are relegated to the Mistakes category.
Be sure she doesn't consider YOU one of those!

 

A Suprr Bee was never a sleeper, at least not the car guys when I was in High school when they were new, loping idle from the big cam, lift off hood, with the big scoop, no wheel covers, and chrome exhaust tips and an authoritative rumble

 

I was more meaning it didn't have the flat black stripes, a bee on the back, etc. One of my buddies has a lime green Mopar, flat black sides and hood, hood pins, yada yada yada. I just meant dad's super bee was plain....

 

I figure she was old enough to know better by the time she met me since she was 33 at the time...lol

 

Over the years I have found that I really like cars like your Pontiac. Definitely nothing as basic and user friendly available new today. Being 6’4”, the bench seats and no console to bang the side of my leg on, really are appealing. Drive it and enjoy it. Today’s appliances on the new car lots can’t touch that old Indian.

 

So…I have been out of town some and the weather has consistently been over 100 degrees lately. And, I have already found that if I don’t drive the car some, it just sits since my wife doesn’t think to drive it. Anyway, because of all those things, I got it out of the shop Sunday morning so we could take it to church. It was nice in the morning on the way but was pretty hot on the way home once it hit almost 100. Anyway, put about 100 miles on the car Sunday between church, lunch, and running down a participant for the Oklahoma Hot Rod Hundred coming up next month that sent a check but no information that I needed. The best news is that my oldest son rode along and I think it helped motivate him to get to work on his 61 GMC so he will have something old to drive again.