I love it when they say, "it'll be worth big money when it's restored." What they don't tell you is that it'll cost DOUBLE what it'll be worth to restore it. Guess they think everybody is stupid...
I like those wagons, and they are only 60 miles from a buddy of mine I go see once or twice a year. Bad news is they are just over 400 miles from me, and I need to finish or at least get some of my projects drivable before I buy anymore. This could be a good resource for valuing our Fords if we follow up when they sell and find out what they sold for. Anything is worth what buyer and seller agree to at any given time.
I like the 2 wagons also . I have owned a few wagons over the years and always did like them . Now is that $1500 for the pair or each ? I like the Blue one . The pink one looks like the rear section has been sitting in a bush for ever ! Still a good deal on the wagons ! The best is the 52 that's says "It's have Done " ! I am trying to figure out what 1/2 done they are talking about ! Looks like the 1/2 done might be the parts missing off the car or the car is "1/2 done" rusted out ! Jim
I don't know about those wagons; I guess I ***umed it is for both but we all know about ***umptions, eh? Yeah everybody that lists on CL is a salesman, and I remember them from my dealership days. Greatest car on the lot - according to the sales pitch - till it's sold & has to come back in to the Service Dept for warranty repairs that nobody wants to pay for. The salesmen get lost and so the Parts & Service Depts were the "Dear Abby's". Guess the old saying "buyer beware" always applies.
I also worked for the damn dealers too back in the 1970's . There were as damn common and low as they are today . I remember one Ford dealer I worked at in Balto. Md. where the used car dept. brought in a Chev with a 307 that made a funny noise when they were driving it . Well I got it because I did engine work there . Needless to saw it had less than 100,000 miles on it and it was cracking up through the carb . Well I knew what that was and yep I told them right there the cam was wiped . Of course the damn used car salesman knew more than the mechanics so the had me pull the intake and timing cover off . Hell the damn timing chain was rubbing the side of the timing cover so bad it was all but worn through ! So as low and common as the Used car salesmen where , all they wanted me to do was just get it running good . I pulled the cam and 2 lobs were just as round as they could be . There was no lobe lift left on the cam on those 2 and some of the others were much better . I told them the engine needed a rebuild . I said it has to have about 140,000 miles on it due to the cam worn out . All they had me due was replace the cam . Wouldn't even let me replace the lifters ! The timing chain was replaced and that was it ! i told my boss of the shop what they wanted and made them write on the repair order what I said needed to be replaced and done and what they wanted me to do so we wouldn't get stuck with that engine job . Well they did sell the car and it made it 3 weeks before it came back in on a hook ! Engine wouldn't start . Since the cam was replaced and NO lifters were replaced , you already know what the new cam from 3 weeks ago looked like . Well I ended up getting the job to rebuild the engine the way I wanted to do the first time and the used car dept. ate that engine bill big time ! The salesman that knew it all that took the car as trade and told use to replace ONLY what he knew was wrong with the engine ended up getting fired over that also . Yes I never trust that " Trusty , Honest Salesman" as far as I can throw them . I used car industry is nothing but a huge ripoff and they gamble that it will hold together till the warranty of 30 days runs out fast ! That was one of the main reasons I quit & left the car dealers as an engine mechanic ! I hated patching the used cars up just to make it thought the warranty ! Heck at least the people that had cars out of warranty got a good engine rebuild when I was done with them and didn't get any come backs either . You are way better taking your chances at an Auction . You get the same cars cheaper than the same car being on a used car lot at your local car dealer ! Jim
Yeah Jim I hear ya. Seems anyone who worked the 'back room' at dealerships can tell horror stories about the sales departments. JB Weld on a cracked block then painted, the old 'sawdust in the diff' story, tincans and spray undercoating for rust repair. . . . I would never have made it as a salesman, I got a conscience (I think!) . One case in particular I remember my conscience made me tell a young kid "don't buy that pickup" (I'd driven the truck or at least tried to - it was a worn out POS). Pissed off the salesman big time. But the poor kid could barely afford the pickup, it was an "as-is" special and wouldn't have lasted very long, kinda like your Chevy story. It was an F150 with a 400 and the bottom end (mains) hammered like crazy after it got warm (zero oil pressure)but it had been doctored just enough to get it out the door, or so the sales guys thought. After that incident and the ensuing "discussion" between me (Parts Manager) the Service Manager and the used car manager, the engine got rebuilt before it went back on the lot. Fun times. NOT!
I had a cop car with that same POS engine . When they sat at an idle after about 15 mins the oil light would flicker then stay one . The service manager hands me the ticket and tells me this is an easy on . The sending unit is bad so I follow the chain of command and put one in . 2 days later back again . I said will you let me check it out the way I want to ? Of course they all knew everything so he tells me to just adjust the idle up a little to keep the light from coming on . OOOKKKK ! I did that and by this time the mechanics on either side of me says , you do know what's wrong , right . I said yep , look under the hood and you tell me . It had those damn 351m/400 POS that had all the bad blocks in them . Long story short after about 5 or 6 trips back , they finally said fix that F==ing thing . I said the block is no good and it needs a new block . Well he didn't believe me so they had me , "hone the cylinders out ? Yep real good idea there ! It finally came back in the last time and the big wigs came down and started chewing on me about this cop car . I told them I just followed orders . They said who ?? I just pointed over to the service managers office . Then they said fix it the right way now and I will get paid for it . I just said order me a block and a new oil pump and it will be fine . I got the new block because the other one was cracked in the lifter valley like so many I rebuilt , and I stuck in a high volume oil pump and never had a problem with them again . Of course the service manager was nice to me after that and never questioned a warranty problem from me again ! I finally got out of the mechanics **** when we started the "Being Certified " BS back in the 1970's . Well when the service writer kids got all the patches on their shirts saying they were certified . I went and asked how the hell did you get certified when you aren't even a mechanic . They said , just read the book and take the test . These idiots couldn't even change the oil in their cars but were certified . I said that was it and packed my tools up into my Super Bee and quit . I never went back to no damn dealer again ! That was a Friday and on Monday i was working at a service station rebuilding engine and ended up making more money and a lot less headaches . The service stations back then were the honest ones at least most were so they were always busy with something and I got paid by the hour plus commission on all the name brand stuff I sold to the customers . The customers were happy and what ever we said they needed they said just fix it the right way . What ever happened to those good days of being a real mechanic ? OH yea , they are right out in my garage ! Jim
Yup I remember those 351M/400s from the late 70s. That F150 I told about was a '77. Certification meant little if anything. "Read the book, take the test, get the cert" - Even I could've got one but didn't (another case of conscience I guess). But I saw kids come in with a handful of certs to show they were "Master Mechanics". Right. We hired one who - according to him - had conquered the world of auto repair. He had to be at least 22. His first big job was one of those POS 400s in a Merc - no oil pressure. He drops the pan & one main cap & takes it to one of the good mechs. Yup, it needs a set of bearings. So the kid asks him "How do I get the other half bearing out?" An hour later he's looking for a new job elsewhere with, I'm sure - a handful of "Master Mechanic" certifications.
Ron, that brings back memories. My buddy had a 79 Bronco with a 400 in it and it started knocking. The old mechanic that he worked with suggested we replace the rod and main bearings. We did it in an afternoon after he showed us the 'cotter pin in the crank oil hole trick.' I love old school grease monkeys...
Well the Courier is not too bad for the price because they are hard to come by . The one in Pa. is a steal and if I have the $500 I would be driving up there tomorrow to buy that one . I really love the 53 Wagon . Looks decent for the little they want for it . If I had the money and could take anyone of the 3 I mentioned , the courier would be coming home with me . If I was looking for one that would be my first build or a drag car the one for $500 in Pa would be coming home with me . Are you really looking for another car/wagon to build or just bored ? The one in Pa. I would go look at it for you but is a very good drive from me I think . Doesn't mean I won't go check it out buy would need to see where it really is . That is the best buy of them all in my book . I just looked it up and Lake Aerial , Pa . is about 4 hour drive north from me . It's on the other side of Scranton . Jim
Ron , How did you like that 48 Ford I sent to you last night for 4k ? That would be a sweet one as well . OK guys & gals I know it's not the pears of this group but this car was a good deal ! Another C/L parts car as it was posted . Jim
Ron , that so called 52 Ford is a Dodge for sure ! He must have been thinking about something else . Those winged hoods were the big give away for that Dodge ! That 54 covertable isn't woth 4k for sure ! that's just a good old POS ! Jim
re: that 48? Looked like the front clip was off. Missing, or just (probably) off it? $4K is a good price, but it didn't say how the rest of the car was, condition-wise (floors, interior etc.). Did you go and look at it? I don't know what it costs to do a flattie (have a feeling I'm gonna find out someday). Looks like a lot of the hard work was already done.
Ron , No I didn't go and look because I know what would have happened . I would have come home trying to figure out which car /cars to sell to buy it . The front end is off for ease of installing the engine and trans much easier . I don't think the interior is done yet . I get a stick flathead rebuilt is almost the price he is asking . They aren't cheap and that is why I sold my good complete flathead last winter to an guy . The flatty I had turned over just fine with a good block and everything else . Just needed a rebuild . I was going to put Jr 300 cam in mine and use stock heads that I was going to get shaved for compression , with new adjustable lifters and a 2x2 intake and carbs and I was doing most of the work myself and to get it finished and running I would have had about 4k or more in the engine alone . They are nice but to spend that much money and have no HP , I just said forget that idea and out the door it went . Jim
Surfin' eBay at lunchtime - lookee what I found: 56 Ford parts car Now I don't know but if it goes for the asking price that's not a bad deal. Dash, fenders, flippers & other stainless and how's about that original front x-member if it's in okay shape? Ron
I don't know how many of y'all check out the Vintage shots thread on the main board. There's some great old photos and stories out there from around the country and even around world. Thanks to MrFire for sharing this and many other vintage photos. And thanks to all the others who have posted pics out there. Link to the thread: http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=428585 I think it's gotta be one of the most-visited spots on the mainboard. I saw this pic this morning and couldn't help but think of you Eric (maybe it was the pooch?). Just wondering if maybe you drug home yet another project? Doggie looks kinda disappointed, must've heard 'I'm gonna slam it & stick a SBC in 'er" . Of course I'm messin' with ya Eric! But I think this is a great picture from days gone by, and how it really used to be with some old cars. BTW, is there room for Daisy too? Ron
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