Amen on the poor maintenance of southern car's cooling systems. Some years
ago I bought a low mileage car from Massachusetts, knowing it would have
terminal rust problems in the body and frame (it did), but would be a good
parts donor for a high mileage example that I was restoring. I was amazed
that even though the car was over 30 years old, the cooling system looked
like new inside, and the rubber gasketting and weather strip was in way
better shape than my LA car. The dreaded ozone had ruined all the rubber
on the LA car, and the Massachusetts car had rubber like new everywhere!
Dick Benjamin
----- Original Message -----
From: <FltSgt@xxxxxxx>
To: <Mailing-List@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Friday, May 17, 2002 9:54 AM
Subject: IML: Calif Cars and Rust
> Hola
>
> Last year we purchased a 1966 Le Baron from a family that lives in
Fremont,
> Calif. This family had 1963 Le Baron that was used prior to their 66.
They
> liked the idea that I drove to their home in our 63 Le Baron to tow the 66
> back to my home here in Colo Spgs.
>
> Even tho I now live in Colo Spgs I grew up Poway, Calif. As I read about
> vehicles for sell and the whatever the wording of "Calif Car" seems to
> appear. Its always rust free. That is true if one has a car that was not
> parked on the beach at La Jolla.
>
> What is not mentioned is that owners in the warmer climents don't always
use
> the same amount of anti-freeze in their cooling systems. Why should
> they...it only gets down to 37 sometimes. ( As a student at Poway HS I
did
> not own a coat.)
>
> I decided to remove the radiator on the 66 to have it cleaned at the local
> radiator shop since I have plans on using the car to pull an Air Stream
> trailer. As I remove the top hose the wire coils inside of the hose fell
> out. The radiator shop called yesterday morning to let me know that after
> the dipping the thing was full of holes. When I found the wire coils all
> over the place I went to NAPA for new hoses. Yesterday afternoon I took
the
> upper hose from the water pump. The top of the thermostat is full of brown
> crud. Back to the store for a new 180 degree 'stat. I was just speaking
to
> another Imperialist about this and he mentioned the freeze plugs should be
> changed out. Its a good thing that I already have a set. About two years
> ago I purchased two new water pump housings and pumps ( Alum MoPar
> Performance from ebay). I hate to use the new housing and pump on an
engine
> that seems to be running just fine. But then since I already have enough
> room to do it now it seems like cheap insurance. (Its a long way from the
> ground over to the top of the engine bay and then back downwards to the
water
> pump area.)
>
> Today I'll take off the heater hoses and see what I find (after I open up
the
> water pump and finish changing the 'stat.
>
> Rodger & Gabby
>
> 47 De Soto Custom
> 63 Le Baron
> 66 Le Baron
>
>
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