Sorry, but that's not our job. When we (collectively) barge in and offer our varied in value advice, we are like Congress....we're good at spending YOUR money.
We volunteer free advice to help YOU fix YOUR stuff. But it's up to you to decide whether you want first listen to any of our advice, find the root cause, decide on a fix plan, and then to spend $$, how much, and where, or if you want to farm it out or do it yourself. I get that you don't want to waste money and put it where it will get you the most bang for the buck, hell we all want that. Not saying these are your fixes, but if a new radiator and clutch ends up being what you need to fix your issues and it costs $400, then that's what it is. You wanna play, you gotta pay.
Case in point, without naming names, a 442 on here was dismantled to the ground, then rust repair was done by the owner and the project was labor intensive, but the body work was totally a work of art. More than I'd personally want to chew, for sure. Couldn't even say how much money/time/effort was poured into the project. Paint job was done and it was color sanded/buffed and looked absolutely awesome. I offered up a complete NOS set of 442 stripes and a header panel stand up emblem at a discounted price just so the car would look as factory as possible, at least cosmetically. Had the deal going, everything was packed up and ready to ship, just was waiting for the payment, then he backs out, saying he could get the factory stripes repro'ed for cheaper (that was some BS - haven't seen any correct repros of those stripes, have you?). So what happens? He puts one of those cheap no color backed gold stripe kits on it. And they weren't even put on correctly. IMO, it made the entire car look like dogshiit at that point. It was over for me. Hope he's still enjoying the car because it truly was a labor of love there. My point is, cheaping out after spending all that time and money to try and save a buck or two sometimes ruins the entire project. Ain't my car or my money, cuz you're the one that has to live with it. Just something to consider. There's some things you just can't be cheap with.
You could, say, find a reputable radiator shop locally, if you have one, that can inspect and maybe boil it out or repair, or what not and likely come out with a just like new radiator for less than a new one. Who knows. But again, that's your call. So far it seems you've been doing well into deciding your cash flows to the car. Don't worry about the costs just yet. Get to the root of the problem and then do your cost analysis to fix any problems. It could be simple, cheap, or even free to fix.
But you didn't answer this question yet.....do you have an anti-collapse spring installed in your lower radiator hose? Again, not saying this is your issue, I'm just curious.
I appreciate your post and guidance and we all do not have the pockets that others do. I wish, but could never afford a 1969
Hurst Olds, what I feel is the pinnacle FOR ME MIND YOU, of MY ultimate Muscle Car. I graduated in 1969, and my first muscle car was a 1969 442. The DNA is in my blood.
BUT.........I never have had nor will I ever have the disposable cash (and that is what this is all about) to BUY a 1969
Hurst Olds and then be able to restore it and maintain it. I own 1 of 2499 1979
HURST OLDS. You own 1 of less than 1000. Look at the differences in our cars. I totally understand putting the best on a 1969
Hurst Olds. It's an INVESTMENT. For me, this is about ME finally, finally owning a
HURST OLDS before the good Lord calls me home. I can't date the prom quenn but maybe the ugly cheerleader.
People that know me are finally happy that I now own a
HURST OLDS. Do I get the eye stares and thumbs up as I drove it yesterday for the first time?
No...........but letter the mail boxed hood of the 1969
Hurst Olds pull up and the stares almost permeate your head even if you don't look over.
I am thankful and grateful to people who can buy, afford, and maintain top shelf Muscle Cars. Someone forgot to put the MUSCLE in my 1979
Hurst Olds.
But my cousin who knows Linda Vaughn told me to send him the glove compartment door and he will get her to sign it. Will that make my 1979 worth anymore?
We are all at different stages of life and yes I understand as I watch owners throw $200K into a $100K car. That's not me.
I have a budget to get MY ugly cheerleader on the road, put on some miles and smiles and enjoy it the best I can.
I'd be silly to deplete my savings restoring a 1979
Hurst Olds spending 100K on 15K car.
I do not take offense by members posts, I just try to put my realistic expectations out there of what can be done, AT A REASONABLE COST.
Reasonable is my definition, not some one else's.
I'm not sure why my threads and posts seem to end up like this. More subjective than objective...........just my thoughts, No offense to anyone.
Thanks to all that post on my thread.
