Toro Resto Finish

I drew up a budget and found that I am taking on debt. I have 3 kids in school right now (130k a year). I figure I can replace cars in the future if I want to. I also feel I have too much and would like to downsize. Trust me, it wasn't a decision I made lightly. I really like all my cars.

I feel that as a Father to my kids it's my responsibility to get them set up in life. Sort of hand them a brand new football and let them have a run at the game. I've had a great run, for my whole life. I've been VERY lucky and blessed. Now, it's their turn.

z11375ss wrote:

I drew up a budget and found that I am taking on debt. I have 3 kids in school right now (130k a year). I figure I can replace cars in the future if I want to. I also feel I have too much and would like to downsize. Trust me, it wasn't a decision I made lightly. I really like all my cars.

I just had my 3rd kid. I'm already trying to save up for that cost of school. Yikes.

Went to the shop tonight and three of my great friends came too. We installed the seats and found the power seat didn't work. Everything else like power windows are all good. We took the seat out again and one of my friends is an electrical engineer who tested it six ways to Sunday. He hooked the seat up to power and checked everything while it was out of the car. Found it needed to be grounded properly.It would power the seat to raise and lower up and downbut could not get the seat to power front to back. We took the gear box apart and inspected it. It LOOKED fine but wouldn't make the seat motor back and forth. The only thing we could surmise was that the box that controls that function is shot. Now I am trying to source one to swap into the seat. The interior looks fantastic. Anybody have one? I'll post a pic as soon as my cloud loads the pics.

Went tonight to dabble with the Toro. I had the former mechanic tell me the back driver's side carb bolt hole needed to be helicoiled to work properly. Liar! I bolted it down just fine. Here's the catch, he told me he had the carb rebuilt. It wasn't. He was trying to buy time to have it done by lying to me about the bolt hole. The saga continues! But, at least the carb is bolted down now. I know it runs ok with this carb so onward! Exhaust, a couple of vacuum lines (that's all there is to these motors), trans linkage, and a couple small things and I'll post a video of it roasting the front tires! Heading to Fla for a week so it will have to wait.

Just for grins I charged up the battery and guess what? The car cranks over. It should start if I pour some gas into the carb. I have to get the exhaust on it first though. Wife is coming back from Fla this weekend probably. Partysover.

Went to the shop tonight and got some things sorted out. Some mysteries solved. At least in my head. I have to replace the cv joint on the driver's side and didn't know until I called a guy who does know, how to do it. He said to pop a ball joint. Duh, yeah. Why didn't I think of that right away? Put the fan on, shroud, top plate. Figured out the small amount of vacuum lines except for the port on the driver's side near the back of the intake on the top. Don't know what goes there. These motors don't have a lot of vacuum lines so I may just plug it. It's not the power brake line. Found out where I'm going to run the ground straps (back of the head is a bolt hole).Once the cv joint is in, I'll hang the exhaust, check the coolant, trans lines, see if I'm getting gas and fire it! It was running and driving in the fall so I just hope the rebuilt trans doesn't leak. That's why it was taken apart, again. The interior is done which was the biggest job. Now I just have to cross my fingers everything the prior mechanic did, works. Wish me luck.

Got the CV joint in. Easier than I thought it would be. The Ball Joints were new so they busted easy. All bolted in tight. Did the radiator plate and got the shroud on too. Ground straps? Check. Exhaust, soon.

Hung the exhaust with two good friends and checked all the fluids. Oil, coolant, trans is rebuilt so I have to add quite a bit. Got everything hooked up and..........no spark. Coil wasn't hooked up. Car fired and ran but acted like it had a HUGE vacuum leak. It did. The front large hole on the carb was not hooked to the vacuum line. Car runs really well. Sounds great too. All in all a great night. Got a few minor things to button up and I can take it for a drive. I added 8 quarts of trans fluid and it wasn't even on the stick. I filled the torque converter before I installed it so I'll just keep adding and checking the level. I put it in gear tonight to see if it would engage. Nope. Tomorrow I'll buy more fluid and keep going. Wish me luck.

Added more trans fluid and the trans works now. Bled the brakes and it stops now too. Almost took it for a ride tonight but the headlights wouldn't come up. Vacuum isn't hooked up for some odd reason. Found an unconnected vacuum line.I haveto look at a schematic to figure out what goes where and why they aren't working. Car doesn't leak a drop though. Happy.

This is how it looks as of 10:30 tonight. It actually made it out of the warehouse. Wow.

I have to tell you there were high fives all around. I am sooo stoked that this thing is actually driving. I love this hobby. It lets me forget all my troubles and work on something that doesn't include math. My real job doesn't let me stand back and take a look at what I've accomplished. It took me a long time to get over that aspect of it. It does generate money but not from a hands on "Look what I built" category. There's a lot to be said for good old fashioned handiwork. A man needs this in his life IMO.

When it showed up.

Tonight. You've come a long way baby. That's my 1975 Eldorado Convertiblein the foreground. I was rolling that today. What a cruiser!

Look great! When are you going to have video of it hitting up the road?

Took it to the gas station today and filled it up. It was nearly dry. While there I ran it through the automatic.The flippin water turned pink coming off the car! That's how much paint dust was on it.The brakes don't work for sh*t. Have to figure that out. Wiper motor is receiving power so it must be the unit. I'm headed to Fla tomorrow so this project will have to wait. Adios.

Update: I did everything I could that was in my skill set. It is now at another shop. It needs a wheel bearing. Sheesh! 700 bucks for the part! Ouch! The windshield wiper motor was rebuilt incorrectly whereas the wipers stop at the up position. It has to do with the polarity being 180 degrees off. It has to go back. A couple of other minor things and it will be done. Working with a reputable shop with a budget we agreed on. It will be ready and road safe next Friday. I explained the car was to be finished on May 1st of 2013! The guy was just astounded. He said he will have it ready when he said he would come hell or high water. We will see. I must admit it is a breath of fresh air working with someone who runs a tight reputable shop. At first I asked him to just make it road worthy and I would do the rest as I am REALLY TIRED of pouring money into this thing!. I then remembered I had won a Super Bowl Pool and have a stack of cash in the safe at home. I said you have a budget. Can you work with it and make it happen? He said yes, can do! Pray for the Toro!

So, called the shop today to see if the correct wheel bearing came in and they had checked it to make sure it's the right one. There are 66-67 bearings and 68-78 bearings. Obviously you must have the right one. Guess what? They said the bearing had not shown up yet! Surprise, surprise! It won't be ready Friday as he promised me. I don't find fault with the shop on this one.I'm very used to this with this car. They are supposed to call me when they get it to let me know if it's the right or wrong one. Good news is that I have a guy on the east coast who can get the correct one. Thanks to MDMechanic over on CO. The weather is kind of sucky right now so I'm not champing at the bit. Updates on the way as they happen.

Well! Working with a reputable great shop really pays dividends. The car was ready exactly as they said it would be and I picked it up last night. It's on the road! Holy Moly!