In a quandry in TN. . .

[Wolfe_83Conti]

While I have talked with a coworker who is also a damn good mechanic about the car, and he thinks I should sell it, I'm going to give much thought to the problem before doing anything. Saturday was the worst day for the car to break down, so I wasn't exactly kind to it in the above message. Still, I am rather wary of the Conti's condition right now, since the Saturn needs attention and school is looming on the horizon for another semester. The financial demands of the Lincoln just to get it running are almost beyond my student-level income, and I'm seriously debating on whether owning such an old car is a good idea. Also, as I said, the Saturn is starting to show its age and I'm not willing to have two cars that need constant repairs. "I told you so" will probably be all I hear for a good while yet, but both my Mom's and Dad's families have that "old car fanatic" gene, so. . .

If I do sell the car, y'all will be the first to know and have first crack at it. I'd prefer someone to go ahead and bring it up to scratch rather than use it for parts, since it will run all right with a hot battery. I intend to change the starter tomorrow, so that will be out of the way at long last. I know these cars are worth squat, but I would like to at least recoup the cost of purchase and TTL, about $850. I know there's newer and better-running cars in the forum, but hey.

And so's y'all know, it's a 1983 Fox Conti w/ the 5.0 Windsor V8 and AOD tranny. radio and all the fancy computer crap is shot and sitting in the trunk. The digital guages work only half the time, and the HVAC runs hot. None of the windows are reliable. . .

Oh hell, who's going to pay $850 for this car? I dunno. . . I really want to keep up with this, but with all its problems, I'm wondering if I got the wrong car for the project? It was BTS in the service yard when I first saw it, and maybe I should have kept walking on by. It wasn't maintained as it should be, only 15% of the interior parts work like they should, and the engine bay is a nightmare with no positive lead on where the hell the faults are.

Right now, what I'm after is practical advice on what I should do with the thing. This is similar to what happened with the Metro I bought and I ended up donating it to a charity, except that the Met was just to learn how to fix cars but I couldn't do Jack about the tranny.

[cason1]

I for one would put the Conti into hibernation until next spring. Sounds like a real waste but you gotta do what you gotta do. I would fix what needs fixin on the Saturn so it remains a dependable daily driver. Then next spring, after the Saturn is sorted out, start in on the Conti again. You never know what may happen in that time. That is kinda what has happened with my brother's Mark VII. It was just wearing us all down so it is now just in the garage awaiting bodywork. When we get the body where we want it, we are then going to get back on the engine. That way, worst comes to worst, we throw a crate at it and call it a day.:D Best of luck in whatever you choose to do with it. I mean, you know you wanna keep it and you will almost never get what you need to for it as far as price goes so set it aside for now and keep it as a future project.

[v8_dave]

Drop the inurance and let it sit. Or get collector insurance for under $200 yr.

[pro-five-oh]

These cars are complicated and often neglected. That's a horrible mix for someone in your position. My take on the situation is that you can either scrap it ($150) or keep it somewhere. Nobody's gonna buy a Conti for anything other than parts or scrap. :(

Actually remove the bumpers, wheels and hood and recycle those with your coke cans before you scrap it. Easy money.

[DustyLBottoms]

Well, there is always this!!!!


http://www.fentresscountyfair.com/Events/DemolitionDerby.htm

[nicholas77586]

Thats what my friends Toyota Crapolla is for. But Anyway, Lincolns will always do that to you, you fall in love with them and spend money on them and always wonder why the retial value is so low. There's a lot of work you can do with little to no money at all with the car. try the little things while your in school and just keep it under the car cover or in the garage. for instance fabrication work doesnt always take a lot of money and you can come back to it as you please

[Wolfe_83Conti]

I'm all for letting it sit while I work on it. I just need to get it off the property to do that, so somehow I have to get it to work and in a storage space so Mom doesn't try for my head here :eek:. It's just the frustration of having a car that's a yard lily. . .

[cason1]

You didn't expect to be completely done with it this summer anyway did you? Don't just think of it as a yard lilly and just keep in mind what it will look like when finished. Man I wish you could see the 72 Skylark I bought. The whole passenger rear quarter was bondo and needed to be replaced. Body was aweful but she was the most beautiful thing in the world because I had such high hopes for it. Other's didn't see it that way which is why it is gone now.:rolleyes: I'm still sore about it.:mad:

[pepsi2185]

I posted in your other message before i read this. I may have missed it, but what is the issue with the conti?

[pro-five-oh]

You didn't expect to be completely done with it this summer anyway did you?

I kinda wanted to "go there" but I didn't. :)

Dude, you grabbed this car from the junkyard, its gonna be a nightmare to upkeep for a while. Its gonna need a lot of your time, some money, lots more money, and even more money.

You should see the receipt book I got on my '83 Conti...owned since 1986...oh man, its scary. :)

[Wolfe_83Conti]

I know, I know. . . No, I didn't expect a quick resto at all, but I did expect my charging system to stay fixed. Also, last Saturday was the worst day to try anything with the car (can you say "Occupational Stress"? I knew you could!). I'm trying small stuff with it this week, and hopefully that'll mean the starter done and maybe some progress with the bleeping charge deal.

pro: If your receipt stack is like the one I had with the Buick, I know what you mean. :eek:

[pro-five-oh]

Yeah charging systems are a pain. Make sure to clean/replace ground wires on a junkyard rescue car. Check the plug at the alternator, it probably needs to be replaced.

And if its a lifetime warranty alternator from just about every store, well, we all know the drill on those turds. :)

Keep the Bustleback faith, brother. :)