Yeah, after working up some figures, it looks like it will take all of my $2,000 to get it on the road and legal, and that doesn't include towing it from Squaw Valley to the repair shop. Of course, other than the fact that I am chomping at the bit to drive it, I could just let it sit in the carport and work on it a little at a time until it is ready. Pay the DMV fees, and put it on a non-op. However, then I have to worry about the apartment management towing it for being non-op What is it they say? A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. The SC is/was a better car, but this particular one is pretty beat up. Maybe I should wait until I get my SSDI back pay (if they ever get around to having a hearing, and IF they award it to me) and get a running, currently tagged SC. I found one in the LA area with automatic for $5,500. Even a manual equipped one for $3500 down there too, but I cannot drive a manual anymore due to this disability.

Jim

 

Oh, forgot to mention, I just received in the mail a letter from the Housing Authority dated September 28th, 2015 stating my share of the rent will be $246. That is interesting. First of all, because today is the 16th, and the HUD office is only 6 miles away. Why does it take two weeks to get it to me? And second, I was told by my case worker that my share is $314. So, I will go down there Monday and find out what is going on. If indeed my share is only $246 that would be great! Especially now that I am getting an extra $133 a month from the VA. Will make it easier to afford the upkeep on whichever car I decide to buy.

Jim

 

The SC you posted looks pretty beat up, and worn out. If you are set on an SC, wait for a better one, would be my suggestion.

 

I hope that works out for you Jim.

 

I am am leaning toward the one owner car after thinking more about it. As much as I would love to own an SC. I should wait to get a running/tagged one. Honestly, I can live with the one owner car for now. I mean it is only $1,200 and I know it runs, and will pass smog. Just need to fix the AC on that one. It will serve as a daily driver quite nicely until I get the back pay and find an SC in better shape.

Jim

 

Good Mornin!

 

Happy Saturday Nevada FTE and friends. Hope everyone has a great day.

Leaving in about 15 minutes to check out the one owner Thunderbird.
I'll have a great day if I buy it!

Jim

 

Afternoon everyone.

Fighting a headache so progress is slow. I still need to finish wiring the tach and cleaning up the harness under the hood but things are in. The tach is mounted and wired except the coil wire, and the LED strips are installed and working. Helf the radius arm bushings are complete. Only the passenger side was bad but will do drivers side as well, maybe tomorrow.

A couple pics for those that are interested.

 

Wow, those under hood LED's work great! I will have to see if I can install a set on the Thunderbird's hood. Never know when you will have to work on the engine at night. For a moment there, I thought you put a V8 in your truck. I thought the air cleaner snorkel was the other valve cover. LOL. I love that gauge cluster. Looks right at home in that truck. I used to own a small tach like that about 30 years ago or so. Loved it. Mine was from Sun.

Well, I went and saw the Thunderbird today, and although it is not perfect (I did not expect a 20 year old car to be perfect, not for the $1,200 they are asking anyway) it does have some issues I am not happy about. Like non working power windows, driver seat, and no external driver side mirror glass. It does have some things I am happy about. It is tagged until April of next year, they just bought two new tires for the front (and the back look like new) and they had an alignment done on the car recently as well. I did not drive it but it was driven to the meet, so I know it runs. I did have them pop the hood, and turn the engine on. I noticed it has a brand new serpentine belt on.

The body is straight with only a small handful of dents here and there, the gauges work, stereo works, and even that keyless entry works. Bottom line, I said I would buy it. They came in two vehicles so I figured I would be able to pay them and drive it home. However, they can't find the title, and they wanted the release of liability filled out before making the sale.

So, they were able to go to the DMV near their home and get the proper paperwork. Unfortunately they had other errands to do today, so they will not be able to deliver the car until tomorrow. So, sometime after church, (I said 1pm, but she wants to call at 1pm, and then head over, so most likely 1:30pm) I will have a vehicle. I guess the Lord is trying to teach me patience. LOL The engine purrs like a kitten, and one thing I do like is that she has all the receipts for all the work done on the car it's entire life. If I remember to ask her when she calls tomorrow I will see if she will include the receipts in the sale. Not that I don't trust her, but it will help sell the car in the future if I have them. I doubt I will ever sell the car, but you never know.

Jim

 

No green Thunderbird in my immediate future. She called with another delay today, and I decided to check on a silver one in Bakersfield. It is still available, so I called the lady with the green one, and told her I was going to buy a different one. The one in Bakersfield is actually in Exeter (half the distance from here compared to Bakersfield)but he cannot get up there until Saturday. So I will wait until then to get a vehicle. The silver one has everything working, no dents in the body, and only 125k miles. He says the only thing it needs is tires, as they have been on the car awhile, and getting cracks in them from the sun. He says all the power accessories work, as does the AC. So, I will get a friend to take me on Saturday, and hopefully it will be as advertised, and I will drive it home.

Jim

 

Good morning Nevada, hope the weekend was good! Jim, good luck with the T-bird!

 

Good Mornin!
Howdy Pat!
Jim, Patience will pay off for you, hope the silver Bird is the one you are looking for!
Greg the new additions are looking good, I would say you gat your moneys worth out of the old bushings!

 

Good morning Nevada FTE and friends. Welcome to marvelous Monday.

The silver Thunderbird seems to be 10 times better than the green one, so it doesn't bother me that I have to travel a bit of a distance to get it. And actually, 55 miles is nothing compared to what I was prepared to do earlier in the car search process. There is a gorgeous black on black 1998 Lincoln Mark VIII in southern California for only $1,500, and I was contemplating taking a bus or train down to get it (and spend 16 hours of my life on the trip), but common sense won out and I cancelled that idea. It is $100 cheaper than the silver bird, but even if I could get a Uber driver to take me there (only 4 hour trip by car) at a cost of $200-250, then pay for the gas to get back. I would not have enough left of my $2,000 budget to get it smogged, registered, and insured.

I was thinking of the old adage: A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush." Which is why I was prepared to get the green one which is local, compared to that Lincoln, or even the SC in Squaw Valley (which doesn't even run) or the silver one in Bakersfield. However, when the owner of the green one called with another delay, I was so mad I called the owner of the silver one, and got lucky. So now, it is another waiting game. LOL

Jim

 

Wow Greg, that truck of yours is really shaping up nicely.

He Jim, waiting seems to have been the right way to handle the car purchase. I love those T-birds. I would own one but I only get awd living at 6,500 ft.

It looks likely that we may have snow tonight. High today was 48F. Quite a sudden change. A few days ago it felt like August. So I covered things up, brought things in etc. Just in case.

Donna is one busy gal even without that job. Hey Donna, what did that MRI reveal?
Are you all OK? How's Jim?

 

Good morning Nevada, welcome to Taco Tuesday!