Steeman01
Donation Time
Hey Everyone! I have posted a couple of threads over the past 2 weeks (got my '67 Alpine 2 weeks ago this Sunday). I hadn't explored this site as I have the past few days and I saw this was a spot to introduce your self. My name is Stephen and I live in Lake Forest, CA (almost center of Orange County).
I have always had some sort of project car, lucky my wife supports that habit! I have had a 1950 GMC 3/4 ton stake bed, 1967 Ford Fairlane XL500, 1964 Hillman Super Minx, 1967 MG Midget and now this awesome '67 Alpine!
The car was purchased from the 2nd owner (from what I believe). He is 84 years old and needed to sell it as he could no longer work on it. He bought is back in 1970 with 47k miles. He parked it covered and under a shed. He pulled it out in 1979 and resprayed it the stock black (so under the hood, trunk, etc all match). Then he reassembled the trim, and again covered it and sat. Then in the early 2000's he pulled it out and rebuilt the brakes and started to work on the clutch system (basically just pulled the M/C) then it sat again until I happilay bout it from him.
I am going to go through the brakes (as seen on my other thread) and the clutch systems. Also, I am taking all needed steps to start the engine safely. I have flushed the coolant, flushed the oil and put a new filter, drained the fuel, which was less than a gallon of gas, though it had turned to varnish, there was no signs of any particulate in the fuel. New plugs (gaped appropriately) and lastly, lubing the top end. This is where it really through me (how clean this car is). I pulled the valve cover to lube the lifters and get some penetrating oil in the combustion chambers to then start bumping the engine (with the plugs pulled and the distributor cap off) to ensure the motor is free and ensure there is less compression for it to turn and do this until the oil pump puts oil on the valves. Then put the new gasket and valve cover on. Then hopefully start it!
All this to say when I pulled the valve cover (nervous to see a rusted mess), I saw what appeared to be a damn near clean situation. To the point that I reached back out to the previous owners son to ask if the top end was rebuilt, to which he said that they had never had any of the engine parts removed in the 50 years they had it. Though it was purchased in 1970 (and even the last time it was registered to be on the road was 1970), I have to assume they took very good care of this car, and probably turned it over every once in a while (they are car people, he (the son, who is in his 60's), has a '65 and '66 Cutlass (both original and beautiful) and a '66 Chevy II wagon (restoring), speed boat, etc.
I have shared some pics below. I am so unbelievably excited to start this journey! Thanks again to all of you have already jumped int to help with my questions in this 2 weeks!
I have always had some sort of project car, lucky my wife supports that habit! I have had a 1950 GMC 3/4 ton stake bed, 1967 Ford Fairlane XL500, 1964 Hillman Super Minx, 1967 MG Midget and now this awesome '67 Alpine!
The car was purchased from the 2nd owner (from what I believe). He is 84 years old and needed to sell it as he could no longer work on it. He bought is back in 1970 with 47k miles. He parked it covered and under a shed. He pulled it out in 1979 and resprayed it the stock black (so under the hood, trunk, etc all match). Then he reassembled the trim, and again covered it and sat. Then in the early 2000's he pulled it out and rebuilt the brakes and started to work on the clutch system (basically just pulled the M/C) then it sat again until I happilay bout it from him.
I am going to go through the brakes (as seen on my other thread) and the clutch systems. Also, I am taking all needed steps to start the engine safely. I have flushed the coolant, flushed the oil and put a new filter, drained the fuel, which was less than a gallon of gas, though it had turned to varnish, there was no signs of any particulate in the fuel. New plugs (gaped appropriately) and lastly, lubing the top end. This is where it really through me (how clean this car is). I pulled the valve cover to lube the lifters and get some penetrating oil in the combustion chambers to then start bumping the engine (with the plugs pulled and the distributor cap off) to ensure the motor is free and ensure there is less compression for it to turn and do this until the oil pump puts oil on the valves. Then put the new gasket and valve cover on. Then hopefully start it!
All this to say when I pulled the valve cover (nervous to see a rusted mess), I saw what appeared to be a damn near clean situation. To the point that I reached back out to the previous owners son to ask if the top end was rebuilt, to which he said that they had never had any of the engine parts removed in the 50 years they had it. Though it was purchased in 1970 (and even the last time it was registered to be on the road was 1970), I have to assume they took very good care of this car, and probably turned it over every once in a while (they are car people, he (the son, who is in his 60's), has a '65 and '66 Cutlass (both original and beautiful) and a '66 Chevy II wagon (restoring), speed boat, etc.
I have shared some pics below. I am so unbelievably excited to start this journey! Thanks again to all of you have already jumped int to help with my questions in this 2 weeks!
