Greetings,
Recently picked up this 1976 Palm Beach about 175 miles away in SE Virginia. It was originally a Southwest coach until 2005 or so when it was sold to a car collector in PA, where it lived in a climate controlled facility (and only driven on the property) until March of this year when the young man I purchased it from picked it up.
It has 133k miles. During its 20 year slumbering stay in PA it was driven occasionally by the collector's mechanic, allegedly only used non ethanol fuel. A few details:
at 99k in late 90s transmission rebuilt with Caspro Power Drive installed at the same time
at 101k in early 2000s engine rebuilt by Wallace Bearing in NM .030 pistons
at some point Wallace front wheel bearings installed (much to Jim Bounds chagrine)
Joel the young man I purchased it from installed new Firestones, performed a tune-up, fluid changes, etc. It has pretty good maintenance records from early 1990s until about 2005.
It made the trip home fine other that throwing the alternator belt about 30 miles from home. Thankfully we were prepared with parts.
Plan is to refresh all suspension, brakes and steering. After that continue with interior refresh that Joel started.
Steering has play and brakes eventually slow it down, but felt good at 60-65 mph. Ride and suspension felt good - firm and controlled.
I'll likely start a project thread in the correct sub forum. My Mazda2 might make a good towed candidate, but would need a dolly as I don't think you can flat tow it (it is a 5spd manual though).
This is my first domestic project as I'm accustomed to old Volvos and BMWs and the odd weird Euro car.
Looking forward to this one!
Recently picked up this 1976 Palm Beach about 175 miles away in SE Virginia. It was originally a Southwest coach until 2005 or so when it was sold to a car collector in PA, where it lived in a climate controlled facility (and only driven on the property) until March of this year when the young man I purchased it from picked it up.
It has 133k miles. During its 20 year slumbering stay in PA it was driven occasionally by the collector's mechanic, allegedly only used non ethanol fuel. A few details:
at 99k in late 90s transmission rebuilt with Caspro Power Drive installed at the same time
at 101k in early 2000s engine rebuilt by Wallace Bearing in NM .030 pistons
at some point Wallace front wheel bearings installed (much to Jim Bounds chagrine)
Joel the young man I purchased it from installed new Firestones, performed a tune-up, fluid changes, etc. It has pretty good maintenance records from early 1990s until about 2005.
It made the trip home fine other that throwing the alternator belt about 30 miles from home. Thankfully we were prepared with parts.
Plan is to refresh all suspension, brakes and steering. After that continue with interior refresh that Joel started.
Steering has play and brakes eventually slow it down, but felt good at 60-65 mph. Ride and suspension felt good - firm and controlled.
I'll likely start a project thread in the correct sub forum. My Mazda2 might make a good towed candidate, but would need a dolly as I don't think you can flat tow it (it is a 5spd manual though).
This is my first domestic project as I'm accustomed to old Volvos and BMWs and the odd weird Euro car.
Looking forward to this one!
