Maybe I'm asking the wrong guys, but...

When do you have to walk away from a car? Is it when parts break every day? Or when you realize that you are putting more money into the car than you can afford to without making real progress?

The latest stuff is pretty minor I guess, I've developed a electrical thing I CAN'T figure out. (Turn Signals/Brake Lights don't work. Best I can figure it's a wiring issue.) And it's overheating bad in this weather. (it's leaking badly around the firewall where the nipple for the heater core meets the hose.)

I'm really in over my head with this car, both mechanically and money-wise, but I don't want to sell it because I may never have one like it again, and I'd really hate to see it end up as a parts car.

You could always do what Dave did and take it down to the frame and start over. As for electrical, I have an engine compartment and a dash harness for a 70-72 sweep dash still in the wrapping I would offer you for a small fee.

Depends on if its my DD or my chevelle. If I did that with my Chevelle I would have sold it long ago.

Depends on if its my DD or my chevelle. If I did that with my Chevelle I would have sold it long ago.
If she weren't my daily driver, I wouldn't be worried about it...

Electrical issue sounds like a grounding problem to me...... Just sayin. Might be an easy issue or somthing stupid

Jim your leak at the firewall is it just a hose leaking or is it the heater core?...Being its your daily driver possibly one of the TC members out your way could help you track down the wiring issue......Over the last few years I have noticed the guys out the way seems to rally together to work thru things.

I'm sure it is something easy on the electrical problems. I haven't found it yet. I will.

The problem here is I'm tapped out cash-wise and patience-wise.


BILL- I'm not sure if it's the Core or the hose. I noticed it this morning when I got to work when she was pushing steam out.

Electrical issue sounds like a grounding problem to me...... Just sayin. Might be an easy issue or somthing stupid

I'll second this.

for now, run a hose to bypass the heater, loop from the waterpump to the intake.
At your leasure, re-connect and determine if it is the heater core leaking.
They do not cost too much and are not too tough to do on a Chevelle compard to, say, a new car.

The electrical could be a bad ground, fuse, or flasher.

Electrical issue sounds like a grounding problem to me...... Just sayin. Might be an easy issue or somthing stupid

Jim best get the leak fixed pretty quick as it will lead to real issues in short order....You can always plug your heater hoses for the meantime if it is a heater core leaking. If its just a hose leaking a few feet of 5/8's and 3/4" hose will fix you up. If possible don't use standard tap water in your radiator....pick up a gallon or 2 of distilled water.These cars even back in there day took more maintenance than today's cars do....I was at the Auto parts store about every Friday (payday) as a teen....Try to keep your chin up and don't let it get you down.

Sorry Jim I didn't notice kettbo had addressed your leak issue......:thumbsup:

Maybe I'm asking the wrong guys, but...

When do you have to walk away from a car?

I walk away when I find myself with the biggest hammer in the tool box heading toward the windshield with the full intent of throwing it completly through the car. Been that way more than I care to think about. When that happens I just go inside, jump on Team Chevelle, vent, make fun of Dave and George, have a beer or 12, and realize that tomorrow is another day..........................................

Bypass the heater hose, check your grounds/fuses, and if it's becoming too much, just take a breather. Me and TW have gone at it for the past forever since I've had her. I've come close many times to getting rid of her. But she always pulled through for me in the clutch and continues to do so when I really need her to work for me.

And you're right. You sell it and you'll regret it enormously. Just take your time and maintain a sense of humor with it. Without a sense of humor it's real easy to go crazy when things start going south.

When It stops being fun, walk away. remember this is a hobby.

Firstly, I'm going to say this.....the car is 43 years old and parts go in cycles. Just part of owning an original classic car.

Some things about the electrical issue on a 43 year old car with original wiring....

Could be the ground tang on the light bulb plug isn't touching bare metal and making contact....easy fix, just take it out and clean both the plug tang and the body housing part it touches.

Could be partly in the steering column....that'd be a bit more in-depth but doable.

Could partly be a bad brake light switch under the dash resting against the brake pedal...it screws into a bracket and is round in shape with orange and white wires going to it.

Could be your 'horseshoe looking' plug that comes off the steering column has corroded posts where the two sides touch, just unplug them and clean them up, stick them back together.

Could be your intermediate harness(flat and has about 6 or 7 wires in it) that runs from front to back of the car on the left side has corroded posts and you need to clean them at one end or both ends....one under the dash near the fuse box, the other in the trunk near the rear seats.

Do yourself a favor, go buy a small tube of di-electric grease at the parts store and when you clean/take apart any of these contact points put some on there. It will prevent corrosion later on, especially in this moisture mixed with cold prevalent environment during the fall/winter months.


Good info already posted for the leaking issue....a pipe fitting with a barb on each end for coupling the hoses together would also work with the existing hoses taken off the heater core. A 40 year old heater core that's been used much is probably toast.

A heater core runs about $50 for your car retail in case you're wondering....I bought one awhile back. It takes a little bit of work, and you will probably want a new heater housing gasket set, around $15-$20 available locally. A second hand helping to put the inner housing and outer housing together might be needed to get at least a speed nut or two on to hold it there. Removing or dropping the inner fender helps immensely....not too hard.

Good info guys and I'm glad I have some level headed guys who've dealt with this stuff before to talk to when I'm about to go off the handle.

I bypassed it tonight, just ran the water pump to the manifold, the heater core fittings are definitely corroded.

Thanks for the Electrical stuff Mike, good stuff, hopefully It's something I can find now that I know what to look for.

The Equatorial Heat we're having is making my usual cranky self go berserk.

Do any electrical investigating today/tonight? I know this heat is killer....just curious.

Fix the leak and you'll probably fix the overheating issue as well unless the cooling system is clogged or the water pump is weak.

My best advice: Buy a more modern, more reliable daily driver. This will allow you to work on the classic when you can afford it and feel like it without the stress of keeping it going with daily driver needs. Having an unreliable or unsafe car for a daily driver is very stressful. This way too, if the classic gets you wound up you can simply let it sit for a while until you mellow out. Another benefit is you can do larger projects on the classic which will leave undriveable for a period of time. Sometimes the most meaningful repairs take more time than you can lend to it in a single evening or weekend.

Do any electrical investigating today/tonight? I know this heat is killer....just curious.
No, not yet. Last night I didn't have brake lights at all.

I couldn't bring myself to work on anything after I left work. Too damn hot.

The trans cooler lines are leaking bad now as well, they're all munched up. :sad:


I'll chill out when the heat go'sway.


Rich- EXACTLY. Thats what I want. The car needs way more attention than I can give it in a weekend.

When the fire department says "We did what we could, sorry we couldn't save it"

When the fire department says "We did what we could, sorry we couldn't save it"

That's just the perfect time for a frame-up :p