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I'll be a new forum user and taking 'ownership' of a Cat that will always and forever be my Dad's.
Been reading through a number of posts and you seem to have a good group here, knowledgeable and often of similar backgrounds (Vietnam Huey pilot = Dad).
My father was very recently given an awful health prognosis.
His Tiger is only slightly better off, in that repairing cars (even these) is simple next to fixing many of our body's myriad ailments...
the Issue: The car has been owned since new and was always taken care of until (multiple excuse here) and has since been sitting. Outside. Under soft covers. For years (5~7 since last real drive I'd guess).
the Plea: I want to get it running...asap. Longer term, the car is going to definitely need more massive help. But the motor had been fairly recently refreshed prior to parking it (makes.no.sense). I'm looking for advice or suggestions for a NorCal shop to help get it started. Central Valley or SJ/Peninsula maybe best options due to proximity. My offices are a stone's throw from Sunbeam Specialties... haven't bugged them yet.
to Start: Figuring normal things for a long time parked car...
- Gas tank removal / purging / cleaning or replacement
- Fuel lines purging / or R/R
- Carb...
- Plugs + MM Oil inside cylinders
- Tires (new ones on, but simply must be flat spotted.argh.)
- Other? (Fluids, motor seals a concern?)
the Ugly: I know all about the water concern, this will now be one of 'those' cars. Granted, it's CA, so maybe it's less bad than elsewhere, but a quick peek under the cover revealed plenty of major issues. And usually once you start looking...
All the rubber bits and seals are toast, the guages need help or worse, the seatbelt buckle was rusting on the floor. And yet, it still smells like 'the same ol' tiger' inside. Perhaps it was always moldy... the paint is unique and personal, but is likely doomed.
So...
W/O delving too deeply, Dad's in no condition to deal with or care too much about this, much, much larger issues at hand. Us too. This is a s----y deal. And yet, he mentioned the Tiger in the hospital, so it WAS on his mind. So, we would like to get it going asap to show him the intent to restore and take care of it.
I appreciate any thoughts, suggestions, insight you may offer. We've no plans to rid ourselves of it...the family always had 'plans' for it. My suggestion, time to stop planning.
Interior pic for a taste.
Thanks for reading and any of your ideas,
Derek
aka DD (CA)
Been reading through a number of posts and you seem to have a good group here, knowledgeable and often of similar backgrounds (Vietnam Huey pilot = Dad).
My father was very recently given an awful health prognosis.
His Tiger is only slightly better off, in that repairing cars (even these) is simple next to fixing many of our body's myriad ailments...
the Issue: The car has been owned since new and was always taken care of until (multiple excuse here) and has since been sitting. Outside. Under soft covers. For years (5~7 since last real drive I'd guess).
the Plea: I want to get it running...asap. Longer term, the car is going to definitely need more massive help. But the motor had been fairly recently refreshed prior to parking it (makes.no.sense). I'm looking for advice or suggestions for a NorCal shop to help get it started. Central Valley or SJ/Peninsula maybe best options due to proximity. My offices are a stone's throw from Sunbeam Specialties... haven't bugged them yet.
to Start: Figuring normal things for a long time parked car...
- Gas tank removal / purging / cleaning or replacement
- Fuel lines purging / or R/R
- Carb...
- Plugs + MM Oil inside cylinders
- Tires (new ones on, but simply must be flat spotted.argh.)
- Other? (Fluids, motor seals a concern?)
the Ugly: I know all about the water concern, this will now be one of 'those' cars. Granted, it's CA, so maybe it's less bad than elsewhere, but a quick peek under the cover revealed plenty of major issues. And usually once you start looking...
All the rubber bits and seals are toast, the guages need help or worse, the seatbelt buckle was rusting on the floor. And yet, it still smells like 'the same ol' tiger' inside. Perhaps it was always moldy... the paint is unique and personal, but is likely doomed.
So...
W/O delving too deeply, Dad's in no condition to deal with or care too much about this, much, much larger issues at hand. Us too. This is a s----y deal. And yet, he mentioned the Tiger in the hospital, so it WAS on his mind. So, we would like to get it going asap to show him the intent to restore and take care of it.
I appreciate any thoughts, suggestions, insight you may offer. We've no plans to rid ourselves of it...the family always had 'plans' for it. My suggestion, time to stop planning.
Interior pic for a taste.
Thanks for reading and any of your ideas,
Derek
aka DD (CA)
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