While I've got the gas tank in the shop for repair and restoration, I'm taking this opportunity to refurbish the luggage compartment. In addition to removing the old sealant from the tank, I've been scraping away 40-year-old body sealant, rust and paint. This is looking like a bigger project than I'd anticipated. The sealant around the joints is disintegrating and breaking off in large globs and will need to be completely removed, the area cleaned, and new sealant applied. But 40 years of sealant, flaking paint and rust will not be easy to clean. Since it's the trunk, and will be hidden by a fabric liner, appearance isn't an issue. I figure I'll scrape and brush away all the loose rust, scrub the area to remove grease and dirt, and then use a POR treatment or rust encapsulator. And probably finish with a coat of gray primer to reinforce the existing paint and coat the bare metal that's been exposed by my scraping.
Here's resource for auto restoration seam sealing: http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/seam-sealing.htm. After treating and painting the surface, I'll need to re-apply sealant around the welds in the trunk. Maybe that should go on after the rust treatment but before the primer. I'll need to do a bit more research, but need to get this done quick, since the gas tank should be back from the shop in about a week.
Friday, March 23, 2012
Sunday, March 18, 2012
A case of bad gas
So it was bad gas after all, causing Elsie to run so poorly lately and deteriorate so fast since I bought her. Today I drained the tank, all 10 gallons, and after seeing all the rust and crud that came out with the gas, I decided to bite the bullet and drop the tank. The leak and faulty sending unit need to be fixed anyway, it seemed like a good time. It's a good thing I did! Holding the gas tank, I could tip it back and forth and actually hear the pile of rust flakes sliding back and forth inside. The sending unit was rusted nearly beyond recognition, probably beyond repair.
My friend Austin came over to check Elsie out, and helped with a mini tune-up. I rigged a fuel line to run to a can full of clean gas and we started her up. She ran a little rough, but once the bad gas got burned through, she ran like a champ. Austin adjusted the timing a little, but all in all, she seems fit for service, once the tank's been refurbished and reinstalled.
My friend Austin came over to check Elsie out, and helped with a mini tune-up. I rigged a fuel line to run to a can full of clean gas and we started her up. She ran a little rough, but once the bad gas got burned through, she ran like a champ. Austin adjusted the timing a little, but all in all, she seems fit for service, once the tank's been refurbished and reinstalled.
Friday, February 24, 2012
Driving a Molotov Cocktail
Ever see an exploded muffler? I hadn't until today.
The adventure started with a blissfully quick and painless trip to the DMV to transfer title, register the car and order plates (the Oregon "Share the Road" plates, natch). Before the trip, I'd noticed a bit of fuel leaking from the top of the tank, now that the tank was full, so my next stop was the auto parts store to purchase a couple large gas cans. I figured I may need to drain the gas and drop the tank to fix the leak.
Upon leaving the store, the car wouldn't start; it was flooded. I ran the battery down trying to start it without success. I had to get back to work, so out of desperation, I roll-started it, and it sputtered back to life. It seemed to be running fine, though a little rough, so I headed for home.
On the way up the big hill near my house, I heard a BANG, and suddenly the engine sounded louder. The car behind me backed off a bit. A backfire, okay, not a big surprise given the flooding, car still running okay, so I drove the last few blocks home and into the driveway. Upon closer inspection, I found that the muffler had exploded!
Though an odd coincidence, but unrelated, I also narrowed down the source of the gasoline odor. It's a leak somewhere at the top of the gas tank where the cap and pipe run through the trunk (the fuel intake is behind the rear license plate), as evidenced by the pool of gas in the trunk. So basically, I was driving a Molotov cocktail. Yikes. Seriously. YIKES!
I now have a few more items for my To-Do list:
The adventure started with a blissfully quick and painless trip to the DMV to transfer title, register the car and order plates (the Oregon "Share the Road" plates, natch). Before the trip, I'd noticed a bit of fuel leaking from the top of the tank, now that the tank was full, so my next stop was the auto parts store to purchase a couple large gas cans. I figured I may need to drain the gas and drop the tank to fix the leak.
Upon leaving the store, the car wouldn't start; it was flooded. I ran the battery down trying to start it without success. I had to get back to work, so out of desperation, I roll-started it, and it sputtered back to life. It seemed to be running fine, though a little rough, so I headed for home.
On the way up the big hill near my house, I heard a BANG, and suddenly the engine sounded louder. The car behind me backed off a bit. A backfire, okay, not a big surprise given the flooding, car still running okay, so I drove the last few blocks home and into the driveway. Upon closer inspection, I found that the muffler had exploded!
Though an odd coincidence, but unrelated, I also narrowed down the source of the gasoline odor. It's a leak somewhere at the top of the gas tank where the cap and pipe run through the trunk (the fuel intake is behind the rear license plate), as evidenced by the pool of gas in the trunk. So basically, I was driving a Molotov cocktail. Yikes. Seriously. YIKES!
I now have a few more items for my To-Do list:
- Repair fuel tank leak
- Replace muffler
- Tune up/determine why gas mixture is too rich
Thursday, February 23, 2012
First Drive Observations
I got a trip permit this morning and took Elsie down to get gas and tires. The gauge has been showing empty, but it turns out the tank was almost full, which means the gauge is not working for one reason or another. It's not an electrical problem; the car only has 2 fuses, and all other electrical works. Now I just need to worry about the age of the fuel that was in there, and the condition of the tank and fuel system.
Overall, the car is running really well, and now that she's got new tires, she handles well too. The handling and transmission are just like an old VW Beetle from that era (complete with gas smell in the cabin). The steering wheel seems to have more play than the owner's manual suggests, so that's something else that needs to be checked out. She's got pep, that's for sure, even for a 1.9L engine, and the engine feels strong and consistent.
I am a little concerned about the gas smell inside the car. It used to be common in my VWs, but not sure if I should be concerned. I found an old recall notice regarding corrosion in the spare tire well that could cause holes to form in the tank, which could be the source of the odor. Inspecting/replacing the fuel lines and filter, and flushing the tank, are on my short list, so I'll see if I can find the source then.
It's interesting how many folks want to talk to me about the car. It happened when Justin got the Barracuda, and now with the Corona. I've met three people in the past few days who used to drive Coronas from this era.
To Do:
- Troubleshoot fuel gauge malfunction
- Flush or replace fuel tank
- Inspect fuel system, replace lines and filter
- Investigate source of gas smell
- Adjust steering wheel
New Tires
80,479 miles
Total Price: $290.96
Original tire size: 6.15/155-13
Recall Notice: Fuel System, Gas Tank Assembly
| Make : TOYOTA | Model : CORONA | Year : 1969 |
| Build Dates : 1969-02-01 - 1971-12-01 | ||
| NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number : 78V002000 | ||
| Date Owner's Notified: 1978-03-27 | Date Received by ODI: 1978-12-09 | Date Added to Database: 1979-10-12 |
| Manufacturers Involved: TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION | ||
| Manufacturer's Responsible for the Recall: | ||
| Manufacturer Campaign Number: | ||
| Component: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY | ||
| Potential Number Of Units Affected : 131046 | ||
| Summary: FUEL TANK COULD DEVELOP CORROSION DUE TO A MIXTURE OF ROAD SALT AND WATER IN THE LUGGAGE COMPARTMENT. THE CORROSION COULD CREATE A SMALL HOLE IN THE TANK AND ALLOW THE GASOLINE TO SEEP INTO THE SPARE TIRE WELL. | ||
| Consequence: | ||
| Remedy: THE DEALER WILL INSPECT ALL SUSPECT FUEL TANKS. IF CORROSION OR PERFORATION IS PRESENT, THE TANK WILL BE REPAIRED OR REPLACED AS NECESSARY. IF NO RUST IS PRESENT, THE SPARE TIRE WELL WILL BE PAINTED WITH ANTI-CORROSION PAINT. | ||
| Report Initiator: ODI | V Report | |
| Regulation Part Number: | Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard Number: | |
| Notes: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES.SYSTEM: FUEL; FUEL TANKS.CONSEQUENCES OF DEFECT: IF AN IGNITION SOURCE IS PRESENT, FUEL LEAKAGE CAN LEADTO A VEHICLE FIRE, OCCUPANT INJURY AND PROPERTY DAMAGE. | ||
http://auto-recalls.justia.com/toyota/corona/1969/78v002000/
Monday, February 20, 2012
Baby's First Oil Change
Lessons learned:
- Oil is messy!
- If the drain plug angles towards the rear of the car, the stream of oil will shoot that direction, and may overshoot the catch pan.
- The 1969 Toyota Corona R3 engine takes a cartridge-type oil filter, rather than a spin-on filter. That means it's a replaceable filter cartridge inside a removable housing. And it's a LOT harder to work with.
How to Flush Radiator/Cooling System
This how to article will cover the proper method of flushing and filling your engine's coolant system. Be sure to check your ownership manual for both the proper mixture ratio and coolant for your car. This is also a good opportunity to replace the coolant hoses.
HUH? They put their web address on all their crappy photos and then don't allow the images to be linked. Weird, I guess they want to keep their site a secret. This site could have been a really good resource for my car-owning friends. Oh well. LINK DELETED.
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Toyota Corona Mark II Assembly Line, 1969
Elsie's not a Mark II, but she was produced on an assembly line just like this.
Photo from the Corona page at ToyoLand.com
Saturday, February 18, 2012
The Drive Home
I paid for and brought the car home on a very rainy Friday, Feb 17. Rather, I paid for the car, and the seller, Bill, agreed to tow her to my home for a small fee. I would have liked to drive her, but the tires are shot and the brakes questionable, and she definitely wasn't freeway-ready. So I followed her home in the Ford, while she was lashed to a car dolly on Bill's truck. The Corona's wheelbase is so narrow, she almost didn't fit on the dolly.
One of my first purchases for the car was an outdoor car cover, since I don't currently have room in the garage. She's got some weatherproofing issues, so I want to keep her as dry as possible.
Toyota Owner’s and Restorer’s Club
The Toyota Owner’s and Restorer’s Club, established in 1995, is an organization aimed at the enthusiast of all Toyota automobiles. While T.O.R.C welcomes owners, drivers, and enthusiasts of all Toyota brands, including Lexus & Scion, the primary directive of T.O.R.C. is to promote the preservation, restoration, modification & use of pre-1985 Toyota models. The club’s goal is to promote and encourage an appreciation of Toyota, it’s heritage, and it’s future.
http://www.toyotaclub.org/
Hello, Elsie
My great grandmother Elsie drove a Toyota Corona, and I rode in it a few times as a kid. I'm not certain exactly the vintage of that car, but if I'm remembering the body shape correctly, it was a 1967-69 model, and I always liked it. It was smart and practical. It seemed to have plenty of leg room in the back seat, which was important to a gangly prepubescent boy. It always ran well. Its lines smacked of a design sensibility that was distinctly 60s but not typically American. It was a compact, forward-looking foreigner in a land of muscle cars, pony cars and land yachts on the brink of being torpedoed by the energy crisis of the 70s.I never gained much of an taste for any auto makes or models, new or classic, and I especially dislike the bland, lookalike lines of modern cars. There's some I wouldn't mind owning, and plenty that would be fun to drive. Sure, wouldn't a sexy Porsche be be a blast, or a muscly Camaro, and those Hondas sure seem efficient, but there's very few I could say I loved. I really loved the look and feel of Grandma Elsie's Corona, and over the years I occasionally found myself searching the want ads for one like hers, with no luck. There just weren't very many of that model imported, and fewer on the road. Watch old films from that era, and you'll see a Beetle in almost every street shot, but the model Corona I wanted was a rare jewel.
And then out of the blue, Justin sent me this:
1969 Toyota Corona 1900 4 door sedan - $2450
This is a one owner car with 80,460 miles. 4 cylinder, 4 speed transmission and runs very well and drives good. It has been in storage for 21 years.
This car is in very good condition. There is one small crack in the bottom of the drivers seat and the carpet is not the best. All of the rest of the interior is is very good condition. There is one small spot of damage on the lower part of the drivers door.
Reasonable offers considered.
So I went to take a look. The condition wasn't quite as very good as the ad described, but it was really good considering the age. It was a little rough in spots, but this was the legendary granny car, the one driven once or twice a week to the grocery store and church. The one parked and forgotten for two decades after grandma stopped driving. It was an automotive time capsule that needed a little love but still had plenty of life left.
An inspection revealed a car that was rougher than the tiny photos could convey. The tires were completely shot. The "very good condition" interior included a warped and cracked dashboard, a leaking cabin and moldy carpet. The brakes pulled sharply to one side. The paint was bubbling with surface rust in a couple small spots. The tail showed signs of previous bumps and bruises. The effects of extended storage on the engine, and the conditions of its return to service were unknown. It was being sold as-is, and while the seller was a trustworthy friend of a friend, even he didn't have much to say about its revival or reliability, except that he figured it had been run enough lately to expose any problems that might arise, and it ran like a champ. The oil looked like it had been changed recently, and the fuel filter looked clear. The suspension bounced back just right. All the lights and gauges seemed to work. All the windows rolled up and down, and the latches all did their job.
It had some small problems, and there was definitely a bit of work I'd need to complete up front. It would end up being a little bit of a project car--but relatively small and relatively cheap. I needed a project, something to pull me away from the digital world where I spend too much of my time working and playing. It wouldn't take much to get the car ship shape and ready for some action. So after a bit of haggling, I made my offer, and a day later I found myself taking possession of my new old Corona, just two days after Justin first sent me the ad.
You have to strike when the opportunity arises, if you don't want to live a life of regrets. I don't spend a lot of time cruising used cars, but I'd never seen a Corona for sale before...one of the two car makes I'd ever had a real affection for (the other being the Volkswagen Thing), and I didn't expect to see another one soon, if ever. I knew I had to take a chance. And now the car's parked in my driveway, waiting for my new hobby to begin.I call her Elsie, and this is her story.
--Greg
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