Restoration begins on my '72 Kingswood Estate this week!

Great to hear that you're making progress! I'm looking forward to hearing about the results.

 

Thanks! I sure will post the updates. I imagine that he has the transmission out now. He said it should be rebuilt and re-installed by Monday or Tuesday. He is also going to replace all of the flexible brake hoses, any flexible fuel hoses and change the grease in the differential. It only has 2 miles on the oil, but it has been in there for about 4 years, so that needs to be changed as well, but I am going to do that myself. This is sure going to cost me, but will be glad to at least have it road-worthy.

 

looks like its not long to go now 72 and you'll be on the road its been a while

 

Sure has been... cant wait to get her on the road. Still have to get the registration up to date and a complete exhaust system... the one on there now easily dates back to the 1980s and is riddled with holes... looks like swiss cheese.

 

Tony,

I just dropped in. Haven't been over here in a while. Glad to see that you are working on your '72 again. Out of co-incidence, I just pulled my '72 Impala out of the garage today. It's been in there since '07 and probably hasn't been started in the last 3 or 4 years now. I'm probably going to get it running again and put it up for sale. Although I still love these old cars, and ran 5 different '71 and '72's for 21 years straight, I have moved on from using them as daily drivers. Still have plans for another '62 though and still driving my '72 C-10 as a daily driver.

Keep on keeping us posted on your progress. And if you remember, I'm still a fan of the original type Distributors with Points. If you need one, they still should be available new or new-rebuilt.

Bill

 

Hi Bill. Good to hear from you, yes it has been awhile hasn't it? Hope you have been well. Yes, it has been a very slow go and I finally sold my Lincoln and have been using this money to work on the wagon a little. I let someone borrow a good chunk of the money and I have yet to see it. lol. My mistake though.

The mechanic called me today and when he took the transmission to the shop, they checked something and told him that the "sprag" or something like that was broken or had a broken spring or something. Basically the transmission was shot and the cause of the low power issue all along. When I drove it that day and it didn't shift until 40 mph, I knew something was up.

Yeah, hope you get your Impala a good home. There was a local '72 Impala sedan for sale here locally awhile back for $4000, then reduced to $2500. It was a beauty. I knew it would sell fast when reduced to $2500. Oddly (for this area) the car did not have A/C. I have never seen a old car in our area without A/C, most down here had it, but it may have been from up north originally, OR maybe just a rare one that wasn't ordered with air down here.

After I get my wagon running good, then I have to get a new exhaust, new brake lines then the body work begins.

 

That sounds like a pretty nice car for $2500. I agree that it's pretty rare for it to have no AC. I can't even remember seeing one without AC and I can remember these cars brand new, lol.

Funny how a bad Trans can be that much of a power robber. Let us know how it runs when you get it back from the shop.

Bill

 

Oh yeah it was very nice and an awesome deal. I think the owner needed some quick cash, or unsure of what it was really worth. lol.

Yeah, I have seen some of these without A/C, but not many and of those they were all "northern" cars. Most here in the south had the A/C option. There was actually a '72 Caprice sedan I had posted in another thread on here (may have been the '69 Caprice wagon thread in the for sale section) that did not have A/C. It was a 4dr Caprice sedan and basically had no options on the interior, but it was still a beauty.

Yeah, hopefully will have some updates soon. I called and spoke to the mechanic last night and he said that the transmission shop still had the tranny. They were apparently backed up.

He said he got the new water pump put on and has replaced all of the flexible fuel lines. I may go ahead and get him to replace all of the flexible brake lines as well.

 

Well I have the wagon back. $760.00 later (parts and labor) and she is back on the road. It needed a complete tranny rebuild. He also rebuilt the converter and replaced the planetary? Basically the transmission was shot. He used some pretty costly tranny fluid as well. He also put on a new water pump and went over it to make sure it was road worthy. Still needs a complete exhaust system, I am sure that will be cheap. Ugh... donations accepted. LOL. There is a local muffler shop that does good and affordable work, but I have never had to have the entire exhaust rsystem eplaced before on a car.

It was more than I had anticipated on spending, but it needed to be done. Setting for 7 years was long enough. I guess the exhaust will have to wait until I can save up more money, then getting it registered. Slowly but surely. lol.

I didn't drive the car home. He bought the car to me and I drove him back home. It appeared that the car came up the driveway with ease, whereas before it would not move up that hill from a stop. I cannot wait to check it out tomorrow.

 

Happy for you, 72KE!

 

Thanks! Happy for me, but not happy for my bank account! LOL!

Another $1500 and this car should be showroom new.

Next on the list is:

Exhaust system
Windshield and side cargo area windows removed, resealed (and rust repaired)
Spare tire well repaired
Paint
Carpet (maybe)
Rear window motor repair

 

Pics?

 

$760 is a GREAT price for what was done, IMO!!

Can't wait to see your burn-out video!

Congrats on finding and fixing the problem!!!

 

$760 IS a great price for all that was done. I haven't priced out trans rebuilds recently, but I would expect to pay that for a transmission that I took out and delivered to a trans shop.

No, no, no. He just spent 5 years trying to get it drivable. Don't encourage him to break it again.

 

Congrats. That's a pretty good looking 72