Was driving my 62 Lark towards the US border yesterday so it could be picked up by a guy whos going to store it untill the new owner can get it home.
This is a stock 259/auto, that as I pointed out very clearly in the E-Bay ad I sold it on that the engine was "tired" and needed going through. I thought the bastard would make it another 200 miles though.
It was a cool morning,around the freezing point,so I started out driving gently to warm up the Lark with Diane my GF following behind me in my new Kia Sorento. We stopped and gassed up the both of them and I let the Lark run as I filled her because she is a tad cold blooded, and I grinned as I listened to the healthy exhaust note coming from the duals.
We got back on the road and about 60 miles later I felt a slight miss, very unusual for this engine,especially while under power. I looked in the mirrior and was horrified to see blue smoke billowing out both pipes, but especially the left (drivers side) bank. I have a set of real gauges mounted down under the instrument panel,and a quick glance at them revealed no problems. As I knew the engine was full of oil,having just checked it before I left, I kept going,because there were no other symptoms other than the smoke,no lose of power or anything. I was thinking broken piston ring, trashed vale seal, so I kept her going.
As we got down the road another few miles the smoking gradually cleared up and stopped, but about this time I noticed the oil pressure had dropped from its normal 40 psi to around 20. I eased back on her and let her coast off the exit ramp into the little town where we had agreed to drop off the car. As I sttopped at the stop sign the oil pressure dropped to near zero,the idiot light came on,and I heard a bad rattle.I pulled in to the closest drivway and shut it down,not wanting to do furthur damage, and phoned the guys wife (he was on his way back from his camp) and explained the situation,where the car was,and then went to the door and asked if I could leave the Stude there for a couple hours.
Diane and I drove back home with me in a deep foul mood.
When I got home I called the buyer and explained what happened, he was understandly quite upset.
First off, any ideas on what might have happened to this original,63k mile engine,Ive never had a Stude V-8 fail on me like that before and I must say my beleif in the damn things have been deeply shaken.
Another thought, since I clearly stated in the E-Bay ad that the car needed an engine re-build in the near future. I also stated that the buyer was responable for shipping the car, though since I knew the buyer through the "other" NG I did agree verbally to drive the car to the border, so in your opinions what are my obligations?
I feel preety sick about it right now and am still damn tired after yesterdays 7 hours of driving and me having to be up for work at 4:30 am.
Just wondering what you all think
This is a stock 259/auto, that as I pointed out very clearly in the E-Bay ad I sold it on that the engine was "tired" and needed going through. I thought the bastard would make it another 200 miles though.
It was a cool morning,around the freezing point,so I started out driving gently to warm up the Lark with Diane my GF following behind me in my new Kia Sorento. We stopped and gassed up the both of them and I let the Lark run as I filled her because she is a tad cold blooded, and I grinned as I listened to the healthy exhaust note coming from the duals.
We got back on the road and about 60 miles later I felt a slight miss, very unusual for this engine,especially while under power. I looked in the mirrior and was horrified to see blue smoke billowing out both pipes, but especially the left (drivers side) bank. I have a set of real gauges mounted down under the instrument panel,and a quick glance at them revealed no problems. As I knew the engine was full of oil,having just checked it before I left, I kept going,because there were no other symptoms other than the smoke,no lose of power or anything. I was thinking broken piston ring, trashed vale seal, so I kept her going.
As we got down the road another few miles the smoking gradually cleared up and stopped, but about this time I noticed the oil pressure had dropped from its normal 40 psi to around 20. I eased back on her and let her coast off the exit ramp into the little town where we had agreed to drop off the car. As I sttopped at the stop sign the oil pressure dropped to near zero,the idiot light came on,and I heard a bad rattle.I pulled in to the closest drivway and shut it down,not wanting to do furthur damage, and phoned the guys wife (he was on his way back from his camp) and explained the situation,where the car was,and then went to the door and asked if I could leave the Stude there for a couple hours.
Diane and I drove back home with me in a deep foul mood.
When I got home I called the buyer and explained what happened, he was understandly quite upset.
First off, any ideas on what might have happened to this original,63k mile engine,Ive never had a Stude V-8 fail on me like that before and I must say my beleif in the damn things have been deeply shaken.
Another thought, since I clearly stated in the E-Bay ad that the car needed an engine re-build in the near future. I also stated that the buyer was responable for shipping the car, though since I knew the buyer through the "other" NG I did agree verbally to drive the car to the border, so in your opinions what are my obligations?
I feel preety sick about it right now and am still damn tired after yesterdays 7 hours of driving and me having to be up for work at 4:30 am.
Just wondering what you all think
Comment