Down to Business

The Fairmont had arrived, but I would have a while to wait for the title to arrive by mail.  Perfect time to take stock and get under the hood.  I did a walk-around, test runs and drives, assembled to-do and shopping lists, and took the latter to the store.

I got to know my new old car as I changed the oil and oil filter, replaced the oil filler cap gasket, replaced the wiper blades, filled the washer fluid, lubricated the door hinges and hood catches and shift linkages with household oil, lubricated the door locks and strikers with graphite, replaced the PCV valve and grommet and a piece of tubing attached to it which was completely blocked and had the consistency of taffy. I replaced the main and crankcase air filters, pulled the spark plugs, and replaced them with brand-new ones, set to .049" on one end and well-greased on the other.  I replaced the dome light bulb, lubricated the front ball joints, checked and topped off the transmission fluid, and checked the brake fluid.  I did a cursory check for vacuum leaks and didn't find anything major; the Fairmont has run better and better as the fresh fluids get worked in and the bad gas gets worked out.

I had found the power steering fluid to be full, but dark gray in color, so I emptied the reservoir, refilled it with fresh Type F transmission fluid as specified in the manual, and circulated the fluid.  Then I shut the car off and did it again.  And again.  And again.  Six flushes later, the fluid is still dark, but the texture seems better, with much less particulate matter.

Grease monkey

There were failures, too, and in the interest of documenting my experience with the car completely, I will list them here.  The power steering flushes remain an unknown quantity; Fairmonts are known for their sloppy steering so I don't know what to expect here.  In attempting to align the front passenger door, I succeeded only in chipping the 'wood paneling' applique at the edge of the door, although the blue paint underneath remains intact.  Should have left this to a body shop.  In fact, I suspect it's the striker plate that's causing the door to rattle and not the door alignment at all. The dome light still doesn't work, even with a new bulb; the wires and mounts are loose.  I attempted to lubricate the seized-up parking brake lever and cable, but it's too far gone and will need replacement.

Perhaps most significantly, this afternoon I removed what I thought was the fuel filter from the carburetor, found it was not the fuel filter, and screwed it back on.  Since then the car will not run for more than a few seconds.  Searching the Internet for information on the Holley 1946 single-barrel carb, I suspect it was the needle and seat that I removed, which is responsible for determining how much fuel gets dumped into the bowl that feeds the cylinders gasoline.  I theorize that I screwed it in too tightly, setting the float too low and starving the engine of gas.  I'd go out and test that theory right now if it wasn't raining cats and dogs.  I can't find anything under the hood that looks like the fuel filter that everyone swears up and down fits my car.  The Haynes manual's first instruction was to remove the air cleaner from the carburetor, so I find it reasonable to assume that's where the filter is located.  It doesn't look like it belongs on top of the fuel pump, either.  I'm mystified.  Not baffled, though.  That's reserved for modern cars.

Anybody know where this actually goes?

All in all, I am delighted to report that for the work I have done so far, total parts cost has been $141.61.  Once I have flushed the coolant, adjusted the transmission bands, and inspected and cleaned the EGR valve, I will have accomplished every single maintenance point in the manual.  Even I decide to replace the EGR valve rather than spend an hour reaming out the carbon, it's a $30 part, keeping the total price tag still well under $200 (considering I've somehow accumulated ten gallons of antifreeze in storage).

That sort of money wouldn't buy you spark plug service on a modern car.  Put that in your pipe and smoke it.  My Fairmont's name is Gertrude and she's a fun gal and a cheap date to boot.

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ADDENDUM: Ha, I'm an idiot.  I had removed both the fuel filter and the brass block the fuel filter screws into.  I have now replaced the fuel filter, and realized the reason the car won't run: At some point during my exuberant wrench-swinging, I broke the distributor cap.  Yeah, that'll do 'er.  For my carelessness I pay a fine of $25.  $30 if you count the rotor I'm throwing in for good measure.

Wouldn't you know that the title arrived today, and due to a dentist cancellation I thought for sure I had time to get her tagged.  Then this snafu.  *sigh*  It's supposed to rain all week.