The Vega that is.
Even though I began a restoration on another vehicle, I started looking occasionally on Ebay for another Orange 1974 Vega. In Nov. of 2010, a yellow hatchback was listed, and the bidding began, and I ended as the winning bidder. Then off to Westwood NJ. to bring back the new project.
Through discussions with the seller, I learned that the car was a "one" family vehicle, that was purchased new by the seller's father,and was given to his daughter. The daughter moved to California and took the car, where it lived for about ten years, and then returned to NJ. For some unknown reason the car was taken off the road in 1995, and remained in a dry garage till the sale.
FLASH!! Update!! While working on the engine, I discovered that the belt pulley on the crank, had broken off. See photo in the Restoration section. Apparently GM, to save a few cents, changed from the cast balancer type pulley, to one that was stamped metal welded together to form the belt grooves and metal fatigue won. Fortunately, I have both types on salvage engines, and will install the old cast type.
After almost a year the cleaned and refinished tank with a new fuel pump was installed. The moment of truth came on Nov. 06 / 2011 just one day short of a year from the day when the vehicle was brought to WV, that the oil was changed and it was time to fire up the engine once again after a fifteen year sleep. I had already poured oil and a conditioner into the valve cover weeks ago to soften up the valve seals and checked to see if the engine would turn by hand, and it did. The key turned, the engine cranked and sputtered, which was repeated several times, and then it ran!! Well for about several minutes and then stopped. After trying to restart again, I checked the carb and it didn't seem to be pumping any fuel. Well, I guess after a long sleep it just needs a little patience.
Well, the carb was checked and the floats jiggled a little, but the
carb still isn't getting any fuel. Now it was time to install the rebuilt carb that I had been purchased. After the carb was removed, I decided that I would detail that side of the engine, since I would have to do it anyway later.
Now the fun began. To take off the intake manifold, there is a bolt behind the upper water outlet, Ok, just remove the alternator, which is suspended from the outlet, Surprise # 1. The lower alternator bolt was sheared off. Surprise # 2. The upper alternator bolt was frozen into the alternator, and later I found out it was also rusted into the outlet bushing. After trying to remove it, it also broke off. Now every cutting tool in the shop would not get close enough to cut.
The last resort was to break up the alternator which is soft cast metal, then I just had the bolt to fight with. Now a recip saw blade would fit, and I was able to cut the bolt off, but not entirely. There was still a piece of the bolt frozen in the ear of the housing, but the outlet could be removed. Finally after an hour mounted in a vise, the bolt was drilled out.
Now all the bolts to the intake manifold were accessible and removed. Surprise # 3. There is a pipe that goes from the EGR valve on the intake manifold to the exhaust manifold. After removing the retainers, surely just a few taps would dislodge the pipe on either manifold. WRONG!! As the intake manifold was being removed, the thin junk metal tube broke off, leaving a piece in each manifold. I don't have a clue as to where I'm going to find a replacement. Now if I thought that I could detail around the exhaust manifold, WRONG !! again, it would now have to be removed to get to the remaining piece. Again it was off to my favorite local parts store Basic Auto Parts to find the gasket, EGR Valve and thermostat. After a few days, I had those parts. Then it was a frantic email to CB, who I knew networked with a lot of parts vendors. I explained what I needed, and received a reply several days later, that he had located two pieces. WOW!! What a relief, I said I would take both, one to use and a spare.
I then decided that with the manifolds removed, I would have extra room to replace the drivers side motor mount. Now, the Vega mount design is probably unique, and never again was used on another vehicle! Looks simple enough, WRONG!!, Raise the body, lower the body, raise the engine lower the engine, get one out of three bolts to fit, nudge, jiggle, and remember that the block is aluminum, so a cross threaded bolt would be a disaster. After a number of hours on different days, the mount was finally installed.
