A Little Advice Please!

Bill Marcy

Bill Marcy

PCS Member
As most of you probably know, I bought the 1968 Superior Pontiac ambulance, that was offered for sale in these forums. The car is located in Downers Grove, Il, a suburb of Chicago. It has not run in about eight years, I was told by the previous owner. Hopefully, the engine will run again.

My question; Is there anybody in that general area, that is capable of getting the car running and doing needed repairs? I would prefer that the car would remain inside of a shop during these repairs. I am concerned about the non-running car being transported here to NJ, with the already cold temperatures and the difficulties associated with loading the ambulance on to a car carrier, not running and without brakes.

If anyone knows a decent mechanic in the area, please let me know. Thank you!
 
Bill,
I have sold numerous in-op cars with no brakes and have had them all successfully transported to the East coast with no problems. You still have to get the car moved to get it to a garage! You will also be entrusting the car to a mechanic that you have had no experience with. You are over-thinking this and you are just setting yourself up to be screwed over in doing what you are asking! Just get it hauled home!!

Try these two transporters. I have had wonderful experiences with both:

Abram Sollman
Dowagiac, MI
269.783.6132
Abe pulls a 3-car slant and usually hauls new trailers, so he has an attached winch. Great guy and will have it loaded in 20 minutes.

Lilli Transport
Sioux Falls, SD
605.334.9500
Good people and have hauled numerous in-ops that I have sold.
 
I have a quote to ship the car, that really isn't the reason for the question. But, I am pretty sure that I will end up doing what you guys have suggested. In the end, I have a shop I know and trust here.
 
Just make sure that it is a shipper that is aware of it's condition and has an adequate winch. Also, make sure that you know that it rolls freely(air in tires and no locked brakes) before the truck shows up. The guys that are willing to haul in-ops have done this many, many times.
 
All good points here. You'll be much happier in the long run if you use a mechanic near home whom you trust and can keep an eye on.
 
Bill: Just remember the hauler is coming with a three car trailer not exactly easy to get into tight places. Make sure your seller can have the ambulance where it is easy to load. If need be have seller get a local tower with a small truck get it out so its easy to get to. The $50.00 to $100.00 spent for the small rig will be better than damage that costs more to repair.
 
Bill,
I agree with the others. Get the car here and use who you trust to do the work. There is never a good time of year, it is just part of the hobby.
Gus
 
6 to 1 have dozen the other. if you know a man you can trust there who can act for you, getting the car running before shipping can make the deliver a lot less of a hassle. especially if here is a marked difference in flat rate charges. if you not able to do it your self and at the mercy of others your going to have to pay the big bucks the difference in 50 bucks a hr and 100 makes a lot of difference. around here it costs you a minimum of 100 bucks to do anything out on the wet coast my Daughter is forking over 200. so if you know a man that can help out were the car is, it may pay you will to get it running there before it's shipped. me I would rather go get them myself and make my own repairs when I can. but not all of us have that option. I myself have had things going on in my life were it is not possible and I have trusted this task to others. sometimes it works sometimes it doesn't. but I have never on the road had a man deliberately rip me off. wish I could say the same thing for at home.
 
John ED Renstrom said:
6 to 1 have dozen the other. if you know a man you can trust there who can act for you, getting the car running before shipping can make the deliver a lot less of a hassle. especially if here is a marked difference in flat rate charges. if you not able to do it your self and at the mercy of others your going to have to pay the big bucks the difference in 50 bucks a hr and 100 makes a lot of difference. around here it costs you a minimum of 100 bucks to do anything out on the wet coast my Daughter is forking over 200. so if you know a man that can help out were the car is, it may pay you will to get it running there before it's shipped. me I would rather go get them myself and make my own repairs when I can. but not all of us have that option. I myself have had things going on in my life were it is not possible and I have trusted this task to others. sometimes it works sometimes it doesn't. but I have never on the road had a man deliberately rip me off. wish I could say the same thing for at home.
Click to expand...

Ed, I have to agree with you. My problem is that I can't fix anything, so I don't have an option. But, I will take it step by step, with my number one goal
being to have it in Gettysburg 2016, for the PCS Int'l Meet. If it runs and drives, we will drive it there. If not, we will have it brought in on a truck. We shall see!
 
Bill Marcy said:
Ed, I have to agree with you. My problem is that I can't fix anything, so I don't have an option. But, I will take it step by step, with my number one goal
being to have it in Gettysburg 2016, for the PCS Int'l Meet. If it runs and drives, we will drive it there. If not, we will have it brought in on a truck. We shall see!
Click to expand...

Bill, it shouldn't take very much to get this car running again. It has been in heated storage all these years. I know one thing for sure. I wouldn't want to suck that gas from the tank into the carb. You can tell by the smell of the cars interior when you open the doors it has went bad years ago. It smells like old gas in there. The tank needs to come off for sure.
 
all I did with the 78 Horton (sat for 8 years) was replace the rubber gas line from the tank
to the front, then flushed the tank out then put a new gas filter right near the tank ( that I could get to easly and fast) so now I have two filters one in the carb and one near the tank.
 
I have a mechanic who knows what to do. But, he will surely start with the gas tank, draining the fluids, checking for leaks, etc.
 
will of course you do have options. your option is in where you send it to get it back running. as it's a sitting car, running when parked. it may not be all that much of a challenge. ask the man there if he has a shop that he would reccomend. give them a call and see if they are willing to pick it up do the work. or find a carrier that will be willing to move a dead horse for you and have the drop off spot willing to except the car. as I take it the man your getting it from is in the same boat as you. he should at least have a idea were it could be done there. you know what the shop locale will do. the difference is cost and if you can find a shipper that will take a none running car. just don't use that Turk that move the 68.
 
John ED Renstrom said:
will of course you do have options. your option is in where you send it to get it back running. as it's a sitting car, running when parked. it may not be all that much of a challenge. ask the man there if he has a shop that he would reccomend. give them a call and see if they are willing to pick it up do the work. or find a carrier that will be willing to move a dead horse for you and have the drop off spot willing to except the car. as I take it the man your getting it from is in the same boat as you. he should at least have a idea were it could be done there. you know what the shop locale will do. the difference is cost and if you can find a shipper that will take a none running car. just don't use that Turk that move the 68.
Click to expand...

Ed, the guy who moved the 68 was Steinberg's guy, not mine. He was okay, but I like my regular company too.
 
Thanks Bruce! Truthfully, I am excited, but a bit concerned. I sure hope the ambulance gets to NJ safely. The fact that it is just sitting on the street scares me. And Tom told me that the guy winched it up on the trailer by hand. All I can say is, he must have some muscles!
 
Bill Marcy said:
Thanks Bruce! Truthfully, I am excited, but a bit concerned. I sure hope the ambulance gets to NJ safely. The fact that it is just sitting on the street scares me. And Tom told me that the guy winched it up on the trailer by hand. All I can say is, he must have some muscles!
Click to expand...

With the gear reductions on the newer winches it is not too bad, Ive seen some high dollar winches that probably a 10 year old could winch it.
I always like seeing these shots when a pro car is in transportation to a PCS member and another member spots it on the route.
Don't worry, Im sure it will be safe, not all of Chicago is bad. Ive left my cars on the streets there with no issues.
I do understand your fears though, I get like that every time mine leaves my sight.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top