Re: 67 AMERICAN WAGON ORDEAL

["Jim Blair" <carnuck@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

A: Rich, if you want to drive it, put a can of STP in the trans and back off 
just as it's supposed to upshift to drive. (it's worked in 98% of the cars 
I've picked up so far) It could be the governor in the tailstock (not sure 
on the BW's though) If it's stuck, it won't upshift. Are they cable passing 
gear or vacuum? Could be a bad modulator.
   I second the trailer it home though. (Maybe get your new rad ahead of 
time and reroute the hoses)


From: AUTOtronic@xxxxxxx
Subject: 67 AMERICAN WAGON ORDEAL
To: mail@xxxxxxxxxxxx
Message-ID: <ADVANCES62FRaqbC8wS00000021@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>

Hello everyone, been overseas for the past five weeks and still haven't 
gotten the latest edition to my herd back to SoCal, a clean 67 440 SW that I 
picked up in Las Vegas a month ago. Right now it's in barstow with a clogged 
radiator and a BW auto that won't shift in to third gear.

Fisrt, with the BW Flash-O-Matic, who has had problems with the 2-3 shift 
and short of a rebuild, what should I be looking at? A shop in Barstow wants 
$900 for a rebuild, which is about twice what I think it should be and 
looking at the TSM, there are some things they should be looking at. I was 
wondering if anyone else had any experience with this problem. Since I'm 
planning a V8 swap, I really don't want to spend more than $100 more to get 
this thing fixed. Any suggestions?

As I stated a month ago, I want to do a V8 swap in to this car. I have the 
78 Concord 304/3-speed auto hatchback sitting in my driveway, am I best just 
using it as a donor car? Will the TorqueFlite physically fit without 
structural modificatiosn?

What I'm hoping to find, here on the west caost, is a V8 American donor car, 
in CA, AZ or NV. If anyone knows of any V8 Americans or Hornets for sale, 
can you please let me know. I am under the impression that a V8 
Hornet/Gremlin/Concord/Spirit will make for a drop in swap after the 
crossmemeber is swapped out. I hate to break up the Concord V8 hatchback 
because they are so rare but the body is poor so maybe that's the best bet 
and will get the 67 wagon where I want it to be.

Will a radiator out of a Concord work in an American? Has anyone  made such 
a swap? Besides the hatchback, I have another 78 Concord which is a parts 
car and can take the radiator out of it.

As always, any suggestions are appreciated.


Richard Truesdell