1966 Polara

[LocuMob]

It was noticed that my lower radiator hose had a leak. Just a pinhole, but I felt it better to swap hoses while at a shop, so @King Hooter was kind enough to drive to the O'Reilly's hub that had them in stock.

I made the tragic mistake of putting a dexcool type antifreeze in. I stopped for gas a short distance from Rockford, then went on to my hotel. The engine didn't like the coolant, got hot and stalled out. I was able to get it started and made it down to my exit, but that was it.

One mile, an expensive mile.

I was able to start the car and move it from where the tow guy dropped it. There's hope for it yet.

Even broke down, I still love this car.

Uhaul had a truck over there, and a trailer over yonder, so I came to the conclusion that I'd just get the car back to @71Polara383 's shop, and arrange to get it back to Minnesota. I'll be hitching a ride back to Minnesota with King Hooter.

Cruz Towing of Rockford is a cool guy, he's a car guy, one of us. Both he and the other two guy liked the car.

 

[LocuMob]

A new radiator will be ordered, I was running a Jegs universal unit that didn't fit properly, had gaps on the top and bottom, and had side tanks. It did fine up until the wrong coolant was added. It looks like it came out the side where the tank meets the rows. The lower front of the engine was wet, but the weep hole on the water pump was dry. If the engine is shot, I have another 440 that I can swap in. A potentially costly mistake, I'll never put any orange liquid near the car ever again.

 

[71Polara383]

W - "This is Dex Cool Scott."
S - "It says all makes/models."
W - "It says Dex Cool Compatible."
S - "I'm sure it'll be fine."

 

[LocuMob]

The Polara is at @71Polara383's shop, the tow was cheaper than the previous one, and went thirty-some miles further.

I'm back at home. A major shout out to @King Hooter for the ride home, I'm glad you came out to the show, and congratulations on your award at the Fox Lake show!

Plans are in the works to retrieve the Polara and get it back home for further inspection. It may be down, but it's not out.

 

[Jakter]

They make these now.

 

[LocuMob]

View attachment 668045

They make these now.

I've had the car for almost twenty years, and know it well. I made a simple mistake, and learned from it. I'd be comfortable leaving the gauges as they are, after a new radiator, but I will install a temp gauge.

I still had fun this past weekend, after all, it's just an old car, and I got to hang out with friends. It's only money, and money isn't real.

 

[LocuMob]

After Wyatt's dipstick oil inspection, we've got fresh flaky metal objects in the dinosaur juice. That's the outcome I was expecting, so not a surprise. As said, a replacement engine is in stock and will be getting prepped for the swap.

The car is scheduled to be picked up by A&A Car Transport LLC out of Lilburn, GA. Ray, the owner, and Jake have been great to deal with, and will have the car back to me in Minnesota this weekend. Came in cheaper than what it would have cost me to go and fetch the car, so it was a no brainer.

I'll be ordering a few parts for the new 440, oil pump, timing chain, Summit oil pan gasket/windage tray, new engine mounts, three row radiator, a temp gauge (just for you @Jakter), and whatever else is needed.

 

[Ripinator]

After Wyatt's dipstick oil inspection, we've got fresh flaky metal objects in the dinosaur juice. That's the outcome I was expecting, so not a surprise. As said, a replacement engine is in stock and will be getting prepped for the swap.

The car is scheduled to be picked up by A&A Car Transport LLC out of Lilburn, GA. Ray, the owner, and Jake have been great to deal with, and will have the car back to me in Minnesota this weekend. Came in cheaper than what it would have cost me to go and fetch the car, so it was a no brainer.

I'll be ordering a few parts for the new 440, oil pump, timing chain, Summit oil pan gasket/windage tray, new engine mounts, three row radiator, a temp gauge (just for you @Jakter), and whatever else is needed.

Don't forget to yank the freeze plugs and get into the water jackets with a poker and a screwdriver and flush out / remove all the crud you can.

Are the heads on that 440 in good shape?

 

[LocuMob]

Awaiting transport.

Photo credit @71Polara383

 

[King Hooter]

Awaiting transport.

View attachment 668974
Photo credit @71Polara383

Very artsy pic there.

 

[LocuMob]

Very artsy pic there.

I've told Wyatt he should take up photography on several occasions.

 

[LocuMob]

Car is finally here. After a couple/few delays, it's out front on the street. Need to charge my jump pack, and move it around back. I'll get the other 440 over to the house, and get that ready to stick in.

 

[twostick]

Did the Dexcool find an exit to the pavement, or the oil pan?

Kevin

 

[LocuMob]

Did the Dexcool find an exit to the pavement, or the oil pan?

Kevin

It liberated itself between the tank, and the core on the radiator, and met the pavement. I did my inspection while waiting for tow number one. I should have just pushed the car off the exit ramp, there was a hill, and it was flat after that to the hotel a mile away. Could have saved a few dollars, and used the exercise.

I ordered two radiators, they should be here Monday. One for this car, and one for the four speed. I already have the timing chains, and oil pumps, just need to order another timing cover gasket set, and the windage tray gasket combo.

 

[Jakter]

Two cars overheated to where their engines may be damaged, a jump pack needed to start a car that ran maybe a week ago.

Preventive maintenance sees to elude you.

 

[LocuMob]

Two cars overheated to where their engines may be damaged, a jump pack needed to start a car that ran maybe a week ago.

Preventive maintenance sees to elude you.

The first one wasn't a surprise, we knew that and hoped for the best, aw shucks.

The Polara was a stupid mistake, made in haste. The combo was good for a decade, with a cheap radiator that didn't fit properly and still provided plenty of cooling. As for the battery, it died from trying to start it when it was hot, and the multiple times of having to move it around expecting transport. Hard to charge a battery when you start a car and only run it for a couple of minutes.

Other than putting in the wrong coolant, the car did get its preventative maintenance before I left for Illinois. As I said, if not for the coolant issue, you'd have nothing to complain about, or use to attempt to make yourself look like the smartest person on the planet. That's a sad way to live life.

But go ahead and be the pompous *** you are, it won't stop me from getting the car back on the road. And I'll get many more years of service from it. And you will still be an *******.

Thanks for stopping by, Jakass!

 

[Jakter]

The first one wasn't a surprise, we knew that and hoped for the best, aw shucks.

The Polara was a stupid mistake, made in haste. The combo was good for a decade, with a cheap radiator that didn't fit properly and still provided plenty of cooling. As for the battery, it died from trying to start it when it was hot, and the multiple times of having to move it around expecting transport. Hard to charge a battery when you start a car and only run it for a couple of minutes.

Other than putting in the wrong coolant, the car did get its preventative maintenance before I left for Illinois. As I said, if not for the coolant issue, you'd have nothing to complain about, or use to attempt to make yourself look like the smartest person on the planet. That's a sad way to live life.

But go ahead and be the pompous *** you are, it won't stop me from getting the car back on the road. And I'll get many more years of service from it. And you will still be an *******.

Thanks for stopping by, Jakass!

You should spend less time embarrassing yourself with posts like this and more time taking advice from people who's car don't come home on a tow truck.

 

[LocuMob]

You should spend less time embarrassing yourself with posts like this and more time taking advice from people who's car don't come home on a tow truck.

I'm not embarrassed, **** happens. First time in sixteen years the car needed to be towed. You can try to make it worse than it is to feel better about yourself, I'll be just fine.

 

[Polara_500_Jr]

First time with the wagon, it hadn't been driven in a while and you mentioned you hoped it did ok.

The 66 had been stored longer. You got it up and running, got all the way there and discovered a pinhole leak. Who says that wasn't new? You repaired that, or attempted to as we all woul dhave and it went south further. I think we've all had a fix we thought would take care of something either not work or make it worse.... Live and learn, fix it again and keep on Moparing.

 

[LocuMob]

First time with the wagon, it hadn't been driven in a while and you mentioned you hoped it did ok.

The 66 had been stored longer. You got it up and running, got all the way there and discovered a pinhole leak. Who says that wasn't new? You repaired that, or attempted to as we all woul dhave and it went south further. I think we've all had a fix we thought would take care of something either not work or make it worse.... Live and learn, fix it again and keep on Moparing.

You dad had issues with your Polara on his last drive with the car, I would have loved to seen Mr. Jakass tell Mike how to take care of a car.