1999 GMC Jimmy SLT

The 1999 GMC Jimmy SUV is the thirteenth vehicle owned by me. Once again, within the last year, I was checking various auto dealer lots for a late model vehicle. At this one particular dealer I was walking around and the salesman had mentioned they just received an one owner vehicle as a trade-in that's in very good condition. I checked out and road tested the GMC Jimmy, it appeared to be in good condition other than some minor problems I initially seen needed correcting.
Several months later, after purchasing the vehicle I had took it to the shop for oil change and general service work. After inspection of vehicle, the service shop informed me that it still had original engine parts such as spark plugs and wires, coolant system badly needed flushing and water pump is leaking, front brakes had to be replaced. Plus, the transfer case seal was leaking. When they total up the estimate for repair cost, I received a "sticker shock." I felt maybe I should have had the vehicle inspected a little more through or closely. And the previous owner had traded-in the vehicle at the right time. Since the repairs were made it has been dependable with minimum problems.



1999 GMC Jimmy SUV



1989 Cadillac Sedan Deville

The 1989 Cadillac Sedan Deville was the twelfth automobile owned by me. I had purchased the Caddy in February 2010 and was a unexpected purchase in buying this auto. It just some happen that I was browsing the newspaper classified section for a late model auto to buy. I came across the advertisement for the auto as "one of the kind, one owner and a must see." Well, I made arrangements to check out the auto to see if it was as nice as they had advertised, and it was. It was hard for me to resist the automobile that was in immaculate condition. All the equipment and components of auto operated 100%.
Outside of failure of both front windows power motors failure and routine general repair work that has been performed on an auto 22 years of age and approximately 125,000 miles on it, to date I am very pleased with the service of '89 Caddy has given me. Also, I have updated the Caddy with a new stereo system (CD with blue tooth and all new speakers). Plus, I had a new alarm system installed wit remote engine start.




1989 Cadillac Sedan Deville
(note: this is not the actual car owned by me)



1986 Volvo 740 GLE

The 1986 Volvo 740 GLE was the eleventh automobile that I had owned. Prior to the Volvo, I had no intentions on buying a used foreign auto. But, it just so happen that I was walking through the church parking lot when I noticed the Volvo. It was very clean both the exterior and interior, it just appeared to be well kept auto and I learned it was for sell. I made arrangement with the person that owned it to further check out and road test it. I was real pleased with the mechanical condition and handling.
After purchasing the Volvo, I decided to perform several upgrades to make it look like a newer model style auto with installation of factory style spoke wheels; front & rear padded head rest cushions; fog lights and wiring; new car stereo system; and a new exterior paint job.
The Volvo 740 GLE served me well for several years and was a realible auto. The only re-occuring maintenace problems or issues were the engine had difficulty passing the Ohio AIM Test (exhaust emissions); front brakes appeared to were prematurely due to the calibers freezing up; radio power antenna mask assy. (motor) malfunctioning; sunroof leaked and had to be resealed every couple of years. But, overall I liked the Volvo 740 GLE a lot, and would not hesitate to purchased another one again that's in excellent condition.



1986 Volvo 740 GLE
(note: this is not the actual car owned by me)



1980 Dodge Aspen

The 1980 Dodge Aspen was the tenth automobile owned by me. I had purchased the auto through a sealed bid auction from the company I worked for at that particular time. The purchased the auto with the intent of driving back and forth to work. But the Dodge turned out to be somewhat dependable other than carburetor problems from time to time. I later decided to get a Maaco paint job to upgrade the appearance of the exterior body. Also, I had a complete new stereo sound system and nice floor mats. After those updates were done I drove it all the time. Even though the body style was plain and boxy looking, it was nice and clean in appearance. I have driven the auto for about three years until the differential (rear axle assy.) went bad. I eventually gave the auto to a co-worker that wanted it.




1980 Dodge Apen
(note: this is not the actual car owned by me)



1978 Lincoln Continental Town Coupe

The 1978 Lincoln Continental Town Coupe was my ninth automobile owned, and the very first I purchased brand new as a young man. The auto was simply gorgeous looking and it was champagne in color with light beige pillow style leather seats. I had a factory style moonroof installed shortly after purchasing the auto. The roof was a lovely addition to auto. The '78 Lincoln was a quality built auto for the most part, and I felt that the road comfort and quietness were unmatched by most other American automobiles.
At the time, when I purchased the Lincoln it was a little bit unexpected because I was checking out other types of full size luxury autos to purchase. And I felt a new Lincoln was somewhat out of my price range that I was willing to spend. But, after hagging back and forth, and the games some of the dealership pay with you on bottom-line pricing. I had gotten tired of it and called one of my employers that drove a different new Lincoln practically every year. I had spoken to him about the treatment that I was experiencing at dealerships in trying to purchase a new auto. He immediately called his friend that owned a Lincoln dealership in Cleveland, Ohio, and he suggested for me to go and speak with his friend at the dealership. After I arrived at the dealership, the owner informed me to check out the vehicles on his lot I liked, if not they could order the color and type auto I wanted. I ended up ordering a Lincoln and received it approximately a week later.
For the first couple of years, I just drove the Lincoln on weekends or evenings because I was so busy working as a mechanic. I had owned the auto for several years until I had an unfortunate major accident on the freeway with it. I had the collision repairs done, but it wasn't the same auto to me afterward. I drove the auto for that evening after picking up from body shop, and it has been parked for years since then.




1978 Lincoln Town Coupe
(note: this is not the original car owned by me)



1974 Plymoutn Gran Fury Coupe

The 1974 Plymouth Fury Coupe was the eight automobile that I had owned and had acquired from my father after he purchased another new auto. The exterior body color was a nice blue with vinyl top to match, and interior was leather-like vinyl in which was blue in color as well. I remembered the FM radio stations reception were lousy, they kept fading in and out. It was just due to a lousy low quality factory style radio unit.
The primary maintenance issue that I had was that it stalled frequently and bogged out when engine was cold. The engine had performed in this manner for the most part since it was brand new. Even after taking it back to the dealership to service the problem under warranty, it still existed. Eventually, I decided to check out the cold start engine problem to make certain that all components were operating to factory specifications. I had found a defective air cleaner thermostatic sensor that I replaced. The purpose of this sensor is to block the flow of cold outside ambient air to carburetor until the engine is able to reach normal operating temperature of 160-180 degrees. The corrective action of replacing the sensor did aid to minimize the stalling when cold, but the problem had returned awhile later. After approximately two years of owning auto, I had bartered it to an individual who needed an auto for some interior work that I needed done at a rental property.

1974 Plymouth Gran Fury Coupe
(note: this was not the actual car owned by me)

1975 Ford Elite

The 1975 Ford Elite was the seventh used auto that i purchased from a co-worker. I'm not completely sure why I purchased this auto at the time other than wanting to own a late model sporty looking auto. The exterior was white with red leather interior. It was a sharp looking auto, and mechanically I can not recall too many maintenance issues other than air conditioning problems. But, one thing that I can say for sure it was a true "gas hog" with the 351 V-8 engine. My older brother would totally agree about the poor gas mileage because when I loaned him the auto to drive from Cleveland, Ohio to California he really complained about how much if cost in gasoline to make the trip.
In approximately a year or so after owning the '75 Ford Elite, I notice the body door rocker panel were developing surface rust spots. I suspected the rust areas was possibly due to improper or poor preparation prior to exterior body being repainted by co-worker whom I brought auto from was a body man.
After about 2 years, I gave the auto to one of my uncles that needed an auto. He drove the auto for at least a couple years, and eventually he had to replace the transmission.



1975 Ford Elite
(note: this is not the actual car owned by me)



1966 Dodge Coronet

The 1966 Dodge Coronet was the sixth automobile that I brought from a neighbor real cheap. I really don't know as to why I purchased the auto other than the price because I did not need another auto. It was in need of some mechanical repair work, primarily interior electrical system wiring. This type of auto was consider to be a "fixer upper" or mechanic special. It already appeared that a boot leg mechanic already been working on it due to the poor quality of repair work I observed.
But, after I purchased the auto, I did not perform too much of any kind of repair work that was needed, nor did I drive it. I quess I was not interested because it just stayed parked on the street in front of the house. I think the only time that I moved it was when the city was cleaning the street with a sweeper. I did not owned the auto for no more than a few months at best. Afterward, I must have just giving the '66 Coronet to someone that needed an auto. I really can not remember what happen to it.




1966 Dodge Coronet
(note: this was not the actual car owned by me)



1966 Chrysler New Yorker

The 1966 Chrysler New Yorker was the fifth automobile that I had owed. I had notice the auto from a distance that was parked in a garage where my girl friend lived at that particular time. Several months had went pass before I was curious enough and decided to walk back to the garage to check out what type of auto it was that dirty and dusty sitting there. I was surprised with what I saw. Outside of being very dirty, the auto was in immaculate condition both exterior and interior, it had only approximately 20,000 miles on odometer. I asked my girlfriend who owned the auto, she had it belong to the landlady in which she did not know how to drive an auto. I spoke with the landlady about the auto, she said it belong to her late husband and it has been parked in the garage for couple years. I asked if she was willingly to sell the auto if it runs and no major maintenance issues. The landlady response was yes.

After jumping the battery, starting the engine and completely checking it out. Everything operated as good as the auto appearance. I must say that I consider the '66 New Yorker is one of the best auto I owed to date. The auto had operated and performed very well for several years with bare minimum maintenance problems encountered.



1966 Chrysler New Yorker
(note: this is not the actual car owned by me)



1966 Ponitac Bonneville

The 1966 Pontiac Bonneville was the fourth auto that I had owned. I had swapped my '67 Barracuda for this Bonneville which was my father auto. My father had purchased a new automobile in 1974, and he wanted a smaller type automobile to utilize for daily commuting back and forth to work. So, I suggested that we trade automobiles. After receiving the '66 Bonneville I performed all the required mechanical maintenance to restore to peak working order. Also, I had the exterior body painted a different color. A neighbor was a body man that performed the body and paint work. The quality of the bodywork was not that great to me at all and it was disappointing.
After a couple of months, another neighbor needed a good automobile and wanted to buy the Bonneville. The auto was in very good condition when I sold it. Shortly after I sold the auto to the neighbor the engine had a serious failure of timing chain breakage. I was disappointed and felt bad about the failure. But, the type of engine failure was common back in the day.




1966 Ponitac Bonneville
(note: this is not the actual car owned by me)








1967 Plymouth Barracuda

The 1967 Plymouth Barracuda was the third used automobile that I purchased in my late teens. I really liked the sporty exterior look and interior styling. The exterior color was originally white when I purchased auto, and I had exterior re-painted a sort of fire engine red in color to match the interior. It turned out to be really sharp looking. As a mechanic, I performed some mechanical upgrades by removing the front brake drum type assemblies, and retrofitted with disc brake assemblies. And I changed out the original carburetor unit and retrofitted with a slightly larger carburetor in order to try to increase engine performance. The retrofit of the carburetor was not as successful as planned because the engine blogged down or flat spot under rapid acceleration. Eventually, I re-installed the original carburetor back on engine. The only other issue that I had with the '67 Barracuda was that the exterior body paint blistered repeatedly in same area of front fenders. I think the problem was due to inferior grade metal utilized from automobile manufacture. Also, the engine had a tendency of stalling out at times during rainy weather.




1967 Plymouth Barracuda
(note: this is not the actual car owned by me)

 

1966 Mercury Cyclone GT

The 1966 Mercury Cyclone GT was a true muscle car that I purchased as my second car owned while in high school. It was a very fast car with a big block engine with a four (4) speed standard transmission. As a senior in high school as a automotive major, this car become a project for me. I completely overhauled and modified the factory engine because I wanted the car to go even faster and wanted a mean high performance street machine. I spared no expense on what ever new upgraded performance replacement parts and services needed for the project. For the most part, the project went well except when I changed out the exhaust manifolds to replaced with exhaust headers system that allow the engine to breath better which increased horse power. But, this modification became an unexpected "stumbling block" to the project because one of the header pipes would not allow for the transmission to properly shift gears due to restricting the clutch lever linkage travel. Over 30 years later, I have not had an opportunity to correct the problem that exist with the transmission clutch lever problem. I still have my high school car that is in storage in Cleveland, Ohio. Hopefully, when I retire from working for good this will be my project as a complete restoration.
Also, my older brother really enjoy driving this muscle car  very much prior to the project. He drove it more than I did.

1966 Mercury Cyclone GT
(note: This is not the actual car owned by me)

My First Car

The 1965 Mercury Comet is the very first automobile that I owed as a teenager. I purchased the car from my uncle. It was just a plain looking initially. But, over the course of a year I was able to spruce the car up with mag wheels and wide oval rear tires; rear chassis leaf springs shackle kit to raise body up; Thrush performance muffler that gave the exhaust system a nice mellow rumbling sound; exterior body racing stripes and chrome hood pins; 8-track car stereo player, etc. After the car was completed, the appearence was very nice looking. The car just looked the part of a street "muscle car" due to the small V-8 engine,in order words it had more bark and bite. The ironic part, when I purchased the car I was not eligible to drive due to not old enough have a driver's license. And my older brother enjoyed the luxury of driving the car for several months until I obtained a driver's license.



1965 Mercury Comet
(note this picture is not the actual car owned by me)