Post by donniebrasco on Jun 22, 2007 7:21:22 GMT -8
Hello forum -
I inherited a 1976 Corona Mark II way back in 1995. I drove it for a couple of years (even as an extra during the filming of the movie "Donnie Brasco", even though all the shots of the Corona ended up on the cutting room floor!) Anyway, after the radiator blew a leak, the alternator went, and the starter died, I kind of gave up on the car. I had to jerry-rig a bracket for a non-stock alternator, since the only one I could find that worked with the car had a different mounting configuration, I had to run the car in the summer with the heat on and refill the radiator before every trip, since I couldn't find a replacement radiator. And when the starter went, that was it. I could not replace it since no replacement could be found, anywhere. And believe me, I looked hard for one.
Sadly, with less than 50K miles on the car and only one rust spot about the size of a silver dollar on the front right fender, I had her hauled off by a wrecker in 1997.
I recently found out, though, that the junkyard never had the heart to crush the old girl. She's still there, somewhat more rotted out, but still looking pretty decent. I know there will be a lot more problems after 10 years of sitting in a junkyard, but it seems now that the internet has more information on parts and repairs for old cars. Maybe I can bring her back to life, the right way.
So, Toyota people, does anyone out there think it would be worth it for me to buy her back from the junkyard and try to restore her, or would that be a foolish waste of time and money? What are the real chances I would be able to find enough parts to get her back into roadworthy condition? I have the basic mechanical knowledge to get the engine up and running, but no bodywork experience. And forget it when it comes to transmissions. I know NOTHING. (Although the tranny was fine when I junked her, so that may be a non-issue.)
I'd really be interested in some objective feedback on this. Thanks!
I inherited a 1976 Corona Mark II way back in 1995. I drove it for a couple of years (even as an extra during the filming of the movie "Donnie Brasco", even though all the shots of the Corona ended up on the cutting room floor!) Anyway, after the radiator blew a leak, the alternator went, and the starter died, I kind of gave up on the car. I had to jerry-rig a bracket for a non-stock alternator, since the only one I could find that worked with the car had a different mounting configuration, I had to run the car in the summer with the heat on and refill the radiator before every trip, since I couldn't find a replacement radiator. And when the starter went, that was it. I could not replace it since no replacement could be found, anywhere. And believe me, I looked hard for one.
Sadly, with less than 50K miles on the car and only one rust spot about the size of a silver dollar on the front right fender, I had her hauled off by a wrecker in 1997.
I recently found out, though, that the junkyard never had the heart to crush the old girl. She's still there, somewhat more rotted out, but still looking pretty decent. I know there will be a lot more problems after 10 years of sitting in a junkyard, but it seems now that the internet has more information on parts and repairs for old cars. Maybe I can bring her back to life, the right way.
So, Toyota people, does anyone out there think it would be worth it for me to buy her back from the junkyard and try to restore her, or would that be a foolish waste of time and money? What are the real chances I would be able to find enough parts to get her back into roadworthy condition? I have the basic mechanical knowledge to get the engine up and running, but no bodywork experience. And forget it when it comes to transmissions. I know NOTHING. (Although the tranny was fine when I junked her, so that may be a non-issue.)
I'd really be interested in some objective feedback on this. Thanks!