Classic Car Noob

[Viin]

Hiya,

I just bought a '66 Mercury Comet Caliente, but I'm a complete noob when it comes to cars. Can anyone recommend a good forum for older cars and maybe a book on this crap? There's nothing wrong with it (well, it needs some minor things) but I'd like to be able to adjust the carb and things like that.

 :-D

Here she is, and no, you can't drive her:

[angry.bob]

but I'd like to be able to adjust the carb and things like that.

Nice car!

A bit of friendly advice though: If you don't know enough about working on cars to know that sort of stuff already, don't start on that one. Take it to a garage. While it's improbable that you'd cause any real, permanent damage, it is still possible. Most likely though you'd either "adjust" it to the point where it wouldn't run at all, or very poorly at best.

If you're determined though, a manual from Chilton or Haynes should have what you need. And since it's a Ford, make sure you know city your engine was made in, and what year it was made, and what CID it is. And yes, I'm totally serious about the city thing.

[Viin]

If you're determined though, a manual from Chilton or Haynes should have what you need. And since it's a Ford, make sure you know city your engine was made in, and what year it was made, and what CID it is. And yes, I'm totally serious about the city thing.

I'm not looking to do anything hardcore, just the basics if I feel comfortable with it .. I'd much rather take it to a garage for pretty much everything, but I'd don't want to be totally helpless. Now if I can just get a recommendation for a garage, I'd be 50% of the way there!

Why do you need to know the city? Does that change the schematics/instructions found on the maint. manuals?

[Llava]

Y'know, I really don't give a shit about cars in the slightest bit, but that is one damn slick looking machine you've got there.

[stray]

Very cool. Congrats. Hope it treats you well (and vice versa).

I love most vehicles from the 50's and 60's (US and otherwise), but I know little about working on cars. $75k and lack of knowledge is what's stopping me from purchasing a Stingray.

[Big Gulp]

and maybe a book on this crap?

I was going to be a smartass and link to the Chilton's book, but it their earliest Mercury book for sale starts at '79.    I'd say invest in a roll of duct tape, a good stout hammer, and a rosary.

ETA:  Oh, and I'm jealous.  I've been rebuilding an '84 Fiero all summer long and I'm still not done.  Looks like it'll be next summer's ride.

[Viin]

Stingray's are awesome, but this car is much much more affordable! Check Ebay for good deals 

I browsed Amazon for a bit and there appears to be a few books on restoration and care for older cars, so I'm gonna go pick one of those up - even if I don't do anything myself, I want to be able to have a semi-intelligent conversation with my mechanic!

[Righ]

That's a good looking car. I particularly like the twin vertical lights - is that specific to that year?

I browsed Amazon for a bit and there appears to be a few books on restoration and care for older cars, so I'm gonna go pick one of those up - even if I don't do anything myself, I want to be able to have a semi-intelligent conversation with my mechanic!

Well that depends as much on the mechanic. Good luck. :)

[Viin]

That's a good looking car. I particularly like the twin vertical lights - is that specific to that year?

I'm not sure really.. I've seen them on '65-'67 models.

[Jimbo]

Ford is famous for having diffrent engine spec for each year and which plant they were produced at, hince the need to figure out for tuning and parts.

I hate ebay since it has driven up old 4x4's into pricy vehicles, people are paying 4 to 5 times for junk that isn't even running!

Sweet ride, hope you enjoy it!

[Bunk]

and maybe a book on this crap?

I was going to be a smartass and link to the Chilton's book, but it their earliest Mercury book for sale starts at '79.    I'd say invest in a roll of duct tape, a good stout hammer, and a rosary.

ETA:  Oh, and I'm jealous.  I've been rebuilding an '84 Fiero all summer long and I'm still not done.  Looks like it'll be next summer's ride.

Ah the Fiero. Let me know if you ever break our record of having five people in (on) one going down the highway.

Oh and Viin, that Comet is sweet looking, even if it is a Ford.

[Xanthippe]

If I had money
Tell you what I'd do
I'd go downtown
Buy a Mercury or two
I'm crazy 'bout a Mercury
Ohh I'm crazy 'bout a Mercury
I'm gonna buy me a Mercury
Cruise it up and down the road

[Nija]

This list is pretty shitty, but if you dig through some of the old messages you might find a link to a forum of some type.

http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/themercurycometcrew/

Basically search groups.yahoo.com for stuff. I searched for "mercury comet" - maybe search for old mercury, old fords, etc. A lot of older cars usually have email lists, which is why I'm a bit disappointed that I couldn't find a good comet list right away. The cool old timer that you'll want to talk with usually don't know how to do more than email.


Ooh here, just found this -> http://www.tffn.net/phpBB2/

Nice looking car by the way. Good luck with it, and if you have any GENERAL questions don't hesitate to PM me. I don't know anything specific to old Fords, but I know a lot of general crap.


edit: also before you go spending a few hundred dollars on books, see if there is a pdf repository somewhere. I'll bet that tffn place has a ton of great links.

[Viin]

Good find on the tffn.net forums Nija, I had found another forum (Comet Performance) but it's not very active.

I did end up getting a book at B&N this weekend: How to Restore Your Collector Car

It's not amazing, but it talks about sources for parts, the parts interchange books, how to fix the chrome pieces (buffing or sending out to be replated, etc), and other stuff. The problem with books like this (and all the ones I saw at B&N were like this) is that they assume you are buying a total wreck and want to take it completely apart and redo everything. So a lot of the stuff in here is overkill, but I am learning some things I can do or have done - like have the plastic chrome plated instrument bezels replated/repainted.

I'm also bidding on the Service Manual for my car's year on Ebay - it's amazing how many '65 and '67 service manuals are out there, but only 1 '66 manual! (Not that it matters a ton, but I figured I might as well get a 66 if I can find one). Next stop is the library to photo copy the specifications and factory options for the '66 Comet Caliente.  :-D

[slog]

I have a 67 Cadillac deville convertable that I've been restoring.  It looks like that vehicle has been either garaged it's whole life or had a frame up restoration.  You shouldn't have to do much to it, but when you need something done it will be hard to find a mechanic.  Expect to pay a lot of money for repairs.

If you buy tools, save yourself a few bucks and don't buy any metrics :)

Also, take a pic of the engine bay and post it please.

[Viin]

Also, take a pic of the engine bay and post it please.

Sure, I'll do that tomorrow when there's more light out.

[Viin]

Actually here's a pic of it that was on the Ebay auction page:

[slog]

Looks like it was rebuilt a few years ago.  The paint is starting to go, but there isn't any oil stains that I can see.

You should be pretty much set if you just change the oil and whatnot regularly.  Your best bet to learn how to do tune ups and stuff is to get a friend who is a mechanic.

[Viin]

 

And the Comet ends up on Craigslist.

[hal]

289 2 barrel. For Ford it just does not get better than that. Get a screw in the spark plug hole compresion tester. I do not know how many miles it has but I am assuming many. Junk yards are networked together in this day and age so make a friend with one. Should not be hard as they like old cars.

[Numtini]

It's very pretty. I nursed a vintage VW for most of a decade. It's a love/hate relationship.

[Nebu]

And the Comet ends up on Craigslist.

So you bought it and are selling it?  The first post shows that you just bought the car.  What's up?

[CmdrSlack]

And the Comet ends up on Craigslist.

So you bought it and are selling it?  The first post shows that you just bought the car.  What's up?

The first post is from Sept. 06.

[SnakeCharmer]

I bit on that for a while too. 

Sweet car though.

Every resto I've done I've hated to see them go.

[Selby]

Driving an ancient car sure isn't for the faint of heart nor for the light of wallet if you can't do your own work.  I keep four 35 year old ones in regulation more out of fear that one will break down and leave me stranded.  It's been a pretty cheap hobby compared to some things...

You just get tired of it?

[Nebu]

The first post is from Sept. 06.

I guess that I missed that.  Sorry.