The Miracle Tank

LadyMac · Sep 22, 2020

Dolelo96 said:
Just had a disturbing call and my
anger/anxiety level just went through the roof. This was a second marriage for my parents. They were together 35 years. As simple as they lived, Pops was from a very wealthy family. My mom worked 2 jobs to raise me, big difference. They married and after two years he convinced her to quit her job. Everything he has is set up in trust, spelled out explicitly..everything goes to my siblings when she passes. She is the trustee of this trust. The attorney recently sent siblings a letter with copies of pops wishes, the trust document and a letter of acceptance for them to sign (Florida requirement). My mother just called , heartbroken, my step brother called the attorney, behind her back, questioning the validity of her being the trustee. I’m thinking my step sister is in on this because she won’t answer my calls. 38 years! How can anybody question her integrity! None of us have ever had a problem with the other. I can’t even breath. My mother has always refused to take anything from pops. she doesn’t care about money..never has. She refuses to shop anywhere other than tjmax and amazon!

I have to head back down there tomorrow to try and help her with this. I’m sorry to bring this here, but I know you’ll understand my dilemma. Unless something changes, as much as it will break my heart, I’m going to take a hiatus from the hobby. I can’t take care of her and give the tank the attention it needs. If and when I do this, I’m hoping you guys can help me figure out the best way to accomplish this..get rid of everything and start over when I can, keep some things, what to do with livestock, etc...

Thank you everyone for listening to my rant.

If there is anything we can do, please let us know. My prayers are with you and your mom, what a horrible experience for her to have to go through.

Eagle_Steve · Sep 22, 2020

Fin said:
Both of mine are mostly original. I did change the seats in the Vette to full leather covers instead of the crappy leather inserts on vinyl bolsters that GM used. The vinyl always split where it met the leather. Also put a fiberglas leaf spring and stabilizer bar on the rear. Upgraded front suspension as well. Gave it a better ride and handling. She only has 18,700 miles, so I don’t drive it much. I have had it for 25 years and tracked down the second owner, who is friends with the original owner and vouches for the accuracy of the mileage. It was never a daily driver. I even had a log book in the car with all maintenance records and repairs prior to when I bought it. It needs TLC but it is drivable. I only wish it was a 73 or older, because then it would be worth some money. 79 was not a great year for any American made sports car, but I had a 79 back in 79 and a 74 before that. Also had an 81. So the late 70s and early 80s is what I drove back in the day. I always liked the C3 body style.

The El Camino has 48,000 miles and my dad had the car since 1980, so I am certain it was properly cared for. It needs a little TLC also, but still in really good condition. Cleans up nicely. If I can ever get past the hurricane repairs and aquarium re-start, that is what I want to get on.

Both nice cars and glad to see them in such great shape.
One day, I may do an older American car again. Had my fair share of them growing up, but really love doing old Volvo’s, as they are not so common in the US. Well not so common, as in my really old one. (1968 Amazon) The other ones I have are common, but not for what I do to them lol.

fishguy242 · Sep 22, 2020

sorry all,pontiac power

bucket list,hard top though,will ride again

black on black,see you in back ;Woot ;Woot ;Woot

Why-Me · Sep 22, 2020

Eagle_Steve said:
Both nice cars and glad to see them in such great shape.
One day, I may do an older American car again. Had my fair share of them growing up, but really love doing old Volvo’s, as they are not so common in the US. Well not so common, as in my really old one. (1968 Amazon) The other ones I have are common, but not for what I do to them lol.

Let's see those Volvos!
Got a pic of that M3??

I'll trade ya for pics of my boats!

TriggerFinger · Sep 22, 2020

fishguy242 said:
sorry all,pontiac power bucket list,hard top though,will ride againblack on black,see you in back ;Woot ;Woot ;Woot

Oh my gosh! My dream car!! ;Jawdrop

najer · Sep 22, 2020

I know right, English person interjects!
I went to my lfs on Sunday, weather was ok, low to mid 70s so I had my window down.
The village I was going through has a 20 mph restriction with speed bumps, some very large American car, 70s - early 80s passed me in the opposite direction, loved the purr of the V8 waiting to be unleashed!

User1 · Sep 22, 2020

fishguy242 said:
sorry all,pontiac power bucket list,hard top though,will ride againblack on black,see you in back ;Woot ;Woot ;Woot

Pretty and nice car! Black is very difficult to keep clean but when it is clean it is probably the best color! I'm also biased

This was my daily driver (not much since I work out of the house) and track car for at least one or two events a year. It was also the car we would take on our road trip from Northern California to Las Vegas then to LA (Disneyland) and then back home.

Had a trip planned taking me from Northern California to Key West Florida and back but sold the car last year. Maybe will try it in the explorer instead. Who knows but it won't be as much fun ;D Love your car though. Very clean.

fishguy242 · Sep 22, 2020

saf1 said:
Pretty and nice car! Black is very difficult to keep clean but when it is clean it is probably the best color! I'm also biased This was my daily driver (not much since I work out of the house) and track car for at least one or two events a year. It was also the car we would take on our road trip from Northern California to Las Vegas then to LA (Disneyland) and then back home.

Had a trip planned taking me from Northern California to Key West Florida and back but sold the car last year. Maybe will try it in the explorer instead. Who knows but it won't be as much fun ;D Love your car though. Very clean.

not mine yet,bucket list,but will be next vehicle

Fin · Sep 22, 2020

I dunno. I kinda like the look. Really rustic!

Fin · Sep 22, 2020

fishguy242 said:
sorry all,pontiac power bucket list,hard top though,will ride againblack on black,see you in back ;Woot ;Woot ;Woot

That is sweet and real Detroit muscle. I had a 74 Trans Am with the 455. Probably one of the last of the “muscle cars.” 1975 was such a shock when CAFE standards kicked in. The Trans Ams and Corvettes took A nose dive in “performance” - and I use the word loosely.

Eagle_Steve · Sep 22, 2020

Why-Me said:
Let's see those Volvos!
Got a pic of that M3??

I'll trade ya for pics of my boats!

M3 is now gone. Waiting for my M5 to be delivered from Utah dealer to my local dealer.
In order. 850r and amazon are in barn right now waiting for new resto to happen.
Sons built v70
My built 940
1996 Volvo 850r (old pic from when letting son drive around the driveway lol)
Old pic of the 1968 Amazon. (Man kids got old quick.)

Eagle_Steve · Sep 22, 2020

Forgot a pic of the 850r before I got the bumper back on lol. Taken when we had some friends over. Other Volvo was my wife’s s40 T5. It was “almost” stock lol.

Fin · Sep 22, 2020

My first car was one just like this one (I have no pictures of mine). Unfortunately it only had a slant six 225. But, this was one fun car! I actually had the manifold split and added headers and glass packs. I even bought the scooped hood from a junk yard for $25, so my car looked exactly like this one, except for the dark gray Torque Thrust wheels that I put on it. My dad worked at the Mercedes / Lincoln body shop, so I eventually painted it a custom gold/copperish color. I really wish I had kept that car - 1970 Dodge Challenger convertible.

Eagle_Steve · Sep 22, 2020

Fin said:
My first car was one just like this one (I have no pictures of mine). Unfortunately it only had a slant six 225. But, this was one fun car! I actually had the manifold split and added headers and glass packs. I even bought the scooped hood from a junk yard for $25, so my car looked exactly like this one, except for the dark gray Torque Thrust wheels that I put on it. My dad worked at the Mercedes / Lincoln body shop, so I eventually painted it a custom gold/copperish color. I really wish I had kept that car - 1970 Dodge Challenger convertible.

I love challengers. My good friend Andy has one that he races. Google Andy Mayes Challenger for a good look and some videos. Car was super fast early 2000s and has been brought back to life this year and is finally getting track time again.

Why-Me · Sep 22, 2020

@Eagle_Steve Wow an M5? What year?
Soooooo jealous right now!! Definitely my Dream car!

TriggerFinger · Sep 22, 2020

Fin said:
My first car was one just like this one (I have no pictures of mine). Unfortunately it only had a slant six 225. But, this was one fun car! I actually had the manifold split and added headers and glass packs. I even bought the scooped hood from a junk yard for $25, so my car looked exactly like this one, except for the dark gray Torque Thrust wheels that I put on it. My dad worked at the Mercedes / Lincoln body shop, so I eventually painted it a custom gold/copperish color. I really wish I had kept that car - 1970 Dodge Challenger convertible.

My FIL is a massive mopar fan and has had a few road runners and barracudas. He never had a convertible though, and definitely not a gold one! Wish you had a picture.

My dads first car was has a 67’ cutlass 442. He kept it until I was 11 or 12 years old. Red with a black top and black leather bench seats. I was soooo sure he was going to save that car for me when I was old enough to drive it. He didn’t...I still wish he would have saved it. I’m 34 & still kinda bitter about it. ;Sorry

fishguy242 · Sep 22, 2020

TriggerFinger said:
My FIL is a massive mopar fan and has had a few road runners and barracudas. He never had a convertible though, and definitely not a gold one! Wish you had a picture.

My dads first car was has a 67’ cutlass 442. He kept it until I was 11 or 12 years old. Red with a black top and black leather bench seats. I was soooo sure he was going to save that car for me when I was old enough to drive it. He didn’t...I still wish he would have saved it. I’m 34 & still kinda bitter about it. ;Sorry

Fin · Sep 22, 2020

TriggerFinger said:
My FIL is a massive mopar fan and has had a few road runners and barracudas. He never had a convertible though, and definitely not a gold one! Wish you had a picture.

My dads first car was has a 67’ cutlass 442. He kept it until I was 11 or 12 years old. Red with a black top and black leather bench seats. I was soooo sure he was going to save that car for me when I was old enough to drive it. He didn’t...I still wish he would have saved it. I’m 34 & still kinda bitter about it. ;Sorry

My dad wanted to give me his 1959 MG-A. We lived in southern California at the time and the car had no rust on it. Corrosion protection was like non existent back then and I had seen a couple of these back home and they were rust buckets. I didn’t want that to happen to that car, so he sold it and gave me the money. I used that to help get me into the Challenger in 1972. I was 18.

Edit: BTW, I paid $1,700 for the two year old Challenger.