Spent an excellent day with my grandpa

[OriginalGeek]

had some lunch then helped him hitch up his Airstream so he could go to a rally (He's been in the WBCC Airstream club for 40something years). He's 90 years old and still going strong but some of the sway-bars and stuff are too heavy for him any more so I helped with that.

But the best part is he let me take his 1965 Pontiac LeMans out for spin


He's the only owner it's ever had. It had been in his garage for the last 13 years or so and had lost all its fluids from seals drying up and all that stuff so he's been having it fixed up and they (he and his mechanic) finally got the last of the engine and other important parts restored. He has the wheel covers but he just didn't have them put on when I took this pic earlier. I was hesitant to open it up so we just tooled around his neighborhood for a little bit and I had flashbacks of my going to the grocery store with my grandma in it when I was maybe 4 or 5. lol, he said when he was test driving it yesterday he let it get away from him a little bit and spun the tires - sucker has a 326 in it.

Today was a good day.

[mrmpa]

1. I love your Grandpa......eom

[OriginalGeek]

2. I don't blame ya

Me too. He's taught me so much I can't even get started here for fear this would just become OG's Grandpa's Underground and it wouldn't be fair to others who deserve to be in it too.

But here's a taste:
Retired Air Force (CWO)
Retired State Department of Education
Liberal Democrat.

I love my grandpa too.

[cyberswede]

3. Our older generation folks are a treasure.

Glad you had this wonderful day!

[Tuesday Afternoon]

4. nice ride AND a good day with Granpa. priceless!

[OriginalGeek]

5. Priceless and a treasure

yes to both!

[Major Nikon]

6. You should volunteer to take it out for a spin once a month or so

It's not good for cars to just sit and not be driven. At the very least you need to bring the engine up to temperature and run it for a few minutes. The fuel needs to be replaced every 3 months or so at a minimum and the oil needs to be changed at least once or twice per year.

[OriginalGeek]

7. yep, we discussed that

He has it insured as an antique (or a classic? Not sure which rule it fits) but the point is he can only put a certain number of miles per year on it. However, we will be taking it out a couple times a week and if we don't go far we should be fine. He said he got a notice from the insurance company not long ago that says they are relaxing the restrictions some so he should get even a more miles - he thought it was 5000 miles a year before the notice but he's gonna call them when he gets back from his rally to confirm the new mileage.

The take away is that WOOHOO! I get to drive the car around some! Other than tires and paint and the air cleaner cover, this baby is all original. (I guess it's ok to not count gaskets and other engine things? it doesn't matter to me that much - it's not for sale and never will be.)

The mechanic only worked on mechanical things - engine, brakes, all the stuff that makes it run. The wiring is in good shape but the radio doesn't work and the retractable antenna motor seems to be out so I'm gonna try and look at that stuff for him. The important things work - tail lights, head lights, turn signals, etc...but the clock is stopped.