Automania/Repair & Maintenance

AUTO QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS FOR WEEK 37 YEAR 2000

by Bob Hagin

Q. I'm driving two old cars. One is a '65 Olds Dynamic 88 and the other is a '66 Chevy Byscane. I bought them new for me and my family. Although they both need body work, they've been kept up mechanically and drive the freeway regularly. They are used for transportation. When I finally need to let them go, I'd like you to recommend an organization that will appreciate them. I don't want them to ever be dismantled as junk. I would love to donate them to a museum so that such large and beautiful cars can be preserved. Since they've already saved me a fortune (less expensive to insure and register), I don't care about getting any money for them. I would like to include in my will an organization to receive these cars in case I still have them. Please be specific in your recommendation or resource for further information. J.W. San Bernardino, CA

A. Unfortunately your cars aren't of museum interest. Most not-for- profit museums look for vehicles that are very old or have milestone significance such as a first-year Corvette or a pre-World War II Oldsmobile that had an early Hydra-Matic transmission. I can't be specific about museums or collections that you could query but there are 15-pages of them listed in the 14th edition of Hemmings Vintage Almanac which you can buy or request through your local lending library. A more realistic future for your cars would be to find a private collector who could restore them to "hobby car" condition and use and/or show them in an appropriate manner.

Q. I purchased a '83 Chevrolet Malibu from a local wrecking yard for $1000 cash. I took the car out for the first time a week or so later, made several shopping stops and then took it home and parked it in my yard. After unloading it, I started it up to straighten it out to put it in my garage. I put it in Drive and then I had no control over it. It shot out of my yard and then into the street and across the sidewalk. If anyone had been in the way, it would have killed them. I finally got it into reverse and it then shot backwards into the garage. It destroyed one wall so that now I can't close the garage door. If it hadn't been for the garbage I had piled in back, it would have gone through the back wall. It destroyed the back door of the garage. The car is now in the garage and I'm afraid to drive it. If it had acted up while I was shopping, it could have been disastrous. I take the bus when I need to go shopping but the garbage just sits there awaiting justice. Please tell me what is wrong with this car. H.W. Seattle, WA

A. I've heard of that kind of uncontrolled acceleration on older General Motors products and experienced it on a Buick of that vintage. The right-side rubber motor mount was broken and when power was applied, the motor actually jumped up by about five inches which nailed he throttle open wide. The broken motor mount then held the motor in the raised position which left the acceleration almost fully open. I could only stop the Buick by putting the transmission into neutral and shutting off the ignition. General Motors recalled certain makes and models and had an eight-inch piece of wire rope looped around the motor mount to restrict it's movement in case it broke. Don't try to move your car until a mechanic checks it. Also call the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration at 800-424-9393 and report the incident.

Q. I can't find the differential drain plug in my '96 Chevrolet Caprice. How do I put in fresh oil? T.D. Portland, OR

A. Try pulling the bottom bolt on its cover. If that doesn't work, you'll have to remove the cover, let it spill out and replace the gasket before you refill it. It was a cost cutting measure by General Motors.