I was at a restoration shop that sends a couple cars to Pebble Beach every year. And believe you me they charged the $85 per hour for every minute spent searching for parts. And the $85 an hour was 2002 price. Probably double that by now.
@@CarWizard alternative is building a shop to make your own parts. For those old cars at least everything is relatively simple mechanical and electrical stuff. Main trouble then would be finding what steel and electrical components to source (especially with modern CNC systems). But that is a pretty steep investment, probably not worth it if you're not going to be specialising in the business and doing several projects a month.
@@Schlipperschlopper yea but in Germany you also pay tax on your own stuff which would make comrad Lenin and Marx proud to be germans ,even thou only 1 was ,so 1 trillion € an hour is nothing.
Honest, because he won't charge for work ? That 2k would have money well spent, bc value after work. Maintaining such a car costs, denial is not a river in Africa.I would have paid the man, so to be able to come back.
@@gertvanderhorst2890 I think he meant honest as for saying "why" he is abandoning these classics, and charging for work is not not the main issue after all... This is a strange time where we are all living, manufacturers don't really want people to fix things anymore - Planed obesolence, just in time production to avoid paying for storage, rules that will force some manufacturers to use lightweight components (and even plastic like bmw!), the fact that consumers don't seem to mind paying for "subscriptions" on an already paied vehicule (!!) just so that have heated seats (!!)... We are getting to that "you will own nothing and you will be happy" stage. Unfortunately.
@@pedrodaniellopesferreira2916Probably, but don't be surprised if I read it right. When it comes to this work, people mistake free work very easily for 'honest' or 'decent' as if they are entiteled. They come in for you to 'have a look' when you reply that's called an inspection or diagnosis, you're a 'leach'
As a piano technician I, can sympathize with Car Wizard. I lose money when someone gets an "antique" piano that's 60-120 years old and asks me to "just tune it". I can't when the parts are old, unavailable, and brittle and the piano has serious structural and mechanical issues. Every part that hasn't been been replaced with a new OEM one is suspect after 60 years. Pianos are NOT antiques. They're just old, just like Car Wizard's old car projects.
Be more upfront with your customers. Tell them you can try to tune it but due to the age and wear of the parts it might involve a lot of labor cost to find the parts and you will still get paid for your time until you can't progress anymore with the tuning. People do understand your time and if you are upfront with the potential worst case costs you'll find people will either tell you that's okay or that it's beyond their desire to repair. Customers value honesty, and any customer that throws a fit about it is a customer you didn't want either.
Hey I have a question. I have an extremely old upright piano it plays and sounds great but it won't hold a tune but maybe 6 months. The guy who tunes it for me says it's because it's so old. So I just keep paying him to come over and tune it about twice a year. I would get a second opinion but he's the only guy around here that I know of that tunes pianos. This piano is like from the 1880s
@@thomasgary1219 I'm also a piano technician. Your piano is so old probably has a bad pinblock, which is what the tuning pins screw into. Since it's wood over all the decades of expansion and contraction it develops cracks and eventually the pins don't have sufficient grip to hold the tension of the strings. It may not even be up to pitch. It would be very expensive (thousands of dollars) to replace the pinblock and pins. Not usually done on uprights. The other thing to remember is pianos can go out of tune with seasonal weather changes (humidity & temperature). Some can take big shifts in winter and summer. Hope this helps.
@aislingmariead4939 Tell me about it. My dad’s old 97 Avalon had missing parts for the engine, it was not in stock, and they had to pull the parts from an old warehouse in Houston, TX. Almost 400 miles away, and nearly 5 days later his car got fixed.
Ha ha ..yes that is true ......but and the fact is the part supplier thinks and knows he is doing you a favour as he takes your money ....so I gave up ...good riddance to old cars and the buisness ...and the car buisness ... its crooked and dishonest to the core....? And I had the best last honest garage in u.k ... to work in .....Marshall and fraiser aylesbury .... now retired .thank you
Are those the smug old retired guys that wear hot rod shirts, khaki shorts, tube socks with New Balance sneakers and loiter at the local Denny's restaurant with their dingbat old wives?
This is the key. I have an old Alfa Romeo. There are people who organise the manufacture of rare parts but you have to pay before the parts are made. Having said that, some parts are only available from wrecks.
I'd give the customer a list of parts and tell them to find them, or give them option to pay you to find them. When I built my project car, my mechanic gave me a list and I found them all and shipped them to the shop directly.
I did that with my shop, he told me what he needed and why and I did the keyboard warrior part location stuff! However, some customers may not be capable either computer-wise or automotive-wise. It is a very specific skill set.
Obviously we are talking specialty stuff like project cars, restorations, rebuilds, etc. A reputable shop shouldn't charge you for the time it takes to order an oil filter on a 2020 Corolla, lol. In reality though, shops do make money on parts because shop part prices vs. retail parts prices are different. Most shops charge you retail for the parts they install, but paid a lower shop price from supplier. So markup/profit built in.
Half the fun in owning a old car is researching the history, the options, meeting/befriending other owners of the same car & finding parts & then taking the car to shows & clubs.
Hey man Jason the Lincoln Addict here. I own 2 convertibles and I'm forunate I live in the Clearwater area near Lincoln Land Inc. and Blair Farmer… These guys know the cars inside and out and your right it is getting hard to 1) find people to work on these cars and 2) find parts. I'm thankful I've learned so much from them in terms of working on my own convertibles. As you know they can be a real pain but there’s also a big reward as well for cruising in a four-door convertible… I love the channel and I’m here to say keep up the great work. Folks can contact me for Blair Farmer’s info if need be. You def should charge for the research or have the customer do their own leg work on the parts - that is just my 2 cents. Take care!
60's lincolns were ridiculously complicated cars by the standards of the day , which makes them a pain to work on . The reason they are hard to find parts for is because they were not very common even when new , and they aren't that popular today , which means that not many parts are reproduced for them .
I would like to correct you. The Lincolns of the 60's are becoming very popular and the price for convertibles are skyrocketing. You are correct in saying they can be complicated cars to work on.
5 месяцев назад
@@williamdixon1992 They aren't popular, they are sought-after by people who don't know better.
Those old Lincoln’s look pretty, but the harsh reality is that maintenance costs, and old parts are harder to come by. Other than instagram followers and few retirees not many ppl really desire them. The last remaining few will likely end up at a museum.
My best friend had a wonderful 1961 Lincoln Continental years ago, one of the best examples I've ever seen. He started calling it the "Hundred Dollar Hamburger", because every time he took it out on a pretty day just to go get something to eat, it would have to come back on a flatbed towtruck.
$100 hamburgers yeah well that's an old expression for aviators fly somewhere Saturday morning for an excuse and it cost him $100 to have a hamburger next airport's restaurant.
I had a friend who has a 1963 Lincoln Continental. and he had very few problems with it. and the problems he did have were minor. I actually liked working on it. it was simple to on and we never had issues getting parts for it. I remember he called it The Missing Link.
I don't see how it isn't fair to the customer, honestly. I love finding the rare parts, but I'd expect to pay someone for that time if I was asking them to do it, and I'd expect to be paid if it was me!
True but, it wasn't what the customer was expecting and neither was the Car Wizard when he took the job. Omega isn't set up for that kind of business so it really drags down efficiency.
The last independent shop I worked at they did the same thing. It cost the shop so much money and thankfully this customer was nice with the wizard but in my experience most of them that own cars like these are not...
Theres a dilemia beneath the problem of a shop searching for parts which is the parts guys searching. At my Napa, i sometimes get the occasional tractor or car from the 40s-60s that parts are near impossible to find without several hours of searching; we get paid hourly yet the expectation from every customer is that we should be able to find the parts in 10 minutes and get the parts within 1-2 days and with very little cost to them; its unrealistic. Its made me recently think I could start a side business just documenting parts for old cars, especially when companies like mitchell drop support for anything older than 75 out of the blue.
I agree. If the customer wants/ Is looking for a cheaper restoration well as a customer your job is to spend 100's of hours searching for AND getting the part so you can send it with the vehicle to the shop. I work in a different buisness but man im taking pay for every single hour i do of any type of work because why would i not??
Once a vehicle gets to a certain age, you're not really buying a car, or truck, you're buying a project. Looking first into the availability of parts, and then learning everything about your project, including how to fix it yourself, is even more valuable than the project itself. 🌠The More You Know...
This is why if I were going to have a car like that, I'd swap a modern drivetrain into it. It is often cheaper and definitely simpler in the long run to do a swap than it is maintain the old drivetrain.
These vehicles are best left to owner/mechanics who have the time, wherewithal, and desire to keep them on the road. Retirees, in other words. It's an ongoing, never-ending project where eventually you replace the whole damned car. And join a club that specializes in these vehicles - you won't be sorry.
Truth, but you still hear people bemoaning the fact that "the hobby is dying! Young people aren't getting into it. I guess they just don't care about classic cars." No, it's just they can't afford it. Between the insane valuations of classics caused by the Barrett-Jackson set and the issues in this video, it's not a hobby any more, it's an exclusive playground of the well-to-do.
@@jr7392 The truth is, it is probably cheaper to have a brand new car on a finance plan and replace it every three years. A colleague has a couple of classic 1980s motorbikes that he has restored to factory new condition. However when it comes to cars, he is talking about the new car he will get this year at the end of his his three year PCP plan expires AND the one he will to replace that with in 3.5 years !
@@MrDuncl Oh I hear you. Makes sense for daily transport. For just a fun cruiser you can still get into classics, you just have to do a little research and maybe make some compromises. I'm working on a 70 Mustang coupe for fun. But I thought it through because I'm not made of payola. 1. Nobody likes the coupes compared to a sportroof/fastback so I got it cheap. 2. Lots of Mustangs out there and so a lot of aftermarket support. 3. Still plenty of Ford engine parts on the market and support for them. Though that's going a restomod route. Trying to get something "concours correct" would be insane no matter what it is.
@@jr7392 There are tons of classics that you can get for pretty cheap, but they’re not the ones that most people want. Full size 60s and 70s cars are a good example.
I thought a 2008 lacrosse was the right car. Spent thousands... over 200000 miles, new engine reman transmission fixed it over and over and. It just sits in the garage
@@Schlipperschlopper Then they shouldn't be buying cars such as this Lincoln, or any needy car for that matter. It's about personal responsibility. My daughter got a "free' car - a Civic with 100K on it and it was "free" (paid $1 for legal reasons). $5K later, the "free" car is mechanically sound with cold A/C, new brakes, shocks, struts, cooling system, tires, windshield, moldings, weather seals, all the clips torn off by the clueless (they make tools to remove them), a multitude of fiddly bits, an interior shampoo to get rid of all the Starbucks spilled on every horizontal surface by the previous owner. Polished out what was left of the paint and now it's a perfect parking lot car. Much of the above work was done by me - except where it exceeded my technical (or risk tolerance) skills. Parts bought wholesale (OEM only - no aftermarket Chinee sh#t). It's ugly enough to not be stolen yet is probably more road worthy than 99% of the cars of the same vintage.
Did the old car thing once in my 20s. It had its fun moments. I wouldn't call it a failure, but never again. Approaching 50 now. Life is too short to be effing around keeping old cars roadworthy. They are only transportation. I'd rather spend my weekends hiking than laying under a car wrenching.
I'm with ya wizard. I have been telling customers for years how time consuming it is to sit down and hunt parts. It literally kills your profits. But people don't see that part of the business. They don't understand how difficult it is. And OMG with the ones who bring you a car that some thing else breaks while it's in the shop. They swear it's your fault. I've eaten a few jobs just to keep customers happy. It sucks. But how do you tell a customer that came in for an oil change that a coil pack went out after the oil change? It happened to me. I just told the lady about it and put one on it for free. Trust me I understand what you go through.
The problem I find is that most shops won't work on it if they aren't making profit on parts and the markup. If I source all the parts, right from oem in original packaging, sealed. Most shops other then the good ones will deny the work. And not because of liability with the parts, if part fails, the last person who is responsible to me is the tech that put it on. I'll have a new part air freighted and in their hands in 24 hours. I Have a network of shops now, mechanical, hvac, electrical, suspension, exhaust.. and yes, need a diff shop for each specialty... diagnostics being the worst. If it isn't on a scan tool, most shops can't find it these days. They frequently offer me a job to source parts for them lol. Forums are king.
I'm a little bit young, but I run a small classic car shop, and I've been in this restoration and service industry for 10 years now. Everything you've said is absolutely correct, and as the years go by the parts and labor become more and more of a headache. A lot of the time the hours it takes to find, or research to retrofit, a part can be more labor spent than actually servicing the vehicle. The amount of time it takes to source used parts is usually even worse. This is one of those industries where you go in with either one of two things: either exclusive passion for it, or a ton of money. This is one of the roughest industries out there for anything automobile or mechanical engineering solely because of the guts, time, and passion it takes to, now days, get these vehicles finished. Personally we don't make tons of profit, but we make enough to pay the bills, have a little extra in our pockets, and keep going. It can be difficult, but I've been doing it more for the passion of it than the profit. Also it doesn't help the fact you worked on one of the most complicated American cars ever built for its time, especially the convertibles. We specialize in Lincolns more than anything, and I can tell you that 1966 and 1967 Lincolns are some of the most expensive and time consuming classics to work on, and are known for frequent unexpected failures. Those are the types of vehicles you own to keep, not to make a profit on (Unless the circumstances are lucky). All in all, it's a balancing act and takes a good sense of work efficiency, experience, and passion to work this industry. I'd say these days it is more of an art of parts sourcing than it is actually servicing the vehicle, and everything you've pointed out is correct.
Hey Wizard & Mrs Wizard, I understand your pain, back in the seventies & early eighties, I worked in an independent shop & parts were readily available either from the parts store, the junkyard or (last resort) the dealership!!! My hat is off to you for running your business in today's difficult environment!!! That Continental convertible is a stunning car!!! 👍👍🙂
A very reputable shop that used to specialize in older Mustangs stopped working on them for the same reasons. Fix one thing and three new things break.
There's a difference between catching up on neglected maintenance, such as when a car has been sitting for decades, and routine repair or maintenance on a car that is driven somewhat regularly. I could understand not wanting to work on a car that has been sitting, but to never work on anything "old" again, whatever that means, seems like an overreaction.
@@jptech57 I had a line on a beautiful 1995 SN95. Considered throwing a bunch of money at it to make it quicker. Shop who has been well known for this wouldn't take my my money (pre-covid, pre supply issues). They switched to 2010 and up only.
I work in the parts business, and all of the 60+ year old men are shocked that parts availability for their C-10 or Chevelle isn't the same as when they were in high school. They don't realize their 65 Chevy was 10 years old when they were in high school, and now 50+ years later the stuff isn't readily available.
The classic Continental moved into specialist territory years ago, especially the convertibles. The set of relays that they use to fold that top up and stick it in the trunk is incredibly complex. If I was ever lucky enough to find a Continental convertible that I could afford I would never consider having a local mechanic work on it. There are two or three guys in the US who do nothing but work on old Continentals. Those are the guys you go to.
As an owner of a ‘69 Cadillac: Yes, I’d pay an extra $2000 to look up parts because I’d know your shop would fix it correctly. I’m finding it harder and harder to find shops in the Phoenix area Willing and Capable to work on my car
See, a realistic customer, willing to pay for parts search and just wants the job done right at a price fair for everyone! Decent and realistic customers are around and all aspects of the job simply must be charged, likewise the work must be done properly.
You are unfortunately the very few who's willing or would do so , I have been doing it for almost 40 years and I don't have enough customers like you around, they are all about the cheapest, fastest and quickest way to get it done. I work on everything from Model A's to New Tesla's, Masaratti, or whatever you have. Depending on the customer that has a beautiful unrestored or partially restored one I will do very few anymore unless they are like you. I hate to charge customers for things like this , but it has gotten to the point where I can only do so many old antique cars and trucks due to the time it takes to get parts. I couldn't tie up 10 bay's with classic cars or I would not be able to make pay roll if it took me a week to find a part for each car. I feel your pain sir for I would rather work on the old ones than new ones. Have a great day. John from Pittsburgh PA
That's a start, but there's opportunity cost to account for also. The shop availability/time lost tying up floor space and lifts in the shop waiting for the parts to arrive, slowing down the rest of the operation. I think that would have to be paid for it to be fair to the mechanic.
That’s the other thing you need someone that knows points and coils or how to adjust a carb. How to tune an engine by the sound of the thing not by OBD2.
This might be the saddest video I've ever watched. It breaks my heart to know that in today's world, so many of these cars may end up unable to be repaired.
FWIW: I live in Southern California and you can find parts for just about any classic car in this area. Plenty of shops around here that do nothing but rebuild these 50's/60's/70's gems (and they do charge for it!). Lately the tough thing is getting parts for more modern cars, especially if its a collision repair; not only are the electronics tough to get due to the chip shortage, but even basics like fenders and other body panels, interior panels, headlight/tail light assemblies, etc have been in short supply. That's a nice Lincoln you've got there, complete with the 'suicide' doors and ragtop!
I was thinking the same about modern cars especially with more plastics being used. I know a couple of people with twenty year old cars and their headlights are completely opaque. With there be any replacements available for those in another twenty years ?
@@MrDuncl Definetely not But i did have a 1993 Corolla a 4-5 years back and the headlights there was good because they where made of glass. The amount of cost cutting and cheap parts on modern cars is absolutely silly.
I think one of the things going on is that we remember what it was like to work on those cars, 20-30 years ago. And 27 years ago, when I bought my '65 Mustang as a beater that needed restoration, it was only 30 years old. Now it's pushing 60, and that's a really big difference. The "new" Bronco I towed it home with is now older than the Mustang was then. That blows my mind when I think about it, especially since I'm still driving the Bronco!
It takes a lot of skill, time and machinery to bring those old cars back. I have no idea how much Jay spends on his collection. He has a whole staff and machine shop working on those cars all the time.
The way I always approached cars like those are to estimate 2 - 3 times what you expect and rebate any amount that might be unused. If people complained, it was on the 'in' and not the 'out'. It's much easier to deal with that. And if they choke on the estimate you've pre-emptively avoided a ton of future issues. I get it, after 50+ years doing it I agree. There's no place in a busy shop for those types of vehicles. And if you do work on them you pretty much need a second building, as large as the shop, to store them in while they wait for parts, etc. "Oh, you don't want to pay for storage while we wait for xxx to show up? No problem, we can arrange for a wrecker to take it it wherever you want to keep it." It's not a game for those of average finances.
It's something a lot of people who want a vintage car don't understand, it's a game for people who have means. They become very expensive money pits very, very quickly.
The days of the "Estimate before repair" are also coming to an end with unusual repairs. "Just hand me a check with the car and I'll fill in the amount when I'm done working on your car."
What about continuing to work on old cars with good parts availability? A first generation Camaro (1967-1969) comes to mind. You can practically build a new one from a Classic Industries or YearOne catalog.
That doesn't address the issue that when you are working on fifty or sixty year old cars, every time you go to fix something you find another issue the customer wasn't aware of, so it's impossible to give a realistic cost estimate before you start. Yes, you can perhaps get the parts, but at what price? Plus, the customer gets stuffed for more unexpected labour charges. Working on really old cars almost always requires an open-ended financial commitment from the customer and a very high degree of trust in the garage, and, human nature being what it is, it often ends in tears. It's understandable Car Wizard doesn't need the grief when he can make a decent living working on newer stuff where there are fewer imponderables.
Clearly, he doesn't want to go down the fab shop route with all the welding/cutting/shaping that goes with that. Most basic mechanics don't - they were trained to buy parts. A lathe and a mill? Well... the witch [16:41] burning this mans spirit to the ground will probably kill him - I recommend ditching her, and fast. Life is too short, and would it be such a crime to have just one old ride project going? It's a business, and there are limits, but do what you love/are good at.
That's why I sold off most of my cars that don't have strong aftermarket support. Just muscle cars and 911's with a '72 E-Type and '13 Model T thrown in for good measure. Never had to search for anything. I can get parts for the even the Jag and the T quicker than Wizard can get 'em for a 10 yr old Lambo.
Mr Wizard you are spot on with everything you said. Time is $$$, and you are an honest mechanic with a conscious. People that own old iron should realize the costs to repair these classics. If they can't then this is what happens... It will be difficult to find a repair facility, they will go away. It's hard to find parts for 20 year old vehicles, I have to show the parts person the correct part I'm looking for. If you love these old machines you'll take the time and $$$ to keep them running. Same goes for old homes, takes time, $$$, and passion. Mr.Wizard your video do inspire.
There are repair sleeves you can fit over the crank shaft that cover the groove and then the seal will do its job again. No need for a new crank shaft or to have it machined.
That old style crank won’t accept a speedy sleeve …there’s a flange on the back of the cranks and it’s a 2 piece style seal. Usually only one piece rear main seals will accept a sleeve.
I've got one of Car Wizard's 'favourite' cars - a Mk1 VW with the Bosch K-Jetronic fuel injection systems. Parts for the Fuel system are almost impossible to find now, yet they literally made MILLIONS of these cars. If I can't find new or even NOS (new Old Stock) parts for such a common car, then what hope is there for the old classic vehicles? I don't blame Car Wizard for refusing these jobs. He's a businessman, not a charity. He may be called Car Wizard, but he can't make parts appear out of thin air.
Had a '79 VW Rabbit with that fuel system. They were quite plentiful in the wrecking yards 35 years ago, and many still had the fuel systems intact, too. Fun car to have then, not so sure I'd want it now. For what it's worth, both Saab & Volvo used the same Bosch fuel systems during the same time period. It'll expand your possibilities, but those cars are just as scarce. You might get lucky and cross reference the same part via a different car manufacturer. Have you tried contacting Bosch directly? It's a long shot, but you only need to get lucky once.
Yes, this is a depressing video. But also incredibly educational. The style and grace of this era of cars is just gone today. And to now know how difficult it is to find parts just makes me want yo cry. We as customers need to understand going in, what we are in for both in time in the shop and real life actual costs for all of the research and parts. I would love to own a collection of cars from this era but i lack the skill and ultra deep pockets to do so.
You could adopt the Cuba maintenance style. Got a 67 Lincoln where you can't find a part? Hey, an 82 Buick part works if you cut off this tab, weld on an elbow and drill a clearance hole. So you spend $29 for the part and 6 hours of work, so $700. Unless you work at Cuba rates.
This is what I do on my cars basically. Especially with stuff like radiators, I just measure and go searching around the junkyard for something similar. I've even gone so far as to weld entirely new intake manifolds and modify distributors to fit other engines than they did originally. I've also done my share of weird engine swaps, 1990s Nissan engine into 1970s Datsun pickup, Ford 429 into a Buick Skylark, Detroit Diesel 3-53 into a 1965 Cadillac, Mitsubishi diesel into 1948 Plymouth, Chrysler Marine Flathead 6 into 1966 AMC Rambler Classic, Olds 350 diesel into 1967 Toronado, Waukesha 4 cylinder industrial engine into 1935 Chevy are all cars I've owned or my friends have owned and I have assisted on.
I have an 80's car that I'll never sell, so I've collected spare parts over the years when they were cheap and available, especially during the 'golden' timeframe that parts stores heavily discounted the parts when demand died as the vast majority of these cars have been scrapped.
And this is exactly why I fully support the restomod concept. Keep as much of the classic looks on the outside, with more modern ( probably more reliable) and more available parts. Granted... Modifying more modern parts to appear older ( like a using, say a power window switch from a 2010 model car in a 60's car... ) Gets into the custom restoration shop, not general mechanic shop. Barely a shade tree mechanic myself, but I fully understand where you are coming from wizard.
Maybe that would work for certain parts, but in my experience most components were far better made 60 years ago than they are today. I would expect a power window switch from 1965 to be working today or at least able to be fixed, whereas a power window switch from 2010 would be entirely plastic and I would not expect it to last 50 years. The great thing about cars from the past is that the cars were simpler and the components were simpler. It is easier to understand how they work and perform repairs or even fabricate replacements. The Model A is a good example of this.
@@jptech57 if plastic is involved, they don't last. My 76 Eldorado and my 73 Grand Prix had power everything and many parts failed due to aging plastic from all the power window switches which used a plastic case that nobody makes to the plastic flexible rod in the power antenna, to worst of all the plastic interior pieces like around the windows, and the door panel, which literally crumpled when you touched them that of course nobody makes. So I now stick with cars 1964 and earlier with no electrics and no plastic all over the place
@@johnschnellbach986 That is a good move. Unfortunately, if more shops start going the Omega route we will have to do the work ourselves because places that are perfectly capable of doing the work can't be bothered. I would also say that European cars from that time seem to have much better plastic quality and I have noticed less of an issue with the plastics except the vinyl covered dashboards.
You're not alone Car Wizard. We've got a 25 year old rule at our shop. Same issue of finding parts and the amount of time wasted hurt shop production and tech pay. When not trying to make a living we love to work on them but when it involves our paychecks it's a big nope.
I’m curious with your “25-yr” rule. Would y’all make an exception for those vehicles that were made VERY similar but just a little older? For example if there were vehicles made for many years and everything (except for minor changes) were the same on the older year models as they were for the newer models that fit in that 25 years.
@@danieln.285 It's usually determined on a case by case. We're located in Minnesota and the 90s vehicles are usually on their last legs due to rust/corrosion. Outside of the parts not being local and taking weeks to receive. These cars are almost not worth the effort to repair. Most of the time they need to be pulled on the drive on rack as the pinch welds are gone and there's no good lifting points left.
@@mikeh3558 I live in MN and the only OLD vehicles I have are "Out of state" vehicles...Like a '78 Econoline From Texas, that has never seen a MN winter...When I got it up here in 2000 it still had the black paint on the frame...I do have a shop that will work on that, but has NO Power Crap (windows/locks), and the cruise was tossed years ago...My 2008 SuperDuty that came from NoDak (Beet Juice State) 2 years ago doesn't have paint on frame! - Still in better shape than most 2008-2010's HERE!...About 15 years ago I was helping an elderly friend with early 80's Panther Chassis LTD, and it was MN RUSTY...The fuel injection lines that go from tank to TBI unit were well, CRUNCHY, much like OLD brake lines in MN! - I told her that it will cost more than the $500 the car is worth to fix it...She, doubted me, and brought it to a shop...and they made her new lines as the "KITS" didn't exist yet...Cost $800 parts and labor, and I told her that was cheap! - Sadly only a year or two later she had transmission problems and it was done...
Liability is going to be a b#$ch to sort going forward, but its going to have to happen. JIT and the cost optimizations that have gone into the auto industry as a whole the last 2 decades have forced us down the Cuba route even with 2008 and newer whips.
What is easier to say that done. Real part required tight specific dimensions. 3D printer is not accurate - parts demands machining. So to make steel part you must have costly 3D printer, CAD for modeling parts, lathe, milling machine, precious measure tools and few skilled people. What is a lot of money to invest.
The only shops that would make sense for is those doing full blown restorations on vehicles like these not a mechanic who may get one or 2 a week and not get enough roi to justify thousands on a printer plus the ongoing expense of hiring a skilled machinist that can run it properly and get the parts right.
I love your attitude on BMW's wizard I completely completely agree. I was dumb enough to buy one a few years ago I had a '03 325c a blue convertible and that was the biggest piece of s*** car I've ever owned in my life. I tried to sell it for two grand I couldn't even get that I put it up for 15 I had a guy hit me up from Jersey come all the way out here to PA he rented a trailer and everything came out here. He looked at the car and said nope I don't want it we haggled and I ended up getting $1,200 off of them. And I was happy to get that and then I went and bought a Honda Civic a 1998 two-door VTEC for $400 off some 19 year old kid in 2017. And I still have that car to this day and I'm still driving it and it still runs and it has never ever ever broken down on me and left me stranded. Yes screw BMWs I love your attitude on that 👍
I have to love this guy! He can justify price so that even my mom understands WHY repairing old car costs. Wizard is reasonable, smart and should I call... Genius. Greetings from Finland and keep up good work Wizard! Youre a good guy!
You are spot on! I specialized for years on Lincoln and Thunderbird convertibles , 50' and 60's cars in general and Rolls Royces besides the cars in my regular repair shop like yours. Five years ago it became unprofitable to do old cars. My conclusion was yours. The parts have dried up or if not dried up the prices were astronomical. You can't make any money. The 17 hours you spent searching parts you could have done 17 brake jobs , 8 strut jobs etc. And gotten paid. My saving grace on the Lincolns and TBirds was a 40 year collection of parts from convertibles I bought cheap and parted them out. I still have a lot of stuff but I now need what is left for my cars. 4 years ago I worked on a customer's 63 Continental convertible. One problem I had was unbelievable. It needed a master cylinder because the brakes would sink to the floor. Put the master in and the brakes would drag and lock up. There was no adjustment in the booster for rod length. I was going nuts. This went on for weeks. Finally another 1963 Lincoln came in and I looked at the booster and master relationship. I discovered the booster in the convertible was out of a 62 Continental. The master was slightly different for 1963. This is another problem with old cars. So many guys worked on these cars through the years it's hard to know what's going on. The reason I stopped working on retractable tops besides parts was so many guys screwed with the system before it came to me I was no longer looking for the usual problem but the man made ones also. Everyone knows man made problems are the worst. As far as the popular cars like Camaros, Chevelles and Mustangs etc where parts are readily available from catalogues those parts are usually Chinese made and don't last long and are completely inferior to the originals. Headlight motors, fuel sending units and power window motors just to mention a few. You are right it is a sad day.
If someone purchases a classic vehicle, they had best have a pretty good knowledge of automotive mechanics at the least for all the aforementioned reasons. It's a pain to have to search the ends of the earth to try to find parts for ANY rig. Case in point, me waiting 45 days for A/C outlets for my '12 Challenger(which is a late model car to boot)because of poor customer service and supply chain BS. I hear you, Wizard! I'm 65 years young and am a retired mechanic with 35+ years in the business, totally understand your point.
Yep, used to be you saw a guy driving a classic you knew he knew his way around a car. Nowadays the greatest hits cost so much you know the guys driving them never get their hands dirty
A lot of these cars were not the best new. I remember the AC compressor on my dad's 74 Pontiac catching fire and him putting it out with bottles of Dr.Pepper. It was 2 year old at the time. My dad bought a brand new 1983 Pontiac 6000 LE and the power window regulator failed as he drove it off the lot.
yup, my dad had a mid 1980s Saab that suffered a cracked cylinder head after a year and a half. And that was just the last and worst in a constant series of mechanical and electrical failures, and the one that made the lease company (thank god it was a company car) decide that enough's enough, we're cutting our losses and letting you order something else AS LONG AS IT'S NOT SAAB. Then again early 2000s, a Jeep Cherokee delivered from the factory with the wrong driver side window installed. It wouldn't go down more than a few inches. Went to the dealer, they took the entire door apart thinking the motor was bad until the mechanic noticed the curvature of the glass was all wrong. Factory had installed a passenger side window in the driver side door. They put it back together, ordered a replacement driver side window from the factory, and put that in a few weeks later (yay trans-atlantic shipping times). And even now, few years ago several of my colleagues got brand new Teslas. Every single one of them had problems with bad weather sealing of the rear lights, doors not fitting properly, headliner coming loose after a few months, you name it. We had 6 of them parked at our office, the Tesla service trucks were there almost every week for months fixing the little defects the cars had come delivered with.
I had two brand new GM cars, a 1987 cavalier and a 2002 Firebird. both had weird electrical problems. both were/are great once you get the electrical problems fixed. No more GMs though. Used Toyotas from now on.
If I had my car there, and it took you that long to find the part for me, I would expect to pay for it. Either I'm spending my time, or I'm paying you for yours. I would set the expectation that this is the level of effort to find parts for cars like these. Seems like an acceptable cost of having something like that, and having quality work done on it.
The mechanic wants to enjoy their life and not hear some scam or poor me story why they should have pity on the bloke and do it for the children or the sick mother, take your pick. I know the people that do this. They told me Tim, it doesn't hurt to ask. No it doesn't but now I have to become a little bit more hardened because you feel it doesn't hurt to ask.
I've always wanted a 1970 Cutlass Supreme Holiday Coupe in gold, yet I completely understand your position on the older vehicles. I drive 20 year old vehicles and they break enough as it is 😂
That's a bit different in terms of era, so much happened during those 50 years like WW2. I bet there just weren't many 1930s cars alive even in the 60s. Such old technology would've been replaced very fast if they didn't rot away before that happened. Cars made during a time when the railroads would transition from steam to diesel, my guess they weren't that complex really. It's all mechanical with weird solutions. The war most likely consumed the majority of them going towards military manufacturing.
I have a 1994 Lincoln Town Car Executive series and my ABS pump went out and I just got the part a couple days ago and my car's been down for like a month and it's not even a new part it's a used part from a junkyard thanks for your video
One of my mechanic friends, recently enacted a 96 and up rule. Nothing pre-OBD2… just not worth it. He will make exceptions for certain customers, but in general that’s the rule of the shop.
I find OBD2 to be intrusive and a lazy way to diagnose problems. The best way to find a good mechanic is to have him fix a problem without scanning. As a buyer, I have had a policy for some time now to only buy pre-OBD2. My OBD1 car has a CEL but the bulb could always be removed if worst comes to worst.
One nice thing about those old electro-mechanical systems is so many can be serviced carefully, unless they are completely trashed - but yes, very time consuming. Used to help a friend with his Studebaker shop- hunting parts was always a challenge. That was 25 years ago.
I always source my own parts for my 1972 Lotus Europa (I actually do most of my own work on minor things). The hunt is fun, and my hours spent are a lot cheaper than paying someone else to do it.
As an owner of only classic cars for almost 40 years, I have never had anyone work on any of them. The search for parts is why I used to strip junk cars back in the 1980's. I keep an extensive selection of spare parts and rebuild many things myself. If I got something that sat for a while it will have many failures when it starts running again.
@@rolandthethompsongunner64 I used to work in the autoglass distribution side for many years and can tell you that there are a surprising number of NOS odd ball glass sitting in warehouses around the country. Find an auto glass distribution warehouse in the area - PGW, Pilkington, Mygrant etc., - while they are wholesale and won't sell to regular folks, they might be able to point you to someone who can help you find what you're looking for. I'll give you an example, had a local shop find and install a FORD factory Carlite windshield in my 1978 F150. Last month, I had the same shop find and install a Ford Carlite up graded windshield for my 1998 Crown Vic - my insurance covered both. Glass is out there.
I get it man, I work on my own cars, I sometimes spend HOURS crawling over websites looking for parts, luckily I work security so I can get paid to search for parts, haha!
I just (in December) got what I know will be my last classic. I realize it's hard to find folks to work on these cars. The mechanic I have for my car, a '67 Ford station wagon, is 80. The way I see it, I'm in a race against time to get my car worked on before he retires. One issue I discovered of late is a failed fuel gauge. My mechanic said he looked for the part and couldn't find one. Knowing his age and probable lack of ability and time to find parts, I found it myself. I have no gripe with him at all. I'm just glad he's still around to fix my car. Once he retires, then what will I do?
You do know that is easily one of the hardest American cars to restore on the planet, right? It has systems that are overly complicated and unique to that car and only that car. A lot of resto shops won't touch one of those. It's easier to get parts for a lot of 50's cars than new ones, if they are stock! Saying that, if the car was rare or not super common when new, gonna be made of unobtanium now... That is why there are specialty shops that do nothing but ancient stuff, for a premium, for a reason....or don't get into it unless you are the warranty...Wizard, you are not a resto shop...you'll lose money every time on this stuff...
@@sccarguy8242 agreed. I have front rear bumpers and entire interior for a 69 chrysler 300 because I found it in the wreckers. Someone snagged the 440/727 and junked a perfectly good car. I've never owned a 69 300 but I know you can't get these parts out of a Jeg's catalog.
This is just another reason I'm so glad I am a mechanic by trade and can spend all the time I want on my cars for no money! My window switches all needed cleaning too and that's just a weekend afternoon for me.....no $$. Love my 68 Continental and I love even more, the fact its complete and won't really need any parts in the foreseeable future, beside regular maintenance.
I don't own a shop, but these are the age and type of cars that me and my friend drive and work on. When buying a car we will generally look for GM/Mopar/Ford 1950-1973 with preferably a V8 over 350 cubic inches of a type with readily available parts. Crank windows, preferably manual steering, preferably manual transmission or simple automatic. Then after that if it's broken and it's not necessary to drive the car it gets ripped out and sold. AC/power steering/cruise control/radio/speakers/interior parts all get taken out. We strip the entire interiors and put some generic seats from Summit Racing in. We replace carburetors with common types so mostly Holley 2 or 4 barrel. Vacuum lines/vacuum operated parts that are unnecessary get ripped out. The parts for engines and transmissions are generally available. Once you have the car stripped down to basically just the body/steering/suspension/brakes/engine/transmission/rear axle the parts are easy to get. I don't care if the car is restored or not. I just want a car in good mechanical condition that is simple- Carburetor or mechanical injection for a diesel, non-electronic transmission, points ignition. Every time I have owned a newer car, it has left me on the side of the road 150 miles away from the nearest town and I couldn't fix it. Every pre-1980s car I have owned I was able to fix it on the side of the road. So for me it's not about whether it's original or not. Open the hood of one of my cars and you will find parts from 10 different makes and models of cars. All I want is a simple car that drives and I can fix it with tools I can carry around. I do agree that restoring a car to it's original condition is near impossible these days. So what I have learned is strip it down to the basics and get rid of what isn't necessary to drive it. Sell those parts and you might even break even on the price of the car. Also you've just made it hundreds of pounds lighter. Fix the engine, transmission, brakes, suspension, put some cheap gauges and seats in it, and you're all set. I don't care what it looks like, I just want to drive it and not deal with all of the stupid electronics.
And even if you've got an old VW Beetle, where lots and lots and lots of parts and components are available, the problem is the quality. There's so much stuff that _almost_ fits, bumpers that weigh half of the original, etc. etc...
Before I even watch this video, I’m going to speculate why. Parts availability and quality of parts when you can get them. Now to watch the video and see if I’m correct
@@suide3275 I’m keeping all old parts until they aren’t useable, I’m collecting anything and everything. I’m currently building a 64 mercury comet, I started getting parts for it before it got to bad.
@@RealWorldGarage I’ve got a 64 Mercury Comet too. I have had it for 15 years, even back then it was hard to find parts for it, today it’s near impossible. We’ve done a resto-mod restoration using easier to find parts.
@@thejesusgeek24 sometimes you do what you have to do. I have lots more to come on this car, I hope you’re subscribed, I welcome any suggestions, comments or criticisms, especially from those who have a Mercury Comet. ✌️It’s just been to hot to get out there. I want to put a cover over my main work area but I’m not there just yet. Hopefully soon.
It reminds me of the 2011 Japan tsunami. Before 2011, it was easy to get parts for older Omron industrial logic controller, such as C200h. But, when the tsunami hit the japan, Omron said: No, we aren't re-building production lines for these vintage parts anymore.
I know that it takes so much time looking for the parts, but it is so worth saving something like that. It’s a beautiful car with so much more class than the vehicles today.Enjoy your videos.
@@kalashnikov1343 the unfortunate reality is that is most likely a bit of a fantasy at this point. Most of the Cuban "Classics" are on there third or forth reincarnation as far as major mechanical bits go. They didn't come from the factory with Lada tractor engines after all. But even that is not a long term solution, as post 2009sh most of the Steeing bits are also tied into the PCM/ECU, so it's going to require some significant bodging to get it standalone
@@michaelmaas5544 no doubt. That’ll always be the case. People that have the bank account to spend more than a car is worth to keep it original will always be around. Most people that want, for example, a suicide door Lincoln, would rather it looked the part and worked all the time over numbers matching originality. Like I said, it’s the most realistic way to keep one as a driver.
@@johntyson I agree 100% We had had a 66 Lincoln when I grew up and I would love to own one someday. Unfortunately my dad let it go to hell and sold it when I was 16. I’d definitely want to know I could get in and drive whenever I wanted and not worry about if I was going to break down.
Valid points made, but in your case one would have to factor in revenue from the views these cool cars bring in. Personally I watch the videos with the unique classics that I don't get to see everyday. Hopefully they keep coming, I'll watch.
I feel your pain wizard. I would compare this Lincoln with say a Ferrari or Lamborghini. They're complicated and there just aren't that many out there today. My 76 Eldorado with 9000 original miles and all the electrical parts were failing. All due to plastic aging, corrosion, and wiring fraying. I sold it as is. I now own a 71 Ford F100. No electrics. I did have to fix all the leaks due to age, but all of those parts were available at the local car parts store, maybe had to wait a day. I also have 2 Model As. Plenty of parts suppliers. So bottom line, Uncommon cars are alot of problems, regardless of age.
Plastic... ugh. With age, it often fracks out on its own and becomes about as stout as a potato chip. Not all businessses are mindful to maintain supply. The original OEM does not have to make them, just license someone who does and boost cash flows while keeping the things that built their brand alive.
Thank you for educating us on cars. You save me from spending a lot of time, money, and heartache. Understand it means a lot for you to sit down and explain and explain why this and that..
Seen alot of shops have signs posted that say they wont work on stuff 10yrs old or older. I completely get it. Having a older vehicle is getting to be a adventure in finding anything for them
Totally understand this...I had my mechanic do a revival on my Dodge Dakota...he got it running and found issues to be triaged...and had to clean and restore a turn signal switch no longer in production. We agreed it would be a side project and he had the truck for almost two months...and we still have work to be done.
@@JohnSmith-yv6eq We just had liability on the truck....plus it's exterior is plenty weathered...as far as insurance, I just recall him saying not to worry....they rotated it in and out as needed...plus it was in the fall in not in the peak of severe storm season. When I would stop by for updates, he had it parked in a stall inside to show what work was being done on it.
Ha! It’s looks like you have two of *my* favorite cars on racks behind you-have had both and loved them! One is a ‘66 Chevelle Malibu and the other a ‘79 Cadillac Seville. (I still have a hood ornament in my tool box and wire-wheel cover in my attic for the latter in case you need one.) Love ❤️ your show. Have “Been there-done that” on so many of those same issues. BTW, you should probably have an armed guard with you at all times, as a mechanic of *your* caliber, with the same level of attention to detail, not to mention *honesty* is worth his weight in gold! Mrs. Wizard would be very unhappy if you get “Trafficked” to a Oligarch Classic Car collector. 😉
It makes sense that cars like that need a dedicated restoration shop. When parts aren't available you have to fabricate things to replace them. And it costs a lot to do that.
I have the same problem doing my work in electronic repairs. And its actually not so much the old parts but the new ones that pose the problem in my industry. Most recent equipment you can only reasonably repair with complete boards rather than at component level which with modern manufacturers not providing spares of any kind makes it junk.
Identical to the one I shipped to the UK in 1971,my dream car . Had to sell it as petrol went up to £1 a gallon! Don't know if its still on the road. Far better at that time to a Rolls Royce. Broke my heart to let it go. Nice video Cheers
You would have to be a film star to be able to afford running it these days. Maybe it went back to the USA. I work near Southampton docks and last month in the Petrol Station I saw a car transporter with a decrepit looking Left Hand Drive Triumph Stag on the back. When I asked if it had come back from the U.S.A the driver said yes. I wonder how much that will cost to restore.
You always was a great mechanic and person from what I know about you from the videos and beginning of the series from the time of looking over Hoovie's rides. You have come a long long way and I hope that you have a great day and I bid you the best. God bless and keep up with your passion.
Your foremost responsibility is to your family and employees and to the shop. You must make a profit, so you can continue to exist and this was a good decision.
I have a '59 Fairlane 500 2 door hardtop. When I bought it, I knew that it had some problems, but it ran, so I figured that it would not take much to get it in shape for a weekend cruiser. The master brake cylinder had been removed, and there was a dual master cylinder power brake kit in the trunk. The carburetor was overflowing gas from the bowl vents, and one of the exhaust manifolds was broken. That seemed to be all, except for some hoses that seeped. I have worked on it for almost a year, and wound up taking it to a mechanic who has some classic cars also. I had to remove the heads because of broken exhaust studs that I could not drill out while the heads were in the car. I checked a few valve stems while the heads were out, and they were loose, so I took the heads to a machine shop for a valve job. Just that was an extra $1000. When I got the new master cylinder installed, I discovered that all of the brake lines, both rubber and steel, were completely clogged. I had to replace all lines, including the steel ones that I had to custom make. The brake booster had never been used, but the diaphragm leaked. I have bought a couple of kits with new master cylinders and 2 different types of boosters. I've since had the car towed to the mechanic, who is still working on it, in particular, trying to get the brakes to work properly. I think that most restoration shops have their connections for parts, but when someone like me tries to find a part, I sit at the computer and find about 5 ads on Google who take up all the space page after page. I see "We have the part you need!" No, AutoZone, you don't have brake drums for my Fairlane, and I am tired of seeing your ads for many pages. The mechanic has found parts, but usually from hours at home in the evening spent searching the internet. We have both learned a lot about this brake conversion, and when I asked him if he would do it for a customer, he said, "Nope, I'll be going fishing that day."
This video cured me of any desire to have a classic car! Especially after seeing a recent Uncle Tony video. Customer bought a 66 mustang flip top. turns out it was a hard top that had the roof cut off and a flip top put on. Seller put no extra bracing under it, flexed severely when put on a lift. Cost the Cust big $$ to have the bracing installed to make it safe!
You have to find the right car. Ive daily’d my ‘79 corvette for the last 2 years. Ive rebuilt the entire rear end, cooling system, power steering sytem, and the brakes. Pretty much every part you can think of is available for c3 corvettes.
this is an overly complex car, probably the most at its time, and your example is an overly complex situation, most classic cars are far simpler than modern overengineered cars. most of your plastic lcd screen garbage will be obsolete and junked as soon as the warranty ends unfortunately.
Even without the crazy current parts situation Lincoln’s of that era were problematic…windows,top, built in water pump,power steering pump. .. stuff that was weird even in 1962. Anyone who buys one damn well better do his research so he knows what he’s potentially getting into.
my father was a great mechanic in the 60's and 70's and these cars would find their way to our home on weekends in addition to the garage he worked at. They needed constant tuning, constant bearing maintenance, brakes didn't last that long, and the list goes on. While I appreciate and love those old cars, I saw such a change when fuel injection was invented, electronics got much better, and even though computers took over - the day to day reliability increased 10 fold. Unless you are mechanically inclined and take care of your OWN old classic vehicle, maybe you should stay out of that game. Relying on someone like the Car Wizard to always 'fix it for me' is not realistic as he has a modern day shop to operate and make a living. I don't blame you for respectfully drawing your line in the sand.
When your outside your comfort zone you just have to pass or open a restoration shop that specializes in repairing old cars. One thing I did notice in your video, you mentioned being very familiar with the crank shaft wear issue on these old cars. So how did this one get by you then without checking it? I think you’re making the right choices. Sounds like the guy needed Hoovie money enough to pay you to fix it correctly.
This is a sad story because I love 💗 the old American made cars 🚗 too. I am an older guy. Thanks 🙏 Wizard 🧙 for your caring, you are a good guy. Sometimes that comes back to bite you, take care.
These old Lincoln's had issues from the day they left the factory. My dad owned 4 Lincolns in the early 70's. They were beautiful but a nightmare to work on. I'm an engineer, they had very complex electronics and were over stuffed with one assembly on top of another. Very frustrating to work on. As for old cars - I have to disagree about every old car - the Model T still has everything available online and are easy to fix.
The 70s models were a little bit more streamlined and better engineered, save a few exceptional parts/electronics in the late 70s models. The 60s models were the most hellish in my opinion of years of working on these Lincolns. Their overly complicated window relay system, vacuum powered accessories, hydraulically powered accessories (From the power steering pump off the crank), and their overly engineered electrical system make them extremely high risk for any profit margins. Don't get me started on the convertibles. That's not even touching on parts sourcing, as they drastically changed a lot of their systems every 2-3 years.
This car deserves a car museum because it turned into a non driveable car. They had more vacuum hoses than a Hoover factory and all those relays, switches and actuators are 50+ years old. But you could sleep four in the trunk and it was great for drive in theaters and propagating the species.
I'm a machine mechanic, it's the same for me. The company that I work for runs 30 and 40 year old machines, finding parts for them is a nightmare! I have to spend hours online searching for the parts to fix the machines that they are still running. The guy I worked with retired (THANK GOD) he was one of these "old school" type idiots that refused to have a computer in the shop! I changed that the second he walked out the door! You can find parts for these machines, but whoever has them can charge whatever they want! That has become an issue as well. My employer thinks that every machine has an endless lifespan, why? Nothing lasts forever, machines have a lifespan and those machines are reaching theirs! If you want to keep them running, I can do that but it's gonna be expensive! Finding parts is time consuming and expensive! New parts all come from China and they are all JUNK!
I just want to thank you for uploading in 4k. I just recently was lucky enough to be able to get my first 4k tv and I've struggled to find youtube content that I enjoy that is also uploaded in 4k, and you're one of the very few channels who do. I really appreciate it!
Have you considered taking on one car at a time, and let them know it is a “blank check” project? If anyone is crazy enough to agree, it’s a win-win situation!
