Haha...I weld a lot, mostly TIG, and my standard response to "say...I hear you can weld...." is "maybe, but I can't weld rust...". After some discussion, they usually still want rust welded. Explanations of TIG not really being great for body work, and, again, especially unsuitable for rusty junk don't always work.
A personal priority would be a couple of hours with a shop vac and some soap and water on the interior. It's amazing how a clean interior can make you feel better about a car like this.
Nothing survives the temp of the sun If you gotta be that 200lb gorilla Bring your oxy torch No bolt ever takes more than 50 seconds after it breaks save the drill an your time I've become surgical with the torch
The revivals that bother me are the revivals that use $700 instruments, $2k Holly Snipers and $4k transmissions and $6k wheels and tires and bring in 3 or 4 sponsors to do the work in a shop filled with lifts and expensive equipment. Oh ,and the LS swaps. I get why LS swaps are popular, but I just can't watch them anymore.
I agree, those are all the channels I dropped. As soon as they buy or build a huge garage and equip it (or sponsors equip) with the huge lifts and all the other bells and whistles, then Holley comes in, others sponsor the 5k, 10k transmissions and diffs, etc. etc. things get very unrealistic to me. Normal people don't or can't afford to have that kind of equipment, they become very unrealistic and therefore unrelatable to me.
Patching up and keeping old Mopars going was an absolute necessity, there’s only so many dollars available. I kept random old used brake shoes, disc brake pads, clutch disks that still had some wear on them, and I used them! Come to think of it, a lot of stuff I used was someone else’s garbage. It’s what happens when your mentors were from the depression era.
And don't forget that JUNKYARD OEM parts are still five times better than any new Chineseum parts you pay huge dollars for. I lost all my stash in major floods,I gave up.I'm screwed now.
back in '74, I rented an engine hoist, loaded it in the trunk of my '66 GTO, and proceeded to pull the engine and replace it with another over the weekend, as it was my daily driver. Returned the hoist with the same car and better engine. Similar with paint; Stripped the trim and bumpers off and drove it to the repaint shop (remember them?). Drove it back afterwards and reassembled all the trim a few days later. That's what you do when you are 18 and have one car. Youth and broke...ya do what ya gotta do with what ya got.
I love the ethos of this channel. It's refreshing to see someone do things the way I would. It's also helped me keep moving forward on my own restoration projects.
Amen, same here. I care about the mechanicals first. Superficial stuff is later or never lol. I grew up working on dead cars/beater cars. I love em. Giving life back to a dead machine is what keeps me going.
This is why I appreciate Vice Grip Garage. Ain't no WAY I'd be able to pull that off, glad he shows what a PITA it is (in such a patient and entertaining way) I like that we get to revisit them later on as he does a paint job or bargain interior, etc.
I quit watching a lot of the "will it start" videos just for the fact that the car ends up going from a barn or field to a different barn or field instead of the street.
Tony! ...In this video I can hear a SMOKE ALARM going CHIRP every 40 seconds - It was distinct enough that my wife heard it down the hallway and came and told me that OUR smoke alarm needed a new battery and so I told her the chirp was in the video. I showed her the time-code and predicted when the next chirp would happen: AND IT DID !!! Thanks for changing!
I was listening with headphones so it sounded like it was coming from inside the house. Went around looking at all the smoke alarms. Nada. Came back, then had thought... the video. Checked the comments for "alarm"... voila!
Tony, you gotta do like the rest of us when the smoke detector gives the "feed me" beep. Pull it down, throw it in the freezer, and leave it there until you no longer hear a beep when you get some ice
I thought it was MY smoke detector going off. I been yelling at the kids the last five minutes to tell me which one is beeping. Why do my PC speakers sound like garbage on any other audio but reproduce that sound so perfectly it sounds like it's happening right in the same room as me?
I like the door bungee. I haven't used that one yet. I have, however, driven sitting on a 5-gallon bucket while I had a seat out for repairs. It was really interesting using the clutch at stop signs on uphill slopes.
There is a huge difference between restoration and fixing up. I love driving my rigs. I would rather keep it going than shut it down for major tear down. Much love UT and Scribbles
Yep, the problem that a lot of people fall into is they will tear a car all the way down, and then it just gets too overwhelming to get it back together the right way. Meanwhile, it's not driveable. And then it usually ends up getting sold.
I've found that that way never ever worked for me. It was a constant nickel & dime ($) drain. Tear it completely down & restore every last detail. I then had a car that lasted 20 years of daily driving with No headaches.
'There's nothing more permanent than a temporary repair'. And over 20, 30 or more years you tend to get a lot of 'temporary' repairs. Add in a little neglect and eventually you're putting a bandaid on a bandaid. Sometimes the only answer is to start from scratch. You just have to prioritize things to fit your budget. You can have things done good, cheap and fast, but you only get to pick TWO of those variables.
I was searching the entire area for the smoke detector making the chirping sound. Then I realized there aren't any on this floor of the house... Reality kicked in, it's on the video!!!
Tony, 100/100 for tackling this project the same way and philosophy 99% of us car guys do. Working on very limited time and funding fitting in 'jobs' between family and work commitments. You have an innate ability in understanding how life works and how 'we, the people' find a way to do the things we do. Love the 'cuda btw.
I can relate, I am nearly 70 and have had to wrench on everything I've owned so I could get back and forth to work. ( timing chains, transmissions, clutches etc.) most of the time in the driveway. I'm retired now and have more time to do just that, it's a passion. my daily now is a sound, resurrected f-250 with a 460/4 speed. the Dura Spark is the closest thing I'll ever get to electronics. when I tell my grandkids my first truck didn't have a remote start it had a combination, you pulled out the choke, pumped the gas pedal 3 times, then using your right foot, you pushed the starter button and the gas peddle a little at the same time until it started, if it didn't start on 3 or 4 turns , you waited 5 min.s and tried again. Keep doing what you are doing brother!
This type of car has always been my way in the hobby. However, you will be miles ahead if start with a solid car. Floorboards and cowl repairs are no joke. Thank you Uncle Tony...Love from Brooklyn
UNCLE TONY 👉 just sold my Biggest Baddest show-piece guitar & ran out to by a 53 Mercury Montery, 2-door Hardtop with the last Flathead . Ill be happy just to Cruise it around my small town - prime it & make MY idea of a semi rat-rod out of it ... HECK , i'll be happy just to Sit In It & wave to people when they pass by ! ... 'waited 71 years for this ~ and YOU are my on-line Guru
Tony 👍, one of my favourite cars was a scrapyard $1000 Volare police special. That car took me over hundreds of thousands of miles with fun, joy, and a bit of work. Totally worth it.
Probably had the 360. I had two Volares; a 77 coupe and a 79 sedan. Both super sixes. The 77 got totalled and my punishment was to buy the 79. I was 17....
@LongIslandMopars , Yes, the 360 high performance model engine with dual snorkel air filter, the bigger radiator, coolers on both the power steering pump and 727 trans, the larger limited slip diff and brake sets. Even the unibody was a stiffer build. It was great!
Yes sir!! Nothing about another $100,000 truck on the road being rented from the bank doesn’t impress me in the slightest. An old hunk of iron someone’s clearly been showing some love will turn my head every time regardless of what it is.
I heard it and instantly looked at mine and thought “damn, time to change battery, why is it quiet?”Finally realized it was coming from my phone, didn’t think he’d film a video w that chirping away. WTF Tony?!?
Felt nice hearing that “I’m with you brother, I’m with you.” 😂 sometimes I feel like it’s only happening to me, but this was a good reminder that others shoulder the same burden.
I bought a fixer upper. Was an 1890 house tore down and rebuilt in 1970. I’m feeling that pain right now!! But I’m going to win!! We don’t ever give up!! That is what makes us professionals!!
Hahahaha that back floor pan reminds me of my 69 Camaro when I bought it. The pans were solid... solid plywood and pressure treated 2x6, guess they went the extra mile and used pressure treated material for safety and longevity 😂
Boy what a great video, as a former VW enthusiast but not a mechanic the labor of love had to come from the way the car made ya feel while you drive it. those push start days, those broken throttle cables, interior parts that never ends... everyone should have an old POS car once in their lives to really appreciate a half decent car that run and has AC.
My 64 Valiant convertible had floors made out of leftover air conditioning sheet metal ductwork. Wasnt even welded in; dad used sheet metal screws from an old Frigidaire. Everything underneath got coated in roofing tar. Had it from 1971 to 2011, then sold it for cheap to bring home the 66 Coronet he bought new.
You are my alter-id-soul-bro Tony...'66 F100 daily driver...nothing is correct, even stock parts have to be modded. It's like looking at a mechanical cartoon. Thanks for the Inspiration to keep going 😎✌
Thanks for sharing the insight. I'm an average viewer and have 5 projects- 2 are drivers our family rely on. Currently need to get another online as a daily driver and I have had to repair and replace every system after a decade of whiskey dent mayhem. I couldn't relate harder to this :) I appreciate the share!
Love it. Don't get it perfect, just get it running. Having the car up and running gives the average guy a lot more motivation. Once you lose motivation, it is hard to get back. Fixing small areas one at a time can keep your spirits up by seeing that things are progressing. Even if you wait months between fixing areas, it is still getting better all the time.
I just replaced a front end on a car yesterday. and easiest way to line a front end is to go around the whole car all 4 tires! With a string. I used my wife’s yarn that stuf can be pulled tight. Keep the steering wheel straight tie with a seat belt if no one is around. Adjust your wheel alignment using the rear wheels. You can get almost perfect. I’ve been doing this way for so long I can get it within a 16th.
Currently 88XJ. Way too much HP. I use it for deliveries. I literally shocked myself welding many times, sweating in the heat of summer, rebuilding floor because it's 35 years old. And I enjoy it EVERY single time I drive it. I get stared at CONSTANTLY every time I go out in it, and asked questions. It's a nice experience that is a bonus to the driving.
My biggest problem with cars like this is the fact that I can't do rust-a-rations. I like my stuff "Nicey Nice". I spend ridiculous amounts of money and time. I'm also a guy that finishes every project I start on. In the end I have way more money in it than you could ever sell it for.
That’s the problem with most restorations, people have $50,000 or more into a car that is only worth $15,000-20,000. Just because it’s old doesn’t mean it’s crazy valuable. Having said that I fully understand where you’re coming from in wanting things to be factory perfect, it’s a curse sometimes.
@@minnesotatomcat I agree with everything you said but I still can't help myself. Actually admitting it and typing it all out might be my first step in recovery!
I bought a 76 dodge dart. Ran it a little bit around and it developed a rod knock. Replaced and rebuilt the motor from a 74 duster. Im in it pretty good at this point and could maybe break even. But i intend to keep improving it so i agree that ill have more in it than its worth either soon or in the near future. 2 ways to look at it. Its a hobby, you enjoy it and investing money and time is an enjoyable experience. Beats gambling or spending countless hours at a bar or any other expensive habit. And you lear and develop your skills. Working with your hands and things you could pass on to another. I think of my 2 year old.
Mechanical Hopium is exactly why I watch them. I work on my own vehicles and have an old bike I'm restoring and to keep my motivation up, I watch channels like Uncle Tony's. I don't have a circle of gearhead friends to keep my head in the game so I substitute that with these channels. It's the world we live in.
I´ll be honest and say that I´ve never once did anything ever to my car except wash it (badly) and still Uncle Tony's Garage is one of my favorite shows! I just love his insights.
the alternator bracket looks like a lazy water pump change ..... ironic thing it must have taken longer to hack the mounting ear off than to undo a few extra bolts ......
My advice was always look for a good body and frame. You can swap engines, replace wiring, change suspension, do a resto-mod, etc. But if you start with a rotten chassis you're just in a race to the crusher.
Currently working on tearing down the engine on a 1994 Pontiac Firehawk I bought with a blown head gasket and other issues I’m finding as I get her back to driver status. I appreciate this point of view from a RUclipsr. I have been a subscriber for a long time and I have to say you are a gentleman and a scholar.
I lived this during the 80s. I drove a 70 Challenger. My wife drove a 70 GTX. I kept both going and the parts then were not cheap Chinese parts. Junk yard runs were frequent. My sons came home from the hospital in these cars. I continued to daily drive them through the 90s. I got rid of the wife. But I kept the cars and the kids. Today is different. I still have both cars and glad I do. Doing the things you are doing here bring back those memories. Some fond. Some not so much. Thanks Uncle Tony for the walk down memory lane😂
Makes sense to me! I've been doing that for years. Work on it as I drive it to work to make the money to put back into it.....and pay bills and on and on. Thanks for keeping it real! Always learn some great stuff from the channel!
I’m fine with the “will it start?“ vids. The “will it make it 2000 miles home?” ones kinda make me wince. Especially when they have to use hand signals.
How do these guys get away without a cop writing many tickets? Never seen a plate on them, I guess they've never been registered or have insurance. Sum Ting Wong here
Loved the look of shame/resignation when you said you had the door held shut with a bungee cord. I once had a car that had one of the gas tank straps decide to fail. In a parking lot I had to get the jack out to gently push the tank back in place (I had just filled up and the tank weighed a ton) and then bungeed it in place with about 10 cords that I just happened to have in the trunk. Gently drove the 6 miles or so to my house so I could fix it.
I don't buy running cars, so my first priority is to get the thing running and driving. my mechanical ability is my favorite life hack and saved thousands of dollars, and I drive cool cars. I noticed that half of the stuff you mention that needs repair on this car you wouldn't know if you weren't driving it. your theory makes sense, and I thank you for understanding the diy car guy
Yes uncle Tony your video makes sense. Some years ago I had a solid Y block powered ‘64 Ford F100 short bed. I was talked into building a 460 for it and a mustang front end. I built the motor and installed the front end. Well…it sat for a number of years till I finally sold it. Now I regret not keeping it, leaving it stock and just drive it. Your video makes perfect sense.
While I love all your content, this by far is my favorite topic, as I'm facing the challenges of limited resources, very limited time, and I want to keep my car operational so that I can enjoy it while i work through the bugs. Please continue to shares your experiences with this project, very much appreciated!
This video hits close to home for me. I have an old pickup truck (1985 GMC K1500) it needs work, it is rusty, it has tons of issues that need to be addressed. I work on it here and there when I have time and the $$$ for the stuff it needs doing while still being able to drive it. Again, I agree with you UT, not everyone has the time, money, or equipment to fix issues all up front. Great video!
Hey Tony I did the project car daily driver thing for like 20 years. It was different cars but still. My biggest advice is make it so you're comfortable that's the crap that makes you not want to drive your car after a while, like when you show up to work and your pants are all wet because the rain came through the windshield and the doors, or there's water coming in from your leaky cowl and the mold is giving you sinus infections and stinks so bad you dont want to turn the heat on, or you don't have good heat and you're freezing with that stupid electric heater from the auto parts store, and when you patch the floors with some sheet metal put silicone around them because somehow even though the exhaust is good you start getting exhaust smells and all your leaks that are burning on the exhaust come up through the floorboards. The last thing is go through the suspension I had two or three broken leaves in the back of my Mustang and didn't know it, the car actually drove halfway decent, it sat a little low, but that's about it. One day I was doing about 35 Mi an hour stopped short and the car did the weirdest lean and actually did a 180 in the middle of a street I was lucky nobody hit me. Also if you can't find those clips and don't want to lose that trim put a couple dabs of clear silicone underneath it and stick it down it'll hold it for a long time. You probably know all this. But just figured I'd help....
Greetings from Ireland. I love your channel, You are honest about things. I'm getting a 1970 Ford Zodiac Mk4 ready for a daily driver at the moment, it's a good car that needs a little maintenance, mainly brakes. In the mean time I'm driving my 1960 Ford Zodiac Mk2. Happy times.
lol, Uncle Tony we like your videos. I finally dusted off my tool box from the 80’s and found a free 1979 Chevy Malibu station wagon. I can’t really justify it but is sure is fun turning wrenches again ! Best part is it has factory A C, currently getting that working again. Peace out Buddie.
Thank you Tony. I have done exactly what you told me to do. I did, and do put a total ton of time into it. That is for sure. I am always putting time and inexpensive parts into it. BUT…. I have driven it 70,000 miles in 4 years. You started me on this odyssey!
Uncle Tony - Love your approach to the way you’re handling this Barracuda! More real world for the majority of us compared to the massive $$$$$ restorations with no firm cost or time budget.
with my 71 w100, its been 8 years now and still at fixing it up. its a joy for me. i got more money than time, and know how to get certain things done so i farmed out the engine for rebuild, custom ss fuel tanks, and such. this is going to ne great watching you drive this car with the mountain of uncertainties it has. my 69 w300 is definately like your car...keep up the good mopar videos. i learned and considered a great deal from your channel. thanks!
Today I drove a 2013 hyundai sanata down the road, "in Mexico". Now I haven't had a driver's license in about 18 years, and it seriously felt like I was driving a damn computer down the road....
That's true what you see on YT. doesn't reflect the actual process of restoring/building a car. YT content providers have to make videos that people will watch. and that means a lot of spead up footage, and editing, and time off camera. but the reality of restoring/building cars is quite different. a lot of it isn't fun to deal with.
Uncle Tony, totally understand what you're saying about the dark side of RUclips. You guys make it look easy but we all know it's not easy. We get satisfaction from seeing you guys transforming crap into a working car. Yes it's not 100% reality but it does provide me with inspiration and motivation to work on my own classic and keep it on the road. Keep up the great work UT!
This is my everyday stuff I deal with in my shop fixing vintage vehicles for customers it’s funny when people ask me what I do and I tell them they think it’s glamorous and I just have fun all day but they have no idea how much work and thought has to go in to these old vehicles to make them right. Thanks for sharing that 🤘.
Bought a '72 Skylark a few months back that was in less than optimal condition and have been slowly bringing it back into daily driver status. I love the feeling after I fix something... the gradual improvement in the engine thru spark plug replacement and carb adjustments one weekend, carb rebuild another weekend, distributor replacement and timing adjustment the next... each step gave a marked improvement and now she drives well enough to go get groceries without feeling like I should bring a toolbox just in case. It gives me the feeling that this car is a part of me... sure both fenders and doors have bubbled up paint in the usual spots and the head liner is falling apart and both interior door panels are just suggestions, but she drives and she's mine and we're going places.
1,000%!! I am a minute and a 1/2 into this video, and making an old car reliable and fun to drive is not the same as the initial revival. Vice Grip Garage is now getting into the longer term stuff. You, UT, have been focusing on the actual ownership from day one. There are enough revivals out there at this point!
I define what you're doing as reviving a survivor. Keeping the originality of the car while using it without restoring it. My 64 Barracuda is close in appearance but there are some mechanical differences. This is really interesting that you will be relying on it as a daily driver. .
8 cars, 3 drivers, 3 close to running, 2 rollers. Tony is right on, you can only do so much. Tony I had to stop video as your fire alarm or whatever is chirping in the background sets my dogs off, even 2 walls away
Well Ill tell you. Im building a 70 Ford F250. In the beginning it looked like No Big Deal. Just replace brakes and change the Tires maintenance stuff. Then as you get into it different problems come out. I replaced the intake with a Edelbrock 1 as the old 1 had a gasket leak. As well as new lifters and push rods. I dont like mixing old Engine parts with new. Always causes problems. After a compression which I shoulda done in the beginning I found 2 bad cylinders. Now Im replacing a Motor. Its been over a year working on this. All I know is in the end Ill have a great truck! Great Video!!
Yep, this is real! This is what we go through when we get an older car that needs serious TLC. BTW: I hear your smoke detector chirping so time to change the battery! Onward we march!
Very true, I usually take 10+ hours worth of auto repair footage each week and turn it into five 30 to 50 minute videos. Most of the cursing and complaining ends up on the editing room floor as they say in the biz. Have to try and keep it real though so people don't feel like it's only hard for them. Loving this old Barracuda, just like my neighbor had as a kid.
Tony, a good hack for holding trim on where you don't have the clips is to use those "Christmas Tree" push-in universal clips...simply get the right size to pop through the trim holes and get ones with big enough heads to cut the head to fit inside the trim itself, works a treat👍
VGG videos of all the problems are wonderful. I love that someone else has the same shit luck that I do. Im not saying that you should do 3 hour videos like he does, but dont shy away from all the things that go wrong. We appreciate that.
This video is fantastic, Tony! I’ve found myself in the situation you describe so my old well worn rolling project is something I drive all the time in the non-road salt months. I know very well what it really needs (full resto) but creative conservation (maximum sustainable utilization) has a quality all its own
Tony, your chit is the shit. I like it. Been workin on cars since I was 9, no bull. I am 65, Knuckles all busted. I always learn a trick or 2 from you..... Thanks man.
I agree with using a project daily vs blown apart in your garage. My truck sat for years apart. I moved, had to put it together and started driving it daily. I did more work on it in the 2 years of driving it than the 6 years it sat in the garage
LOL!!! I paused this video twice, so I could listen for my smoke detector. Great video Tony! Reminds me of my teenage years of pressing a car into service, while rebuilding it!
This might be one of the funniest UTG videos ever! I can totally identify with so much of it. Pulled the engine from my 19 yr old daughter's car this spring (she helped too!) to re-seal a bunch of leaks... and yep, the further we got in the more evidence we found of previous mechanical hackery which now had to be addressed before re-assembly. This included re-hanging two points of the exhaust using hose clamps 😅 But just like UT, we're just trying to get it to hold on for a couple more years. Once she's done university and has a job she can upgrade slightly then
As a welder I hear it all the time. “All you have to do is…” No, that’s not all I have to do. RUclips vids don’t show the in between stuff. BEEP!
The part where you use a hammer to determine what's metal and what isn't can be pretty disheartening lol
Haha...I weld a lot, mostly TIG, and my standard response to "say...I hear you can weld...." is "maybe, but I can't weld rust...".
After some discussion, they usually still want rust welded. Explanations of TIG not really being great for body work, and, again, especially unsuitable for rusty junk don't always work.
@@firstielasty1162 They'll find an idiot shooting flux core sooner or later I'm sure
Absolutely true. The guys that know what they’re doing make it look easy, but it’s really not.
Prepwork and coping is about 10 times the amount of time spent then welding.
A personal priority would be a couple of hours with a shop vac and some soap and water on the interior. It's amazing how a clean interior can make you feel better about a car like this.
A 2 hour job is 1 broken bolt away from a 2 day butt ache!
^^^ THIS
INDEED !!
Particularly on exhaust work. Spray down those bolts with penetrating oil everyday for at least a week before removing exhaust bolts.
Nothing survives the temp of the sun
If you gotta be that 200lb gorilla
Bring your oxy torch
No bolt ever takes more than 50 seconds after it breaks save the drill an your time I've become surgical with the torch
You bungeed the door shut: You are officially one of us!😄
I had an old Gremlin that you had to use a bungee to hold it in 3rd gear or it would pop out at just that wrong time......lol
The revivals that bother me are the revivals that use $700 instruments, $2k Holly Snipers and $4k transmissions and $6k wheels and tires and bring in 3 or 4 sponsors to do the work in a shop filled with lifts and expensive equipment. Oh ,and the LS swaps. I get why LS swaps are popular, but I just can't watch them anymore.
Same here. It’s a bunch of crap. Same with home renovation shows
Or let’s put a Cummins in it or modern suspension blah blah blah
I agree, those are all the channels I dropped. As soon as they buy or build a huge garage and equip it (or sponsors equip) with the huge lifts and all the other bells and whistles, then Holley comes in, others sponsor the 5k, 10k transmissions and diffs, etc. etc. things get very unrealistic to me. Normal people don't or can't afford to have that kind of equipment, they become very unrealistic and therefore unrelatable to me.
Those shows are nothing but car infomercials; all you see are products you can buy for a price, bleh!
I definitely agree. I really hate LS swaps into classic cars. For me the LS engine may as well be an EV motor. No character.
Patching up and keeping old Mopars going was an absolute necessity, there’s only so many dollars available. I kept random old used brake shoes, disc brake pads, clutch disks that still had some wear on them, and I used them! Come to think of it, a lot of stuff I used was someone else’s garbage. It’s what happens when your mentors were from the depression era.
And don't forget that JUNKYARD OEM parts are still five times better than any new Chineseum parts you pay huge dollars for.
I lost all my stash in major floods,I gave up.I'm screwed now.
Right. Manufacturing in this country is a damn shameful joke. Nothing on the shelves today is worth bringing home.
@@dddevildogg why can I give only one thumbs up ?
back in '74, I rented an engine hoist, loaded it in the trunk of my '66 GTO, and proceeded to pull the engine and replace it with another over the weekend, as it was my daily driver. Returned the hoist with the same car and better engine. Similar with paint; Stripped the trim and bumpers off and drove it to the repaint shop (remember them?). Drove it back afterwards and reassembled all the trim a few days later. That's what you do when you are 18 and have one car. Youth and broke...ya do what ya gotta do with what ya got.
I love the ethos of this channel. It's refreshing to see someone do things the way I would. It's also helped me keep moving forward on my own restoration projects.
Absolutely. I relate to Tony a lot myself. We have a lot of the same exact opinions and ideals on things.
Amen, same here. I care about the mechanicals first. Superficial stuff is later or never lol. I grew up working on dead cars/beater cars. I love em. Giving life back to a dead machine is what keeps me going.
This is why I appreciate Vice Grip Garage. Ain't no WAY I'd be able to pull that off, glad he shows what a PITA it is (in such a patient and entertaining way) I like that we get to revisit them later on as he does a paint job or bargain interior, etc.
I quit watching a lot of the "will it start" videos just for the fact that the car ends up going from a barn or field to a different barn or field instead of the street.
Tony! ...In this video I can hear a SMOKE ALARM going CHIRP every 40 seconds - It was distinct enough that my wife heard it down the hallway and came and told me that OUR smoke alarm needed a new battery and so I told her the chirp was in the video. I showed her the time-code and predicted when the next chirp would happen: AND IT DID !!!
Thanks for changing!
I was listening with headphones so it sounded like it was coming from inside the house. Went around looking at all the smoke alarms. Nada. Came back, then had thought... the video. Checked the comments for "alarm"... voila!
@@p-51d95 I checked the one in my office 5 times before I realized it was Tony's.
SHIT...i was about to go check my smoke alarms!!!
it's a common issue among astronaut/doctor/lawyer/engineer types
@@krashkwads4688 Aerospace too!
Tony, you gotta do like the rest of us when the smoke detector gives the "feed me" beep. Pull it down, throw it in the freezer, and leave it there until you no longer hear a beep when you get some ice
I thought it was MY smoke detector going off. I been yelling at the kids the last five minutes to tell me which one is beeping. Why do my PC speakers sound like garbage on any other audio but reproduce that sound so perfectly it sounds like it's happening right in the same room as me?
@@grandmasmalibu Smoke detectors get thrown out the door. You fart & the bastard goes off.
Dailying a car that you fix little by little. I do this everyday. Car content like this is what I like most because it's relatable.
After spending all summer fixing up a car that was supposed to be an easy fix, I fully agree with you. Awesome channel 👏 👍
I like the door bungee. I haven't used that one yet. I have, however, driven sitting on a 5-gallon bucket while I had a seat out for repairs. It was really interesting using the clutch at stop signs on uphill slopes.
There is a huge difference between restoration and fixing up. I love driving my rigs. I would rather keep it going than shut it down for major tear down.
Much love UT and Scribbles
Yep, the problem that a lot of people fall into is they will tear a car all the way down, and then it just gets too overwhelming to get it back together the right way. Meanwhile, it's not driveable. And then it usually ends up getting sold.
I've found that that way never ever worked for me. It was a constant nickel & dime ($) drain. Tear it completely down & restore every last detail. I then had a car that lasted 20 years of daily driving with No headaches.
@@craigpennington1251 I currently have 32 rigs of which 28 I drive on and off. Nickels and dimes are now Benny's and Jackson's.
'There's nothing more permanent than a temporary repair'. And over 20, 30 or more years you tend to get a lot of 'temporary' repairs. Add in a little neglect and eventually you're putting a bandaid on a bandaid. Sometimes the only answer is to start from scratch. You just have to prioritize things to fit your budget. You can have things done good, cheap and fast, but you only get to pick TWO of those variables.
I was searching the entire area for the smoke detector making the chirping sound.
Then I realized there aren't any on this floor of the house...
Reality kicked in, it's on the video!!!
The damn thing got me too! The video was playing while i was doing some other things. 😂
Tony, 100/100 for tackling this project the same way and philosophy 99% of us car guys do. Working on very limited time and funding fitting in 'jobs' between family and work commitments. You have an innate ability in understanding how life works and how 'we, the people' find a way to do the things we do. Love the 'cuda btw.
I can relate, I am nearly 70 and have had to wrench on everything I've owned so I could get back and forth to work. ( timing chains, transmissions, clutches etc.) most of the time in the driveway. I'm retired now and have more time to do just that, it's a passion. my daily now is a sound, resurrected f-250 with a 460/4 speed. the Dura Spark is the closest thing I'll ever get to electronics. when I tell my grandkids my first truck didn't have a remote start it had a combination, you pulled out the choke, pumped the gas pedal 3 times, then using your right foot, you pushed the starter button and the gas peddle a little at the same time until it started, if it didn't start on 3 or 4 turns , you waited 5 min.s and tried again. Keep doing what you are doing brother!
This type of car has always been my way in the hobby. However, you will be miles ahead if start with a solid car. Floorboards and cowl repairs are no joke. Thank you Uncle Tony...Love from Brooklyn
UNCLE TONY 👉 just sold my Biggest Baddest show-piece guitar & ran out to by a 53 Mercury Montery, 2-door Hardtop with the last Flathead .
Ill be happy just to Cruise it around my small town - prime it & make MY idea of a semi rat-rod out of it ... HECK , i'll be happy just to Sit In It & wave to people when they pass by !
... 'waited 71 years for this ~ and YOU are my on-line Guru
Tony 👍, one of my favourite cars was a scrapyard $1000 Volare police special. That car took me over hundreds of thousands of miles with fun, joy, and a bit of work. Totally worth it.
Probably had the 360. I had two Volares; a 77 coupe and a 79 sedan. Both super sixes. The 77 got totalled and my punishment was to buy the 79. I was 17....
@LongIslandMopars , Yes, the 360 high performance model engine with dual snorkel air filter, the bigger radiator, coolers on both the power steering pump and 727 trans, the larger limited slip diff and brake sets. Even the unibody was a stiffer build. It was great!
@@Riverdeepnwide that's awesome. That was an E58 360 with all the good stuff. Very cool.
you got a good laugh out of me with the bungee corded door. I don't think I have done that since the late 70s
I imagine someone driving behind you in some $80k new car and thinking what is up with this guy in the ancient car. Love it man.
that's me
Yes sir!! Nothing about another $100,000 truck on the road being rented from the bank doesn’t impress me in the slightest.
An old hunk of iron someone’s clearly been showing some love will turn my head every time regardless of what it is.
@@shmuck66me too!
But there so many dudes out there that those Brodozers catch their attention. Lifted up on 22x14s with rubber band tires.
@@natevanlandingham1945 Napoleon syndrome 21st Century .My truck is big & Bad so don't you see I am too?
honesty is why your channel is growing viewers hand over fist
Is it me or do I keep hearing a smoke detector low battery chirp? How do people ignore those?
When the dna test shows you are 1% black
at least he got one haha
Also known as "ghetto crickets," lol!
I heard it and instantly looked at mine and thought “damn, time to change battery, why is it quiet?”Finally realized it was coming from my phone, didn’t think he’d film a video w that chirping away. WTF Tony?!?
That chirp definitely gotta go! I can’t handle that lol
Felt nice hearing that “I’m with you brother, I’m with you.” 😂 sometimes I feel like it’s only happening to me, but this was a good reminder that others shoulder the same burden.
I bought a fixer upper.
Was an 1890 house tore down and rebuilt in 1970.
I’m feeling that pain right now!! But I’m going to win!!
We don’t ever give up!! That is what makes us professionals!!
Hahahaha that back floor pan reminds me of my 69 Camaro when I bought it. The pans were solid... solid plywood and pressure treated 2x6, guess they went the extra mile and used pressure treated material for safety and longevity 😂
Boy what a great video, as a former VW enthusiast but not a mechanic the labor of love had to come from the way the car made ya feel while you drive it. those push start days, those broken throttle cables, interior parts that never ends... everyone should have an old POS car once in their lives to really appreciate a half decent car that run and has AC.
My 64 Valiant convertible had floors made out of leftover air conditioning sheet metal ductwork. Wasnt even welded in; dad used sheet metal screws from an old Frigidaire. Everything underneath got coated in roofing tar. Had it from 1971 to 2011, then sold it for cheap to bring home the 66 Coronet he bought new.
I love everything about this video! Well said Tony! This is just great! Thank you for always giving us this great content.
You are my alter-id-soul-bro Tony...'66 F100 daily driver...nothing is correct, even stock parts have to be modded. It's like looking at a mechanical cartoon.
Thanks for the Inspiration to keep going 😎✌
Thanks for sharing the insight. I'm an average viewer and have 5 projects- 2 are drivers our family rely on. Currently need to get another online as a daily driver and I have had to repair and replace every system after a decade of whiskey dent mayhem. I couldn't relate harder to this :) I appreciate the share!
Love it. Don't get it perfect, just get it running. Having the car up and running gives the average guy a lot more motivation. Once you lose motivation, it is hard to get back. Fixing small areas one at a time can keep your spirits up by seeing that things are progressing. Even if you wait months between fixing areas, it is still getting better all the time.
This is like an "Old Uncle Tony" episode. Love it.
You have perfectly described my own adventure with my 78 Buick
I just replaced a front end on a car yesterday. and easiest way to line a front end is to go around the whole car all 4 tires! With a string. I used my wife’s yarn that stuf can be pulled tight. Keep the steering wheel straight tie with a seat belt if no one is around. Adjust your wheel alignment using the rear wheels. You can get almost perfect. I’ve been doing this way for so long I can get it within a 16th.
Currently 88XJ. Way too much HP. I use it for deliveries. I literally shocked myself welding many times, sweating in the heat of summer, rebuilding floor because it's 35 years old. And I enjoy it EVERY single time I drive it.
I get stared at CONSTANTLY every time I go out in it, and asked questions. It's a nice experience that is a bonus to the driving.
My biggest problem with cars like this is the fact that I can't do rust-a-rations. I like my stuff "Nicey Nice". I spend ridiculous amounts of money and time. I'm also a guy that finishes every project I start on. In the end I have way more money in it than you could ever sell it for.
That’s the problem with most restorations, people have $50,000 or more into a car that is only worth $15,000-20,000. Just because it’s old doesn’t mean it’s crazy valuable. Having said that I fully understand where you’re coming from in wanting things to be factory perfect, it’s a curse sometimes.
@@minnesotatomcat I agree with everything you said but I still can't help myself. Actually admitting it and typing it all out might be my first step in recovery!
I bought a 76 dodge dart. Ran it a little bit around and it developed a rod knock. Replaced and rebuilt the motor from a 74 duster. Im in it pretty good at this point and could maybe break even. But i intend to keep improving it so i agree that ill have more in it than its worth either soon or in the near future.
2 ways to look at it. Its a hobby, you enjoy it and investing money and time is an enjoyable experience. Beats gambling or spending countless hours at a bar or any other expensive habit. And you lear and develop your skills. Working with your hands and things you could pass on to another. I think of my 2 year old.
@@jandyallday You make some great points!
Like with any old car, you keep it going mostly for yourself, not for the money you get out of selling it.
Mechanical Hopium is exactly why I watch them. I work on my own vehicles and have an old bike I'm restoring and to keep my motivation up, I watch channels like Uncle Tony's. I don't have a circle of gearhead friends to keep my head in the game so I substitute that with these channels. It's the world we live in.
I for one respect the down to earth approach. No hiding issues, showing the viewers the reality. Very cool UT. Thx for the upload
I´ll be honest and say that I´ve never once did anything ever to my car except wash it (badly) and still Uncle Tony's Garage is one of my favorite shows! I just love his insights.
This has an excellent message , especially for young aspiring gear heads .
the alternator bracket looks like a lazy water pump change ..... ironic thing it must have taken longer to hack the mounting ear off than to undo a few extra bolts ......
My advice was always look for a good body and frame. You can swap engines, replace wiring, change suspension, do a resto-mod, etc. But if you start with a rotten chassis you're just in a race to the crusher.
Currently working on tearing down the engine on a 1994 Pontiac Firehawk I bought with a blown head gasket and other issues I’m finding as I get her back to driver status. I appreciate this point of view from a RUclipsr. I have been a subscriber for a long time and I have to say you are a gentleman and a scholar.
I lived this during the 80s. I drove a 70 Challenger. My wife drove a 70 GTX. I kept both going and the parts then were not cheap Chinese parts. Junk yard runs were frequent. My sons came home from the hospital in these cars. I continued to daily drive them through the 90s. I got rid of the wife. But I kept the cars and the kids. Today is different. I still have both cars and glad I do. Doing the things you are doing here bring back those memories. Some fond. Some not so much. Thanks Uncle Tony for the walk down memory lane😂
There's a great country song just waiting to be written here!
Welcome too my world Uncle Tony. Frustrating, but, very rewarding.
Makes sense to me! I've been doing that for years. Work on it as I drive it to work to make the money to put back into it.....and pay bills and on and on. Thanks for keeping it real! Always learn some great stuff from the channel!
I’m fine with the “will it start?“ vids. The “will it make it 2000 miles home?” ones kinda make me wince. Especially when they have to use hand signals.
How do these guys get away without a cop writing many tickets? Never seen a plate on them, I guess they've never been registered or have insurance.
Sum Ting Wong here
Loved the look of shame/resignation when you said you had the door held shut with a bungee cord. I once had a car that had one of the gas tank straps decide to fail. In a parking lot I had to get the jack out to gently push the tank back in place (I had just filled up and the tank weighed a ton) and then bungeed it in place with about 10 cords that I just happened to have in the trunk. Gently drove the 6 miles or so to my house so I could fix it.
This is so damn refreshing to hear for those "weekend warrior" home mechanics who love classic cars. Thanks Tony!
I don't buy running cars, so my first priority is to get the thing running and driving. my mechanical ability is my favorite life hack and saved thousands of dollars, and I drive cool cars. I noticed that half of the stuff you mention that needs repair on this car you wouldn't know if you weren't driving it. your theory makes sense, and I thank you for understanding the diy car guy
Tony you have never been lacking in the quality of honesty we get.. I dont have a point im trying to make i just wanted to say that
Yes uncle Tony your video makes sense. Some years ago I had a solid Y block powered ‘64 Ford F100 short bed. I was talked into building a 460 for it and a mustang front end. I built the motor and installed the front end. Well…it sat for a number of years till I finally sold it. Now I regret not keeping it, leaving it stock and just drive it. Your video makes perfect sense.
While I love all your content, this by far is my favorite topic, as I'm facing the challenges of limited resources, very limited time, and I want to keep my car operational so that I can enjoy it while i work through the bugs. Please continue to shares your experiences with this project, very much appreciated!
This video hits close to home for me. I have an old pickup truck (1985 GMC K1500) it needs work, it is rusty, it has tons of issues that need to be addressed. I work on it here and there when I have time and the $$$ for the stuff it needs doing while still being able to drive it. Again, I agree with you UT, not everyone has the time, money, or equipment to fix issues all up front. Great video!
Hey Tony I did the project car daily driver thing for like 20 years. It was different cars but still. My biggest advice is make it so you're comfortable that's the crap that makes you not want to drive your car after a while, like when you show up to work and your pants are all wet because the rain came through the windshield and the doors, or there's water coming in from your leaky cowl and the mold is giving you sinus infections and stinks so bad you dont want to turn the heat on, or you don't have good heat and you're freezing with that stupid electric heater from the auto parts store, and when you patch the floors with some sheet metal put silicone around them because somehow even though the exhaust is good you start getting exhaust smells and all your leaks that are burning on the exhaust come up through the floorboards. The last thing is go through the suspension I had two or three broken leaves in the back of my Mustang and didn't know it, the car actually drove halfway decent, it sat a little low, but that's about it. One day I was doing about 35 Mi an hour stopped short and the car did the weirdest lean and actually did a 180 in the middle of a street I was lucky nobody hit me. Also if you can't find those clips and don't want to lose that trim put a couple dabs of clear silicone underneath it and stick it down it'll hold it for a long time.
You probably know all this. But just figured I'd help....
Greetings from Ireland. I love your channel, You are honest about things. I'm getting a 1970 Ford Zodiac Mk4 ready for a daily driver at the moment, it's a good car that needs a little maintenance, mainly brakes. In the mean time I'm driving my 1960 Ford Zodiac Mk2. Happy times.
lol, Uncle Tony we like your videos. I finally dusted off my tool box from the 80’s and found a free 1979 Chevy Malibu station wagon. I can’t really justify it but is sure is fun turning wrenches again ! Best part is it has factory A C, currently getting that working again. Peace out Buddie.
Thank you Tony. I have done exactly what you told me to do. I did, and do put a total ton of time into it. That is for sure. I am always putting time and inexpensive parts into it. BUT…. I have driven it 70,000 miles in 4 years. You started me on this odyssey!
Uncle Tony - Love your approach to the way you’re handling this Barracuda! More real world for the majority of us compared to the massive $$$$$ restorations with no firm cost or time budget.
Tony, I really appreciate your pragmatism and your consideration of guys this video was addressed to.
I think this is the longest time I have seen go without a cigarette. Lol. Love your vids!
with my 71 w100, its been 8 years now and still at fixing it up. its a joy for me. i got more money than time, and know how to get certain things done so i farmed out the engine for rebuild, custom ss fuel tanks, and such. this is going to ne great watching you drive this car with the mountain of uncertainties it has. my 69 w300 is definately like your car...keep up the good mopar videos. i learned and considered a great deal from your channel. thanks!
UT. You are a gifted teacher, I appreciate your videos.
Today I drove a 2013 hyundai sanata down the road, "in Mexico". Now I haven't had a driver's license in about 18 years, and it seriously felt like I was driving a damn computer down the road....
That's true what you see on YT. doesn't reflect the actual process of restoring/building a car. YT content providers have to make videos that people will watch. and that means a lot of spead up footage, and editing, and time off camera. but the reality of restoring/building cars is quite different. a lot of it isn't fun to deal with.
Nailed it again, Tony! Keep up the great work--love it!!
Great work so fa,the best you car the main thing. With older cars is doing them when you can and slowly improving it as time and money allows .
UT you are right on the money with the mindset of the budget hobbiest. You get me.
I thought I just needed to replace one brake line on my ‘66 Olds, but the more I dig, the more crap I find. $500 to Rock Auto later… 🤦♂️
Uncle Tony, totally understand what you're saying about the dark side of RUclips. You guys make it look easy but we all know it's not easy. We get satisfaction from seeing you guys transforming crap into a working car. Yes it's not 100% reality but it does provide me with inspiration and motivation to work on my own classic and keep it on the road. Keep up the great work UT!
Way to rock the rolling resto UT! I appreciate you sharing your knowledge and respect your humility. Cheers!
This is my everyday stuff I deal with in my shop fixing vintage vehicles for customers it’s funny when people ask me what I do and I tell them they think it’s glamorous and I just have fun all day but they have no idea how much work and thought has to go in to these old vehicles to make them right. Thanks for sharing that 🤘.
Bought a '72 Skylark a few months back that was in less than optimal condition and have been slowly bringing it back into daily driver status. I love the feeling after I fix something... the gradual improvement in the engine thru spark plug replacement and carb adjustments one weekend, carb rebuild another weekend, distributor replacement and timing adjustment the next... each step gave a marked improvement and now she drives well enough to go get groceries without feeling like I should bring a toolbox just in case. It gives me the feeling that this car is a part of me... sure both fenders and doors have bubbled up paint in the usual spots and the head liner is falling apart and both interior door panels are just suggestions, but she drives and she's mine and we're going places.
this will be a great journey to watch
thanks for making so much content for us average joes
1,000%!! I am a minute and a 1/2 into this video, and making an old car reliable and fun to drive is not the same as the initial revival. Vice Grip Garage is now getting into the longer term stuff. You, UT, have been focusing on the actual ownership from day one. There are enough revivals out there at this point!
I define what you're doing as reviving a survivor. Keeping the originality of the car while using it without restoring it. My 64 Barracuda is close in appearance but there are some mechanical differences. This is really interesting that you will be relying on it as a daily driver. .
8 cars, 3 drivers, 3 close to running, 2 rollers. Tony is right on, you can only do so much. Tony I had to stop video as your fire alarm or whatever is chirping in the background sets my dogs off, even 2 walls away
Well Ill tell you. Im building a 70 Ford F250. In the beginning it looked like No Big Deal. Just replace brakes and change the Tires maintenance stuff. Then as you get into it different problems come out. I replaced the intake with a Edelbrock 1 as the old 1 had a gasket leak. As well as new lifters and push rods. I dont like mixing old Engine parts with new. Always causes problems. After a compression which I shoulda done in the beginning I found 2 bad cylinders. Now Im replacing a Motor. Its been over a year working on this. All I know is in the end Ill have a great truck! Great Video!!
Yep, this is real! This is what we go through when we get an older car that needs serious TLC. BTW: I hear your smoke detector chirping so time to change the battery! Onward we march!
Very true, I usually take 10+ hours worth of auto repair footage each week and turn it into five 30 to 50 minute videos. Most of the cursing and complaining ends up on the editing room floor as they say in the biz. Have to try and keep it real though so people don't feel like it's only hard for them.
Loving this old Barracuda, just like my neighbor had as a kid.
Tony, a good hack for holding trim on where you don't have the clips is to use those "Christmas Tree" push-in universal clips...simply get the right size to pop through the trim holes and get ones with big enough heads to cut the head to fit inside the trim itself, works a treat👍
VGG videos of all the problems are wonderful. I love that someone else has the same shit luck that I do. Im not saying that you should do 3 hour videos like he does, but dont shy away from all the things that go wrong. We appreciate that.
VGG does a pretty good job of making the longer vids entertaining. The jokes and foreign language he speaks keep me coming back.
Hopium. 😁 my word for the day.
Love it!
Ha! I kept thinking that chirping smoke set was in MY garage as that’s where I was watching this vid😂
Makes perfect sense to me, I’m 64 years old and I have done this before myself many times and still do.
This is so much better than those unlimited budget builds. Thank you UT.
This video is fantastic, Tony! I’ve found myself in the situation you describe so my old well worn rolling project is something I drive all the time in the non-road salt months. I know very well what it really needs (full resto) but creative conservation (maximum sustainable utilization) has a quality all its own
I've got a friend that Hot
Glued one of his trim on his daily 1947 Chevy 3 years ago. You can't tell it's been done, yet it's still holding.
We need more videos like this. Thanks
Tony, your chit is the shit. I like it. Been workin on cars since I was 9,
no bull. I am 65, Knuckles all busted. I always learn a trick or 2 from you.....
Thanks man.
Take the Scott's 60 Fury from coldwarmotors and his other projects, absolutely amazing the work he put into his projects and with a shoestring budget.
A RUclipsr named Mustie coined the term "rustoration", exactly what you are doing. I love it!
I agree with using a project daily vs blown apart in your garage. My truck sat for years apart. I moved, had to put it together and started driving it daily. I did more work on it in the 2 years of driving it than the 6 years it sat in the garage
LOL!!! I paused this video twice, so I could listen for my smoke detector.
Great video Tony! Reminds me of my teenage years of pressing a car into service, while rebuilding it!
This might be one of the funniest UTG videos ever! I can totally identify with so much of it. Pulled the engine from my 19 yr old daughter's car this spring (she helped too!) to re-seal a bunch of leaks... and yep, the further we got in the more evidence we found of previous mechanical hackery which now had to be addressed before re-assembly. This included re-hanging two points of the exhaust using hose clamps 😅 But just like UT, we're just trying to get it to hold on for a couple more years. Once she's done university and has a job she can upgrade slightly then