[V8] Report from the Front: no surprises

[Roger Woodbury]

Well I just got back from the wrench with the new V8.  NO real surprises.
We made a list of the things that will need to be corrected, and will begin
the process next week.  The issues are those mostly expected in a V8 with
62,000 miles.  

We pulled the left side cam cover and found that the belt has NOT been
changed.  Everything inside is original, although the belt is in fine
condition and will last another ten thousand miles or more most likely.  We
will do the timing belt service first, next week.

The left side valve cover gasket is leaking and the right side far less so.
Corrected next week.

The oil pressure sender is funky...or else there is something else funky in
the oil pressure line.  The gauge goes all the way to the right and stays
there when the key is turned, regardless of whether the engine is running or
not. I noticed this for the first time when I started up this morning,
having not driven the car more than a mile or two since I got back here with
it on Saturday. 

The right front outer universal cover is torn, and we will replace it, the
front brakes, sway bar bushings, tie rods and tires in the fall.  Along with
an alignment, the car will be ready then for winter.  

It is clear that there will be a need for some brake lines at some point as
corrosion is present on most of them, normal for a car that has seen some
winter driving in its life.  Not severe enough to worry about at this point,
but I'll bet that at around 30,000 miles of use this process will begin,
assuming that I drive the car through the winter exclusively.

So, all in all, not bad.  The car looks great, and for the price plus these
relatively small items, the car will be set for another 60K with only
routine maintenance.  

My wife thinks the car looks good on me.  That helps.

Roger

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