February 9, 2002 Paid down payment of $500. Received the title for the car, Carfax print outs, and receipts for the car. February 11, 2002 Called GM for a free Chevrolet restoration packet for an 84 Monte Carlo SS. February 13, 2002 Decoded VIN: Country - United States Manufacturer - General Motors Division - Chevrolet Restraint System Type - Non-Passive Restraint, Manual Belts Series - Monte Carlo Body Style - 2 Door Notchback Coupe Engine - 112 (1.8L) 2 BBL. / 305 (5.0L) 4 BBL. Hi Output Check Digit – 2, Matches Year - 1984 Production Plant - Arlington, TX Sequential Number - 208,861 Looked up Standard SS Features for 84: Engine: 5.0 Liter 4BBL V8(HO) L69 Suspension: Sport F41 Axle Rear: 3.42 GU6 Gage Package UF7 Sport Mirrors: LH Remote, RH Manual D35 Rally Wheels ZJ7 Looked up Optional Features for 84: Air Conditioning C60 Axle, Rear: Limited Slip Differential G80 Battery, Heavy Duty UA1 Center Console D55 Defogger, Rear Window C49 Door Lock System, Power AU3 Floor Covering: Matts, Front & Rear B37 Glass, Tinted A01 Headlamps, Halogen Hi-Beam TT5 Heater, Engine Block K05 Lighting, Auxiliary TR9 Mirrors: Sport Remote Twin D68 Radio: AM Radio U63 Radio: AM/FM Radio U69 Radio: AM/FM Stereo U58 Radio: AM/FM Stereo Cassette UN3 Speakers: Dual Rear U81 Antenna: Fix Black Mast US6 Speed Control Automatic K34 Steering Wheel: Comfort Tilt N33 Trunk Opener: Power A90 Windows: Power A31 Windshield Wiper System: Intermittent CD4 February 17, 2002 Picked up car for $700, total cost of $1,200. Odometer reads 68, . Removed CB mounting bracket from passenger side. Compared RPO codes. Codes appearing on sticker are highlighted. February 18, 2002 Removed passenger side seat for room to set tools and parts. Removed steering wheel center and horn button. Removed AC/Heater controls. Replaced bulb for the light under the hood. Greased all hinges, buttons, latches, etc. Removed the air filter and housing, and the snorkel for access to the carburetor and engine. Set idle up to 1,200rpms. The engine was idling down for some reason. Probably choke related, I can’t get the car warm enough to do any good. Unbolted fan shroud and unhooked the positive battery cable from the post. Some of the smaller problems I’ve discovered are that the power locks aren’t working, and the heater fan isn’t working. I was afraid that the lights weren’t switching from dim to bright and that the turn signals weren’t working but when I moved the steering column around they worked. Once I tighten the tilt steering it will fix that. As far as I can tell all of the lights on the vehicle inside and out are working and have good bulbs. I bought a steering wheel lock plate remover today for $9.99. I also bought a harmonic balancer/steering wheel puller for $14.99. The total price for both tools including tax was $26.10. There are three projects that I will concentrate on first: 1. Tighten tilt steering. 2. Fix heater fan. 3. Fix or replace radiator. February 19, 2002 GM Restoration Packet delivered by UPS. I started the project to tighten my tilt steering today. I spent an hour and a half on it and have disassembled basically everything that has to be removed. I am having some trouble releasing a spring where a large screwdriver must be used to depress the spring housing far enough to rotate it a quarter turn clockwise and release the spring. Where I was pushing on a square hole in the center of the housing it has stretched out and I’m afraid I may have damaged it. After I release the spring, two pivot pins must be removed. These are going to require some rigging or a special GM tool. I’m thinking about going ahead and purchasing the tool from the GM dealer tomorrow. Hopefully I will finish the tilt steering project on Thursday. I’ve decided to put the heater fan problem aside for right now, because it does not need to be fixed to get the car on the road. Another problem I will worry about later is that the power locks don’t work. I think I have to go into the door panels to find and fix this problem. The coolant level in the reservoir is staying at the same level. Before, when I’d start the car, I could feel antifreeze hitting my face when I stood beside the engine. There is probably either a pinhole leak that would do this, or the antifreeze is hitting the fan, which is throwing it out. The wetness on the radiator bothers me, but the fact that the coolant is staying where it is makes me feel good about it. The plan is to finish removing the shroud so that I can see the radiator. I’m going to use some sealer and see if that fixes it, hopefully it will, otherwise it’s getting yanked and I’ll replace it when I get the money. The next project will be to use some Seafoam and an oil change in order to get that lifter or whatever it is to stop pecking. Otherwise I’m going into the engine and adjusting valve lash, etc. Not something I would really look forward to, not while I’m trying to get the car on the road in a pretty short amount of time. It’ll just be one more project that will put things on hold. I plan on changing the transmission filter and gasket for the pan as well as all my fluids in the car. I want to make sure myself that everything is in good shape as far as new fluids go. With the time and money I have, I should be able to complete a project every week.