The engine deserves a full rebuild and the car deserves a full refurbish. That thing woke up from the dead, was asked to do a Lord of the Rings journey, and it somehow survived.
You know what, based on how it sounds, a couple of engine flushes, drop the pan, put a new pump in it, scrape out any remains, and it wouldn't surprise me if that thing keeps on trucking no sweat.
Clean out the oil galleys and the basepan… possibly look at replacing that front seal and you’re good to go… I’m not even a Ford fan and that thing impressed the shit outta me…
😂funny I had the same oil problem on my 71 olds 350 it had low oil pressure 25 psi,took it a part found out that my cam bearings were not even smooth. Change them pressure was around 35 psi ok.😆😎👍
Lol yeah after a about the first however long if it just same scenery for awhile if not then maybe longer but yeah fwiw about maybe 3 or 4 hours for like not travelling for travelling type destinations then itd be kind of a long ride but.. mostly with a locket radio/personal stereo I realised how much of the stations have so massivecof an assortment of amusement ngl.. as and adult lmao as a kid it was just oh so long until the next rest stop because when your a kid everything feels different.. well most stuff.
Oh and bonus point if you know after the first day or so definetly by the later part of 2nd and then the 3rd or rip if you did more than 3 days lmao But yeah I was probably well in my experience like a 5 or possibly nearing 6 year old so it was obvioisly less exciting to be sitting for a few hours at a time but still fun enough that zi like having that as a memory of mine hehe ngl having been on a trip for more than 2 days.. although sleeping in an automobile chair does not sound the most easy to fall asleep in before feeling quote tired etc fwiw but whatever lmao its better than not being able to fall asleep.. Oh also vital is having if on a long trip either the help of more than single person doing the driving or even jjst more than a few days so as to allow still driving fewer than at most a few hours a day or so.. an have enough hours of sleep etc ..
This is the first time Mom was genuinely concerned knowing how the trip was going, knowing you were coming into Sub-Zero temperatures with a race against the clock for the start of a whiteout blizzard, all while breathing propane fumes. I might have a new gray hair now. I was so happy to get the phone call that you made it home! This video was awesome!
The Buddy Heater he bought puts out almost zero carbon monoxide and he had plenty of ventilation in that old car, not to worry there. I was far more worried about him breaking down with that storm moving in. Glad he made it home ok!
Sons of Kevin's age are supposed to provide comfort and ease to their parents... perhaps you should issue a spanking and tell him to get it together! 😁 Best wishes! 👍🏻👨🏻🔧🇺🇸 - Max Giganteum
It’s journeys like this that make you glad to be a car enthusiast. If only you had someone to enjoy it with. It’d be awesome to have a friend on a trip like this.
I'll join the choir and say that I can't wait to see the insides of that motor! After making that trip it totally deserves a rebuild if it's at all salvageable. As for the wagon itself, it would make one hell of a rad cruiser for Power Tour!
After surviving the drive getting you home. This engine most definitely deserves getting a full rebuild and lease on life with way better oil maintenance. May you and Mook and the family have a great and safe new year's
I was a Line Mechanic at Al Packer Ford in the 70's ..that motors condition was a pretty common problem I'd see ...The sludge ..not the low oil pressure .. I'd be interested in seeing how the crank bearings look on this motor ...sometimes they get so bad it causes the low oil pressure and the crank seal won't seal ..even if it's new ...but they usually leak out the back ..not the front ..
Love the wagon and the episode. Nothing like a good old fashion road trip. You were worried about showing some people your exit and address but you left a liquid and vapor petroleum based trail from California to your front door that you can track from the International Space Station! 😮😆
lol, yup, he did... @Junkyard Digs, might be a good idea to get a 55 gallon drum of Simple Green, then dump it between your house and a few miles down I-35... 🤣🤣🤣
A little trivia, if true: someone once told me that cars used to leak and/or evaporate and then leak so much oil before PCV Valves showed up, that highways would have oil stripes on them by the spot where the crankcase vent was. Any idea if there's truth to that? I know 1950s oil would evaporate a lot easier, at least.
Reverse is optional, just park with something solid in front. When you need to leave drive forward, drop it into neutral before impact, and let the bounce propel you backwards.
Spoken like someone who owns a car before the concept of "crumple zones" was conceived 😂 The big Datsun bumpers are good for this too, they're even spring/gas-loaded!
How cool is this!! Only tried this twice. First time, I bought a 78 Thunderbird Diamond Jubilee in Texas and drove it back to northern Ohio. Great trip, great car, only issue was the power seat was stuck in the up right position, so we left the tilt wheel up!! Second time was not as good! Bought a 93 Buick Park Avenue on line two hours away. I got the dealer down $2000 because he was in it so deeply, and because he was a new KIA store so no one wanted this Buick. Drove over to get it, and my wife followed me to go get dinner. It turned dark on our way to the restaurant; the whole lighting system failed. I called the salesman to tell him I’d be back. His general manager met me at the door. I told him I’d be happy with my check back since it was clear that it was as is. He calmed me down and asked me where I learned to negotiate. I told him I’d sold cars for a living before. I said it’s a matter of common sense. The chances of someone coming into a Kia store to buy a 10 year old Buick for $4000 was ridiculous when they could put half of that down on a new car. Besides, unless you know how bulletproof those cars were, you didn’t want one. He was so impressed that he agreed to fix everything, detail and fill the car and give me fuel money for having to come back!! Make that food Ford shine
I think with all the oil drains being icked up I think the oil is pooling in the heads and then when he lets off the gas the oil has a chance to drip back down into the pan
Plugged pickup screen was my thought as well. I assume they cleared out the drains while the valve covers were off. I was hoping he'd drop the pan in San Diego to inspect. At that point toss in a set of rod bearings to get the psi's up too.
I didn't see an oil drain and filter change. Had the same thought that the filter is clogged preventing some flow. Also the gauge is probably reading AFTER the pressure drop in oil flow sequence (which would explain why he made it all the way home).
Iam 67 yrs old. Former truck driver. This reminds me so much of some of the sketchy trips I have made. I was on the edge of my seat through this whole video. With all that oil spraying out that thing could of burst into flames at any second.
Bore it . 030 over, throw in a stroker crank, and you'll have a nice sleeper wagon. Little find hand work on the heads and you'll thank yourself for the hard work
Bore and stroker crank up to a 427. 351C or aftermarket heads. Lots of possibilities for a supercruiser. I hope that Kevin learned his lesson with the oil leak. He was correct - he would have been far better off and risked far less dealing with it in San Diego. For what it would have cost to get the car and himself back home, he could have paid for all the machine work for a fresh engine. With room to spare. Best wishes! 👍🏻👨🏻🔧🇺🇸 - Max Giganteum
The oil pressure getting better when you let off the gas is pointing to a wore thrust bearing. Your crank is walking back and forth. We had a auto hobby shop back on NAS Oceania Airbase when I was in , it was a badass place.
Is there a way to circumvent that or make it where the thrust bearings don't shit themselves and give out? A stupid question, I know but what exactly causes that problem other than the crank being out of wack?
@@TheSilverShadow17it’s normal wear and tear keeping up on your oil changes helps prevent wear but eventually it will wear out along with the other bearings in your engine if you find that much wear you’re due for an engine rebuild
The "that would be some Ken Block stuff" hit me pretty hard. Rest easy legend you will be missed. Kevin rebuild that 351 but remember if you modify it, that's a 9.48 deck. I think.
For fuck sakes... that ruined my whole day. Not anyones fault. But he was the main reason I even know how to drift any of my cars... Im still in tears, may he rest in piece.
That tear-down is going to be your best video today. Calling it now. That engine should get some love and get redone because it got you home, survived as long as it did, and over all still kept you going.
ANY engine that puts up with that abuse, both the neglect of the previous owner and the "I've gotta get from California to Iowa" of the current owner, has secured itself a place on an engine stand rather than a scrap metal pile. An engine is just a tool to keep the wheels spinning, and good tools are worth fixing.
Yup. 1977 Chevy Impala for my first car. Carried a case of oil in the trunk, put a quart in every two to three days. It got me through college (it was ten years old when I bought it), and then something broke loose and I had to replace it with a newer car to move for my first job. I still miss that old urban battle cruiser.
I realized why I enjoy this channel so much: I get all the suspense and worry of distance-driving time-bomb automobiles without any of the consequences. Thank you, from an ex-volkswagen driver
I drove across the country and back in an 87 Vanagon with two small children a few years back. What a stressed out nightmare. After the engine in my wife's Jetta blew up I swore them off for good. I admit, "farfegnugen" is real on the old transporters and westies, but breaking down every day gets old.
the beanie you bought ( 1:03:00 ) is the exact same my best friend used to wear years, he sadly passed away last summer on drugs, 20yrs old. i just was full lean into that fantastic video and then that little spark of him in your video made it even more perfect to me.
Had a 91 Bronco with the 351 in High School. All 4 years, never saw more than 2psi of oil pressure. Last 6 months of it's life, it had virtually no oil pressure, and still got me to College. Lol. I swear those 351s will run on hopes and dreams
@Riley Willard I know, that's what made it sad when I watched it. It was only after he passed that I watched this video on my break at work. When I heard his name, I got a lump in my throat. He's catching up with Colin McRae 🙏🏻
Yeah, I was glad that it didn't get edited out. It was, after all, a comment that KB himself would have whole heartedly agreed with, in fact I doubt you could have kept the guy out of there, if he had been with them. No one is truly dead, while their name and deeds are still spoken, and their days remembered.
Lol hes smart. When I used to park cars, anything too valuable or unfamiliar I would do the same thing. Sometimes not driving the car is the best way to make some money.
Whenever folks try to say how "solid California cars are" I always try to tell em "just the metal is solid, everything else will be gone" LOL .. thanks for bringing us along on the ride, glad you beat out that insane storm front.
Pick your poison. Hot dry areas have no rust, but synthetics will be gone. Cold wet areas have rust but your dashes and seals and hoses and rubbers and seats won't have turned to dust.
I know it wouldn't be worth it, but I feel like that engine deserves a rebuild. The end says it all, when you floor it in the snow and it sounds like a monster, blasting black smoke out the exhaust, and it's still going!
This video is better than any Netflix movie ive watched in the last 2 yrs , maybe more. The suspense has me drinking wine at 11:30 am. Im not a drinker but its Sunday and this trip has me on the edge of my seat ( no pun intended) . I just found this channel this morning. Sometimes the youtube algorithm will bless you. This is some shit my father would have done except he would have had me and my brother along on this ,what i deem a terrifying ride !!❤❤❤❤😊😊😊😊 rip daddy ! I miss you !
Man, I hope it's not too late, but before you tear it down, you should try running different engine cleaners through the oil and see how much it improves, like Seafoam, BG EPR, automatic transmission fluid, etc. I'd LOVE to see what happens to it, how much it actually cleans up, how it affects the oil pressure.
Definitely keen to see a teardown of that engine. Maybe even a cheeky rebuild if it's salvageable. That thing deserves another chance, it wants to live lol
I laughed out loud when you went through Pendelton with the expired CAC. Gotta love our tight security lol. Second, I actually loved how the base had a place where you can rent a space to work on your car. It's a DIY guy's dream come true. Back when I was in 29 Palms I would go do work on my Jetta which saved me a ton of money. Honestly don't know why they're not more common as they could really be a good business. My guess is the EPA stuff would be too expensive. Great video Kevin! Love this stuff.
Don't know about marine bases, but on the army ones I've been stationed at there's been kitted out diy stations where you're required to work on your car as previously the post had issues with people letting oil and stuff run into drainages.
If you remember Click and Clack from Car Talk, their garage started as a DIY. They said their problem would be people getting in way over their head and they ended up doing all the hard stuff so that there wouldn't be a dismantled car taking up a bay for a month. The second problem is liability. Remember, you cant sue the US Government.
@@straightpipediesel In the mid-1970s, I wen to the Good News Garage to keep my VW heap alive and not have to lie in the street. When I moved back to the area in the mid-1980s, TGNG had changed was now charging $35/hr for regular repair work versus $3/hr for the DIYer. Ray Magliozzi (MIT English major) told me that their issue was employees ripping off the DIY tool carts. Now I was back to lying under my VW again on the cold winter streets of Somerville-by-93.
At one of the old car washes in my city they used to have spaces you could rent to work on your car. Good when you need a hoist or a warm place in the winter.
Kevin, This is exactly the way that you make memories and great stories. By doing crazy things and actually pulling them off. My wife I drove a 1985 Jeep CJ (which we traded her son for my 91 Chevy extended cab truck to have a reliable vehicle for his new daughter to be safer in) from Detroit Michigan to southern Texas doing exactly the same thing as you. When the oil pressure gauge started fluctuating I would stop, add 4 to 5 quarts of oil in the motor and fill it up with fuel, My gas stops were dictated by the oil pressure and lack of oil in the engine. We made it 1400 miles without dying or breaking down. Was it an adventure, yep, but we survived with a great story that we laugh at today, we aptly named it scary jeep as the front end was toast and would throw the jeep all over the road when you hit a bump. We weren't the brightest bulbs in the pack for doing it, but it was an adventure we talk about to this day. Great content on this one as usual, thanks for entertaining us with your crazy adventures.
This was my first video I ever saw of yours, and I still come back to it now & again because of how insane this little engine that could really was. She definitely deserves a rebuild after making it home. Cannot wait to see inside!
Boy you ain't lying about RK and MT. They shot them selves in the foot. I like this guy...most of the time. I'm a fan! Also try adding trans fluid to break up that sludge.
Love the 70's wagons! Beautiful styling. Great job keeping her alive for that long trip home ! I worked on many of those in the late 70's and 80's. It was common to find engines of that era jammed with baked on sludge. I cleaned out many oil drain holes while replacing valve cover gaskets. People just didn't have the cash to change the oil every 3.5K. Also, You could have a clogged pickup screen in the oil pan after seeing the sludge up top. I've seen a lot worse during my career and that was common too. It could have been that gasoline was much dirtier which it was, and or engine oil in the 70's didn't have the high detergents that the modern oils have. And that the owner assumed that the factory engine oil was good for the life of the engine. lol.( a customer of mine actually thought this and ruined her engine at 30,000 miles!) There was NOTHING in the pan but 3 inches of baked on oil ! Oil Well That Ends Well i guess!
Hey, that's one tough little Windsor engine. Making it that far and not throwing a rod out the side of the block is a testament to Ford's engineering. Looking at the old wagon is sure does look like a early 1970s XA series Australian Ford Fairmont released here in the country Down Under. That's a hint for sorting that HVAC system out. Our early Ford's were based on US versions and just as big. Great video.
It’s wild seeing fresh oil come out black black within 200 miles. I’d rebuild that 351, it deserves another chance for sure. Happy New Year Kevin and Mook
@@colchronic it doesn't seem likely that the previous owner(s) ever had the money or the want to get that motor rebuilt. It would surprise me if it's been bored over stock
Dear Kevin that engine truly deserves to live on, may I suggest a budget rebuild, the way cars used to be back in the good ol days, bearings bushes hone re-ring and valve grind. Thanks for a great video best wishes to you and Mook ❤
Dude! We freaking LOVED this one! EXACTLY our kind of journey! Huge huge kudos to you and the car for the commitment it took to make this happen. As fellow ridiculous road trip people we felt this one in our bones! Definitely looking forward to you bringing this big bad boat back to life and you are right this would be an EXCELLENT Power Tour car!
Top Tip: There is a great German word for lubrication due to oil loss: EINGEnVERLUSTSCHMIERUNG (i-genn-ferloost-schmeer-oong). Try saying that 3 times quick ;-) Great show, having to watch so many episodes still! Keep em coming!
This one was crazy. I don't remember watching anything lately that I enjoyed this much. It had everything from sight seeing to adventure, tension, crazy folk doin' crazy things and... crocs xD Well done and thank you for the content!
Hey Junkyard Digs! Ive been watching for a year or 2... or maybe something like that, but Im about 3 hours west of Ames in Iowa, and youve been an inspiration for me. Ive started buying old things, mainly motorcycles and dirt bikes, but non the less ive learned many things on my journey. Thank you for the content!
Loved your video! When I was young I didn't have any money and drove several junkers. I fully appreciate your anxiety trying to get across country before a storm. I was in the AF and once had Leave for Christmas, so I drove from Albuquerque to Galveston,Texas in a standard drive 2-cylinder Honda Coupe. I wasn't that good at driving a standard then, I was just learning. So you can imagine my white knuckles going up and down the hills and wondering if my little car could outrun the storm. I made it, but on the return trip I drove on ice from north Texas to Albuquerque. It took me two days to calm down once I reached Albuquerque. Oh, the good times. I'm 73 now.
It's a good thing you ran over 30 Quarts of oil through the engine to clean it out. That might have saved it. I agree it'll be intersting to see the teardown. My sympathies about the hood as I've done the same. I'm sure you'll find a way to save it or another hood. Very cool roadtrip vid across half the country. Happy New Year!!!
I drove a VW Baja bug for about six months with no reverse, but that is a MUCH easier and smaller vehicle to push! Yes this vid reminded me of some of the early Roadkill vids. Thank you for doing this for us lowly subscribers entertainment rather than just taking a first class airline flight back to Iowa. :) Furthermore, thank you for being from a place like rural Iowa and representing us upper midwest guys! Don't ever change. (except your underpants)
At age 68, I can assure you that engine is 'way better than you think! My best guess is the oil pan has accumulated sludge and black goo accumulating over the pickup and probably very little screen area remains unblocked. I have driven these old Fords until they had to be roll started because of such low compression that they wouldn't start on the starter. But rarely have I seen one break. My daily driver is now at 377,000 and counting. And it isn't the worst I have seen, nor the highest miles I have driven daily.
Love the cruiser idea for power tour, take the motor and tear it down, almost forensically. Could be very interesting and a great teaching point on the motor. Why it survived and why it happened. Happy new year Kevin and Mook!
It's a ford.... we drove an inline 6 Ford for a week after I floored it for seemed like eternity till she blew a rod and spewed her guts and eventually siezed but all you had to do was let her cool down and she ran again. True story
I was at Camp Pendleton about 5 years ago it was my first trip to California and now I know why people want to live there even though the cost of living is insane! First off Kevin thank you for your service! I was at Camp Pendleton because my son is a United States Marine. We are truly proud of him. He is currently an active duty and married and I have three grandchildren by him and his wife. I love the video!
I seriously thought the smoke from the exhaust in the thumbnail was just cropped in but you proved me wrong at the end lmao ive never seen a gas engine blow so much black smoke!
i've had a few in my time that once you wind them up real tight they blow black smoke..sign the rings are bad and oil is making it into the combustion chamber
Oh man, that was entertaining. I had a '72 Cougar with a 351 Cleveland engine. It was a beast and shocked the Hell out of guys who challenged me with Corvettes back in the day. Very strong powerfull engines that could take a beating and not surrender. Thanks for the great video!
This was beautiful. Yes repairing the main seal would probably have been a good idea but it would have been a really boring drive home. I'm amazed it made it the whole way and can't wait to see the rest of it. Love wagons❤️ thanks for a very good video!
So, I just found your channel Kevin thanks to Donut. I actually passed you on 35/80 when you were almost home and loved seeing the station wagon - thing is clean! I’d love to see an engine rebuild and getting the thing tip top. Instant subscribed!
What an AWESOME video! I was on the edge of my seat, biting my nails worrying that you weren't going to make it home for Christmas. What a great story. my favorite part was the look on your face while watching the weather report. Like it or not, that drivetrain is a TROOPER! I was expecting the General Lee horn to play when you finally pulled into your driveway. I can't wait to see more about this car. I love wagons. Great job Kevin! I'm glad that you made it home safe.
Dude, you know exactly what that oil pressure shit was about. The engine was clogged in multiple passages and the sensor was one of them. It just cleared itself better than before. As long as you kept feeding the engine more oil, it kept chuggimg after the clearance. We all know you lucked out and got it to clear the issues. You'll find that blockage later in another area, be it the pan or another part of the block. Love ya bud, be safe.
Gotta say I am seriously impressed by the reliability of that 351 Windsor given how horrible the rocker gear (And no doubt the rest of the internals will look). Excellent video and a cool old wagon.
That engine is a trooper. It held together. Give it the love and respect of the rebuild it deserves. Nice car. Hopefully a good body guy can fix that hood.
I sincerely enjoyed watching this episode, it's my 1st junkyard digs and probably not my last. There was one thing that I didn't understand why non of you guys thought to swap out the oil filter. When that is gummed up you know how much oil pressure you lose especially with a worn engine. But what a tank of an engine that engine deserves to get rebuild! And I am dying to see how it looks inside. Oh and I definitely agree with you that burger king is way better than mc Donalds. Even here in the Netherlands where I live? Cheers have a good and healthy 2023!
One rule If it ain’t broke don’t fix it Also that entrance at the end was cool as sh*t 1:09:28 PS.it’s my first time watching his videos and he has single handedly convinced me to do a cross country journey from L.A. To IOHA and I don’t even live in the US I’m from UK
I think the idea is that if that’s bad off, and you’re trying to make it somewhere in the vehicle on a time crunch, cleaning it out more could make it finally die. The only reason that motor was running was probably bc of the thick gummed oil everywhere in it. The second they flush it out, it’ll be rods and bearings blowin all over the place
You guys in the Netherlands probably have better quality ingredients than us in the USA. Personally I would take a Double Quarter pounder any day but do like getting a cheap Whopper on the app from time to time.
@@i_i8924 I have no clue I have never been to the states but I would really like to visit and do a road trip with my son one day. Preferred in an old American car. But mc Donalds is really crapy here, but it is very popular though. My favorite burger from BK is the whopper cheese. Mc Donalds does have really good milkshakes I have to give them that. Cheers to you all!
I watched this channel a couple of times ages ago and I forgot about it. It popped up again and all I can say is wow. I absolutely love it. Well done junkyard digs with all your content and journeys. Fantastic channel. Thank you for all you do. Keep up you're fab work.. Many thanks...Shane from the UK. Keep safe.
This was an awesome trip! I did almost the same exact route in a 1986 Bronco II that I bought in Phoenix and drove back home to Charlotte. At 53:07 you drive past the casino I brown down at. Had to change the fuel filter in mid June heat on that desert highway. Just past that exit. Great episode Kevin! I loved the petrified forest and Tonto forest, beautiful drives.
Yes make it the ultimate road trip car. It’s just too awesome to die. Make it reliable and take us along on how you do it. I’m sure I’m not the only one who would love to see that Windsor come apart, see what’s going on inside and be revived again. Think of the coolers you can stack in the back. Wagons are so underrated.
This was one of if not the best episode on a car yet! I personally LOVE american boat wagons. I think it would be a great car for a budget restoration. Also myself and probably a lot of other people would love to see that engine from inside. I think it's worthy of at least some sort of cleanup, if not a rebuild! Keep up the freaking amazing videos Kevin! Stay warm and much love from Serbia!!
So much of this is instantly relatable to me. I still own and drive a 1969 Ford Galaxy 500 4dr. It was my first car; a handmedown originally purchased by by grandfather I've had since '87. Wish it still looked as good as this wonderful wagon ! Shame about the hood but the same thing happened with mine about 30 years ago. I "flattened it's ears" as best I could and filled with JB Weld. Not perfect but it passes. If that engine is original to the car it has definitely earned a rebuild ! By the condition of the balancer, it probably has around 300k miles. The cam should be inspected as well. The 302 in mine still ran very smooth with a rounded off cam lobe on the exhaust. The only noticeable symptom was crankcase oil tinting dark soon after changing. I found the sludge when I pulled the timing cover after noticing chain noise. The lube ports had nearly closed off as well which probably lead to the chain wear which I'm now greatful for ! It had given me warning in enough time. She got a new cam, lifters, timing kit, balancer, front crank seal, and the best cleanings I could manage without pulling the block. A couple of oil changes later and she was good to go. This was back in 2014. I think your in for about the same on this "wonder wagon" but an original engine is worth it ! It looks like this thing is in very solid condition, better than mine which is beat to death but still drives and rides great. Please note that the AM/FM STEREO radio in this is EXCEPTIONALLY RARE and should definitely be kept and restored ! The "cockpit" style instrumentation in these cars is beautiful even though it rendered the gloveboxes virtually inaccessible 😂. Enter through the passenger side to check the contents of the latter 😅. The front dash is usually destroyed in these old cars and that's up to ones own enginuity 🤔 but, on the bright side, there's seldom much to lose 😅. All in all, this is a comfortable riding, good driving keeper ! Give her a chance and you'll love her! Just hope for better driving conditions 🥶.
I’m so glad the success you’ve guys had with your channel. You guys deserve it all. Such an underrated channel. Say what you want about California but socal is beautiful just don’t go all Hollyweird on us!
One of the best videos you have ever produced Kevin. Thank you for the amazing content and the awesome roadtrip. I cannot wait for the teardown of the engine cuz that pile of junk should not have been able to to all those miles. Cheers man.
Love these old wagons. A '70 Chevelle wagon is one of my dream cars. For the build you should go full on luxobarge. Nice carpet interior, smooth engine and perhaps a repaint.
I think the Windsor motor was very underrated. When I owned my all I heard from friends was “it’s not a Cleveland”. It wasn’t ,but, it always did what it was supposed to do,work. That car set me forward on my career as a carpenter having the ability to haul a lot of stuff (including 4’x8’) sheet goods, in fact I can tell you well over a 100 quarts of strawberries would fit into that under floor storage area😅. Great car. Thanks for the rekindling memories.
i loved this, can't wait to see what that engine looks like from the inside.
High boi, what are you doing here lol
I KNEW IT! I knew this guy was a motor head. Love your videos!
@@JunkyardDigs i am indeed, and I've been watching some of ur vids for a while
@@HighBoi Well I appreciate that!
@@HighBoigoated movie reviewer
The engine deserves a full rebuild and the car deserves a full refurbish. That thing woke up from the dead, was asked to do a Lord of the Rings journey, and it somehow survived.
A car fit for a hobbit
I can’t believe he didn’t throw a rod with all of that crap in the valve covers and lifters. Wtf
@@Rrrakanishu That engine was determined to win. I think it deserves to be treated well and get a refurbish/rebuild
I really need to stop reading comments before finishing the video. Now I know it makes it in one piece lol.
To consider that the car began in one bullet hole away from being mere monster truck fodder
That engine really deserves a rebuilt for getting you that far!
Heck , i think a new front seal and she will be ready for the next long trip like a champ! haha
hell yeah it does.
Nothing screams like a couple of gallons of seafoam like this video prior to tear down. Haha
You know what, based on how it sounds, a couple of engine flushes, drop the pan, put a new pump in it, scrape out any remains, and it wouldn't surprise me if that thing keeps on trucking no sweat.
Windsors are pretty dang reliable.
I can't wait to see the teardown. I'm curious to see what the engine is really like inside.
well it wont need an oil change.
this engine just pissed the oil out everywhere.
I bet the oil filter looks like new, ha ha
Clean out the oil galleys and the basepan… possibly look at replacing that front seal and you’re good to go… I’m not even a Ford fan and that thing impressed the shit outta me…
😂funny I had the same oil problem on my 71 olds 350 it had low oil pressure 25 psi,took it a part found out that my cam bearings were not even smooth. Change them pressure was around 35 psi ok.😆😎👍
like a coal mine i would think😆
It's held together by the oil buildup. It's gonna lose compression completely once it's completely clean 🤣
Anyone who’s had to make time on long roads will understand the madness that slowly sets in until you reach your destination lol
Lol yeah after a about the first however long if it just same scenery for awhile if not then maybe longer but yeah fwiw about maybe 3 or 4 hours for like not travelling for travelling type destinations then itd be kind of a long ride but.. mostly with a locket radio/personal stereo I realised how much of the stations have so massivecof an assortment of amusement ngl.. as and adult lmao as a kid it was just oh so long until the next rest stop because when your a kid everything feels different.. well most stuff.
Oh and bonus point if you know after the first day or so definetly by the later part of 2nd and then the 3rd or rip if you did more than 3 days lmao
But yeah I was probably well in my experience like a 5 or possibly nearing 6 year old so it was obvioisly less exciting to be sitting for a few hours at a time but still fun enough that zi like having that as a memory of mine hehe ngl having been on a trip for more than 2 days.. although sleeping in an automobile chair does not sound the most easy to fall asleep in before feeling quote tired etc fwiw but whatever lmao its better than not being able to fall asleep..
Oh also vital is having if on a long trip either the help of more than single person doing the driving or even jjst more than a few days so as to allow still driving fewer than at most a few hours a day or so.. an have enough hours of sleep etc ..
This is the first time Mom was genuinely concerned knowing how the trip was going, knowing you were coming into Sub-Zero temperatures with a race against the clock for the start of a whiteout blizzard, all while breathing propane fumes. I might have a new gray hair now. I was so happy to get the phone call that you made it home! This video was awesome!
Bless you for all the worrying you have to do! We do appreciate these videos so we can live the adventures vicariously.
The Buddy Heater he bought puts out almost zero carbon monoxide and he had plenty of ventilation in that old car, not to worry there. I was far more worried about him breaking down with that storm moving in. Glad he made it home ok!
@@Pantheragem thank you! We have always enjoyed the endless entertainment Kevin brings on a daily basis.
@@nothing5189 after seeing the video I understood there was plenty of ventilation.
Sons of Kevin's age are supposed to provide comfort and ease to their parents... perhaps you should issue a spanking and tell him to get it together! 😁 Best wishes! 👍🏻👨🏻🔧🇺🇸
- Max Giganteum
That wagon was so solid even the engine was solid😂. Pleasure having you my friend!
Thanks for all the help man!!
It’s journeys like this that make you glad to be a car enthusiast. If only you had someone to enjoy it with. It’d be awesome to have a friend on a trip like this.
He has all of us, man. And we are better than some hot whimpering blonde in the trunk who is genuinely not having fun
@@AremStefaniaK What's she doing in the trunk? She should be up front sitting on your lap.....
@@AremStefaniaK I get hints of random sexism from this comment. None of the friends of the channel are blonde lol
I'll join the choir and say that I can't wait to see the insides of that motor! After making that trip it totally deserves a rebuild if it's at all salvageable. As for the wagon itself, it would make one hell of a rad cruiser for Power Tour!
This Windsor has earned a second chance at life. I'd love to see the teardown and rebuild. This old gal is wonderful.
yep if not damaged to bad
Agreed
Yes
Those 351 engines were some damn good engines, my buddie har one and had to run 10w40 and Lucas just to keep the bottom end quiet.
@@joshprice6954 my uncle had a 79 Grand Marquis with a 351 Windsor in it. They are legendary for a reason.
After surviving the drive getting you home. This engine most definitely deserves getting a full rebuild and lease on life with way better oil maintenance. May you and Mook and the family have a great and safe new year's
Definitely
I was a Line Mechanic at Al Packer Ford in the 70's ..that motors condition was a pretty common problem I'd see ...The sludge ..not the low oil pressure .. I'd be interested in seeing how the crank bearings look on this motor ...sometimes they get so bad it causes the low oil pressure and the crank seal won't seal ..even if it's new ...but they usually leak out the back ..not the front ..
After surviving that trip, that beast *deserves* a complete overhaul. Congrats on making it home.
Can’t wait to see it restored to how it was when it first came out of the factory in 1970. Beautiful station wagon.
Love the wagon and the episode. Nothing like a good old fashion road trip. You were worried about showing some people your exit and address but you left a liquid and vapor petroleum based trail from California to your front door that you can track from the International Space Station! 😮😆
😂😂😂
Yeah I was thinking about that, probably don't want the EPA knocking at your door.
lol, yup, he did... @Junkyard Digs, might be a good idea to get a 55 gallon drum of Simple Green, then dump it between your house and a few miles down I-35... 🤣🤣🤣
A little trivia, if true: someone once told me that cars used to leak and/or evaporate and then leak so much oil before PCV Valves showed up, that highways would have oil stripes on them by the spot where the crankcase vent was. Any idea if there's truth to that? I know 1950s oil would evaporate a lot easier, at least.
Reverse is optional, just park with something solid in front. When you need to leave drive forward, drop it into neutral before impact, and let the bounce propel you backwards.
this sounds like advice from experience lmao
Spoken like someone who owns a car before the concept of "crumple zones" was conceived 😂 The big Datsun bumpers are good for this too, they're even spring/gas-loaded!
@@the_junk_shop for sure. don't try this at home kids, or with a crappy plastic car.
@@huntrixmata4348 maybe once or twice, trees work well.
Thanks for the tip, I would've parked at an incline, but yours sounds much more applicable.
How cool is this!!
Only tried this twice. First time, I bought a 78 Thunderbird Diamond Jubilee in Texas and drove it back to northern Ohio. Great trip, great car, only issue was the power seat was stuck in the up right position, so we left the tilt wheel up!!
Second time was not as good!
Bought a 93 Buick Park Avenue on line two hours away. I got the dealer down $2000 because he was in it so deeply, and because he was a new KIA store so no one wanted this Buick. Drove over to get it, and my wife followed me to go get dinner. It turned dark on our way to the restaurant; the whole lighting system failed. I called the salesman to tell him I’d be back.
His general manager met me at the door. I told him I’d be happy with my check back since it was clear that it was as is. He calmed me down and asked me where I learned to negotiate. I told him I’d sold cars for a living before. I said it’s a matter of common sense. The chances of someone coming into a Kia store to buy a 10 year old Buick for $4000 was ridiculous when they could put half of that down on a new car. Besides, unless you know how bulletproof those cars were, you didn’t want one.
He was so impressed that he agreed to fix everything, detail and fill the car and give me fuel money for having to come back!!
Make that food Ford shine
The oil pump pick up screen was probably plugged up with all of that sludge. I can't believe you made it all the way home. That's amazing
I think with all the oil drains being icked up I think the oil is pooling in the heads and then when he lets off the gas the oil has a chance to drip back down into the pan
Plugged pickup screen was my thought as well. I assume they cleared out the drains while the valve covers were off. I was hoping he'd drop the pan in San Diego to inspect. At that point toss in a set of rod bearings to get the psi's up too.
Yea I was thinking pick up screen was one of the many oil flow problems
Did he change the filter??? If the heads were so bad and the oil pickup suspect? Did I miss that maybe?
I didn't see an oil drain and filter change. Had the same thought that the filter is clogged preventing some flow. Also the gauge is probably reading AFTER the pressure drop in oil flow sequence (which would explain why he made it all the way home).
After refusing to die and getting you that far, that 351 deserves to be rebuilt with some real nice go fast parts
Iam 67 yrs old. Former truck driver. This reminds me so much of some of the sketchy trips I have made. I was on the edge of my seat through this whole video. With all that oil spraying out that thing could of burst into flames at any second.
I agree with this
i agree, personally i want to see him fix it and take it on power tour 2023
Bore it . 030 over, throw in a stroker crank, and you'll have a nice sleeper wagon. Little find hand work on the heads and you'll thank yourself for the hard work
Bore and stroker crank up to a 427. 351C or aftermarket heads. Lots of possibilities for a supercruiser. I hope that Kevin learned his lesson with the oil leak. He was correct - he would have been far better off and risked far less dealing with it in San Diego. For what it would have cost to get the car and himself back home, he could have paid for all the machine work for a fresh engine. With room to spare. Best wishes! 👍🏻👨🏻🔧🇺🇸
- Max Giganteum
That was one of your best videos to date....Laughed my ass off. That engine really deserves a rebuild for hanging on for 2,500 miles.
The oil pressure getting better when you let off the gas is pointing to a wore thrust bearing. Your crank is walking back and forth. We had a auto hobby shop back on NAS Oceania Airbase when I was in , it was a badass place.
Is there a way to circumvent that or make it where the thrust bearings don't shit themselves and give out? A stupid question, I know but what exactly causes that problem other than the crank being out of wack?
@@TheSilverShadow17it’s normal wear and tear keeping up on your oil changes helps prevent wear but eventually it will wear out along with the other bearings in your engine if you find that much wear you’re due for an engine rebuild
The "that would be some Ken Block stuff" hit me pretty hard. Rest easy legend you will be missed. Kevin rebuild that 351 but remember if you modify it, that's a 9.48 deck. I think.
I think this car needs to remove a lot of rubber from its rear tyres in memory of Ken Block
DUDE HOLY FUCK... WHAT? I WAS JUST WATCHING HIS VIDEOS LAST WEEK. FUCK... I'VE BEEN WATCHING HIS CONTENT SINCE I WAS IN HIGHSCHOOL...
@@asherwilson9746 yeah. He had a snowmobile on I think Monday or Tuesday. The whole car community is going to miss him
For fuck sakes... that ruined my whole day. Not anyones fault. But he was the main reason I even know how to drift any of my cars... Im still in tears, may he rest in piece.
He should have fallen off of Pikes Peak or something, not been taken out by a snow mobile, at least he died doing what he enjoyed.
That tear-down is going to be your best video today. Calling it now. That engine should get some love and get redone because it got you home, survived as long as it did, and over all still kept you going.
351 Windsor baby! Gotta love them. They'll always run like crap, but they'll always run.
ANY engine that puts up with that abuse, both the neglect of the previous owner and the "I've gotta get from California to Iowa" of the current owner, has secured itself a place on an engine stand rather than a scrap metal pile. An engine is just a tool to keep the wheels spinning, and good tools are worth fixing.
I know if I was him I’d get that thing a permanent home on a stand as a trophy, maybe give her some makeup
If he's replacing it, then it should be put in a glass box for perpetuity.
That engine deserves a full resto and rebuild! What a legend!
Agree
That seems to be the consensus in the comments.
Yup. 1977 Chevy Impala for my first car. Carried a case of oil in the trunk, put a quart in every two to three days. It got me through college (it was ten years old when I bought it), and then something broke loose and I had to replace it with a newer car to move for my first job. I still miss that old urban battle cruiser.
I realized why I enjoy this channel so much:
I get all the suspense and worry of distance-driving time-bomb automobiles without any of the consequences.
Thank you, from an ex-volkswagen driver
VW oh gawd i feel your pain. Went from VW to Subaru.....
Ya I tried my handon a mk4 jetta needless to say I don't have the car anymore
I drove across the country and back in an 87 Vanagon with two small children a few years back. What a stressed out nightmare. After the engine in my wife's Jetta blew up I swore them off for good. I admit, "farfegnugen" is real on the old transporters and westies, but breaking down every day gets old.
This car is a survivor, the fact that it got you home is amazing. Please give it some of the TLC it really deserves
Man to be 25 years younger... I'll just live vicariously thru you Kevin. Well done.
Same here. Ditto.
the beanie you bought ( 1:03:00 ) is the exact same my best friend used to wear years, he sadly passed away last summer on drugs, 20yrs old. i just was full lean into that fantastic video and then that little spark of him in your video made it even more perfect to me.
I think that engine deserves a rebuild after that heroic effort of getting you home
Had a 91 Bronco with the 351 in High School.
All 4 years, never saw more than 2psi of oil pressure. Last 6 months of it's life, it had virtually no oil pressure, and still got me to College. Lol. I swear those 351s will run on hopes and dreams
Hopes , Dreams, and a prayer to the automotive gods above
That Ken block shout out really hit.
Rest in peace, legend, and master of gasoline.
I think they said that before he died
@Riley Willard I know, that's what made it sad when I watched it. It was only after he passed that I watched this video on my break at work. When I heard his name, I got a lump in my throat. He's catching up with Colin McRae 🙏🏻
Yeah, I was glad that it didn't get edited out. It was, after all, a comment that KB himself would have whole heartedly agreed with, in fact I doubt you could have kept the guy out of there, if he had been with them.
No one is truly dead, while their name and deeds are still spoken, and their days remembered.
What, he died?!
@@SwanieGaminga little late to the party he passed early January on a snowmobile
u left a 2100 mile oiltrail trough the country that must be somekind of record i think u count as ecological desaster now
When you literally have no reverse gear, it was worth the pain and suffering of 2,100 miles in a '70s wagon that refuses to die.
That valet dude was chill af 😂
Lol hes smart. When I used to park cars, anything too valuable or unfamiliar I would do the same thing. Sometimes not driving the car is the best way to make some money.
Whenever folks try to say how "solid California cars are" I always try to tell em "just the metal is solid, everything else will be gone" LOL .. thanks for bringing us along on the ride, glad you beat out that insane storm front.
Pick your poison. Hot dry areas have no rust, but synthetics will be gone. Cold wet areas have rust but your dashes and seals and hoses and rubbers and seats won't have turned to dust.
Isn't the solid metal what most people are looking for? A good drivetrain can be acquired from anywhere on many vehicles.
That is true 😂
The Midwest cars have excellent interiors.
True. All the cars here in Texas have great bodywork (when they aren't hail damaged) but the interiors look like the inside of that 351.
I know it wouldn't be worth it, but I feel like that engine deserves a rebuild. The end says it all, when you floor it in the snow and it sounds like a monster, blasting black smoke out the exhaust, and it's still going!
This video is better than any Netflix movie ive watched in the last 2 yrs , maybe more. The suspense has me drinking wine at 11:30 am. Im not a drinker but its Sunday and this trip has me on the edge of my seat ( no pun intended) . I just found this channel this morning. Sometimes the youtube algorithm will bless you. This is some shit my father would have done except he would have had me and my brother along on this ,what i deem a terrifying ride !!❤❤❤❤😊😊😊😊 rip daddy ! I miss you !
You got better gas mileage than oil mileage. Love the road trip videos.
Man, I hope it's not too late, but before you tear it down, you should try running different engine cleaners through the oil and see how much it improves, like Seafoam, BG EPR, automatic transmission fluid, etc. I'd LOVE to see what happens to it, how much it actually cleans up, how it affects the oil pressure.
Exactly! I would've been doing it on the drive home.
I would go with BG cleaner.
Send that tired gal to the farm…@ProjectFarm that is
He would have needed to change the filter with every refill though
If it’s really bad, Kerosene!
Oh man, this might be your best video to date! The diesel smoke at the end had me crying😂 Merry Christmas!
same. holy shit ive never seen a gas engine roll coll
I didn't even know it was possible 😂
Rolling coal !! 😂
A 1970 station wagon rolling coal, that's something you don't see everyday! 🤣
lmao the thumbnail had me rolling
• NO REVERSE
• NO OIL PSI
• NO HEATER
• NO CHOICE
😂😂😂
The literal black smoke at the end made my jaw drop🤯 Lucas got that motor back home. Awesome video
Rolling coal in a gasser lol
That 351 w grew up and became a diesel with spark plugs. It mixes inside the engine
I run that in all of my worn out beat up daily drivers because it will keep that engine alive.
Definitely keen to see a teardown of that engine. Maybe even a cheeky rebuild if it's salvageable. That thing deserves another chance, it wants to live lol
Naw swap in a 5.7 EFI and aod tranny
Literally the best commercial for Lucas of all time 😂😂. You’re a brave hero. Great video and great job with it.
That engine deserves to be preserved, I can't believe it made it so far. Found this video, loved it, so subscribed :) love this type of video!!
This definitely had that OG Roadkill feel. I always wondered why they never took the time to get the heat working.
YES that first episode with the catalina had me hooked and this channel gave me most of that back.
I laughed out loud when you went through Pendelton with the expired CAC. Gotta love our tight security lol. Second, I actually loved how the base had a place where you can rent a space to work on your car. It's a DIY guy's dream come true. Back when I was in 29 Palms I would go do work on my Jetta which saved me a ton of money. Honestly don't know why they're not more common as they could really be a good business. My guess is the EPA stuff would be too expensive. Great video Kevin! Love this stuff.
Don't know about marine bases, but on the army ones I've been stationed at there's been kitted out diy stations where you're required to work on your car as previously the post had issues with people letting oil and stuff run into drainages.
If you remember Click and Clack from Car Talk, their garage started as a DIY. They said their problem would be people getting in way over their head and they ended up doing all the hard stuff so that there wouldn't be a dismantled car taking up a bay for a month. The second problem is liability. Remember, you cant sue the US Government.
@@straightpipediesel In the mid-1970s, I wen to the Good News Garage to keep my VW heap alive and not have to lie in the street. When I moved back to the area in the mid-1980s, TGNG had changed was now charging $35/hr for regular repair work versus $3/hr for the DIYer. Ray Magliozzi (MIT English major) told me that their issue was employees ripping off the DIY tool carts. Now I was back to lying under my VW again on the cold winter streets of Somerville-by-93.
Army and Air Force bases have them as well.
At one of the old car washes in my city they used to have spaces you could rent to work on your car. Good when you need a hoist or a warm place in the winter.
Hey Kevin, do you think that the Titanic could have turned around that iceberg if it had QA1 suspension? 🤣
I do
it would probably need a Holley carb too
@@kensterfr33k Oh I forgot, and a quick performance rear end
@@kensterfr33k and a small block ford
@@flyingace5057 nah, a good ol 460, needs the torque
Kevin, This is exactly the way that you make memories and great stories. By doing crazy things and actually pulling them off. My wife I drove a 1985 Jeep CJ (which we traded her son for my 91 Chevy extended cab truck to have a reliable vehicle for his new daughter to be safer in) from Detroit Michigan to southern Texas doing exactly the same thing as you. When the oil pressure gauge started fluctuating I would stop, add 4 to 5 quarts of oil in the motor and fill it up with fuel, My gas stops were dictated by the oil pressure and lack of oil in the engine. We made it 1400 miles without dying or breaking down. Was it an adventure, yep, but we survived with a great story that we laugh at today, we aptly named it scary jeep as the front end was toast and would throw the jeep all over the road when you hit a bump. We weren't the brightest bulbs in the pack for doing it, but it was an adventure we talk about to this day. Great content on this one as usual, thanks for entertaining us with your crazy adventures.
What a legendary car. After so many years it still did what its supposed to do. Insane.
Awesome! That engine deserves to be rebuilt, she got you almost 2000 miles home!
2,165 to be sure !!
70's big wagons are just absolutely beautiful.
This was my first video I ever saw of yours, and I still come back to it now & again because of how insane this little engine that could really was.
She definitely deserves a rebuild after making it home. Cannot wait to see inside!
Junkyard digs out here giving us the Roadkill content MT took away cuz of greed and doing it better! Lets get some more of this!!!!
Boy you ain't lying about RK and MT. They shot them selves in the foot. I like this guy...most of the time. I'm a fan! Also try adding trans fluid to break up that sludge.
makes me appreciate Those videos even more!
Slowly adding more to TH-cam, thankfully
MT ? Sorry don’t know abbreviations thanks
Motor Trend
Love the 70's wagons! Beautiful styling. Great job keeping her alive for that long trip home ! I worked on many of those in the late 70's and 80's. It was common to find engines of that era jammed with baked on sludge. I cleaned out many oil drain holes while replacing valve cover gaskets. People just didn't have the cash to change the oil every 3.5K. Also, You could have a clogged pickup screen in the oil pan after seeing the sludge up top. I've seen a lot worse during my career and that was common too. It could have been that gasoline was much dirtier which it was, and or engine oil in the 70's didn't have the high detergents that the modern oils have. And that the owner assumed that the factory engine oil was good for the life of the engine. lol.( a customer of mine actually thought this and ruined her engine at 30,000 miles!) There was NOTHING in the pan but 3 inches of baked on oil ! Oil Well That Ends Well i guess!
Those old station wagons are great to drive on long road trips. I want to see the autopsy on the engine soon.
Hey, that's one tough little Windsor engine. Making it that far and not throwing a rod out the side of the block is a testament to Ford's engineering. Looking at the old wagon is sure does look like a early 1970s XA series Australian Ford Fairmont released here in the country Down Under. That's a hint for sorting that HVAC system out. Our early Ford's were based on US versions and just as big.
Great video.
I thought it looked like a xy at first but you're def right that little "bend" in the grill really gives it away idk how I missed that
It’s wild seeing fresh oil come out black black within 200 miles.
I’d rebuild that 351, it deserves another chance for sure.
Happy New Year Kevin and Mook
Yeah I'm not sure how you would rebuild that thing It probably has no compression once you take all the sludge out of it I guess you could sleeve it
@@colchronic it's called a machine shop, they can turn a block of rust into new steel with enough money and the right tools. Likely without sleeves
@@LeObsidianCraft sure assuming that a 230,000 mi vehicle hasn't been overbored to its maximum spec
@@colchronic it doesn't seem likely that the previous owner(s) ever had the money or the want to get that motor rebuilt. It would surprise me if it's been bored over stock
@@LeObsidianCraft yeah who knows to be honest I bet those Pistons fall right out once the caps are removed
Dear Kevin that engine truly deserves to live on, may I suggest a budget rebuild, the way cars used to be back in the good ol days, bearings bushes hone re-ring and valve grind. Thanks for a great video best wishes to you and Mook ❤
Dude! We freaking LOVED this one! EXACTLY our kind of journey! Huge huge kudos to you and the car for the commitment it took to make this happen. As fellow ridiculous road trip people we felt this one in our bones! Definitely looking forward to you bringing this big bad boat back to life and you are right this would be an EXCELLENT Power Tour car!
I hope he will restore it to its former glory. I hope what he means by redoing the interior and exterior doesn’t mean the look will change.
This car definitely reserves a rebuild - it's got a hell of a story!
Top Tip: There is a great German word for lubrication due to oil loss: EINGEnVERLUSTSCHMIERUNG (i-genn-ferloost-schmeer-oong). Try saying that 3 times quick ;-)
Great show, having to watch so many episodes still! Keep em coming!
This one was crazy.
I don't remember watching anything lately that I enjoyed this much.
It had everything from sight seeing to adventure, tension, crazy folk doin' crazy things and... crocs xD
Well done and thank you for the content!
I am in love with that wagon. She deserves a rebuild!!! That motor is a BEAST!!!
Hey Junkyard Digs! Ive been watching for a year or 2... or maybe something like that, but Im about 3 hours west of Ames in Iowa, and youve been an inspiration for me. Ive started buying old things, mainly motorcycles and dirt bikes, but non the less ive learned many things on my journey. Thank you for the content!
Loved your video! When I was young I didn't have any money and drove several junkers. I fully appreciate your anxiety trying to get across country before a storm. I was in the AF and once had Leave for Christmas, so I drove from Albuquerque to Galveston,Texas in a standard drive 2-cylinder Honda Coupe. I wasn't that good at driving a standard then, I was just learning. So you can imagine my white knuckles going up and down the hills and wondering if my little car could outrun the storm. I made it, but on the return trip I drove on ice from north Texas to Albuquerque. It took me two days to calm down once I reached Albuquerque. Oh, the good times. I'm 73 now.
It's a good thing you ran over 30 Quarts of oil through the engine to clean it out. That might have saved it. I agree it'll be intersting to see the teardown. My sympathies about the hood as I've done the same. I'm sure you'll find a way to save it or another hood. Very cool roadtrip vid across half the country. Happy New Year!!!
I drove a VW Baja bug for about six months with no reverse, but that is a MUCH easier and smaller vehicle to push! Yes this vid reminded me of some of the early Roadkill vids. Thank you for doing this for us lowly subscribers entertainment rather than just taking a first class airline flight back to Iowa. :) Furthermore, thank you for being from a place like rural Iowa and representing us upper midwest guys! Don't ever change. (except your underpants)
At age 68, I can assure you that engine is 'way better than you think! My best guess is the oil pan has accumulated sludge and black goo accumulating over the pickup and probably very little screen area remains unblocked. I have driven these old Fords until they had to be roll started because of such low compression that they wouldn't start on the starter. But rarely have I seen one break. My daily driver is now at 377,000 and counting. And it isn't the worst I have seen, nor the highest miles I have driven daily.
I'll give you a heart for comment , because I have had a couple vw bugs with broken reverse yes its much easier to push around when needed lol!
I think the no reverse bug is mostly that stupid shifter bushing that breaks every 5 seconds and is a pain in the ass to replace.
Love the cruiser idea for power tour, take the motor and tear it down, almost forensically. Could be very interesting and a great teaching point on the motor. Why it survived and why it happened.
Happy new year Kevin and Mook!
I can tell you how the engine survived and its called "they don't build them like they used too" its simplicity and no bs computer systems
It's a ford.... we drove an inline 6 Ford for a week after I floored it for seemed like eternity till she blew a rod and spewed her guts and eventually siezed but all you had to do was let her cool down and she ran again. True story
You gotta save her. She deserves a rebuild and restoration. Such a beautiful beast can't be left to die
This 351 is a trooper!!! and deserve a rebuild and go fast parts to stay in the car!!! Amazing journey Kevin!!
I was at Camp Pendleton about 5 years ago it was my first trip to California and now I know why people want to live there even though the cost of living is insane! First off Kevin thank you for your service! I was at Camp Pendleton because my son is a United States Marine. We are truly proud of him. He is currently an active duty and married and I have three grandchildren by him and his wife. I love the video!
😂
People think of Californians when they think of California.
Big mistake. Avoid us at all costs. Just look at the pretty scenery 😂
I seriously thought the smoke from the exhaust in the thumbnail was just cropped in but you proved me wrong at the end lmao ive never seen a gas engine blow so much black smoke!
i've had a few in my time that once you wind them up real tight they blow black smoke..sign the rings are bad and oil is making it into the combustion chamber
So much it almost had a diesel feel to it.
Oh man, that was entertaining. I had a '72 Cougar with a 351 Cleveland engine. It was a beast and shocked the Hell out of guys who challenged me with Corvettes back in the day. Very strong powerfull engines that could take a beating and not surrender. Thanks for the great video!
This was beautiful. Yes repairing the main seal would probably have been a good idea but it would have been a really boring drive home. I'm amazed it made it the whole way and can't wait to see the rest of it. Love wagons❤️ thanks for a very good video!
So, I just found your channel Kevin thanks to Donut. I actually passed you on 35/80 when you were almost home and loved seeing the station wagon - thing is clean! I’d love to see an engine rebuild and getting the thing tip top. Instant subscribed!
Just say 7/16 dummy
After all that, I think the engine has earned a rebuild.
What an AWESOME video! I was on the edge of my seat, biting my nails worrying that you weren't going to make it home for Christmas. What a great story. my favorite part was the look on your face while watching the weather report. Like it or not, that drivetrain is a TROOPER! I was expecting the General Lee horn to play when you finally pulled into your driveway. I can't wait to see more about this car. I love wagons. Great job Kevin! I'm glad that you made it home safe.
Dude, you know exactly what that oil pressure shit was about. The engine was clogged in multiple passages and the sensor was one of them. It just cleared itself better than before. As long as you kept feeding the engine more oil, it kept chuggimg after the clearance. We all know you lucked out and got it to clear the issues. You'll find that blockage later in another area, be it the pan or another part of the block. Love ya bud, be safe.
Gotta say I am seriously impressed by the reliability of that 351 Windsor given how horrible the rocker gear (And no doubt the rest of the internals will look).
Excellent video and a cool old wagon.
That engine is a trooper. It held together. Give it the love and respect of the rebuild it deserves. Nice car. Hopefully a good body guy can fix that hood.
I just sat here an entire hour and watched this video from beginning to end. I don’t even have that kind of attention span for movies! Awesome video
Kevin I think this video ranks up there as one of your best. Wildly entertaining and impressive how you persevered.
I sincerely enjoyed watching this episode, it's my 1st junkyard digs and probably not my last. There was one thing that I didn't understand why non of you guys thought to swap out the oil filter. When that is gummed up you know how much oil pressure you lose especially with a worn engine. But what a tank of an engine that engine deserves to get rebuild! And I am dying to see how it looks inside. Oh and I definitely agree with you that burger king is way better than mc Donalds. Even here in the Netherlands where I live? Cheers have a good and healthy 2023!
One rule
If it ain’t broke don’t fix it
Also that entrance at the end was cool as sh*t 1:09:28
PS.it’s my first time watching his videos and he has single handedly convinced me to do a cross country journey from L.A. To IOHA and I don’t even live in the US I’m from UK
I think the idea is that if that’s bad off, and you’re trying to make it somewhere in the vehicle on a time crunch, cleaning it out more could make it finally die. The only reason that motor was running was probably bc of the thick gummed oil everywhere in it. The second they flush it out, it’ll be rods and bearings blowin all over the place
You guys in the Netherlands probably have better quality ingredients than us in the USA. Personally I would take a Double Quarter pounder any day but do like getting a cheap Whopper on the app from time to time.
@@i_i8924 I have no clue I have never been to the states but I would really like to visit and do a road trip with my son one day. Preferred in an old American car.
But mc Donalds is really crapy here, but it is very popular though. My favorite burger from BK is the whopper cheese.
Mc Donalds does have really good milkshakes I have to give them that.
Cheers to you all!
@@mrt7152 at least you guys worldwide have Burger King's, here in Australia we call it Hungry Jack's 🤷
Only a man who can quote Python's 'Holy Grail' could possibly attempt that drive in that car. I salute you Sir!
I watched this channel a couple of times ages ago and I forgot about it. It popped up again and all I can say is wow. I absolutely love it.
Well done junkyard digs with all your content and journeys. Fantastic channel. Thank you for all you do.
Keep up you're fab work..
Many thanks...Shane from the UK.
Keep safe.
This was an awesome trip! I did almost the same exact route in a 1986 Bronco II that I bought in Phoenix and drove back home to Charlotte. At 53:07 you drive past the casino I brown down at. Had to change the fuel filter in mid June heat on that desert highway. Just past that exit. Great episode Kevin! I loved the petrified forest and Tonto forest, beautiful drives.
Yes make it the ultimate road trip car. It’s just too awesome to die. Make it reliable and take us along on how you do it. I’m sure I’m not the only one who would love to see that Windsor come apart, see what’s going on inside and be revived again. Think of the coolers you can stack in the back. Wagons are so underrated.
This was one of if not the best episode on a car yet! I personally LOVE american boat wagons. I think it would be a great car for a budget restoration. Also myself and probably a lot of other people would love to see that engine from inside. I think it's worthy of at least some sort of cleanup, if not a rebuild! Keep up the freaking amazing videos Kevin! Stay warm and much love from Serbia!!
Nema šanse
So much of this is instantly relatable to me. I still own and drive a 1969 Ford Galaxy 500 4dr. It was my first car; a handmedown originally purchased by by grandfather I've had since '87. Wish it still looked as good as this wonderful wagon ! Shame about the hood but the same thing happened with mine about 30 years ago. I "flattened it's ears" as best I could and filled with JB Weld. Not perfect but it passes.
If that engine is original to the car it has definitely earned a rebuild ! By the condition of the balancer, it probably has around 300k miles. The cam should be inspected as well. The 302 in mine still ran very smooth with a rounded off cam lobe on the exhaust. The only noticeable symptom was crankcase oil tinting dark soon after changing. I found the sludge when I pulled the timing cover after noticing chain noise. The lube ports had nearly closed off as well which probably lead to the chain wear which I'm now greatful for ! It had given me warning in enough time. She got a new cam, lifters, timing kit, balancer, front crank seal, and the best cleanings I could manage without pulling the block. A couple of oil changes later and she was good to go. This was back in 2014. I think your in for about the same on this "wonder wagon" but an original engine is worth it ! It looks like this thing is in very solid condition, better than mine which is beat to death but still drives and rides great.
Please note that the AM/FM STEREO radio in this is EXCEPTIONALLY RARE and should definitely be kept and restored ! The "cockpit" style instrumentation in these cars is beautiful even though it rendered the gloveboxes virtually inaccessible 😂. Enter through the passenger side to check the contents of the latter 😅. The front dash is usually destroyed in these old cars and that's up to ones own enginuity 🤔 but, on the bright side, there's seldom much to lose 😅. All in all, this is a comfortable riding, good driving keeper ! Give her a chance and you'll love her! Just hope for better driving conditions 🥶.
Absolute legend Kevin! I can't believe you made it home in time for Christmas. Epic!
I’m so glad the success you’ve guys had with your channel. You guys deserve it all. Such an underrated channel. Say what you want about California but socal is beautiful just don’t go all Hollyweird on us!
That engine earned the respect and now deserve the dedication of a full rebuild.
If it's the original block and trans, it's a done deal.
...i know this video is older but PLEASE get back around to this oily wagon, it is AWESOME!
Outstanding! The very definition of Adapt and Overcome! This old Mud Airman salutes you! That battle wagon deserves to be saved! HAPPY NEW YEAR!
One of the best videos you have ever produced Kevin. Thank you for the amazing content and the awesome roadtrip. I cannot wait for the teardown of the engine cuz that pile of junk should not have been able to to all those miles. Cheers man.
@1:06:24 that's insane! Also the performance of the 351 was pretty impressive considering the circumstances.
Whatever happened to this car?
We need to know what happend. But if nothing happend, and there is a video coming, we will forgive you
I’ve seen it in the yard in recent videos, so it definitely still exists. But I would love to see a tear down of that motor!
yeah i was gonna say, we're still waiting for that teardown and rebuild!!!!
I fifth this!
Love these old wagons. A '70 Chevelle wagon is one of my dream cars. For the build you should go full on luxobarge. Nice carpet interior, smooth engine and perhaps a repaint.
I wanna see the oil filter. Might have also contributed to pressure being so low.
Yeah, I would have replaced it. And replacing that seal would have made the trip easier. But would it have been as much fun for us to see??
I think the Windsor motor was very underrated. When I owned my all I heard from friends was “it’s not a Cleveland”. It wasn’t ,but, it always did what it was supposed to do,work. That car set me forward on my career as a carpenter having the ability to haul a lot of stuff (including 4’x8’) sheet goods, in fact I can tell you well over a 100 quarts of strawberries would fit into that under floor storage area😅. Great car. Thanks for the rekindling memories.
An insane project, and a knack for agravation!
And you survived -- the Wagon truly surprised me.
Thank you for an excellent video