People here have given me a lot of help in my first thread, but it seems to have sort of died. I am still searching for a car though. I like this, especially at the price point. Heres all the info I have -

http://winstonsalem.craigslist.org/cto/3559907004.html

Link to interior photos he sent me http://s5.beta.photobucket.com/user/Moshiiii/library/Galaxie

"the dash is in good condition, all the dials and lights work. The headliner was taken out because of the asbestos and both bench seats need to be re-upholstered. All the parts to the seats are there, they just need new leather."

"The car was parked in a garage from the mid 70's until the about 2005. There is no rust on the body, or the floor. The only spot of rust is under the battery, back in the 70's a battery melted down and rusted the battery pan, but that did not rust any structural steel and the battery is securely mounted now."

He has a new dash for the car aswell.

Ehhhh... automatic transmission starting to go... that interior looks ratty. I am not sure about the aftermarket on those.

If it were me I'd feel more comfortable buying a known chassis with a super abundance of parts and well documented projects. I'd also buy a car with a well known following, simply because if I got stalled on the project or lost interest, it would be easier to get rid of down the road.

Maybe not THIS particular car, but something like it:

http://raleigh.craigslist.org/cto/3558869913

it's nicer than what i'd consider a "starter" car and definitely more than i've ever paid for any of my project junk, but it looks like a good car for the price.. dead simple so it's easy to work on, with a lot of cheap and easy junkyard upgrades (factory electronic ignition guts can be put right in the existing points distributor)... fairly popular car so reproduction interior parts will be available..

To me a good first wrenching car is a car you own when you get your first wrench

As for your other thread, you can always bring it back up to the top with a post, no need to start another one about the same thing, that way everyone gets the context

i dig that galaxie, but it's gonna be a bear to drive with no power steering.

AngryCorvair wrote: i dig that galaxie, but it's gonna be a bear to drive with no power steering.

That's good though, it teaches efficiency of steering input

I've owned a bunch of Full Size Fords from the 60's. My first car in the 1990's was a 63 Mercury Monterey and I've had a 65 Galaxie and 2 68 Galaxies. Don't be scared. You can buy most everything you need for those cars in the aftermarket and they made a billion of them and a lot of the stuff can interchange between years. I didn't even know how to change oil when i got the Monterey.

Transmission isn't solid... It needs a rebuild from his description... Not a good project for a first timer learning to turn wrenches... Its not a hard transmission to build, but you should work on a few cars first and get some experience behind you...

I like it. The body seems solid and that's the most important part in my opinion.

Interiors are overrated.

I've been wrenching on cars since I could hold a wrench and transmissions are still a black art to me. That being said I'm sure there's plenty of working junkyard transmissions that will bolt in or, if you're a little more daring, an AOD from the late 80's early 90's will boost your fuel economy.

Besides, If you're willing to buy it from him, someone else out there is willing to buy it from you should you tire of it.

OP- Do you have a good DIY garage in your area? Where I'm at, we've got this - www.thetuningspot.com - You can rent a flat bay with tools for $10.00/hour and a lift with tools for $20.00. It there's something similar around you, it might be nice considering you're literally going to be a shadetree mechanic at this point.

1 RULE TO BUYING A VINTAGE CAR: Always buy the most rust free, straightest car you can afford, regardless of mechanical condition. Mechanical problems on older cars are cheap and easy-peasy to fix as compared to something that has lots of rot. Rust is a far more leathal project killer than engine or tranny problems.

As far as that Galaxie, full sized 60s Fords can't be beat. I'd go ahead and replace that C4 with an AOD for now, but that's a whole lotta beef for a 289 to haul around. It really needs a big block. Personally I'd build a mild but healthy 390 for it, but dollar for dollar a 460 would be cheaper to build than an FE motor

i agree completely with buying the least rust you can afford. i also agree with swapping in an AOD, although I'd just buy a late-'80's Fox 5.0/AOD car and swap engine and trans together. EFI 5.0 will make huge difference in grunt over that 289, and you'll pick up fuel economy with the AOD. too much for a beginner? only if you have to drive it on Monday, LOL.

Realistically, I don't see that as being to much for a beginner. Body looks quite solid, interiors are somewhat cheap(Mexican blankets, baby!), the mechanicals are dead simple. Sounds like the C3 needs a mild rebuild, which you could do at home, but it'd be plenty inexpensive should you decide to haul it out on your own and take just the box to a pro.

Get it!

if you have a mind for imports....a great first wrenching car is an e30, really. Almost everything about "where things are" is sensible, there's a huge aftermarket, a billion used/spare parts available on any motorsports or bmw forum, and nuts and bolts 25 years old still come off at the specified torque.

i have little domestic experience so can't comment otherwise. just thought i'd throw that out there ;)

Looks solid to me and a good start, a good car to learn on. I'd try to bust him down to around $2500 if possible. Agree on buying the least rust you can find and don't take the seller's word for it! If you aren't sure how to check for rust, then I'd suggest finding someone who knows what to look for go with you.

The C4 is chimp simple for an automatic which makes it cheap to rebuild. You could always pull it and take it to the rebulder, that way you'd save the R&R labor. Cut your teeth on keeping it running etc, then maybe consider an engine swap.

It more than likely will have drum brakes all the way around, you'd probably want to consider upgrading to front discs for better stopping power.

Looks good to me. Just go into it knowing that you need the transmission rebuilt and budget for it. Get that out of the way early and then just roll with it. There is no way you wouldn't have fun with that car.

I think those fastbacks are "much less common" that regular bodies. I say go for it!

If you've never changed oil or plugs, do you feel like you're ready to take on a trans rebuild?