1969 Chevrolet Impala review from North America

Timing chain gears recently wore off (I've got pictures and the old set hanging on the garage wall), so now I'm in the process of replacing the old set with a new double-roller timing set. Getting the timing chain cover back on is proving to be the hardest part of the project.

Leaks oil, and I'm betting the engine just needs to be rebuilt.

Battery has died once.

Rusted and leaking fuel tank, which I patched, and then blew the patches by trying to blow out the fuel lines because I neglected to remove the gas cap. Ruseted wheel wells and window frames.

Replaced the fuel lines, the old ones went from 1/4 in. to 3/8, to 1/4, and was not pretty!

Looses brake fluid. The brake master cylinder will be bone dry after a month, but I cannot for the life of me find the leak.

I inherited this car from my grandfather in 1997. A 4-door sedan, no "B" pillar to obscure your view with all the windows rolled down. I always loved to go to town with him in it as a kid. He lived out in the country in Iowa, and the drive to town would take over an hour. Riding in this "land yacht" was always a pleasure. My grandpa would never get above 55 mph in this car, and babied it.

Surrounded by such a mass of steel and chrome, I'll feel sorry if someone in a little tin can accidentally gets in my way. Funny thing is, I also drive a Honda Civic and keep a watchful eye out for the other "land yachts" out there.

I'm currently torn between putting a lot of money into a new engine or getting rid of the car. The sentimental value of it is incredible. The interior is not that bad, I've put in a new radio and speakers, and I still love the land sailing type feel ride of it. There is nothing like riding in a classic American automobile such as this.

It's no hot-rod, but the sweet idle tune of the new dual exhaust and headers is music to my ears.