I have been and avid reader/seldom contributor to the list since 1998 and now need an objective opinion....

It's decision time.  My westy has 101,000 miles, an exhaust system that resembles swiss cheese, a dead front defroster fan, surface seam rust below the water/electrical connections, bad ball joints, bad front shocks, dry rotted tires, stained pushrod tubes (ie leaking is around the next corner) and  I need belts and a tune up.  Did I mention the scratches down the driver side and the flattened fender flair?  That is another story but needless to say the parking garage pillar won......

My question is this, I estimate the costs to get back into great shape at:   (with my mechanic's help and he is very good) 

ball joints            $200
front shocks        $300
Tune Up              $100              All OEM
Exhaust              $1200/1500    OEM
Tires                   $500              Mich MX4'S
Belts                  $100
defroster             $600              pull out replace with OEM  
AC conversion     $130

   This ends up being $3000 to $3500, I figure a decent paint job/rust clean up to be $3000 and now I have a "new" westy with an engine that has over a hundo on it.  Do I do it?  It might mean selling my 1965 fire engine red Mercury Monterey convertible.  We are talking about a convertible as big as a Suburban (with 2 count'em 2 doors.)  This thing has more chrome than I know what to do with.  Seats six ( good for a guy with 4 kids) and is the perfect summer toy.  

Any and all help is appreciated...

Mike

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