Guys, I'm frustrated! I am the first to admit I know very little about engines... could build you one out of wood that would work beautifully... but this is my first "work-on" vehicle, so please bear with me.
She's a '48 with a '54 235 in her that the PO said was rebuilt less than 500 miles ago. I have a list as long as my arm of things that need to be fixed or replaced on her (I know, join the club). I just got her charging problem fixed with the addition of a new regulator and battery... thanks Mechainiac and Oly... but now she has begun to lose power on the hills and overheat. I checked everything listed on other overheating posts, and as far as I can tell the thermostat is working, installed right, and there's good flow through the radiator. Shes recently became harder and harder to start though, and now it sounds as if there is an exhaust leak somewhere under the hood.Going downhill to work seems to be no problem, just getting louder, but she will start to overheat coming back uphill in the afternoons.
I figure I will need to take her to a qualified mechanic, as this is my daily driver and I need to have her running. Does anyone know a good one in the Placerville, CA area? Even if I find one though, I am not sure I can get her all the way in to town (about an hour away). Any help or suggestions here would be greatly appreciated.
