1970 BUICK WILDCAT

Typical onset: any mileage on aged units

Symptoms: Pink or milky transmission fluid indicating coolant intrusion, Transmission slipping or erratic shifts after cooler rupture, Engine overheating from ATF entering cooling system, Strawberry milkshake appearance in radiator

Fix: Replace radiator or add external cooler, flush transmission and cooling system completely, replace fluid and filter. If contamination has been present for any length of time, expect full transmission rebuild. 8-14 hours labor depending on whether transmission needs full rebuild.

Estimated cost: $800-3,500

Typical onset: 90,000-150,000 mi

Symptoms: Deep knocking from lower engine block, worse under load, Metal shavings in oil and on magnetic drain plug, Low oil pressure at idle when fully warmed, Vibration that increases with RPM

Fix: Full engine teardown, crankshaft removal and machine work (usually requires grinding undersize), new main and rod bearings, line boring if needed. 18-24 hours labor for crank R&R and bearing replacement; if crank is too far gone, you're looking at full rebuild or replacement short block.

Estimated cost: $2,800-5,500

Symptoms: Blue smoke on startup and deceleration, Excessive crankcase pressure, oil pushed out of breather, Poor compression readings across multiple cylinders, High oil consumption, one quart every 300-500 miles

Fix: Cylinder honing, new piston rings on all cylinders, valve job while heads are off. 16-22 hours labor. If bores are tapered beyond spec or cylinders are scored, you're into full rebuild or resleeving territory.

Estimated cost: $2,200-4,000

Typical onset: any age, rubber deteriorates over time

Symptoms: Clunk when shifting from Park to Drive or Reverse, Vibration felt through floor at highway speeds, Visible sagging of transmission tailshaft, Exhaust or driveshaft contact with undercarriage

Fix: Replace transmission crossmember mount, inspect and possibly replace engine mounts at same time. 1.5-2.5 hours labor. Often combined with transmission service since you're under there anyway.

Estimated cost: $180-400

Symptoms: Hard starting, requires excessive cranking and priming, Rough idle, intermittent stalling at stop signs, Fuel smell from flooding or leaking accelerator pump, Poor throttle response, hesitation off idle

Fix: Rochester 4-barrel rebuild kit, clean or replace fuel filter, flush fuel lines and tank if varnish is severe. 3-5 hours for full carburetor rebuild and fuel system service. May need fuel pump replacement if diaphragm has deteriorated.

Estimated cost: $350-750

Typical onset: 100,000+ mi

Symptoms: Rough idle, backfiring through carburetor, Loss of power, won't rev cleanly past 3500 RPM, Rattling from timing cover area on cold startup, Ignition timing drifts, won't stay set

Fix: Timing cover removal, new timing chain and gear set, usually replace water pump and front seal while you're there. 5-7 hours labor. Good preventive maintenance item before chain breaks and causes valve-to-piston contact.

Estimated cost: $650-1,100