1965 PONTIAC TEMPEST

Typical onset: 80,000-120,000 mi without service history

Symptoms: Slipping between gears especially 1st to 2nd, Delayed engagement when shifting into drive, Burned transmission fluid smell, Metal shavings in pan during fluid change

Fix: Most surviving units have gone decades without proper fluid/filter service. Cooler lines rot out, starving the transmission. Full rebuild runs 18-24 labor hours including R&R. If caught early with fresh cooler and lines, sometimes a filter/fluid service buys time, but most need complete overhaul by now.

Estimated cost: $2,200-3,800

Symptoms: Hard starting when hot, Raw fuel smell in garage after sitting, Black smoke on startup, Stalling at idle when warm, Fuel leaking from carb base

Fix: Rochester 2-barrel or 4-barrel carbs on these gum up from ethanol fuel and sitting. Needle/seat assemblies leak, floats get saturated. Proper rebuild with ethanol-resistant kit takes 4-6 hours including setup and tuning. Add new fuel filter, inspect tank for rust sediment. Accelerator pump circuits often need jets cleaned or replaced.

Estimated cost: $450-850

Typical onset: 90,000+ mi

Symptoms: Blue smoke on deceleration, Oil level drops 1+ quart per 500 miles, Fouled spark plugs on one bank, Visible oil weeping from valve cover area

Fix: Valve guide seals harden and crack after decades, especially if conventional oil was used. Can try seal replacement without head removal (12-14 hours labor) but worn guides often need machine work. Ring wear is less common unless severely overheated. Full top-end refresh with guides, seals, and valve job runs 24-30 hours.

Estimated cost: $1,800-3,200

Typical onset: 70,000-110,000 mi

Symptoms: Gear oil on inside of rear wheel/brake drum, Howling or rumbling noise from rear that changes with speed, Clunking when switching from drive to reverse

Fix: The 10-bolt rear axle bearings and seals are original in most cars. Axle bearings fail from contamination when seals leak. Bearing/seal job per side is 3-4 hours including brake cleaning. If ring and pinion are worn (backlash excessive), full rear rebuild runs 8-12 hours.

Estimated cost: $400-700 per side, $1,400-2,200 full rebuild

Symptoms: Excessive play at steering wheel (more than 2 inches), Constant correction needed to keep straight, Clunking felt through wheel on rough roads, Leaking gear oil from steering box

Fix: Saginaw manual boxes wear internally and develop slop. Adjustment helps temporarily (1 hour) but worn sector shaft/worm gear need rebuild or replacement. Power steering boxes leak from input shaft seal. Rebuild runs 6-8 hours with R&R; rebuilt exchange units save time. Inspect idler arm and pitman arm while you're in there.

Estimated cost: $650-1,200

Symptoms: Rough idle that smooths at higher RPM, Misfiring under load, Hard starting, Loss of power above 3500 RPM

Fix: Points wear every 10,000-12,000 miles, condenser fails randomly. Distributor shaft bushings wear causing timing scatter — you'll chase a misfire forever. Bushing replacement or rework takes 3-4 hours. Many owners convert to electronic ignition (Pertronix or similar) for reliability; installation is 2 hours and eliminates points service.

Estimated cost: $180-350 for electronic conversion, $450-650 for distributor rebuild

Symptoms: Visible rust perforation on frame rails near rear axle mounts, Crunchy metal when pressing on front subframe, Suspension mounting points cracked or distorted, Sagging rear end despite good springs

Fix: A-body frames rust from inside out, especially torque box areas and rear frame rails. Surface rust is manageable; structural rust is not worth fixing economically. Proper frame-off repair with plating/welding is 40+ hours. Any car from the salt belt needs thorough underbody inspection before purchase — walking away is often the right call.

Estimated cost: Not economically repairable in most cases; prevention only