Did lots of stuff today, got my Monte Carlo going after it had been sitting for quit some time, needed some ATF, freon is low again, and the ominous whirring from the front is getting worse, so I think I am going to have to play the "take off belts until the noise stops" game. My money is on alternator. It did go down the road fine however.

Changed oil and battery in my daily driver.

Took the Hurst Olds for the same run as the Monte Carlo. This was the first total evaluation of what I got going on here. Drove well, I'll make notes in bullet style.

-Sticky spot on the accelerator. Very sticky to initially break loose after sitting for a week. After that, it was like pushing it past off idle jumped a little as it broke past the hanging point.
-Kickdown is not working from 3rd to 2nd whilst putting it to the wood. 455 top gear acceleration is impressive. Using the dual gate manually shifting, it drives like it should (more impressive)
-Tach reads about 50% high. Need to fix that.
-Clock is dead; fix it with the tach.
-"Hi" fan speed does not work, as in off.
-Radio sounds too good, at too low a volume. I bet it is pushing 4 ohmers aftermarket.
-It kicks the compressor on for Defrost. Is that correct?
-Ignition key is one square key. The doors work on the round key, which also works the trunk, but does not work the console or glove compartment. I think the door cylinders are wrong, and the trunk is wrong, and I am missing keys for the console and glove compartment. I believe it should be square key for ignition and doors, and round key for trunk and interior compartments.
-Thought my interior lights were dead, but the headlight rheostat is cranky. Got everything to come on. Not used to the downward facing low level lights for the AC and wiper switches.
-Left pipe end jiggles a bit with exhaust.
-Left bullet mirror is loose on its stem a little (as in the stem is fine, the head is loose, not the whole thing.)
-Engine makes a lot of fan noise when clutch engaged, guess that's ok.
-Threw a little oil out either the rally pack sender or the fill tube. Little oil where the engine casting F is.

Lots of fun to drive. Power steering is almost too responsive, it seems like that heavy 455 wants to point a little more than I'm used to. Brakes are decent. Cam is slightly ridiculous. A
drone comes in about 50, but goes away at 60. I'll disconnect the linkage and see where the bind is first, then look at the kickdown switch.

 

The compressor on for defrost is to avoid misting up the windows when no girl is present.

 

High fan is on a separate circuit with an inline fuse (30A ?) in a straight holder, back along the firewall. Many times corrosion or overheating causes a poor connection, or maybe just a blown fuse.

I think you are correct about the keys.

Sport mirrors have two (?) screws holding the bullet part to the base. Accessible if you remove the mirror; passenger side has a single screw at the rear of the base that holds the assembly to the door mounting bracket.

 

What year is your H/O? My 79 uses square key for ignition. Round for doors and trunk. I think glovebox too. Havent tried that one for sure. I dont have a lock on console that I know of.
My tach reads about double as well. Think over years, solder for the 'switch' on tach for 4/6/8 cylinder gets loose or broken.
I plan on taking mine out of hibernation as well today.
Good way to start a unplanned 2 week vacation.

 

Fun, I'll look at the fuse.

Pav, 72, so I think we're different on both topics.

Also figured out something was missing which is the 72 seat belt light. Either the car was a rally pac and the dashpad is not original, or, more likely, it was an idiot light car that got retroed with gauges.