Well, this is what happens when you have a million things on your mind, including how the heck you're going to get the money to replace the clutch:
I had to buy another fender from an '84 Deluxe wagon. I bought the clips to mount my SR5 molding from the dealer, but I'm just going to save them because I want to buy a new fender and then maybe get the whole car painted after fixing the mechanical issues.
After replacing the spark plugs, NGK plug wires, distributor cap & rotor, and the oxygen sensor my highway average went from 20 MPG to 26 MPG (driving 55-62 mph on the freeway). I paid to have the valves adjusted and the timing is okay, although I have been getting some pinging lately. When it's time to fill the tank again I'll put some Seafoam in. I hope that when the new clutch goes in it will go up to 30 MPG. I was just amazed what replacing that stuff did for the car, it was a lot faster afterwards. Supposedly, the catalytic converter is plugged, so maybe it's capable of better mileage.
Lesson learned: "Always watch out for thin yellow poles!" I just forgot about it and then when I got in the car I couldn't see it because it was behind my mirror so I backed into it. Ouch! The old fender is just sitting in my living room to remind me to watch out...
