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Soul of a Seeker

"We were given appetites, not to consume the world and forget it, but to taste its goodness and hunger to make it great." –Robert Farrar Capon

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Category: Cortez

We are one American girl, one English bloke, one pup-kit, and one rare 1965 Clark Cortez. Together, we have one soul of a seeker.

  • Cortez

A Step Closer: New Wipers, Washer Jets, and Washer Fluid Bottle

  • by soulofaseeker
  • Posted on November 2, 2019November 2, 2019

Andy and I stood back to look long and hard at our work.  Even though it was a small task, this was our first job we could see, our first visual gratification . . .

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  • Cortez

Not of the Choke Generation? Here’s How to Get Your Vintage Vehicle Started

  • by soulofaseeker
  • Posted on September 23, 2019September 22, 2019

Sure we could be embarrassed about admitting that we forgot to use our 1965 Clark Cortez’s choke . . . but instead, we are simply happy it means we can ditch the starter fluid and get our motorhome running easily!

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  • Cortez

Our Most Detailed Reno Yet: The Brakes

  • by soulofaseeker
  • Posted on September 7, 2019September 15, 2019

It took six days — six long days — to tackle our brakes. It started with our first horror-filled rides in the Cortez then continued to a blend of wrong parts, sawed off brake lines, and angle-grinded exhaust pipes. However, it ended with us finishing the job, which I can say now — There’s no better feeling of accomplishment!

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  • Cortez

Our Steel Beast is Alive!

  • by soulofaseeker
  • Posted on August 19, 2019November 16, 2019

“LET’S DRIVE IT AWAY!”  I yelled over the roar of our beast’s engine, pointing straight ahead to an unseen spot in the future where we would be traveling down some backcountry dirt road, following the Milky Way.  Andrew honked and honked and honked the horn because OUR CORTEZ STARTED!

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  • Cortez

The Day of (and After) the Bull

  • by soulofaseeker
  • Posted on July 29, 2019August 7, 2019

It’s our first stop at the Cortez since it was delivered and we learn it has a dead starter and corroded engine wires.
But we expected issues like this — and we will continue to expect this as we work on our fifty-four-year-old motorhome.  But hey, we chose this because we don’t want easy.  We want different.

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  • Cortez

A Breakdown of Costs for Our Cortez’s Overhaul

  • by soulofaseeker
  • Posted on July 26, 2019October 6, 2019

As we work to refurbish, modernize, and customize our 1965 Clark Cortez motorhome, we are tracking all purchases and costs. Here’s that information-breakdown.

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  • Cortez

Our Cortez’s Master Plan

  • by soulofaseeker
  • Posted on July 26, 2019November 15, 2019

There’s much to do on our fifty-four-year-old motorhome so here is our master plan, which details all of our efforts to refurbish, modernize, and customize our 1965 Clark Cortez.

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  • Cortez

A Running List After Our First Inspection

  • by soulofaseeker
  • Posted on July 25, 2019September 25, 2019

After our Cortez had its first inspection by Mechanic Andrew, here is what was uncovered.

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  • Cortez

Arrival Day: Meeting Our Cortez for the First Time

  • by soulofaseeker
  • Posted on July 23, 2019September 23, 2019

It’s here, it’s here! Our rare 1965 Clark Cortez has arrived but not without hilarious faults and unimaginable efforts to get it started. However, an antique finicky motorhome and a story to go along with it is exactly what we wanted so this is the start to our adventure!

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  • Cortez

Welcome To Our New Home: A 1965 Clark Cortez

  • by soulofaseeker
  • Posted on July 15, 2019August 5, 2019

Finally, we are telling our big secret and hope you aren’t letdown: We’re excited to announce the purchase of our first home, a rare 1965 Clark Cortez.

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Instagram post 2192456886463526610_8491604864 Huge renovation news: Exterior lights ✔️
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Tackling our exterior lights has undoubtedly been the project we were least excited to undertake. However, these clearance lights were the last step in this process, which means time for a snip of wire, removal of rust on the light holder, spray of rust treatment, then spray of paint!
In all the exterior lights took many days to complete and at felt so slow and defeating that — in truth — I honestly didn’t think we would ever get them all to work... but... we did! Andy continuously amazes me with his vehicle knowledge, his passion, and his focus. True, I have no idea what I’m doing but I’m learning — a ton — from him and right now after we’ve gotten this project finished, I feel we cannot be defeated!
...Oh well there is one thing: I should mention after we got the lights working, our Cortez now won’t start. Again. So there’s that investigation... 🤣
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For more on this process and part information, check our blog and YouTube channel — SoulOfASeeker!
***
#exteriorlights #electrical #lights #exterior #carproblems #builtnotbought #diy #howto #guide #diyvan #selfmade #autorepair #carrepair #renovation #refurbish #overhaul #mechanics #vehiclemechanics #clarkcortez #motorhome #rv #campervan #vanconversion #homeonwheels #vanlife #projectvanlife #vanlifediaries #vanlifemovement #vanclan #hometobe
Instagram post 2191457710053399622_8491604864 Andy says this is my “Admission of guilt” picture after I accidentally broke our last complete gasket. I mean, true — I am clumsy but this wasn’t my fault! I was moving to put it down when it ripped and then when he asked me to show him the rip, a wind gust broke it into two! The good news? We found one more remaining while gasket — our last gasket — which we will use to find replicas but with a vehicle this old, well, you feel like its parts are ancient artifacts that deserve to be in some museum 🤣
Here’s to hoping we can track down new gaskets as these are clearly brittle from being old. Anyone out there have information that can help?
***
#admissionofguilt #wasntmyfault #clumsy #helpneeded #gaskets #broken #project #builtnotbought #renovation #refurbish #overhaul #vanconversion #mechanics #vehiclemechanics #automotive #clarkfork #clarkcortez #cortez #cortezmotorhome #motorhome #rv #campervan #homeonwheels #rarevehicle #oldcar #classiccar #retrorides #vanlife #vanlifeproject #vanlifediaries
Instagram post 2190725766323639968_8491604864 A sad state of affairs because this is what our Cortez looked like for several days before we corrected our light problem. It looked like a surgery was being performed with testers and wires and pliers lying and hanging out!
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#differentsurgery #ongoing #project #builtnotbought #electrical #lights #stateinspection #renovation #refurbish #overhaul #vanconversion #mechanics #vehiclemechanics #automotive #clarkforklift #clarkfork #clarkcortez #cortez #cortezmotorhome #motorhome #rv #campervan #homeonwheels #classiccar #rarevehicle #oldcar #retrorides #vanlife #vanlifeproject #vanlifediaries
Instagram post 2190272272160776999_8491604864 How we have fun 🤣
Okay so beyond the Darth Vader impersonations, we have been slowly pulling interior portions to access our exterior lights... which sounds strange but it worked. The rears have been a massive challenge but we finally got them fixed! Be sure to check out our videos on the exterior lights on our YouTube channel at SoulOfASeeker! We’d love the support!
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#getready #coolaf #crazycouple #respirators #builtnotbought #electrical #lights #stateinspection #renovation #refurbish #overhaul #vanconversion #mechanics #vehiclemechanics #automotive #clarkforklift #clarkfork #clarkcortez #cortez #cortezmotorhome #motorhome #rv #campervan #homeonwheels #classiccar #rarevehicle #oldcar #retrorides #vanlife #vanlifeproject
Instagram post 2185817008019793878_8491604864 We’ve been slowly chucking away at tasks to get our Cortez to pass in a state inspection. That means working on the exterior lights. Here’s what we found we need to do so far:
•Correct wiring on both reverse lights
•Correct wiring on front passenger indicator light
•Replace mounts and bulbs in both front top marker lights
•Remove paint on license plate light lens
Andy keeps telling me the list isn’t getting shorter but I feel the optimist. I feel we are still in the introductory phase with our Cortez — where we are getting to know our motorhome, learning about its quirks and kinks. “We will get there” is what I tell Andy back because it’s true — I know we will.
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#thumbsdown #notready #builtnotbought #electrical #lights #exterior #exteriorlights #stateinspection #autorepair #carrepair #renovation #refurbish #overhaul #mechanics #vehiclemechanics #automotive #clarkforklift #clarkfork #clarkcortez #cortez #cortezmotorhome #motorhome #rv #campervan #homeonwheels #classiccar #rarevehicle #oldcar #retrorides #vanlife
Instagram post 2182310286248512592_8491604864 Friends! We’ve been picked up by Vanlife Magazine! We are so excited and grateful for their interest and support! Check out their magazine for our column detailing renovations to our 1965 Clark Cortez! We hope our information helps others who are interested in undertaking a project like this so let us know what you think and how we can help you restore a vehicle ❤️ Be sure to read their other articles too — There are o’so many inspirational vanlifers and we are learning much from them and, therefore, humbled to be a part of this community ❤️
Thank you again, Vanlife Magazine! You’ve made our month xoxo
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#bigthankyou #greatnews #published #writer #blogger #readmore #vanlifemagazine #vanlife #vanbuild #overhaul #renovation  #conversion #vanconversion #refurbish #tinyhouse #clarkcortez #cortezmotorhome #campervan #rv #motorhome #classic #classiccar #rarevehicle #oldcar #retrorides #projectvanlife #vanlife
Instagram post 2169986536727566814_8491604864 And with this burning sunset, we leave you, New York ❤️
For more on our trip, be sure to visit our blog at SoulOfASeeker.com where we will have much more soon!
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#sunset #citysunset #horizon #outthewindow #hotelview #bigapple #newyork #newyorkcity #newyorkstateofmind #picturenyc #nyc #ilovenewyork #ilovenyc #nyclife #city #citylife #cityview #citybuildings #skyline #urban #usa #america #tourist #justvisiting #traveler #citytraveler #letsgo
Instagram post 2169230202801385946_8491604864 #thisisus #kiss #bridgekiss #englishman #americangirl #brooklynbridge #brooklynbridgeview #bridge #cityview #brooklynview #bigapple #newyork #newyorkcity #newyorkstateofmind #picturenyc #nyc #ilovenewyork #ilovenyc #nyclife #city #citylife #citybuildings #skyline #urban #usa #america #tourist #traveler #citytraveler #letsgo
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