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One American girl. One English bloke. One pup-kit-cat. One rare 1965 Clark Cortez motorhome. Together, one soul of a seeker.

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Tag: Vintage RV Restoration

Our classic motorhome needs a full restoration so we talk all about mechanical, electrical jobs as well as bodywork on our RV. Here’s the full details, including a list of parts and how-to DIY guides!

  • Clark Cortez

Our Cortez is Dead Again! Jump-Starting, Charging, and Replacing Our Battery

  • by Soul of a Seeker
  • Posted on February 28, 2021February 28, 2021

After the price of a starter motor and alternator were deducted from our checking account, we found ourselves forced to buy a new battery. This made me begin to realize the expectations of a vintage RV are that, well, there are no expectations with a vintage RV.

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  • Clark Cortez

Our 1965 Clark Cortez Motorhome’s Story: The Beginning to Now

  • by Soul of a Seeker
  • Posted on February 12, 2021February 14, 2021

Our Clark Cortez motorhome’s story has had different starts: In 1965 in the frigid state of Michigan, it came off the production line before moving to the sunny state of California. However, our story with this RV begins in 2019 in the all-seasons state of Virginia.

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  • Clark Cortez

Drums Versus Disc Brakes: Should You Upgrade?

  • by Soul of a Seeker
  • Posted on January 9, 2021February 28, 2021

Should we upgrade to discs and calipers — or should we stick to the original drums and restore them? This is the question L and I proposed to each other prior to getting our 1965 Clark Cortez motorhome’s braking system operational. Here’s what you need to know if you are considering the conversion.

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  • Clark Cortez

The Monumental Job of Repairing Exterior Lights

  • by Soul of a Seeker
  • Posted on October 6, 2019December 7, 2020

With nearly every exterior light not working, we soon found the culprits: Wires were scattered with butt and screw-on connectors while other wires were cut without protection on the ends and therefore frayed ends splayed. Still more wires were leading to, well, unused wires. And all of this was apparently our Cortez’s norm.

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  • Clark Cortez

Brought to Life Again: New Alternator Installed

  • by Soul of a Seeker
  • Posted on September 9, 2019February 23, 2021

Once more our Cortez refuses to fire up, leaving us on the hunt for a matching alternator, only to learn it would be our first Cortez part that did not have an exact match.

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  • Clark Cortez

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

  • by Soul of a Seeker
  • Posted on September 1, 2019November 25, 2020

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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  • Clark Cortez

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

  • by Soul of a Seeker
  • Posted on September 1, 2019November 25, 2020

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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  • Clark Cortez

Our Most Detailed Reno Yet: The Brakes

  • by Soul of a Seeker
  • Posted on August 31, 2019November 25, 2020

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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  • Clark Cortez

Starting Our Vintage RV Restoration: Our Steel Beast is Alive!

  • by Soul of a Seeker
  • Posted on July 30, 2019December 30, 2020

“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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  • Clark Cortez

The Day of (and After) the Bull

  • by Soul of a Seeker
  • Posted on July 29, 2019November 25, 2020

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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  • Clark Cortez

A Running List After Our First Inspection

  • by Soul of a Seeker
  • Posted on July 25, 2019February 17, 2021

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

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soulofaseeker

After we got married, we drove to an open mountain After we got married, we drove to an open mountain field as the sunset. Then we twisted down the mountains to head to a private little West Virginia cottage for our mini-moon. While we always imagined eloping and honeymooning in another country, it turns out our wedding and mini-moon was almost in our backyard in comparison and know what? That was fine with us ❤️

Photo courtesy Ash Carr Photography
***
#vows #husbandandwife #ido #ceremony #weddingceremony #outdoorceremony #cliffedge #appalachiantrail #wedding #ourwedding #elope #weeloped #elopement #outdoorwedding #mountainwedding #shenadoahnationalpark #franklincliffs #tiedtheknot #groom #bride #brideandgroom #ido #yorkshireman #americangirl #thisisus #catherinedeane #sweetcarolinestyles #ashcarrphotography #hazelwitchfarm #covidwedding #covidwedding2020
Y’all, it’s been so cold in Virginia — Andy Y’all, it’s been so cold in Virginia — Andy and I have been dreaming about warm weather and hiking and camping and green leaves and... basically, we cannot wait to return to this very spot to relive this very moment ❤️

Photo courtesy Ash Carr Photography
***
#husbandandwife #ido #ceremony #weddingceremony #outdoorceremony #cliffedge #wedding #elope #weeloped #elopement #outdoorwedding #mountainwedding  #brideandgroom #ido #yorkshireman #americangirl #thisisus #virginiaisforlovers #appalachiantrail #trail #va #virginia #virginiaoutdoors #hikeva #wedding #ourwedding #elope #weeloped #elopement #shenadoahnationalpark #myblueridge #blueridgemountains #franklincliffs #covidwedding #covidwedding2020
We took a break from posting on Instagram recently We took a break from posting on Instagram recently but we really wanted to share the rest of our wedding pictures with you because the amount of swooning over @ashhobsoncarr‘s work is unreal 🥰
This was taken when from the cliff edge right when Andy and I were announced husband and wife 🥰

Photo courtesy Ash Carr Photography
***
#vows #husbandandwife #ido #ceremony #weddingceremony #outdoorceremony #cliffedge #appalachiantrail #wedding #ourwedding #elope #weeloped #elopement #outdoorwedding #mountainwedding #shenadoahnationalpark #franklincliffs #tiedtheknot #groom #bride #brideandgroom #ido #yorkshireman #americangirl #thisisus #catherinedeane #sweetcarolinestyles #ashcarrphotography #hazelwitchfarm #covidwedding #covidwedding2020

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