New truck #@$%@#&

[ultrarunner]

Funny how a "while" ago, people knew how to make bumpers that absorbed low speed energy, and survived just fine.....

Model T Ford Forum: Will the bumper bracket fit with twin hasslers?

Guess we're too "smart" to understand that now.....

(More like they'd be too much of a drag on the economy.....)

Rgds, D.

Model A Bumpers are made of spring steel... the same used for the spring packs..

It was 90 years ago since the Model A debut... but it is fascinating how many things Ford got right and the proof is just how many have lasted so long.

I have hopped into my 1930 and had no qualms heading out from SF Bay Area to a show in Reno Nevada up highway 50 through Tahoe... it was a very pleasant drive... besides you meet the nicest people on the highway and plenty of photo ops...

 

[Industrial Toys]

Pictures would be appreciated.

 

[ultrarunner]

Ford Model A (1927& - Wikipedia

 

[Industrial Toys]

You are such an interesting man. Don't you take pictures of your stuff and adventures?

 

[ultrarunner]

Probably the least when it comes to taking pictures... and never been one for Facebook

I have a brother that was very much into photography and had some of his works displayed and did weddings for friends... and he took some beautiful pictures... I bet over the years he has spent 25k on cameras with always something better coming out...

No cell coverage here... so owning/upgrading phone has never been viable... and for a long time only dial up and now DSL.

I do carry a company phone with no data plan which means I can take a picture and then send it via email when wi-fi is available... I have had this updated phone a few months and started posting a few more tractor pictures lately...

One foot in the past and one in the present...

 

[3930dave]

It was 90 years ago since the Model A debut... but it is fascinating how many things Ford got right and the proof is just how many have lasted so long.

I have difficulty envisioning many of today's vehicles being around in 90 years.

I think it was Paystar who posted about hauling for a highway job in Northern Ontario. Time to kill on those jobs, so got talking with a local old timer with a nice property beside the highway, and a slew of new vehicles in the driveway. Fella said his A was his favourite vehicle, and if it had to, could go places that gave his 4x4 trucks pause.

That part of the history makes the survival rate even more impressive - what passed for roads on a lot of the continent (esp. seasonally) would be called "overlanding" today. Vehicles often took quite the pounding back when, with just "normal" driving.

Rgds, D.

 

[Oaktree]

I have difficulty envisioning many of today's vehicles being around in 90 years.
Vehicles often took quite the pounding back when, with just "normal" driving.

I doubt any of us will still be around in 90 years, so it's a moot point. I would say that if a modern vehicle is not usable decades down the road, it will have more to do with all the integrated electronics that have become unobtainium than anything else, especially since most of those modules must be flashed (by the dealer) with the VIN to operate.

Here in New England (and I would imagine in Canada as well) rust was the enemy. The copious amounts of road salt used in the winter does a number on vehicles. In the 50s thru at least the 80s 8-10 years was about tops for an American or European vehicle to last before it was rusted out, Japanese vehicles were lucky to get half that. I don't know when salt use became common, maybe they didn't use it during the model A's heyday. I also doubt cars in the 20s or 30s were driven much in the winter or foul weather either.

Consumers loved that era of car bumper. Low speed ding, the shocks on the bumper cycled in/out, and you often didn't even have a scratch (actual chromed steel bumper, for younger readers :thumbsup.

Modern bumpers - cheap, often unfinished raw metal impact bar, with something like styrofoam used, for a one-time event. They pass the standards, for one low-speed hit.

Vehicle manufacturers get to put out a marginally cheaper design; consumers get much higher repair bills for low-speed accidents.

Who, exactly "loved" those 70s-era energy absorbing bumpers? Most people I know thought they were ugly. The 70s were a horrible decade for cars, I'd be hard pressed to name anything memorable except for a handful of 60s carryovers like the VW Beetle or some of the GM midsize cars (Chevelle, Cutlass).

Keep in mind that government crash standards (such as they were at the time) were considerably less stringent 45 years ago than they are today. The requirements are for passenger safety, not cosmetic preservation. But you already knew that.

Model A Bumpers are made of spring steel... the same used for the spring packs..

It was 90 years ago since the Model A debut... but it is fascinating how many things Ford got right and the proof is just how many have lasted so long.

Other than the occasional restored one at a car show, I don't think I've ever seen any "in the wild" in my lifetime.

 

[ultrarunner]

Never have seen a rusted out Model A fender... if a Model A has rust it is usually a spot in the lower cowl panels...

The local chapter is quite active... a few years ago the SF Bay Area group toured New England States and drove a route home hitting National Parks...

As for rust... my work Van... year 1985 has never been inside... the underside is like factory new... no rust proofing... there is some truth to the California Car...

Here, the wreckers are filled with cars having great sheet metal and mostly retired because the 1976 whatever can't pass the emission test... I have several like this that run fine but will not pass smog.



Another Group has driven Alaska to Denali... Colorado and Oregon are favorites too.

Sadly... the longest trip I have made is SF to Reno and back... just don't have the time off others do...

I 1977 I picked up a brand new Mercedes in Germany for the company... it was US model... everywhere I went the locals were checking it out... especially the bumpers... saying what a wonderful option available only on export... plus no domestic car had cup holders... and A/C was quite rare back then...

 

[3930dave]

Who, exactly "loved" those 70s-era energy absorbing bumpers? Most people I know thought they were ugly. The 70s were a horrible decade for cars, I'd be hard pressed to name anything memorable except for a handful of 60s carryovers like the VW Beetle or some of the GM midsize cars (Chevelle, Cutlass).

Keep in mind that government crash standards (such as they were at the time) were considerably less stringent 45 years ago than they are today. The requirements are for passenger safety, not cosmetic preservation. But you already knew that.

Gearheads, and other informed consumers. Lots of people didn't care back then, and still don't. Yep, some junk designs back then for sure, but many years of the 2 door Cutlass were my favourites.....

IIHS #'s.

Tests show most bumpers are bad

There were some better designed (form vs. function) ones back when, but I'd take the ugly ones on the Escort myself. Econoboxes are function over form to me - but I get that won't cut it for many.....

Today many people pay no attention to the repair costs, for various reasons. Get down the road one way or another...... s'all good :thumbsup:

Rgds, D.

 

[Jstpssng]

Rear bumpers for pickups used to be an option. My father opted out when he bought his '75 Power Wagon, then welded one up from a heavy piece of 7" I-beam. Funny thing, he never had problems with people tailgating.

When he sold the truck my cousin put the bumper on another Dodge, 2WD. One day he was spinning on a hill at a stop sign so the 18 wheeler behind him came up and nudged him just enough to get the truck moving. I wouldn't advise that with a new pickup.

 

[3930dave]

Rear bumpers for pickups used to be an option. My father opted out when he bought his '75 Power Wagon, then welded one up from a heavy piece of 7" I-beam. Funny thing, he never had problems with people tailgating.

When he sold the truck my cousin put the bumper on another Dodge, 2WD. One day he was spinning on a hill at a stop sign so the 18 wheeler behind him came up and nudged him just enough to get the truck moving. I wouldn't advise that with a new pickup.

Heavy metal :thumbsup: Not just for listening !

Rgds, D.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

Was surprised yesterday to learn my new pulled 2017 F-150 18" wheels were made in China but the OEM tires are still from Canada. Anything to keep new truck prices low I guess. They are the style on the F-150 that got the body ripped off going 100 miles per hour..

They are looking good on our 2010 F-150 if we can get the right front wheel off. On the way to HF to look for a tool to break loose old damaged nut when the impact socket failed after many attempts

 

[3930dave]

Was surprised yesterday to learn my new pulled 2017 F-150 18" wheels were made in China but the OEM tires are still from Canada. Anything to keep new truck prices low I guess. They are the style on the F-150 that got the body ripped off going 100 miles per hour..

They are looking good on our 2010 F-150 if we can get the right front wheel off. On the way to HF to look for a tool to break loose old damaged nut when the impact socket failed after many attempts

Olde School steel nut Gale ? Or the lame new-school aluminum capped ones ?

With the salt we have here, the Al ones don't last long. I've often found Dorman to have good (quality vs. $) solid steel replacements.

Rgds, D.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

3930dave the nuts look to be 2010 OEM steel nuts but much softer than the old school steel nuts.

Yesterday morning it hit me this was the wheel the body shop pulled off so that explains why it was just one wheel over tight.

5-pc Lugnut Specialty Set - Tools - IRWIN TOOLS

A friend loaned me the above set plus I ordered the $64 set just to have. I will use our new set if they get here before we work on the task this weekend. Our outdoor open air drive way is hard to heat on days like today.

We will use the 3/4" drive socket set so we have good feel of the bite that we get using the hex head. Can't get excited about the impact driver in cases like this.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I am surprised that I have not seen any mention of GM global restructuring here, and in particular to Canadians, the Oshawa Plant closure.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

3930dave the nuts look to be 2010 OEM steel nuts but much softer than the old school steel nuts.

Yesterday morning it hit me this was the wheel the body shop pulled off so that explains why it was just one wheel over tight.

5-pc Lugnut Specialty Set - Tools - IRWIN TOOLS

A friend loaned me the above set plus I ordered the $64 set just to have. I will use our new set if they get here before we work on the task this weekend. Our outdoor open air drive way is hard to heat on days like today.

We will use the 3/4" drive socket set so we have good feel of the bite that we get using the hex head. Can't get excited about the impact driver in cases like this.

Well the stripped lug nut sockets came in but we got side tracked when my son got a deer on the way to college finals this morning in the 2006 Ford Five Hundred car now at 180K miles. When I passed the Ford lot I stopped to look at 3 cars all 2012 models; Hyundai (73K), Toyota (91K) and Chevy Impala (29K) miles. While the Impala LTZ is not a hot car it did come with the new 3.6L DI engine and 6 speed transmission loaded even with remote starting feature and is clean in and out with no rust. The son drove it and the HP and ride was nice so finally at $9500 we said yes. It still has the OEM tires dated 2012 that are fair thread wise but with winter here I am going to replace them now to be on the safe side. He as a 2002 Dodge 1500 but driving nearly 30K annually the MPG factor is a killer.

Now the story on used and new PU's is still High High High locally. The salesman said businesses and farmers that had a good year are buying new PU's like craze before this tax year ends.

 

[Garandman]

Pricing still not announced. If they market them to Jeep Fanbois expect $$$$.

All-New 22 Jeep Gladiator - 4 door Wrangler with a pickup bed.

Hyundai has also "green lighted" a pickup, due out in 2021.

 

[DieselBound]

Pricing still not announced. If they market them to Jeep Fanbois expect $$$$.

All-New 22 Jeep Gladiator - 4 door Wrangler with a pickup bed.

Hyundai has also "green lighted" a pickup, due out in 2021.

Today's Subaru Baja?

Speaking of Subarus and trucks: Subaru Pickup Truck is coming back in 219 - 218-219 Pickup Trucks