Reminiscing about older vehicles

[turnkey4099]

There's no doubt I'd like to have a 60's muscle car...as a toy. As a daily driver? Not so much.

My tune changed completely after one experience. Don't remember the specific year/date, but my vehicles were a 1984 Dodge Aries K, a 1967 Chevy K20 and a 1988 Dodge Dakota.

It was bitter cold and I went out at oh-dark-30 to go to work. No garage at the time.

I learned how to start vehicles in cold weather in Michigan in the 60's, so I'm not a beginner.

The K-car (Carburetted 4 cylinder) would NOT start. Barely turn over, not the first hint of fire.

The K20 had a new engine with a brand new Edelbrock carb and intake and a new battery. Same deal. Turn over slowly like the crank was stirring half-set tar, not a snowball's chance it was going to fire.

Hopped in the Dakota. 3.9V6, throttle body injection, electronic ignition. Turned the key and VROOOM! Took right off, and kept running without having to sit in a freezing cab diddling the throttle and choke praying it would keep running long enough to warm up. Flipped the heater on full blast and went back in the house.

Lost all interest in carburetted vehicles (and vehicles with points) right then and there.

After all these years it still surprises me that my truck 1989 F150) and previous ones of a bit earlier vintage ALWAYS fires first jug up.

No, I don't miss those old timey vehickles and their quirks. Can't work on the newer rigs but then I never could anyhow

Harry K

Harry K

 

[kidr]

It was fun watching those old cars turn to a pile of rust before your eyes. It was almost......magic.

 

[Weedy Fields]

You can have your old cars and update them with newer technologies and have the best of both worlds.

Last old car I had was a 65 Pontiac Tempest wagon, put in a modern 5 speed overdrive transmission, pointless ignition, radial tires, upgraded to newer model disc brakes, upgraded the suspension to a more modern setup, upgraded the power steering to have more feel and quicker ratio. The sky is the limit on what you can do to update an old car with modern tech. I had a 65 GTO that I had updated with fuel injection.

My problem with newer cars is not the technology but the lack of choice on how much you get. The over complication of new cars. My '06 wagon has computer controlled water pump and thermostat. Its gotten to the point that once was a simple mechanical system that cost about $30 in parts has become overly complicated electronically controlled stuff that cost $800 in parts. Not to mention the added cost to replace because you have to disassemble half the engine compartment to get at the parts. Sometimes its worth it sometimes its not.

As far as new cars, they could even be better. I'd love to see more attention go to building reliability over adding features that I don't even want. Hard to buy a new car without all kinds of junk I don't want.

 

[ovrszd]

Reminiscing is fun. It's just not something to take seriously. I bought a brand new 1969 Mustang. Can daydream on and on about how great that car was. Then reality kicks in. It sucked in regards to any level of comfort, safety or convenience.

I'm sure my Great Grandpa was very proud of this car. And I'm sure it was as good as it gets for the time period. But I don't want to have to depend on it.




Just like I was proud to drive this ole 8N, named Sputnik after the Russian spacecraft. But I don't want to have to use one like it every day today.

 

[kcflhrc]

I don't know, I like all the gadgets. As far as troubleshooting, hook the vehicle up to an OBD Scanner and it will pretty much tell you what's ailing it. Was it simpler back in the good ole days? Sure. But I'm quite happy with my 2014 Silverado LTZ. It makes me happy. The Government has forced a lot of these issues with the stiffer EPA Regulations.

 

[Rustyiron]

Yeah, I miss having to …... pack wheel bearings, .NOT.

I agree on the rest of your points, but packing a wheel brng. every 50k is a lot better than having a "non serviceable" bearing fail, with out notice or warning, taking out all the abs stuff and possibly more. Up until these "throw away" bearings, I have never replaced a bearing, ever. I also never had to replace a timing belt that can let go and ruin an engine either.
Ok, I guess the real emotion here is I would like to be 18-20 again!, and I'll deal with the "new car tech" like tire pressure monitors and the like.:drink:

 

[ovrszd]

Ok, I guess the real emotion here is I would like to be 18-20 again

Eric, I'm wayyyyyyy too tired to be 18 again!!!!!

 

[dmccarty]

New cars and trucks are very reliable and take much less maintenance but what happens when that one sensor, ECM, or chip needs replacement and there are no replacements?

I really don't think I will see my current truck driving down the road in 20-30 years like you can today with cars built in the 30's, 40's, 50's or 60's. Once the chips disappear you just have scrap.

Later,
Dan

 

[Rustyiron]

Eric, I'm wayyyyyyy too tired to be 18 again!!!!!

Oh me too, I would hope that would be a cure:laughing:

 

[Rustyiron]

New cars and trucks are very reliable and take much less maintenance but what happens when that one sensor, ECM, or chip needs replacement and there are no replacements?

I really don't think I will see my current truck driving down the road in 20-30 years like you can today with cars built in the 30's, 40's, 50's or 60's. Once the chips disappear you just have scrap.
Later,
Dan

It's funny you say that, I sometimes listen to "the car doctor" guy on the radio, just this past weekend he was saying the exact same thing with examples from his shop in NJ. He couldn't get a part for a 99 (?) Lincoln's anti theft system, it's now obsolete. He also said that Chrysler Fiat is real bad for parts support. In another instance, my friend had a 2006 GMC 5500 truck, the wiring harness had given him major problems, partially due to plowing (salt), but quite a bit from chaffing by "cobbing" this truck together from a GM van (the cab) and a truck chassis. No replacement wiring harness available from GM.
You might see your current truck on the road in 30 years, absent a bunch of electric stuff and a whole bunch of spliced wiring.:laughing: