Things that I don't need on my truck

[jejeosborne]

I've still got two trucks with points, a '69 F-350 cab/chassis and a '75 C60 dump truck. I keep telling myself I need to change them over to electronic ignition but can't bring myself to do it. Something about the simplicity and nostalgia of it. You walk into an auto parts store nowadays and ask for a points file or a dwell meter and they look dumfounded. :laughing:

(BTW, I'm only 28, I must just be a glutton for punishment.)

Even scarier, most single engine and small twin engine airplanes have magnetos and big Borg Warner carburetors that look like they came off an antique tractor. One would think technology would first appear in aircraft. Not in our sue happy world. Being an aircraft mechanic years ago, had to set the timing for both magnetos in the engines. One fired the bottom plugs and the other the top plugs. Each mag probably weighed 10 lbs.

 

[Verticaltrx]

Even scarier, most single engine and small twin engine airplanes have magnetos and big Borg Warner carburetors that look like they came off an antique tractor. One would think technology would first appear in aircraft. Not in our sue happy world. Being an aircraft mechanic years ago, had to set the timing for both magnetos in the engines. One fired the bottom plugs and the other the top plugs. Each mag probably weighed 10 lbs.

I wouldn't say scarier, simplicity and redundancy means high reliability. I too was an aircraft mechanic back in my college days, restoring P-51 Mustangs. I wasn't A&P certified so I didn't get to work with the engines, but knew my way around them well enough. A Rolls-Royce Merlin V12 is a beautiful thing to behold. In our shop we actually didn't do any engine work aside from basic maintenance and such. The engines were sent to Roush for overhaul. Alas, this thread is way off topic again, but there is a lot of interesting mechanical stuff in the aviation world.

 

[timswi]

The adjustable pedals in both my Ford and Nissan are one of our favorite features. For the little lady especially being 5-4 she can keep the seats off the dash and have a little more wiggle room. It has memory buttons that you program and with one touch adjust the pedals, seat, mirrors, ect. Great features in my eyes.

I do not care for the auto 4x4. Had it in a Ford and a GMC and neither were to my liking. In both I hit a patch of ice and was correcting when it engaged and made my corrections over exaggerated due to the instant gain in traction. I prefer to just select 4x4 when needed.

Chris

I use the auto 4x4 becuse I drive about 65 miles a day from country roads to interstates and don't want to switch in and out...I can say that I can't tell the difference between auto and all-in 4x4 in a correction situation on the 2011, it's immediate and accurate...I could feel it kick in on the 2004, and there was a slight delay. The '04 didn't have a locker or any of the other stuff though.

Doubt I'll ever use the adjustable pedals unless I shrink.

 

[buck12]

Things I don't need on my truck: a bow tie. Sorry I just could not resist.

 

[robbyr]

I like watching the first of boating season and seeing the boats leave the dock with the drain plug still in the glove box!

Unfortunately I did this one morning about daybreak circa 1997. Wife and I were going fishing. Back down ramp, push boat off trailer, wife holds rope while I park truck. Walking back I notice back end filling with water. I did not learn until later that you can haul *ss across the water and it will be sucked back out. Stripped down to my tightie whities and went under to feel around and put plug in. Fortunately, only one older gent was on the pier fishing.

 

[timswi]

If the truck that heavy runs a good ET then it should have power to tow.

I've seen 1980's Delta 88's turn a 11 sec 1/4...Doubt it's a great tow vehicle...Fast is fine, and mine is, but I couldn't care less what my truck will ET. I does what a truck should be able to do, and that's why I bought it.

 

[jejeosborne]

I wouldn't say scarier, simplicity and redundancy means high reliability. I too was an aircraft mechanic back in my college days, restoring P-51 Mustangs. I wasn't A&P certified so I didn't get to work with the engines, but knew my way around them well enough. A Rolls-Royce Merlin V12 is a beautiful thing to behold. In our shop we actually didn't do any engine work aside from basic maintenance and such. The engines were sent to Roush for overhaul. Alas, this thread is way off topic again, but there is a lot of interesting mechanical stuff in the aviation world.

I got my A&P in the early 90's. I agree they were reliable but only because of the constant attention they received. 100 hour and annual inspections. Electronic ignition with non moving parts and nothing to get out of time or wear would be better and less chance of a failure. Yes in their day they were works of art. Unfortunately things are still the same and never evolved. Having carburetor ice on final is something I shouldn't be experiencing past the year 1970 in which I was a year old.

 

[PILOON]

What you all are missing is the fact that the good ole farm truck as we know it is a thing of the past what with all the computers and sensors therein.
The more creature comforts gadgets and widgets the bigger the computer you will need in the garage to maintain your farm truck.
As it is even dealers have trouble finding the gremlin that set off the fault codes.
An example is my friends New Holland TC75: it has become a shop queen, they changed just about everything, even down to the computer.
Starts and runs about 500 ft and stops moving. He has 2, so fortunately one seems to usually run and they were purchased just to remove the snow at his place of business. I am starting to believe that he'd have been better off with a couple of old Ford N's at a fraction of the cost.And perhaps maybe one N would have been enough.
Heck for the price of some of the electronic modules in the TC75 he'd have bought a 'good ole N' and kept it running with bailing wire and spare spark plugs and besides it would start without being plugged in all night.

 

[brain55]

Since I have put 65,000 miles on my truck in the last two years the majority if which is dragging 17,000 lbs behind me, I enjoy the creature comforts and power of the newer trucks. What I don't enjoy is that I can't make a simple repair like replacing the exhaust pipe between the manifold and turbos. My pipe broke right at the flange where it bolts to the manifold. I got the nuts off at the manifold flange and removed the exhaust pipe out of the turbos so I could get to a couple of the other bolts, but could not get them out because I did not have a good angle or the leverage to loosen them, and there were two I could not even get too. Either the transmission has to come out or the cab has to come off.

Brian

 

[dusty3030]

Since I have put 65,000 miles on my truck in the last two years the majority if which is dragging 17,000 lbs behind me, I enjoy the creature comforts and power of the newer trucks. What I don't enjoy is that I can't make a simple repair like replacing the exhaust pipe between the manifold and turbos. My pipe broke right at the flange where it bolts to the manifold. I got the nuts off at the manifold flange and removed the exhaust pipe out of the turbos so I could get to a couple of the other bolts, but could not get them out because I did not have a good angle or the leverage to loosen them, and there were two I could not even get too. Either the transmission has to come out or the cab has to come off.

Brian

Ain't that the truth. You can tell real quick turning wrenches how the vehicles are put together as assemblies. Makes it efficient to build them but he!! to work on sometimes.