How many men in the 1950's could diagnose and fix a 2013 computer?
1950 vs 2013
- Thread starter CourierDriver
- Start date
- Status
That looks like a Saturn cluster...
Originally Posted By: MinamiKotaro
Originally Posted By: hattaresguy
You never had a car with a 5 digit odometer?
Not the guy you're asking but I've never seen a mechanical odometer that had more than 5 digits. I'd be curious to see a six-digit mechanical odometer. I'm 34.
Not that unusual...offhand, look in an early Ford Super Duty, a 1997-2003 Econoline, a 90's Chevy van, a 1984-96 Cherokee, or a YJ Wrangler.
Originally Posted By: hattaresguy
You never had a car with a 5 digit odometer?
Not the guy you're asking but I've never seen a mechanical odometer that had more than 5 digits. I'd be curious to see a six-digit mechanical odometer. I'm 34.
Not that unusual...offhand, look in an early Ford Super Duty, a 1997-2003 Econoline, a 90's Chevy van, a 1984-96 Cherokee, or a YJ Wrangler.
Originally Posted By: MinamiKotaro
Originally Posted By: hattaresguy
You never had a car with a 5 digit odometer?
Not the guy you're asking but I've never seen a mechanical odometer that had more than 5 digits. I'd be curious to see a six-digit mechanical odometer. I'm 34.
Plenty of them out there. My '91 Stanza had one, too...
Originally Posted By: hattaresguy
You never had a car with a 5 digit odometer?
Not the guy you're asking but I've never seen a mechanical odometer that had more than 5 digits. I'd be curious to see a six-digit mechanical odometer. I'm 34.
Plenty of them out there. My '91 Stanza had one, too...
Originally Posted By: Tempest
How many men in the 1950's could diagnose and fix a 2013 computer?
Have no idea, but being as they didn't exist it a moot point.
But even today I can't figure out how to post pictures on the net.
How many men in the 1950's could diagnose and fix a 2013 computer?
Have no idea, but being as they didn't exist it a moot point.
But even today I can't figure out how to post pictures on the net.
Last edited:
I have not seen a 1950 vehicle from inside but to the best of my knowledge they did not have trip meters. Which manufacturer was the first one to offer trip meter on their run of the mill cars?
I know 75 Pinto did not but 83 Prelude did.
I know 75 Pinto did not but 83 Prelude did.
Originally Posted By: MinamiKotaro
Originally Posted By: hattaresguy
You never had a car with a 5 digit odometer?
Not the guy you're asking but I've never seen a mechanical odometer that had more than 5 digits. I'd be curious to see a six-digit mechanical odometer. I'm 34.
The Europeans used a lot of them, my 1980's vintage Mercedes had them.
Saab and Volvo used them as well.
And with an 85mph speedo!
Originally Posted By: hattaresguy
You never had a car with a 5 digit odometer?
Not the guy you're asking but I've never seen a mechanical odometer that had more than 5 digits. I'd be curious to see a six-digit mechanical odometer. I'm 34.
The Europeans used a lot of them, my 1980's vintage Mercedes had them.
Saab and Volvo used them as well.
And with an 85mph speedo!
Last edited:
Originally Posted By: MinamiKotaro
Originally Posted By: hattaresguy
You never had a car with a 5 digit odometer?
Not the guy you're asking but I've never seen a mechanical odometer that had more than 5 digits. I'd be curious to see a six-digit mechanical odometer. I'm 34.
I'm younger than you and my last car (1999 Buick LeSabre, may it rust in pieces) had a mechanical 6-digit odometer. When it rolled 100,000 miles the 1 in 100,000 didn't line up correctly for the first few hundred miles.
During my "parking lot mechanic" escapades, I have had folks expressing amazement/awe that I'm attempting something somewhat involved on a car such as suspension work or brakes: 1. By myself. 2. Not being a professional mechanic myself. 3. Doing the work outside. As one person said to me, "it's a hobby these days, but a useful hobby."
Originally Posted By: hattaresguy
You never had a car with a 5 digit odometer?
Not the guy you're asking but I've never seen a mechanical odometer that had more than 5 digits. I'd be curious to see a six-digit mechanical odometer. I'm 34.
I'm younger than you and my last car (1999 Buick LeSabre, may it rust in pieces) had a mechanical 6-digit odometer. When it rolled 100,000 miles the 1 in 100,000 didn't line up correctly for the first few hundred miles.
During my "parking lot mechanic" escapades, I have had folks expressing amazement/awe that I'm attempting something somewhat involved on a car such as suspension work or brakes: 1. By myself. 2. Not being a professional mechanic myself. 3. Doing the work outside. As one person said to me, "it's a hobby these days, but a useful hobby."
I think people were probably more hands on with cars in general in the 1950s, but the culture and the way people lived were very different too. It's hard to cross compare mechanical aptitude from different decades because technology and lifestyles change so much.
My dad is a baby boomer and says he stopped working on cars when he got his 1990 Taurus, my parents' first FWD vehicle. Says FWD packaging made it too much of a nuisance for him. Prior to that, he did maintenance and some repairs himself. I think over time cars went from being something that was meant to be serviceable by the end user to something that was meant to be serviced almost exclusively in a shop with practically no concern for DIY convenience.
As for odometers, any Ford since about 1993/1994 with a mechanical odo should be 6 digits. Ford was using mechanical odos until the early/mid 2000s. My truck has one. I do remember when the 5 digit odo in my parents' '86 Ranger rolled 100K and went back to 0.
My dad is a baby boomer and says he stopped working on cars when he got his 1990 Taurus, my parents' first FWD vehicle. Says FWD packaging made it too much of a nuisance for him. Prior to that, he did maintenance and some repairs himself. I think over time cars went from being something that was meant to be serviceable by the end user to something that was meant to be serviced almost exclusively in a shop with practically no concern for DIY convenience.
As for odometers, any Ford since about 1993/1994 with a mechanical odo should be 6 digits. Ford was using mechanical odos until the early/mid 2000s. My truck has one. I do remember when the 5 digit odo in my parents' '86 Ranger rolled 100K and went back to 0.
Last edited:
There is a LOT of "get off my lawn" in this thread.
These young kids with their electronic ignitions, rock and roll music, and DANCING.
I'm 27, graduated HS in 2004 and I know how use a dwell meter on my Datsun with points. I may be the exception to the rule but I have a lot of car friends that are very capable at fixing their own stuff AND a lot of them work in higher end tech jobs. My God, they're educated, young, AND can rebuild motors.
People in 1950 were more hands on more often because they HAD to. When I drive my old cars I KNOW i'm going to have to fiddle with something eventually.
These young kids with their electronic ignitions, rock and roll music, and DANCING.
I'm 27, graduated HS in 2004 and I know how use a dwell meter on my Datsun with points. I may be the exception to the rule but I have a lot of car friends that are very capable at fixing their own stuff AND a lot of them work in higher end tech jobs. My God, they're educated, young, AND can rebuild motors.
People in 1950 were more hands on more often because they HAD to. When I drive my old cars I KNOW i'm going to have to fiddle with something eventually.
Last edited:
Originally Posted By: AlienBug
Originally Posted By: 123Saab
Originally Posted By: Falken
Cars are more complicated today than they were in the past.
Also, there was a lot more hands-on trades going on in the 1950s.
A man who can hang off the side of a ship and weld all day was probably a lot less nervous around a ratchet than someone who studies high math.
I don't expect anyone to be able to work on a car today.
Most people don't work menial jobs and have enough to afford a house with a small garage while the wife cooks and cleans.
Society is just different today, and in no way better.
In every way better.
If you want, go live in a polio ridden women beating Corrupt 3rd world country to remind you of "The good old days".
Im sure there still are some around.
You left out racially segregated.
I just couldn't leave the racially segregated comment alone....
Are you saying that we are less segregated today? Would you walk through certain neighborhoods in Detroit alone today?
Originally Posted By: 123Saab
Originally Posted By: Falken
Cars are more complicated today than they were in the past.
Also, there was a lot more hands-on trades going on in the 1950s.
A man who can hang off the side of a ship and weld all day was probably a lot less nervous around a ratchet than someone who studies high math.
I don't expect anyone to be able to work on a car today.
Most people don't work menial jobs and have enough to afford a house with a small garage while the wife cooks and cleans.
Society is just different today, and in no way better.
In every way better.
If you want, go live in a polio ridden women beating Corrupt 3rd world country to remind you of "The good old days".
Im sure there still are some around.
You left out racially segregated.
I just couldn't leave the racially segregated comment alone....
Are you saying that we are less segregated today? Would you walk through certain neighborhoods in Detroit alone today?
Kestas
Staff member
Originally Posted By: Jarlaxle
Originally Posted By: Kestas
Originally Posted By: Jarlaxle
Honda still used points in 1976?!?! Wow. Just...wow.
Ford passenger cars had points to 1974, trucks to 1978.
No, I don't think so. I went to school with two guys who had Ford trucks, a 1978 F-250 (300ci six) and a 1976 F-100 (360 FE). Both were Duraspark.
There are exceptions. I got my info from the following web site:
http://www.hot-spark.com/1-3FOR8U1.htm
which shows points were used by Ford to 1978.
Originally Posted By: Kestas
Originally Posted By: Jarlaxle
Honda still used points in 1976?!?! Wow. Just...wow.
Ford passenger cars had points to 1974, trucks to 1978.
No, I don't think so. I went to school with two guys who had Ford trucks, a 1978 F-250 (300ci six) and a 1976 F-100 (360 FE). Both were Duraspark.
There are exceptions. I got my info from the following web site:
http://www.hot-spark.com/1-3FOR8U1.htm
which shows points were used by Ford to 1978.
I'm actually amazed at what guys my age can do tuning some complicated cars. The Nissan GTR guys for example can get HP numbers out of them that in 1950 you were only getting out of aircraft engines. I have also seen some very clean complicated engine swaps of late model Mercedes engines into older cars.
The only difference is that today you sit in a car with a laptop to adjust the tuning, back in 1950 you needed a flat blade to adjust the carb.
The only difference is that today you sit in a car with a laptop to adjust the tuning, back in 1950 you needed a flat blade to adjust the carb.
Last edited:
- Status
