Owning a car in the 60's and 70's?
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carbs out of adjustment probably the number one maybe ignition but don't forget the warrantee was much shorter in the 70's it was 12 months 12,000 miles..
There were not any "problems" with automobile engines until they started adding sensors and gizmoes. Engines just simply wore out faster and needed regular adj and tune. Electrical compontants were not as durable and plastics were a complete joke but there was not the mass of problems like we see today.
There was a lot more work on the older cars,we did a lot more major work than we do today.They were under stressed and over designed compared to the computer designed cars built to the edge of material strength.
We have an old 1965 Holden in at the moment,repowered with a Rover V8 - I might have to work on it as the young guys haven't got a clue about carbs and points ign.I told them they will have to get dwell correct on the dist - they have never heard of the word or what it means.
We have an old 1965 Holden in at the moment,repowered with a Rover V8 - I might have to work on it as the young guys haven't got a clue about carbs and points ign.I told them they will have to get dwell correct on the dist - they have never heard of the word or what it means.
First Brand New car I bought was a '72 Camaro. I live in a samll town and drove it home approx, 4/5 blocks. Had my folks come out to see my new car and maybe go for a ride and it wouldn't start. Didn't even have 5 miles on it. Throttle or choke was stuck, don't remember which.
Course this car was a real bummer all the time I had it, 6 months. Sold it and got an Opel GT, and really had carb troubles. Ended up with a New '72 Corvette, which ended my problems.
This was all in one year. One thing back in those days cars were not nearly as expensive, I paid cash for all of them.
Course this car was a real bummer all the time I had it, 6 months. Sold it and got an Opel GT, and really had carb troubles. Ended up with a New '72 Corvette, which ended my problems.
This was all in one year. One thing back in those days cars were not nearly as expensive, I paid cash for all of them.
I really don't remember any problems until they started to put emission stuff on. The 70's were a plumbing nightmare, the 50's and 60's were a dream.
Early emissions caused stalling after start before fully warm,ice cold not a problem but as warming up ,chokes mostly on too long or off too soon or sticking open.
Then run-on when hot in hot weather (dieseling)
gad what a trip down memory lane!
Then run-on when hot in hot weather (dieseling)
gad what a trip down memory lane!
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Mostly carb and points that needed replacing every 12-15,000 miles. My 75 Chevy had plugs that were totally shot every 6000 miles due to emissions, more routine maint but did not have to deal with computer glitches, oxygen sensors. todays cars really are more reliable though and certainly require less routine maint.
You guys must have some pretty censored memories. Cars today can go 100,000 miles with only oil changes. 100,000 miles in a car from the '60s would have needed 6-8 full tune-ups (points, plug, cap and rotor, ballast resistor (if a Chrysler), and a carb adjustment), a couple PCV valves and breather filters (if you were lucky enough to have a PCV system and not a simple road-draft tube), and a timing chain.
This is, of coruse, barring any mechanical failure like wiped camshaft lobes, chewed up distributor drive gears, or broken oil pump drives, all of which were not uncommon failures.
Don't forget good 'ol rawhide crank seals and cork valve cover gaskets that leaked more oil out than they sealed in. I mentioned road-draft tubes... remember old pictures of highways and that single black strip in the middle of each lane? Yeah, that's an oil slick from the road-draft tube constantly belching oil under the car.
The rest of the car? Bias-ply tires, [censored] sealed beam headlamps (and they were considered hight tech!), vacuume powered wipers, and shocks that didn't go more than 25,000 miles before they were shot.
This is, of coruse, barring any mechanical failure like wiped camshaft lobes, chewed up distributor drive gears, or broken oil pump drives, all of which were not uncommon failures.
Don't forget good 'ol rawhide crank seals and cork valve cover gaskets that leaked more oil out than they sealed in. I mentioned road-draft tubes... remember old pictures of highways and that single black strip in the middle of each lane? Yeah, that's an oil slick from the road-draft tube constantly belching oil under the car.
The rest of the car? Bias-ply tires, [censored] sealed beam headlamps (and they were considered hight tech!), vacuume powered wipers, and shocks that didn't go more than 25,000 miles before they were shot.
yeah, I remember. You had to have a new routine for each vehicle!
But todays vehicles are LIGHT YEARS better. Practically maintenance free compared to the 'good ole daze'.
But todays vehicles are LIGHT YEARS better. Practically maintenance free compared to the 'good ole daze'.
Originally Posted By: crazyoildude
carbs out of adjustment probably the number one maybe ignition but don't forget the warrantee was much shorter in the 70's it was 12 months 12,000 miles..
Besides carb problems that was it for me...The best running car I had during the 70's was a 77 Caprice...I do not do any work on the carb or anything...I didn't even run hot in bumper to bumper traffic with the a/c on...A lot of cars back then ran hot in traffic...I put on 150K trouble free miles.
I tried Mobil 1 for the first time in that car...The [305] engine sounded like a broken washing machine with it..I took it out and put the 5w30 Mobil dino back in it and all was well.
I know a lot of people here did not like the 305 engine but I had absolutley no issues with that engine.
Also back in the 70's the dealers seemed to care a lot more about their customers...The service advisor used to walk you out to your car when the car was done with service to make sure you were happy...That was when a dealer was a dealer and not a stealership.
carbs out of adjustment probably the number one maybe ignition but don't forget the warrantee was much shorter in the 70's it was 12 months 12,000 miles..
Besides carb problems that was it for me...The best running car I had during the 70's was a 77 Caprice...I do not do any work on the carb or anything...I didn't even run hot in bumper to bumper traffic with the a/c on...A lot of cars back then ran hot in traffic...I put on 150K trouble free miles.
I tried Mobil 1 for the first time in that car...The [305] engine sounded like a broken washing machine with it..I took it out and put the 5w30 Mobil dino back in it and all was well.
I know a lot of people here did not like the 305 engine but I had absolutley no issues with that engine.
Also back in the 70's the dealers seemed to care a lot more about their customers...The service advisor used to walk you out to your car when the car was done with service to make sure you were happy...That was when a dealer was a dealer and not a stealership.
Originally Posted By: HyperJinx
There were not any "problems" with automobile engines until they started adding sensors and gizmoes. Engines just simply wore out faster and needed regular adj and tune. Electrical compontants were not as durable and plastics were a complete joke but there was not the mass of problems like we see today.
The problems of the 60's and 70's were unknown as that information was not revealed or accessible as now. This is general statement that applies to almost everything.
There were not any "problems" with automobile engines until they started adding sensors and gizmoes. Engines just simply wore out faster and needed regular adj and tune. Electrical compontants were not as durable and plastics were a complete joke but there was not the mass of problems like we see today.
The problems of the 60's and 70's were unknown as that information was not revealed or accessible as now. This is general statement that applies to almost everything.
65 Chevvies recalled to have motor mount cables fitted. Single circuit drum brakes. PLugs and points every yr. SA oils that looked like road tar under the valve covers. No provisions for rust through. A 50s car was ready for the junkyard by 75K miles. I miss the lines and the styling, but not the constant maintenance. Modern cars with 4 wheel power disc brakes, electronic engine mgt and fuel injection are waay better and safer.
My first car with EFI made a believer out of me.
My first car with EFI made a believer out of me.
Originally Posted By: CROWNVIC4LIFE
Also back in the 70's the dealers seemed to care a lot more about their customers...The service advisor used to walk you out to your car when the car was done with service to make sure you were happy...That was when a dealer was a dealer and not a stealership.
This was an era where the majority of profit was made on the initial selling of the car.
Now most of the profit is made on the selling of parts or service after the car has been sold. For the uninformed customer, that's too bad.
Also back in the 70's the dealers seemed to care a lot more about their customers...The service advisor used to walk you out to your car when the car was done with service to make sure you were happy...That was when a dealer was a dealer and not a stealership.
This was an era where the majority of profit was made on the initial selling of the car.
Now most of the profit is made on the selling of parts or service after the car has been sold. For the uninformed customer, that's too bad.
My first car was a '51 Ford and my first NEW car was a '65 Pontiac. The old cars needed more maintenance but the maintenance was easy to do. You could almost stand under the hood alongside a 6 cyl motor to change the plugs !! The bodies didn't last (especially here in Canadian winter salt) but I miss the simplicity of the old engines. The cars also had BUMPERS and minor bumps or pushing a car to get it started didn't result in a $2000.00 insurance claim !! Perhaps one of today's auto companies will "discover" the simple bumper again and free the consumer from horrendous insurance premiums... 5 mph impact = $0.00 damage.
Wouldn't the cars of today be great if the just displayed the error code for problems rather than a "Check engine" light ?
like hone eagle said: "nice trip down memory lane"...
Wouldn't the cars of today be great if the just displayed the error code for problems rather than a "Check engine" light ?
like hone eagle said: "nice trip down memory lane"...
Originally Posted By: Papa Bear
My first car was a '51 Ford and my first NEW car was a '65 Pontiac. The old cars needed more maintenance but the maintenance was easy to do. You could almost stand under the hood alongside a 6 cyl motor to change the plugs !! The bodies didn't last (especially here in Canadian winter salt) but I miss the simplicity of the old engines. The cars also had BUMPERS and minor bumps or pushing a car to get it started didn't result in a $2000.00 insurance claim !! Perhaps one of today's auto companies will "discover" the simple bumper again and free the consumer from horrendous insurance premiums... 5 mph impact = $0.00 damage.
Wouldn't the cars of today be great if the just displayed the error code for problems rather than a "Check engine" light ?
like hone eagle said: "nice trip down memory lane"...
I totally agree with what you mean about simplicity. Unfortunately, consumers today like technical wizardry over simplicity, otherwise the electronics industry in general wouldn't be what it is today.
On bumpers however, I have to disagree. If someone hits my trucks bumper (functionally equivalent to a 1950's bumper) it's going to get one mean scuff or dent in it at 5 mph. If someone hits a modern pedestrian-safe plastic bumper at 5 mph, it will probably deform like a milk jug and pop back in shape. I've seen it happen many times.
Replacement costs for the new bumpers ARE astronomical though, which seems doubly ridiculous given that they're probably just melted down milk jugs to begin with.
My first car was a '51 Ford and my first NEW car was a '65 Pontiac. The old cars needed more maintenance but the maintenance was easy to do. You could almost stand under the hood alongside a 6 cyl motor to change the plugs !! The bodies didn't last (especially here in Canadian winter salt) but I miss the simplicity of the old engines. The cars also had BUMPERS and minor bumps or pushing a car to get it started didn't result in a $2000.00 insurance claim !! Perhaps one of today's auto companies will "discover" the simple bumper again and free the consumer from horrendous insurance premiums... 5 mph impact = $0.00 damage.
Wouldn't the cars of today be great if the just displayed the error code for problems rather than a "Check engine" light ?
like hone eagle said: "nice trip down memory lane"...
I totally agree with what you mean about simplicity. Unfortunately, consumers today like technical wizardry over simplicity, otherwise the electronics industry in general wouldn't be what it is today.
On bumpers however, I have to disagree. If someone hits my trucks bumper (functionally equivalent to a 1950's bumper) it's going to get one mean scuff or dent in it at 5 mph. If someone hits a modern pedestrian-safe plastic bumper at 5 mph, it will probably deform like a milk jug and pop back in shape. I've seen it happen many times.
Replacement costs for the new bumpers ARE astronomical though, which seems doubly ridiculous given that they're probably just melted down milk jugs to begin with.
Originally Posted By: MrHorspwer
You guys must have some pretty censored memories. Cars today can go 100,000 miles with only oil changes. 100,000 miles in a car from the '60s would have needed 6-8 full tune-ups (points, plug, cap and rotor, ballast resistor (if a Chrysler), and a carb adjustment), a couple PCV valves and breather filters (if you were lucky enough to have a PCV system and not a simple road-draft tube), and a timing chain.
This is, of coruse, barring any mechanical failure like wiped camshaft lobes, chewed up distributor drive gears, or broken oil pump drives, all of which were not uncommon failures.
Don't forget good 'ol rawhide crank seals and cork valve cover gaskets that leaked more oil out than they sealed in. I mentioned road-draft tubes... remember old pictures of highways and that single black strip in the middle of each lane? Yeah, that's an oil slick from the road-draft tube constantly belching oil under the car.
The rest of the car? Bias-ply tires, [censored] sealed beam headlamps (and they were considered hight tech!), vacuume powered wipers, and shocks that didn't go more than 25,000 miles before they were shot.
Agreed.
Remember how easy it was to flood the engines when setting the automatic choke? How easy it was to vapor lock a 1960's vintage car? It used to be normal to replace alternators or rebuild generators around 50,000. A 1950's or 1960's car with more than 100,000 miles was rare.
I much prefer modern, reliable vehicles.
You guys must have some pretty censored memories. Cars today can go 100,000 miles with only oil changes. 100,000 miles in a car from the '60s would have needed 6-8 full tune-ups (points, plug, cap and rotor, ballast resistor (if a Chrysler), and a carb adjustment), a couple PCV valves and breather filters (if you were lucky enough to have a PCV system and not a simple road-draft tube), and a timing chain.
This is, of coruse, barring any mechanical failure like wiped camshaft lobes, chewed up distributor drive gears, or broken oil pump drives, all of which were not uncommon failures.
Don't forget good 'ol rawhide crank seals and cork valve cover gaskets that leaked more oil out than they sealed in. I mentioned road-draft tubes... remember old pictures of highways and that single black strip in the middle of each lane? Yeah, that's an oil slick from the road-draft tube constantly belching oil under the car.
The rest of the car? Bias-ply tires, [censored] sealed beam headlamps (and they were considered hight tech!), vacuume powered wipers, and shocks that didn't go more than 25,000 miles before they were shot.
Agreed.
Remember how easy it was to flood the engines when setting the automatic choke? How easy it was to vapor lock a 1960's vintage car? It used to be normal to replace alternators or rebuild generators around 50,000. A 1950's or 1960's car with more than 100,000 miles was rare.
I much prefer modern, reliable vehicles.
My dad has told me stories about the old cars. His 55 Dodge with a Hemi needed a valve job at 40K.
He had a Desoto that needed a rod bearing at a very low milage...20-30k I forget exaxctly.
63 Dodge with a Poly 318 needed the heads done too.
He had a 66 Dodge Hemi that he hated not because of it breaking down but the spark plug wells would fill with rain water and leave him stranded.
In the 70's electronic ignitions were always quitting. Everybody that knew carried a spare module with them. Chrysler guys carried an extra ballast resister. In the late 70's cars were just a big vacuum leak waiting to happen.
Gm cars in the 70's liked to puke the charcoal canister insides into the quadrajet carb.
He had a Desoto that needed a rod bearing at a very low milage...20-30k I forget exaxctly.
63 Dodge with a Poly 318 needed the heads done too.
He had a 66 Dodge Hemi that he hated not because of it breaking down but the spark plug wells would fill with rain water and leave him stranded.
In the 70's electronic ignitions were always quitting. Everybody that knew carried a spare module with them. Chrysler guys carried an extra ballast resister. In the late 70's cars were just a big vacuum leak waiting to happen.
Gm cars in the 70's liked to puke the charcoal canister insides into the quadrajet carb.
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I remember a lot of valve jobs needing to be done, which seems odd given that we had leaded gas.
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