Things you had to do to old cars that you don't have to anymore with newer cars. Go!
- Thread starter ZZman
- Start date
Walking around the car to see if any bulbs were burned out.
Replacing rotted out exhaust systems.
Replacing rotted out exhaust systems.
Starting the car with a hand crank sticking out of the front end.
Popping a tape or cd in player….
Taking it to the scrapyard when it rolled over on 100k.
When my dad’s 67 Impala hit that milestone (after only two radiator replacements) he declared it to be the finest vehicle ever made.
When my dad’s 67 Impala hit that milestone (after only two radiator replacements) he declared it to be the finest vehicle ever made.
Actually, I don't remember having to change them that often. But you had to remember whether the vehicle had 2 headlamps or 4.
Having to wait for the car to warm up enough that the automatic choke would let the engine slow down enough so you could drive away without spinning the wheels on slippery pavement.
Nick1994
$100 site donor 2024
Pull the “key” out of my pocket to open the door or start it.
I don't miss ignition points, carburetors, bias ply tires and high fuel consumption.
Brakes, plugs and tires now last a multiple of what they did back in the good old days, and alternators, starters, fuel pumps and water pumps are in many cases now lifetime parts.
They don't build 'em like they used to, thankfully.
Brakes, plugs and tires now last a multiple of what they did back in the good old days, and alternators, starters, fuel pumps and water pumps are in many cases now lifetime parts.
They don't build 'em like they used to, thankfully.
Smell them running cold. They stank of gasoline with ALL those poor carbs. Fuel Injection it disappeared.
Putting on a set of winter tires. A set meant two winter tires in the back.
Stop at the bottom of the pass and swap jets. I hate carburetion with a passion, but I come from a background of high altitude rock crawling.
I expect a vehicle to start and run well at any temperature, any altitude, and any angle. And that's not too much to ask with EFI.
I expect a vehicle to start and run well at any temperature, any altitude, and any angle. And that's not too much to ask with EFI.
Oil changes.
22,000 miles, did my first maintenance today.
22,000 miles, did my first maintenance today.
Replace the distributor cap and rotor.
Vacuum wipers, 1-2 times per year had to suck a capful of brake fluid into the vent port. The brake fluid would soften the leather seals so the wipers would work another few months.
Also, old cars I had to slow way down at night to see.
Also, old cars I had to slow way down at night to see.
SammyChevelleTypeS3
$50 site donor 2023
Those comments remind me of just about every "service station" we used to pass. Because nearly everyone had the sign on the shop repair bay doors that said "24HrsMechanic on Duty24Hrs." Lots of drivers were very happy to see that sign since you always seemed to need something attended to. Especially on the long road trips before the interstates.
One thing we all lost that was a good thing - Full service gas stations. The pulling up and telling the attendant , check under the hood and how much and the type fuel he was to pump into your tank. My first job after school was pumping gas at a full service Gulf station at .45 to .49 cents a gallon.
I bet many on BITOG recall that strange period when the private and company owned full service stations were slowly phased out. Good thing the quality of vehicles improved along the way because suddenly the only thing along the roads became the "convinience stores" with gas pumps to serve yourself and zero employees who knew anything about the automobiles that pulled in day and night.
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