Remember When

[towtrucks]

BigBry recently asked for some new forum names. How about "Remember When"?

I enjoy taking my 2 sons to car show and pointing out the "neat" features on automobiles that you will NOT find on today's cars.

Why did people ask for 5 or 10 gallons of gas? Not dollars, but gallons.
Where would you find the gas filler on a 56, 57, Chevrolet? Cadillac?
Remember the Buick Eight? How did you engage the starter?
Remember lifting a certain piece of chrome to open the hood?

[rapideo]

" Lift a piece of chrome to open the hood" Did you know Fords from 37 to 39 required turning the hood ornament to lift the hood? The 39 deluxe and 40 models had a lever at the lower front of the hood to pull to open. I cant remember the one you might be refering to. I know where the Chevy gas caps are,
TNNs Car&Driver show gave away the Buick starter question last week.

[BigBry]

This could be an interesting thread. Don't need a whole forum fo rit, but a thread could be fun.

I'm too young to be saying remember when. Heck, the Fiero was the hip car when I was in school.

[QtrHrsmn]

My sons were confused by the early 70s cars having the fuel filler behind the fold down license plates...LOL

[towtrucks]

rapidoe, you are correct of the 39,40 Fords.
I moved about 5 months and don't have cable. Didn't know about that episode you mentioned.
BigBry, since you mentioned the Fiero, why was it developed?

[thecarguy]

Originally posted by QtrHrsmn
My sons were confused by the early 70s cars having the fuel filler behind the fold down license plates...LOL


my little brother was confused when we had a rental car that did not have power windows and did not know how to roll them down...LOL

as for the buick...how is that? I remember Jay Leno talking about the starting but I forgot how it was done.

and for the 5-10 gallons of gas, back when you were kids gas was like a quarter and so a spwcific # of gallons would be even. ie: 5 gallons @ 25cents = $1.25 now a specific # of gallons would be an odd number like $7.43 so its easyier to just pay $10.

[QtrHrsmn]

I know this is a pretty obvious pair of questions, but you'd be surprized how many people don't know:

The Shelby Mustang designations: GT350 and GT500 came about how, and why?

[towtrucks]

thecarguy, the old Buick Eight (called that because of a straight 8 cylinder engine) was started by depressing the accelarator pedal. That's right, turn the ignition switch on and depress the gas pedal.
As for the 5 or 10 gallons, if you recall seeing the VERY old gas pumps, they had a clear 5 gallon jug on top of the pump. You bought gas by 5 gallon portions. Actually, the gas was pumped into the glass container, and then drained into the car. If you find an old gas pump with a clear dome on the side with 3 colored balls in it, that was to let people know that gas was actually pumping into the car. There was a bell inside the gas pump that would sound at at each gallon. The gas would pass through the dome so you could see something going on. Elderly people would continue asking for gas by 5 or 10 gallons into the late sixties and early seventies.

If you look at an early car or truck, you will see there is no place to lock or unlock the driver's door from the outside......WHY?

[jmedved]

The gas filler on the '56 and '57 Chevy was behind the passenger's (??) side tail light, on the '56, a vertical "handle" had to be rotated, on the '57, a chrome "door" had to be opened. The '55 Ford introduced "behind the license plate" gas filler was for convenience, since you could drive to either side of the gas pump, and dispense gas to your tank. It was later adopted by GM, because it seemed like a good idea, except was vunerable to breakage (read... "gasoline all over the road") during a rear end collision, especially if you were on the receiving end. So, it returned to the side mount, where the filler is less vunerable during a collision. As you can imagine, in the mid '50's, hiding the gas filler was all the rage, unfortunately, that's when I pumped gas at the local filling station, and yes it was embarrasing when my first '56 Chevy came in for gas, and neither the owner nor I could figure out where the heck the filler was located...I think it was another customer that showed us how to open the tail-light.

[howardtheduck2]

For my 16th birthday I got a card that said: Happy birthday to someone who know the value of a dollar: 4 gallons of Gas!

[Chester]

That's because you couldn't lock the doors, then close them. They had to be locked from inside, usually lifting up on the handle then exiting from the only passenger side door that allowed you to lock it from the outside. A lot of places were all mud and you tried to get beside some gravel or maybe a wooden sidewalk so you could get out without getting all dirty so you only needed one door to lock from the outside. At least, that is the way it was were I grew up..................Edmonton in the Forties.

[jmedved]

Chester probably has some of the reasoning very much correct. However, when I first saw that question regarding the locking of the doors from the passenger's side I remembered something that my Dad told me. (He was a cop)..."It's illegal and dangerous to enter or exit a vehicle from the driver's side" (I think he meant if you were parking on the street) Well, I never questioned it, but as vehicles became lower, and impossible to enter from the passenger's side (if you're the driver), I guess the law was summarily ignored. I'll have to do some research to find out if that "law" still exists. That brings up another "law" regarding horse thiefs....It's still on the books in Bucks County, Pa that you can be BRANDED "HT" (Horse Thief) on the forehead if caught stealing a horse. I guess it's something that would make an auto thief think twice about if a similar law were on the books today (no wonder car thiefs have long hair) just kidding...just kidding.

[Wheel]

The cars getting so small is one of the reason the Drive-in movies are almost all gone. In the old days sitting in your car was like sitting on your sofa at home but now no leg room or room for anything else you did at the good ol drive-in. I'm glad I was young then instead of now.

[BigBry]

I thought it was the mosquitos and the horrible audio coming out of that little speaker that killed the drive-in.

[JonKraatz]

Remember when all cars had ignition points ? or carbs ? Surprisingly, most people working in dealer service departments today have never set ignition points and have no idea how to test a condensor, etc.
My 65 GMC pick up could be locked from the outside, but only with a key. Would be a good idea to go back to that system today. It was impossible to lock yourself out of it. You had to have the key to lock the doors !

[llookker]

You guy's remember cars that had vacume wiper motors and when you went driving in the rain and stepped on the gas to hard the wipers stopped. It made for some interesting driving:)

[carsandcycles]

And also: just an AM radio, and when you turned it on, you waited until the tubes warmed up before anything came out of the speakers...........then FM radio (solid state radios by then) and one more musical innovation...............ta da, the 8-track tape player. Ah, the good old days....................., or were they?? ;-)

[danny]

Originally posted by carsandcycles
And also: just an AM radio, and when you turned it on, you waited until the tubes warmed up before anything came out of the speakers...........then FM radio (solid state radios by then) and one more musical innovation...............ta da, the 8-track tape player. Ah, the good old days....................., or were they?? ;-)

hey, you skipped the 45 rpm record player and the four track tape. lol

[llookker]

Ok Ok ther good ones but I bet you don't remember the old ice bucket on the passenger window to create a poor mans air conditioner. :):)

[thecarguy]

Originally posted by llookker
Ok Ok ther good ones but I bet you don't remember the old ice bucket on the passenger window to create a poor mans air conditioner. :):)

I wasnt born yet to see the poor mans a/c but i saw one in a car museum! My uncle told me he remembers the day you could take apart most of a chevy with an 11/16 wrench, hammer, and a few screwdrivers.

[DaddyCool]

Remember when our Dads shouted out GAS prices when we were young??? Now, I'll bet, you do it. I know I do. I guess it's in our DNA...And who the hell was Ethyl??

[76 Mustang II]

Ethyl was really nice to high compression engines...she was, and is, sorely missed....

[QtrHrsmn]

Dadgum it....logged in on wrong name....

How about the Flathead Fords... they were ahead of their time. I wish they had done more development, with modern engineering... I'll bet you could get a lot more out of them than is currently possible... mainly due to a lack of new blocks and parts.

[towtrucks]

Another popular T.V. "Car" show did a show on flathead Fords. Even with today's technology, the results were decent, but not what you can get from an overhead valve engine.

As you all know, your steering wheel is locked when you remove the key, when was that idea first used?

[carsandcycles]

And V-16 Cadillacs, you know they had to have a long hood. Never saw one but built a model of one once. (I'm not that old)

[jmedved]

As I remember, it was more cigar shaped, the length of it ran parallel to the front/rear of the car and hung on the passenger's window. the front end of the device had an fairly small (about 2 to 3 inches in diameter) opening for air to rush in, the air was cooled internally by evaporation of the ice water, then exited the unit thru the rear of the unit. The"gap/hanging" device pulled warm air from the inside of the car, went thru a heat-exchanger, and sent it back into the car. I never really owned one, but it was a novelty in the late 40's, early to mid 50's...As far as flatheads go, yeah, I remember flatheads, and especially the early ones with the dual-point distributor mounted to the front of the camshaft...what a job to replace points, and get them right..it hardly ever happened the first time unless you removed the distributor, and did it on the kitchen table where you could actually see what you were working on....One point that many people forget, is that the Ford flathead 6 cylinder could outrun the flathead V-8 quite easily, I dunno when they stopped manufacturing that little 6 cylinder screamer...It just breathed so much better than the V-8, and had a much longer stroke (tons more torque).......thanks for the memories

[jmedved]

I almost forgot....in the days of the vacuum wiper motors, a monitor rode in the competitor's cars of the Mobil Gas Economy Run, just to see that the drivers didn't run the wipers unless they were really needed....I guess the small vacuum leak improved gas mileage.....The vacuum motor air inlet had a small piece of felt (some called it a filter) that used to get clogged with dirt & dust. Then, no air could enter, and the vacuum motor wouldn't work..step on the gas, even a little, and the wipers would stop. The trick was to keep this little filter clean so air could pass thru it freely, and the wipers would work fairly well (most of the time) boy am I glad they're gone. I wonder how many accidents were caused by stalled wipers while going uphill in a rain storm, I'm sure that there were more than just a few.

[scottking]

what the heck was behind the name FORD AERONUTRONIC radio? what crappy sound compared to todays sound systems. Who misses the good old push button radio and the dial to turn the station in.

When Canadian cars converted to kilometers

Most of all I miss those 6 volts head lamps puts HID to shame

[Victory]

In my area it is still on the books to enter and exit from the sidewalk side of the car. A father of a friend of mine was getting out of his car and a car driving by took his door right off. He got the ticket for exiting from the wrong side. Kind of like stupid parents getting their children out into traffic, duh?!?

I remember keeping a book of matches in the car to set the points and then we used them to hide the "Check Engine " light. :-))

A '49 Buick you could pul both hood latches and take the hood completely off.

Heck I remember when people stopped at red lights and didn't hit the brakes for green lights. :-)))

I remember when all cars had working turn signals or are people just too lazy to use them now?

[speedwobble]

That's interesting about the lock cylinder only on the passenger side {I remember seeing that} but now I notice that on some of the new vehicles there isn't a lock cylinder at all on the passenger side. Just look at a new Grand Cherokee and see what I mean. They come with Keyless entry as standard equipment. It's like something coming full circle.

[Chester]

That locked steering wheel feature was part of the ignition switch on 1936 Fords.........probably on others also.

[JDAZE]

In High School (1982) I traded my 1974 Vega for a 1957 Chevy 2-Door Post Bel-Air. My dream car! I wanted that car so bad I could taste it! It was for sale but being only 18, I had no money. My Dad put a new steel sleeved engine in my Vega, so It did run great. After about two weeks of asking the owner of the 57 he finally said OK to the trade. Well, after my friend and I picked up the car, we had to cruize it, but it needed gas. We pulled into the gas staition, and to our surprise It had no gas cap anywhere! We looked all over the car, in the truck, in the back seat, under the hood! We could see the gas tank but, no filler!! The guy who ran the gas station even came out to help. We were all stumped!! We could'nt drive it back to the past owner either, as we were out of gas! Well after looking for about 30 minutes a "old timer" asked me what I was doing now under the car. I told him the whole story of how I can see the gas tank and filler hose but, no place to put the gas in! He smiled and walked away, but in perfect stride with his right hand he flipped open the chrome cover on the left hand side tail fin! I never felt so dumb in all my life!

Joey

[towtrucks]

I always giggle when I think of the times we would send "the new guy" to the parts store for a lower radiator hose for a Chevy Corvair (or V.W. bug).

[thecarguy]

I dont get it. Is there no lower hose?

[xxgarxx]

no radiator means no hoses hehe I think my favorite one i have seen is on the old hudsons you could get a power antena option but the thing was is that it was vacume operated so when you started the car the antena would go up

[danny]

late 40's buicks had the radio antenna just above the windshield in the center of the car and it could be turned down to enter the garage.

[scottking]

Well I was taking a quick look at my fathers old driver hand book, it states for an automatic car to use your left foot for the brake and the right foot for the gas. Is this correct?

I know that with todays rule books you take your right foot off the gas and use the right foot for the brake with and automatic.

So can someone clear this up and tell me if at one time the rules for an automatic was left foot for brake, right foot for gas

[hemiman69]

Well, I'm too young to "remember when" days. But I can tell you a quick story of how I came across my latest car. Me and a friend went over to this guy's house to look at his '69 Charger R/T with 440 Magnum. We talked with the guy about it for a little while. After the discussion, I began to look around the place (this guy lives in a small country town), and saw another '69 Charger in the back yard, and I asked if I could go look at it, he said ok, but there wasn't much to look at. I went back there, and thought it was just the basic Charger, until I got closer. I noticed that it was another R/T with 440 Magnum as well. Despite it's somewhat rough condition, I proceded to look at it closer, I noticed some badging on the sail panel, that said "SE". Well, I now know that I have found an R/T SE, that has a 440 Magnum. After decoding all the numbers, I have found a rare car, this one has cruise control, and a rear luggage rack, along with some other rare options. I made a deal with the guy, where if I got it outa his yard, the car is mine, well, I got a free '69 Charger R/T SE. That's pretty much summed up.

[chevyman]

i was a rule at one time. my grandmother drives like, scares me too cause she cant stop to well doing it like that.

[BigBry]

I've tried to brake with my left foot several times and I give myself an achy neck every time. Just doesn't have the feel the right foot has.

[thecarguy]

i dont think it really matters what foot you use

[scottking]

your right it does not matter what foot you use as long as the pedal is kept to the floor.

I did trying braking with the left foot the way my father was taught and tested and just about rear ended a baby benz today.

[Wheel]

I've ordered a new truck and one thing I already don't like about it before I get it is it has no vent windows. who's bright idea was that to do away with vent windows? The truck I have now has vent windows, and the head light dimmer is on the floor where it should be, the wiper switch is on the dash and how about the good ol vents under the dash, pull a cable or open a little door and you had all the vent you needed. I'm gonna have to get another older ride. One where the key goes in the dash also.

[QtrHrsmn]

Then may I recommend a 66 Ford F-100... good solid truck, vent wing windows, floor vents, and tons of personality.... Oh, wait, that's my brother's truck! LOL He has a 66 that someone put a sunroof in... It's a really nice truck, if you don't mind that it handles like a buckboard...

[chevyman]

i remember my first truck(but im only 18)79 chevy. vvent window wings, floor dimer switch no working inside lights. shes dead now though steering colum went shot and her front axel locked up.

[thecarguy]

Originally posted by Wheel
I've ordered a new truck and one thing I already don't like about it before I get it is it has no vent windows. who's bright idea was that to do away with vent windows? The truck I have now has vent windows, and the head light dimmer is on the floor where it should be, the wiper switch is on the dash and how about the good ol vents under the dash, pull a cable or open a little door and you had all the vent you needed. I'm gonna have to get another older ride. One where the key goes in the dash also.

On my sequoia the key goes into the dash! it also does on the tundura and i believe all of the toyota trucks and suv's.

[Wheel]

I would only own a Ford, Chevy or Dodge!!! But Ford it always the first on the list.

[Highwayman]

Yeah, today if you only buy American, you are limited to 3 choices. Anyone old enough to remember all the choices there used to be in American cars? I'm not, but I sure like seeing them in car shows. Names like Studebaker, Packard, Hudson, Lasalle, Rambler, Dusenburg, Auburn, Cord, Nash. I am old enough to remember AMC when it was still independent. Also, Plymouth trucks, Mercury trucks(Canada only),International pickups. And Dodge and Chevy made tractor semi-trailer trucks too!

[rapideo]

jmedved points out that its dangerous to get out of the car on the driver side. I rembered a story about a guy who rode a bicycle to work, he was late one morning and was peddling furously along the main drag near the UT campus when some one parallel parked opened the door.....

[TNcarguy]

OK, guys. Here's a couple for you. Someone mentioned the floor mounted dimmer switches. Remember the old Chevy truck floor mounted starter button? Also, Buick (mid-sixties) had a "sliding" speedometer with a buzzer you could set for the speed you didn't want to exceed. How about Caddies with kick panel mounted trash cans and GM windshield washer bags, instead of bottles? While we're at it, remember metal canned oil filters with inserts, and oil filled air cleaners, and elbow shocks?? How about dwell meters and the flexible allen wrench screwdriver you used to set points on a GM?

[89s10]

what about the buick with the spedo that changed colors the faster you went 1st was green 2snd orange 3rd was red you was gone then but dont heat up the brakes then you had antlock brakes would not stop for awhile

[raceman6135]

At my parent's summer cottage, we use a refridgerator built by International Harvester! It still works great to keep "beverages" cold -- mind you, it's not running through most of the fall, winter and spring as the weather on the Canadian prairies doesn't allow us to use an uninsulated cabin!

We also had a General Motors deep freeze, but I can barely remember that and it's been gone for a long time.

DJS

[raceman6135]

Oh, I remembered something else! I remember when engine oil came in metal cans, and you had to use either a flat blade screwdriver to punch a hole in it, or you had a special nozzle (or spout) that had a built-in punch. As a young grease monkey just learning the ropes, I spilled many a quart of oil, trying to get the hang of punching holes in metal cans!

DJS

[raceman6135]

.... and armature "growlers." I learned how to rebuild starters off diesel farm tractor engines, and to test the armatures, we used a machine called a "growler" because of the noise it made.

DJS

[89s10]

hay raceman 6135 remember when they sold oil at the service station in glass bottles everybody had there favorite one to hang out o the good old days of the past of ( BC )

[DaddyCool]

When Bucket Seats became popular in '60-'62 on American cars, the car was given a GT or SPORT badge for having bucket seats. Soon after, bucket seats were called "birth control seats".

Well, in California anyway.

Dave

[towtrucks]

Do you remember in the early 70's Oldsmobile cutlass had bucket seats that would rotate outward for easier access..........

[raceman6135]

Ah, yes... hanging out at the gas station. Drinking the 7 ounce Coca-Colas, hoping you were given a coveted "green glass" bottle.

Using the wooden crates that soft drinks were delivered in as chairs.....

*sniff*

DJS

[89s10]

that is where you heard all the off color jokes and if you needed a tool they would let you use it the old guyes looked after us younters the drinks were good and cold you are so right sniff sniff

[lou]

hers one for you triva nuts! where was the filler on a early 50 tys caddy? and did gm have electronic ign. in 1969 and what vehicles and what did it look like?????????? and who had a locking steering colunm in the late 30s who had fluid brake and who didn,t in 1933

[89s10]

the filter was on front of engine.THE ignition was called magnetic pulse distributor used by pontica? a really good question

[towtrucks]

You said filler, did you mean gas filler or oil filTer?
The Fords had the steering column lock. We talked about that earlier.

[89s10]

the oil filter i had a 56 chevy it was hung own the side of the engine

[danny]

in the 50's and 60's it was common to see a canvas water bag (drinking water) hanging on farm trucks.

[rapideo]

That reminds, I can remember people buying block ice and carrying it home setting on the bumper. this was 30s,40s ,early 50s.

[89s10]

and boy was that water & ice good it was probaly spring water good & cold not bottle water

[TNcarguy]

IOU,
If you're talking about the gas filler on a 50s caddy, weren't they behind the tail light? You pushed a button in the middle of the light and the top half poped up.
I don't have a clue about the 30s brakes.
Good questions.

[83_Z28]

I'm surprised nobody mentioned those enormous window sills at the back window where, as a kid, you could lie down during a long trip!

[chevyman]

my 65 boniville(dont know how to spell it) has one of those type back windows, plus a nice roomy trunk, you know, big enough to carry a tranny, full drive shaft, to spare tires, and a rag top off a 65 catalina. hehe.itsfor sell if any one wants it, needs a resto bad, good frame and boddy, basicly just engine, tranny and new insides.

[rapideo]

Will this thread ever end? Hope not! Guess I'm late reading some of these posts, it was Chrysler who had the first hydralic brakes.
So why are the brakes on my Ram so marginal??!!**!

[towtrucks]

The area right in front of the rear window is called the package rack.

[89s10]

who remembers the reverb unit you could get for the old am radios what a sound

[DaddyCool]

The Motorola Vibrosonic. It was $79.95 in 1963. A Hammond sprung reverb that I mounted in the trunk. Hand a silver panel and knob. To turn it on, you pulled the knob out and varied the back speaker volume. When you hit a big bump, you heard the "Crash" the reverb made.

Yep, I remember when.

Regards,
Dave

[89s10]

was that not a cool sound

[vett599]

I still have the vibrasonic that i had in my 67 GTO.Iwonder
if it still works. I also have a remote mounted unit
that came out of a 63 catalina.I'm not sure if it was a factory option or not.Does anybody know if Gm had that as an option?

[89s10]

what about the buick dynaflow & the pontiac tempest where was the trans&diff assemble

[Fordrockschevy]

the pontiac temptest isnt that the gto clone?
See i am only 17 years old but i still know alittle and please try to keep this thread going i like reading it and i am going ot send one of my friends to my cousins partsstore to get the bottom radiator hose for a vw

[89s10]

the pontiac tempest had trans &diff.carrier assemble were made together the engine was up front connected by a torque tube .i think it was the lemans was the clone of the got . don't forget the heater hoses & thermostat

[chevyman]

the lemans was not a clone of the gto, remember back when GM denounced anything coming off their lines for racing? the gto was a sports package for the lemans

[danny]

Originally posted by Fordrockschevy
the pontiac temptest isnt that the gto clone?
See i am only 17 years old but i still know alittle and please try to keep this thread going i like reading it and i am going ot send one of my friends to my cousins partsstore to get the bottom radiator hose for a vw

tell him to also get a thermostat for that vee-wee lol

[89s10]

oh to be 17 and to know what i know now that would so nice

[jmedved]

I think it was the early '60's (63,64??) 4 cylinder Tempest that had the drive shaft which was "flexible"...beleive it or not, the shaft actually flexed ....powered by what was virtually 1/2 of the 389 V-8 and it was manufactured on the same engine assembly line... it even looked like one half of a v-8 (the right half)...all the innards were interchangable, meaning head, valves, pistons, rockers, exhaust manifold...made a neat little 194cu.in. screamer..the problem was the drive shaft...no one could trust it (including myself)....it could have been a contender..... if the Pontiac division had just put in a conventional tranny and driveshaft.

[carsandcycles]

The 1963 Tempest had the trans/axle in back, then in 1964 it went conventional with the transmission back up front bolted to the engine. In 1964, the GTO made its debut, with the Tempest as the "price leader", the Lemans as the upscale model and the GTO the start of what most consider the "Muscle Cars". The 389 could be had in the GTO for 1964 thru 1966, then in 1967 it was punched to 400 cubic inches. I had a 1968 GTO, but, that's as they say, a different story.

[89s10]

i have a old motor's auto perair manual it covers from 1953 to 1962 the tempest had some hp for a car that size in 1961 it ranged from 110 to 155 hp in 1962 it was 110 to185 that was alot back then i had just my license in 1962 (born to be wild)

[towtrucks]

Talking about Pontiacs, remember the overhead cam 6 cylinder engine?
By the way, chevrolet had a 194 cubic inch 4 cylinder engine in the 60's......it was the first 4 cylinders of a 6 cylinder engine.

[89s10]

i saw one at a carshow here it a wild looking engine did'd they use it in the chevy11 ? i have been reading all these post and drug out all my old car books i've had for years & years

[rapideo]

The VW didn't have a radiator, but it did have hoses. What hoses did the VW have?

[89s10]

were they the ones that caried the heat from the engine to the car & def ? you would freze to death in it talking about the vw who rembers the one called the (thing ) and what kind of heater was a option ?

[danny]

i had a '63 tempest, it had the shifter on the dash. it was an automatic.

[TNcarguy]

Didn't the thing have an optional propane heater, or something silly like that.
Anybody remember a late 50s, early 60s Chrysler engine that had a 2 four barrell intake? The intake runners were so long the carbs set out over the valve covers. I think they called it a Golden Commando, or something like that. I've only seen one of them, and that was 30 years ago.

[Fordrockschevy]

is that one of the cars with the push button shifting on the dash by the drivers door i saw a car like that in the movie 3000 miles to graceland.

[rapideo]

Right, it was called ram induction, something like that.
What is the difference between a 301 Chevy, and a 302 chevy? Yes they both exist but why?

[89s10]

the one with the push butons were own the 1963 chrysler & dodge i have seen a 302 chevy what a power house but not a 301

[TNcarguy]

That Chrysler engine was called a Cross Ram intake. Found a web site with a picture of it.
http://www.allpar.com/mopar/sonoramic.html

The 302 Chevy engine was developed for the 69 Z28, for their Trans Am racing program. They put together a 283 crank and 327 rods I believe (or vice versa). It ended up being a quick reving screamer.

[raceman6135]

I've never heard of a Chevrolet 301 either, although Pontiac did make a 301 (often referred to as a 4.9 litre).

It was common in the early 1980's to see turbocharged 301 Pontiacs (Firechickens, especially) on the street, but they were pretty gutless as were most cars in the 1980 - 82 period.

Here's a link (http://publish.uwo.ca/~agrehorn/301shrine.html) to a guy who loves his 301. Some pictures, some info... you know, typical fan site. Interesting stuff.

Hey, I'm just here to help...

DJS

[89s10]

you meet some of the nicest people and the most helpful own these post

[towtrucks]

WOW!!!!!
THIS TOPIC HAS NOW SET AN ALL TIME RECORD FOR NUMBER OF VISITS AND NUMBER OF POSTS......

[chevyman]

speaking of remember when, who here remembers the joy or pain of their first car. mine was an 85 ford ltd. that car had some major issues. couldnt break 30 even going down hill.ugly rusty maroon paint, am radio.

[jmedved]

The 302 comes from the factory that way(4" bore, 3" stroke = 301.5936 cu.in.) ...The 301 is simply a bored out 283...OK, now you know all the tricks...WAAAAY back in the '60s, a friend of mine once had a '40 Ford coupe with a 301 cu.in. (4" bore, 3" stroke).. Chevy ....damned thing just wouldn't run for more than 5 minutes.....Well, it turned out that the gas tank had about an inch of sediment in the bottom and clogged the fuel pick-up except for whatever could seep thru the rust, sand, crap and corruption. (sort of like a clogged fuel filter)...We put a 9 gallon Auxiliary (NAVY issue) fuel tank in the trunk...ran a hose to the fuel line....and viola!!!....it ran like a charm...wherever you are George Ross I hope you still have that coupe....and wish you hadn't traded that Volvo PV544 "even-up" for it...The Volvo is still another story.....we were young and full of it....BTW..that Volvo PV544 impressed me so much I bought one, then a 164, then a 740, then another 740..then a Buick Riviera (I'm done)..

[rapideo]

JMEDVED gets the gold star! begining to think I had skunked everyone. Guess the 301 belongs to the past.

[rapideo]

JMEDVED gets the gold star! begining to think I had skunked everyone. Guess the 301 belongs to the past.

[Chartermain]

Does anyone remember the original Candid Camera show with Allan Funt and the episode where the sweet young blond was put in a car without an engine and rolled down the road from the top of a hill into a service station. When the kid asked the girl if he could check the oil she said ok. The look on his face when he lifted the hood was priceless. It got even better when the blond replied "do you need one" when he said to her "you don't have an engine'.

[towtrucks]

Chartermain.........I OFTEN recall that episode. About the time that episode aired, I was a pump jockey at a service station. One day, a vehicle rolled into the station and the driver jumped out and ordered a fill-up and made sure that I understood to check the oil. He then went to the restroom.
I raised the hood.....no engine
I opened the trunk......again...no engine.
I REALLY REALLY thought it was a prank.
So when the guy came out, I started laughing at him. When he asked about the oil, I told him that I put rear end gear lube in his engine by mistake and laughed AGAIN.
Well, you can imagine the look on his face !!!!!
He then DEMANDED to see the owner ... I told him there was no owner, we just work there for fun.
When I realized that the guy was getting rather hot under the collar, I told him that I had already seen the show with no engine. After telling him about his car with no engine, once AGAIN, I laughed.
He calmly opened his car door and tripped a lever and the area in front of the trunk popped open.........
IT WAS THE FIRST MID ENGINE CAR I HAD EVER SEEN.......
YES, I think of that episode quite often......

[DaddyCool]

I also remember seeing that car roll down the hill to the station. It was, and still is , Great.

I put a 383 and Torqueflite in my '56 Dodge Panel Truck back in '68. This required a conversion to 12 volts from the 6 VOLT POSITIVE GROUND SYSTEM it came with. All was well except for two things.

I had no emergendy brake because I lost it when I took out the old transmission. It had a DRUM style brake that stopped the driveshaft. Really a neat idea. Second, have you seen the smoke coming from a wiper motor designed for 6 volts and running on 12 volts? It does do a good job, and fast, for about 45 minutes.

Does anyone know why 6 volt systems were Positive ground and Negative ground with 12 volts??

Regards,
Dave

[QtrHrsmn]

old drag racer's trick....

PVC tubing hidden in the body, filled with water.

Cross the scales... then drain about half of the water (remember, a gallon weighs about 8 lbs.)

Then, when you stomp on the gas, the remaining water flows to the rear, planting more weight on the rear end, increasing traction....

Of course, no one uses this anymore, but back in the day...LOL

[89s10]

remember candid camera with the wv they put all the gas in & the one with the long dip stick they use to have alot of good variety shoes that was the days before info tv remember when you had more tv program and less commercial now it is sell everything

[fenderbender]

Remember the 2-60 AC, 8 track tape playerslots of chrome everywhere, wide white wall tires, Dang i'm getting old

[danny]

does anybody know why the performance tires of the late sixties were called "wide oval tires"?

[carsandcycles]

I think Wide Ovals were called wide ovals because if you took a cross section of the then wide 70 series tires, a more oval looking pattern would be seen. Before the wide ovals debut, most tires were of the 78 or 83 series aspect ratio. If you looked at their cross section the pattern was a lot closer to round, than oval.

[mrich12000]

or how about the trans kickdown on the carb that made the
down shift for the 300 trans. and the motor mounts that
would let loose and jam the throtle in full untill you killed the ignition lots of old fun ...

[mrich12000]

The general prduced the engine to answer SSCA engine
reqierment for track racing

[mrich12000]

[SIZE=3][FONT=times new roman][COLOR=orangered]
Alan Funt was a wizard

DO YOU REMEMBER THE TIME THEY SET UP A CAR WITH A 100 DOLLAR BILL HALF OF IT SHOWIN IN A LARGE SUPERMARKET PARKING LOT AND STOOD BACK AND WACTHED THE FUN
WELL SOME TRIED SOMANY WAYS TO FREE THE GEM ....

NOW THAT WAS FUNNY...

[89s10]

o yes i had a 60 pontiac &66 chwvy11 the motor mount broke that was a wild ride the pontiac had a 389 &the chevy11 had a 283 what about the single master cylinder when you lost a line you had NO BRAKES

[jmedved]

That's the only kind that I remember..till I bought my '68 Impala..
"cruizin in style"...and the old "Armstrong" power steering...and, did you ever try to "emergency-stop" a 5400 pound '58 Olds going 85 mph with drum brakes?? What an adventure....well, at least I didn't hit anything...the brakes faded to the floor in about 50 feet...pumping them did nothing except add to the anxiety. no wonder I drive around at 55 mph. BTW, the 66 Pontiac I bought off the showroom floor had "wide-oval" tires....really stunk in the snow...

[89s10]

oh yes they were the good oh days of the past speaking of armstrong stering when is was in the service the duce&half had the same kind thats a big truck to turn around in some of them German town it was tight

[jmedved]

Here's something to think about... Once had a friend that raced in the SCCA with his Cosworth Vega... He raced in the "showroom stock" class. After several laps at Watkins Glen, he was going down hill in front of the pits at over 100 mph, prior to turn #1 when he suddenly realized that there was some knocking in his engine, so of course he reached for the key, and turned off the engine... You guessed it.... the car had a locking steering column... when he tried to turn in for turn #1, the car went straight thru the field and catch fences (4) (this was prior to the "kitty litter" addition) did a real nice job on the car. Later that year, it was OK to disable the locking feature of your steering column in "showroom stock" class. I wonder if he still races???

[89s10]

that is just as much fun as having a drink bottle roal under the brake pedal

[fenderbender]

The first 18 wheeler I drove had armstrong steering. Not to bad on the road but sure was tough getting backed up to a dock.

[theyoungs97]

The LAST 18 wheeler I drove had armstrong steering! You're right, Fenderbender, about the sweat it takes to back to the dock!

Took me almost a half hour one dark and rainy night in Winston-Salem, NC. Customer space was real tight and chock full full of trash. When I apologized to the dock foreman for taking so long, he told me I did good. He said the guy before me had taken an hour!

[towtrucks]

Does anyone here know the correct hand signals for right turn, left turn, and stop ?
Does anyone here remember USING hand signals?????


(current hand signals as to suggest where to go or what a person should do with himself does NOT count)

[89s10]

oh yes when i got my license had to use them hand up right turn ,hand and arm straight out left turn ,hand straight down slow down or stop. and who still has a cb radio and whip ant and remember the lingo 104 good budy got your ears own

[danny]

i remember, i had to demonstrate these in order to pass the driving test many years ago.

[carsandcycles]

Just to bump this thread and start us thinking some more:

Remember turning on the radio and waiting for the tubes to warm up. And oh yeah, FM?, what the heck is FM. AM was all you got, but that was okay because back then we didn't know what we were missing.

And did anybody have a "wonder bar" on their radio. The first time I saw one of those I thought it was so cool. (It was on a 1956 Pontiac I think, though you could also get one on other GM cars.) For the youngsters on the Forum, the "wonder bar" was what radios of today call "Scan" but back in the fifties you would push the wonder bar and actually see the station indicator bar scanning the dial till it found a station.

[TNcarguy]

I remember running the battery down, listening to an old tube type radio with the car off. Didn't take long. Those suckers pulled some juice.

[89s10]

that is because the power supply had a tranformer and a bunch of godies the best i can rember it pulled 3to4 amps those are the radios you had repaired there not any aftermarket i worker own a bunch of them i stil have my droping resiter for the 6v radio 6v don't work well on 12v powersuply

[danny]

speaking of fm-does anybody remember when fm didn't have commercials? today there isn't much difference between am and fm

[raceman6135]

In our old grain trucks on the farm, "back in the day," the only radios that were affordable didn't have a jack where you plugged an antenna wire in -- the antenna was actually screwed into the top of the radio!

Yes, that meant that you drilled a 3/4" hole in the roof of the cab, usually so that the radio was close to the windshield and about in the middle of the windshield, put a nut on either side of the threaded stud/antenna mount combo, and then screwed the antenna mast into the mounting bolt!

In the one truck we had, the radio took so long to warm up that you often got to where you wanted to go before you could even get any sound out of it!

Ah, and the whine that would come out of it as you double-clutched it up a steep hill.....

DJS

[jmedved]

Oh, yes, I remember the old "scan" or "seek" bar on the radio in my '58 Olds.....It could also be activated by a floor mounted button above the headlight dimmer switch...I used to have some fun changing the station without touching the radio....I had a lot of people "wondering" (NO PUN INTENDED) what the heck was going on.... Of course it was AM only.... After about midnight, you could pick up the "50,000 Watt clear channel stations" WLS in Chicago while traveling on rte 301 in Maryland, or WWDV in Wheeling West Virginia while driving across Kansas... The pickin's were slim, but made the overnight driving hours interesting. As I remember, a lot of cars didn't even have radios, a $15 option that buyers could do without. NOW, a lot of Honda Civic owners have more invested in their sound system than the total cost of the first 10 cars that I owned!!!!! BOOM....BOOM...........BOOOM.. I hope that their freekin' windshields shatter... That is....prior to my ears bleeding... Oh, well, I kinna got off that subject..

[QtrHrsmn]

Originally posted by 89s10
oh yes when i got my license had to use them hand up right turn ,hand and arm straight out left turn ,hand straight down slow down or stop. and who still has a cb radio and whip ant and remember the lingo 104 good budy got your ears own Ummm.... say "good Buddy" to a trucker now, and you'll get shot...LOL That's calling him a homosexual....LMAO

[TNcarguy]

Here's one for ya...
Remember the 50's Robert Mitchum movie Thunder Road? About moonshiners.
In the theme song, what was the name of the city and road he was on, before he crashed near Bearden?
"Blazing right through _________, out on ___________,
Then right outside of Bearden, they made the fatal strike.
He left the road at 90; thatís all there is to say.
The devil got the moonshine and the mountain boy that day."

Sam and Dave should know this one.

[89s10]

(QTRHORSMN) boy have the meanings of words changed those were the days of good movies and my favorit was the drive in

[towtrucks]

I remember when gay meant happy and queer meant odd. Acdcording to Mr. Webster, he too, thinks the same thing......

[89s10]

oh yes how things have changed the one at the drug store was called a soda jerk ,junk yard, repair man ,and if you were in the service in the 60s the di made you fear for your life and some of the changes are not for the good!

[Wheel]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

BALLAD OF THUNDER ROAD
Let me tell the story, I can tell it all
About the mountain boy who ran illegal alcohol
His daddy made the whiskey, son, he drove the load
When his engine roared, they called the highway Thunder Road.

Sometimes into Ashville, sometimes Memphis town
The revenoors chased him but they couldnít run him down
Each time they thought they had him, his engine would explode
He'd go by like they were standiní still on Thunder Road.

(CHORUS)
And there was thunder, thunder over Thunder Road
Thunder was his engine, and white lightning was his load
There was moonshine, moonshine to quench the Devilís thirst
The law they swore they'd get him, but the Devil got him first.

On the first of April, nineteen fifty-four
A Federal man sent word heíd better make his run no more
He said two hundred agents were coveriní the state
Whichever road he tried to take, theyíd get him sure as fate.

Son, his Daddy told him, make this run your last
The tank is filled with hundred-proof, youíre all tuned up and gassed
Now, donít take any chances, if you canít get through
Iíd rather have you back again than all that mountain dew.

(CHORUS)

Roariní out of Harlan, revviní up his mill
He shot the gap at Cumberland, and screamed by Maynordsville
With T-men on his taillights, roadblocks up ahead
The mountain boy took roads that even Angels feared to tred.

Blazing right through Knoxville, out on Kingston Pike,
Then right outside of Bearden, they made the fatal strike.
He left the road at 90; thatís all there is to say.
The devil got the moonshine and the mountain boy that day.

Written by Don Raye and Robert Mitchum
Recorded by Robert Mitchum

[89s10]

rememder the commercial about the mustang the pontiac judge and what animal did pontiac use . how many of you remder seeing a citroen ?

[towtrucks]

Pontiac and Esso ( Esso became Enco then Exxon) both used a tiger during the same time period.
A Citreon was a 4 wheeled vehicle, but you could take off one of the rear tires and still drive down the road without dragging the car because it was balanced.

[89s10]

the first citreon i saw was when i was station in Germany it was a 2 cycle sound like a chainsaw they had some strange looking cars there .put a tiger in your tank !

[TNcarguy]

See, I told you Sam and Dave should know the Thunder Road question. Shadetree was in Knoxville.

Pontiac used a tiger in the GTO ads.

Exxon also used the tiger in your tank theme, and had the little tiger tails with an elastic band you could hook around your gas cap. Looked like the tail was coming out of the tank.

Exxon had another name until the early 70s. Remember what that was?

[carsandcycles]

-Pontiac had a tiger jump into the engine compartment from a raised hood in some of its GTO commercials.

- And Exxon used the tiger as well in their commercials, "put a tiger in your tank". (They even gave away, or sold, stuffed tiger tails you could leave hanging from your filler cap.

- I even remember that Exxon wasn't called Exxon; in my part of the country (northeast) it was called Esso, in other parts Enco or Standard.

[89s10]

all service staion use to give stuf from cupons to glases some of that stuff is worth some momey

[towtrucks]

Do you remember the "Trading Stamps"? I remember Top Value and S&H Green Stamps. There were also some others but were not as popular as those.
Old people were an absolute "trip" when it came to the stamps. Old ladies would always tell you what they were saving for. Old men would ALWAYS say "My wife won't let me in the house without those stamps". Yeah right..........

Exxon was always giving away steak knives and coffee mugs with 10 gallons or more.

[rapideo]

That was good stuff.....still have a bath room scale from a Texas Gold redemption center, works, I'm gaining!

[raceman6135]

Up in Canada, they are still called "Esso" stations.

[fotw]

ok this youngerster has a question for you old timers.When at a car show youand your buddy spot a classic car. You say that it is one year he says another. Where on the car can you look to find the year.

[89s10]

i think you can look at tail light or parking light they had the date made in them and they were real glass not plastic

[fotw]

Very good, my father told me that at the first car show we went to. Even thought that was not long ago for me it is something that I will always remember

[fotw]

Very good, my father told me that at the first car show we went to

[89s10]

this will tell who is a old timer What was Dinah Shore theam song for her show ?

[towtrucks]

See (pause) the (pause) (now upbeat) U.S.A., in a Chevrolet....

Now, what car company sponsored the Danny Thomas Show? , the Grocho Marx show?
Which car was advertised as "The vehicle with the forward look?"
Who remembers when a dealer's showroom glass whould be covered for the new models?

[89s10]

was it the de soto ? oh yes it was like christmas when the new cars came out

[carsandcycles]

Groucho Marx was the Desoto, I don't remember the Danny Thomas show's sponsor but I did watch the show. And remember Pontiac was the sponsor for "I Dream of Jeanie".

[vett599]

Which car had it's year written in the grill?

[89s10]

that is a good one i rember in the 40 and 50s ford they had the v8 in grill what was it

[DaddyCool]

Originally posted by vett599
Which car had it's year written in the grill?

Wasn't that the '50's Buick. They were very proud of them.

Regards,
Dave

[vett599]

Yep.. it was the mid 50's Buicks.I don't remember any other
car doing that.

[towtrucks]

This should be an easy one.
Why was the Pontiac Fireo developed?

[89s10]

was it to compete with the toyota mr2 ?

[DaddyCool]

I read or saw on TV that Pontiac had envisioned the Fiero to have the longivity of the VW Bug. They built it with the thought of the aftermarket body parts people turning their car into just about anything. It didn't happen to the 914 or the Fiero.

Dave

[89s10]

they did a big gril own wheels

[carsandcycles]

I remember that the Fiero was supposed to be a compact communter car, at least that's how management got it approved for production. After the go ahead to produce, they tried to make it more sporty but with a Chevette front end and a Citation front wheel drive installed backwards, it didn't make a favorable impression with the buying public. They finally got it right in its last year of production when Chevrolet or GM pulled the plug.

[rapideo]

Actually, a lot was available for the Fiero. fiberglas body panels
suspension upgrades, brake upgrades,engine kits,even to installing a small block. Probally not much any more, the cars are seldom seen anymore

[towtrucks]

The Fiero was a test car. Remember the car had the polimar(spelling) (plastic) body panels. Those panels are now are found on Saturn, Cadillac, and many of the G.M. mini vans.

(This is the explanation from a G.M. rep)

[vetteonr]

Here's one for you. In the late 40's what car was offered to Ford motor company free of charge but was turned down because Ford thought in would bomb. Instead of this car, Ford produced the Edsel (talk about a stink bomb!). Any guesses?

[towtrucks]

The Pinto??????

[vett599]

The Jeep??

[jmedved]

Could it possibly have been the VOLKSWAGEN??????

[rapideo]

I'm thinking Tucker because that was the only thing around at that time without a production line.

[89s10]

was it chevy ? who remembers the mazda rotary engines what was its name and what was the gingle mazda had for selling them

[danny]

it was a wankel(sp?) i think the jingle went "the engine that goes hummmm"

[89s10]

very good you can go to the head of the class .That was a wierd engine

[jmedved]

It STILL is quite an engine... My son had a 2 rotor twin turbo RX-7 rice rocket... A little too fast for me, but, then so is a '67 VW.. I think that production of the Wankel has never really ceased, and reading that Mazda may have another come out soon leads me to believe that the tooling still exists. On another note, does anyone remember the BMW 600 2dr coupe... the motor came directly out of the motorcycle.... or the "ever popular" NSU.. I think that NSU was the original car that tried the Wankel engine.. of course they had a conventional engine also. Or, the old SAAB 3 cylinder, 2 stroke that had about 40 hp... You could modify the ports of the cylinder (a la go-karting) with a triangular file in about half an hour, and have more like 100 hp.. Or, the again "ever popular" Sunbeam Imp with an engine design similar to the Coventry Climax, chain driven Overhead Cam.. it would go about 80 mph in third gear, shift to forth gear, and your speed would drop to 70 mph (read "slightly underpowered") ah, yes I almost forgot the "rubber-donut" axel "universal joints" in the Sunbeam Imp.. I guess universal joints is not what they really were, I'll call them "flexible power transmission devices" Again, they're still used today, and properly installed, do a great job.

[vetteonr]

jmedved gets the prize. It was the Volkswagon Beetle! Somehow I think if Ford got this car it wouldn't have been the classic it is today.

[89s10]

the rotary engine was a power house for its size it was strange to see a small engine with a 4 barell . has anyone sean a gas turbin in the dodge dart. I have a old car book it has a lot of odd name cars if anyone wants list i will post them

[TNcarguy]

I've never seen a Chrysler gas turbine, but there were a few around in the mid 60s. Used to see a lot of pictures of the Dart and the Fury with turbines.
Remember that movie, The Lively Set, where James Darren supposedly built the turbine Dart?

http://www.hotrodmemories.com/detail.php?Format=VHS&Cat=V00053

http://www.turbinecar.com/car-driver62.htm

[rapideo]

BMW had another, the Isseta. It was a one door, the whole front opened up. The front tread was about maybe 50 inches, but the rear tread was only about 18 inches. Again motorcycle engined

Here in Austin, if you bought a new Buick, they would give you an Isseta! Try to get a Bimmer for free today!

[rapideo]

BMW had another, the Isseta. It was a one door, the whole front opened up. The front tread was about maybe 50 inches, but the rear tread was only about 18 inches. Again motorcycle engined

Here in Austin, if you bought a new Buick, they would give you an Isseta! Try to get a Bimmer for free today!

[towtrucks]

Heck, I would settle for one of those Isseta's. One of the James Bond movies showed Bond, James Bond driving an Isseta. The headlight (it only had one in the center) was mounted on the door.

[rapideo]

The first Honda to be sent over here was a micro-mini with a motorcycle engine. This is what I thought jmeved was refering to when he mentioned BMW 600

[DaddyCool]

Back in the late '60's, there was a popular oil filter conversion that sold thousands of kits. It used a roll of toilet paper as the filter. You don't hear of it anymore. Guess Fram bought the guy out it would seem. Filters in "EXTRA SOFT" and "PLEASE DON'T SQUEEZE the FILTER".

Regards.
Dave

[fotw]

I just wanted to say thanks. I am new to the car wolrd compared to some of you but I know some of these questions being asked. Me and my fater go to car shows and he points out all the special tricks with those old cars that I was always asking about. I am 16 and i got my first car in July. A 64 ford fairlane 500 4 door sedan 302 v8. I was looking at an old 41 buick special but they had done to much restoration on it already. That was a very interesting car, with the starter in the gas just had to petal the clutch a few times and you were off, And that latch under the crome peice on the drives side (closest to the door I beleave). An that stright 8 ahhhhhh what a beauitful car. Well just thanks again for all those cool lil trick with old cars. I am glad that you started these thread. I hope that I can give some input if I know what you are talking about at the time

[vetteonr]

I own one of those first Honda's sent over here. A '72 coupe. 600cc motorcycle engine, 10 inch tires, 2 seats and a hatchback. It looked like a pregnant rollerskate going down the road. I think the first honda over here was a '71. It was a fun little car to have in high school. I gave it the old Starsky & Hutch paint treatment. Ahhhh......what memories!

[towtrucks]

Before Honda made the trip across the water, there was a neat little "boxed" vehicle called a SIMCA.....remember these????

[Trader Ray]

I have just got cable and immediatly went to Speedvison and caught your show, I had not known you had changed your name to Two guy's Garage, I have watched the work performed by both of you since the Shade tree mechanic days and I live near the Muscle car museum and have several pictures of your project car there. Glad to see you all back!

[Trader Ray]

Of course I am a new user, but I could not help to ask what part of Detroit you are from, I am from the Wyndotte area and have lived in Tennessee for 9 years, I miss the motor city. I worked at a salvage yard in River Rouge for 6 or 7 years, it was the House of Auto parts and is still there to this day

[theyoungs97]

Originally posted by towtrucks
Before Honda made the trip across the water, there was a neat little "boxed" vehicle called a SIMCA.....remember these????

If my memory serves, my French uncle owned a Simca 4dr sedan in the late 50's or early 60's. He had purchased the car in France (I don't recall if the car was actually built there), then shipped it to the States. It sported fairly decent styling, wore a two-tone blue paint job and came equipped with a switch-selectable "town or country" horn.

I remember thinking it was a sharp little car.

[rapideo]

Late 50s, early 60s...****, you guys are OLD! I can remember a 39 Chevy with a town& country horn, where does that put ME!

[fotw]

This is of a question... what was 'special' about the first chevelle. Here is a hint deals with the crome

[Trader Ray]

A person actually came and put your gas in and cleaned your windows, checked the oil and you did not even get out of your car. Now a 90 year old woman has to do it herself.
Your children would lay on the roof or the hood at a drive in and then get back in when the movies start to go to sleep. The park at the bottom of the screen was all they wanted or cared about.
Strangers waved at you because you drove the same type of vehicle as they were in, that is still alive in the south. You don't need to be in a gang to wave.
Air was free, candy was 2 for a penny, If you needed help you got it, or gave help when needed. Now if you break down you worry who just might stop. You can't leave your wife and kids in the car while you go to get a wrecker, there is no telling what could happen there.
In the southern states we still pull to the side of the road when a funeral procesion passes and you better take your hat off or you will hear about it sometime or another, in a small town there is bound to be someone that you know in the family of the deceased.
Have a good day and give to someone that can not pay, help someone that can not help themselves and then sit back and think of what you did and pat your self on your back.

[JDAZE]

s10 blazer,

Well said. Life is getting out of control day by day. Everyone have a wonderful Christmas Holiday, and please remember why we truely celebrate.

Joey

[Trader Ray]

I just sit and see people not thankfull for anything at all anymore. It is going so fast, life that is. Everything is rush rush rush, in this busy time of year, when everyone is in a hurry to be good to someone for Christmas, they are rude to everyone else involved. I got a extra good helping of some real good peach cobbler today because the waitress was in such a hurry that she appreciated it when I said take all the time you need, I am in no hurry. She was very nice and the cobbler was outstanding. I refuse to rush through the rest of my life just to get there before anyone else. I want to drive slow when I want, I want to walk when I can, and stop and just look around and enjoy the Smokie Mountains. I know this is a car site, but it is a car and help site. We here are trying to make a free differance for a total stranger. We, for the most part all have something in common in that we enjoy helping. That is a start, a bunch of Gearheads making a move to be a helping hand in many situations that do not pertain to cars. Look at "thecarguy" he has this real rough weekend and he is telling festus_shaggy to contact him for a discounted price and they live on opposite sides of the world. There is a lot to be said for the people in this forum..I have said enough, I will shut up now!! lol

[TNcarguy]

S10,
Thanks for reminding us that we need to keep focused on those things that are truly important. You are absolutely right!!
Merry Christmas to all! Slow down and enjoy it.

[Trader Ray]

That is no problem and I am glad that the post have got even just a few thinking. Happy Holidays to ALL..

[89s10]

i was looking in a old car book who rembers a ford engine that was a 410 ci and how many years was it made ?

[Trader Ray]

all though I do not recall a 410, I do know that Ford made a industrial line of motors, I had a 64 F100 that had a industrial engine, it was a 6 cylinder and was a 240 I think, the intake and heads and every thing was differant than a simular truck that was just a standard issue. I am thinking that the 410 may be in that family. UPDATE! I have just seen a old mercury comet that says 410 on the side of it on the bottom of the fenders, I took a few pics of it, I think I need to go back and pop the hood!

[89s10]

this book showes it was maid in 1967 it was a v8 it had 330hp @4600 rpm the bore and stroke were 4.23x3.980 this a old book

[Grumpytrkr]

I tried to read all 13 pages, but I'm a truck driver, and with no pictures....well.

Some International trucks would not lock unless you used the key. You had to set the timing on #8 cylinder. Use a matchbook cover to set the points. Seems the matchbook cover was closer to .018 then the feeler gauges? The 4X4 system had REAL front hubs that you acutally had to get out and turn to lock. You could read the fuel level in the aux tank without switching tanks. Remember turn right and push for right tank. If you wanted to read the left tank, just turn the knob to the left. Oh, and trying to fill the left tank. Ya, the "Good Old Days."

International make a Travelette, looked a lot like the Chevy Avalanche, but made for towing a 5th wheel trailer. I think they made them in '71 and '72 only.

Car manufactures could put "Park" where ever they wanted. Reverse on some Oldsmobile was all the way at the bottom.

The 59 Olds we had filled with fuel from the left side, after you opened the tail fin.

Enjoying this thread.

Grumpy

[towtrucks]

Buick (dynaflow trans) also had reverse at the bottom.

[89s10]

speaking of trans why could you push some cars with auto trany and they would start and some wont

[raceman6135]

Automatics that you can push start are usually the ones (such as the old Chryslers) that have the transmission fluid pump run off the driveshaft as opposed to the engine.

When the vehicle is being pushed, the pump is working and pressurizing all the passages, etc., therefore applying the proper bands and clutchs, effectively "locking" the transmission in gear.

This spins the transmission input shaft, which spins the torque convertor, and the fluid can then spin the engine and start it.

Of course, it's never advised to try to push start any vehicle with an automatic transmission. Paying $20 for a boost is much cheaper than paying $400 for an automatic transmission.

DJS

[89s10]

so right the newer cars you can push till the cows come home when is the last time you saw some pushing a car with a stick shift to start it with cars with a cat on it can we say cat history with comp on the cars now jumping can be a real mess

[Trader Ray]

I was hanging back to see the answer to that one as I remember my dad starting some of his cars by getting a push in a automatic transmission, I am glad you knew it..thanks

[towtrucks]

Some of the aluminum power glide (chevrolet) 2 speed trans. have the rear pump which means they can be push started. When the 3 speed auto trans. came along about 1965 or 6, they no longer came with the rear pumps.
Also, I have NOT performed a $20.00 jump start in about 10 or 12 years, nor does anyone else that I know of.......the days of $3.00 hair cuts and 15 cent drinks are GONE!!!!!!!!

[89s10]

towtrucks speaking of past time remember when the towtrucks had the hand crank instead of the pto?

[raceman6135]

Awww, towtrucks, was I showing my age again?

Holy smokes... a guy turns 35 and his memory goes to he|| !!

LOL

Yeah, the last time I paid for a boost, it was $20.00 Now, I have a couple of spare vehicles I can use, plenty of friends who will give me a lift if necessary, and a membership in an autoclub that saves me from having to pay for each and every "emergency visit" I have!

But jeez, I sure do remember $0.50 draft beer! I'd go there after getting a $5.00 haircut!

Heh heh heh.... just 'funnin' with ya buddy.

DJS

[Grumpytrkr]

Originally posted by raceman6135

But jeez, I sure do remember $0.50 draft beer! I'd go there after getting a $5.00 haircut!

DJS

I can remember when I use to have hair to cut. Now I go in to get my eyebrows cut, and a trim on my hair.

I can also remember when the time I was in my Army Dress Greens, and not quite legal drinking age. I was at a pizza place with my Mom and I went to ask for a beer. When the guy asked for ID, there was a State Cop who told the bar keep if somebody is in uniform, serve him. Do you think that would happen today?

What about when you knew your neighbors, and kids didn't need a "safe house" to go to when they were on their way to or from school. The friendly old retired guy down the street would have a car load to take to school on really cold mornings.

You could leave your car windows down, and in case it rained, the grocery carrier would go out in the parking lot and roll up windows.

[Trader Ray]

This happen this year! I had a Olds Cutlass & the Blazer and as I was leaving for work I get in the car and it dont start as the battery was dead. No problem, I get in the Blazer and same thing, dead battery. I got a ride to work and later took both batteries to auto zone and they charged them and then load checked them and sure enough they were both bad. On another occasion with the very same two vehicles the Olds rear axle seals went out on the right side of the car and it caught fire at a red light, some people told me "hey your wheel is on fire" I get it home and dis-assembled it and of couse repair both sides as one was as old as the other. You will not believe that on my way to the auto zone almost the same thing happens on the blazer, only no fire. I come out of the store and this is a hilly area and look and the rear end dope is just leaking out, and has formed a puddle. Well as a general rule I dont check for leaks at a auto parts store as most cars there are having some type of trouble, but it was on my tires and even on the out side of the wheel. I went back in and bought the same parts for it as well since I had already put the deposit on the free loan a tool. I changed both sets of seals and bearings and the brake shoes on both vehicles that weekend. Now I know the Ford guys will be jumping all over this, but the Olds was a 79 and the Blazer is a 84. High milage vehicles are not the word. They both have over 120 thousand and still run like new.

[fotw]

They must have a ford part on them, somewhere

[Trader Ray]

On the front bumper! I pushed one aside on the trail the other day. It is his back bumper lol

[towtrucks]

After thinking about some of the old cars,
remember when the New car dealers would cover up the showroom glass to hide the new current year model vehicles? And the new vehicles would have covers on them?

[danny]

well i remember the local dealer putting covers on the new models and keeping them in the shop area until show time. makes for some kind of grand unveiling time.

[Trader Ray]

I had a AMC dealer in town and remember checking out the all new AMC Pacer. What a dream car. LOL

[towtrucks]

I remember oh so well laughing at the AMC Pacer. EVERYBODY made jokes about them. But I guess the joke was really on us as looking back, AMC was ahead of their time.
Look at today's cars, rounded fenders, rounded rear quarters, and aero dynamically designed.

[Trader Ray]

That is so right. Myself, I would love even this day to have a 304 powered Gremlin X. I had so many Gremlins in my time, I loved how they looked. The 304 had plenty of power for such a small car. The last years of the Gremlin were not as slick looking to me, I always liked the small tailights myself on the early ones.

[rapideo]

want a Pacer? I see a very straight one every time I go south tx

[Grumpytrkr]

Originally posted by s10 blazer
That is so right. Myself, I would love even this day to have a 304 powered Gremlin X. I had so many Gremlins in my time, I loved how they looked. The 304 had plenty of power for such a small car.

When I got of the Basic Training back in the 70's, I bought a used Gremlin "X" that had the V-8 (I thought it was a 302) and either a 3 or 4 speed. I bought it from a older farmer who told me that 6 cylinders were for combines and farm tractors, and automatics were for people to couldn't count. Seemed he bought a new car every couple of years, and bought this one to drive back and fourth to town in. I kept that car until it rusted out from under me. I thought it was odd that such a "cute" little car had bucket seats, and AC.

Grumpy

[rapideo]

read something funny about Gremlins...half a hornet is better
than no Hornet lol

[Trader Ray]

Originally posted by rapideo
want a Pacer? I see a very straight one every time I go south tx

No Thank you on the Pacer. Although it is has been a long time since I have seen one in good shape.

[Trader Ray]

Originally posted by Grumpytrkr
When I got of the Basic Training back in the 70's, I bought a used Gremlin "X" that had the V-8 (I thought it was a 302) and either a 3 or 4 speed. I bought it from a older farmer who told me that 6 cylinders were for combines and farm tractors, and automatics were for people to couldn't count. Seemed he bought a new car every couple of years, and bought this one to drive back and fourth to town in. I kept that car until it rusted out from under me. I thought it was odd that such a "cute" little car had bucket seats, and AC.

Grumpy

I had a three speed in a few of them, you talk about wheel hop, that car would sling around like a tilt a whirl in any slick situation on the road. They were lots of fun.

[rapideo]

I saw a demolition derby on tlc channel. a Pacer was doing a good job aganist all those station wagons.

[vetteonr]

Pacer's and Gremlin's.....ah the bad old days. That was the butt ugly era of US auto history.

[danny]

oh yeah, i think amc held the record for the ugliest cars followed by i.h., checker and chrysler

[vetteonr]

AMC = all makes combined! lol

[7-UP BILL]

Remember when Drag Racing was dangerous and s*x was safe?

[danny]

racing and women have always been dangerous-lol

[thecarguy]

Originally posted by rapideo
I saw a demolition derby on tlc channel. a Pacer was doing a good job aganist all those station wagons.

I saw that same show.

[vetteonr]

With racing and women, it's the curves that get you every time. lol

[Trader Ray]

MY X had the figure of a old time Coke bottle when I met her, then she changed to a two liter..lol

[danny]

lol, isn't it funny when you meet them they are constantly worried about their figures and after they land you they don't give it a second thought(bloating) and then when you separate they start to look good again? is that a long sentence or what? lol

[Trader Ray]

Yes it was a long sentance, but it was the truth very well said. I say find a fat one and it may get better as she may loose weight, but then they divorce you because they look so good.LOL I was married to one that kept on crying she needed a **** job, I tryed to tell her the health risk and she would not listen, then I told her to try this for three years; Take a big wad of toilet paper and rub it on them twice every day for three years. She said THAT wont work, I told her why yes it will, you been wiping your a s s for three years since we met and look how big it got! LOL

[vetteonr]

Very funny s10! I can see why you're divorced now. lol

[danny]

i think i need to wipe t.p. on my money-lol-maybe it will grow

[Trader Ray]

Originally posted by vetteonr
Very funny s10! I can see why you're divorced now. lol


I would say you are right! I need a filter between my brain and my mouth. LOL

[Trader Ray]

Originally posted by danny
i think i need to wipe t.p. on my money-lol-maybe it will grow


This is true; I had some pictures reprinted a walmart and when I paid for them I asked if she would make me some copies of the twenty I was using to pay for them and she said I could end up in jail for even saying that to her and whispered something to her manager. I got out of there quik

[danny]

what? it's against the law to photograph money?

[thecarguy]

probobly somthing about counterfiting. i used my schools copy machine to copy several large bills that I happen to have on me on that day. The principal (a total nazi by the way) happend to be there and he yelled at me claiming that he could call the police as I am a counterfitter.

[vetteonr]

In the newspaper business we can photograph or copy money for ads or features as long as it's enlarged or shrunk from it's original size. They are very tight on these restrictions. :cool:

[gearhead748]

Originally posted by vetteonr
In the newspaper business we can photograph or copy money for ads or features as long as it's enlarged or shrunk from it's original size. They are very tight on these restrictions. :cool: not if its in black and white color thats a diffrent horse the feds take that $it dang serious . not any thing to mess with. they had some idiot copy a fiver on a computer and a bill cahnger took it now they are looking for them there in big trouble if they find them.

[gearhead748]

Originally posted by Chester
That's because you couldn't lock the doors, then close them. They had to be locked from inside, usually lifting up on the handle then exiting from the only passenger side door that allowed you to lock it from the outside. A lot of places were all mud and you tried to get beside some gravel or maybe a wooden sidewalk so you could get out without getting all dirty so you only needed one door to lock from the outside. At least, that is the way it was were I grew up..................Edmonton in the Forties. not only that it used to be aginst the law to exit on the traffic side of a car look for it in old movies they get out on the right side

[Trader Ray]

I know of that law, and it is still a blue book law as is a person ringing a bell 50 feet or something like that before a intersection to alert horse owners that a automobile is approaching. You needed to shield their eyes so they would not get scared by the car..

[gearhead748]

yes they have them here too ,like its aginest the law to tie up a horse for more then a hour without water. I see your in Tennesse now thats a great state my dad lived in knoxville the people are so nice even to a yankee. did you know there 3 kinds of yankees 1)the dum yankee he dosen't think of the south. 2)the good yankee they come to see the south. then there is 3)the dang yankee they come live in the south LOL.you have some fine lookin ladys down there. and that drawel ooooooo

[Trader Ray]

eye hear youu ( they way it sounds here) lol I heard the version like you mentioned, and it has been a wonderfull ten years here. I was told once that the best thing to ever come out of Detroit was a empty bus! That is where I am from. I am about 30 miles from Knoxville. I love the mountains here and have been looking into a house with a lake view and the mountains in the background view. A long view but I can see them lol

[gearhead748]

Originally posted by s10 blazer
eye hear youu ( they way it sounds here) lol I heard the version like you mentioned, and it has been a wonderfull ten years here. I was told once that the best thing to ever come out of Detroit was a empty bus! That is where I am from. I am about 30 miles from Knoxville. I love the mountains here and have been looking into a house with a lake view and the mountains in the background view. A long view but I can see them lol you lucky dog you

[Trader Ray]

regular ole hound dog haha

[gearhead748]

if i ever am single agin I'm movin down there and be justa good ol boy never meanin no harm

[Trader Ray]

It is a great place to live. I miss family in Michigan, but I love it here and it is rough to explain, but there is a different life style anywhere one could be, I just really like it here.

[danny]

there's just something about the south, huh? :)

[Trader Ray]

You got that right. I do hate seeing the area even get new devolopments because of all the other things that come with it.

[danny]

well you can't stop progress, unless of course we stop having babies and then we won't need to have more homes and such-i don't see that happening.

[Trader Ray]

Yea, your right..bring on the babies

[danny]

errr, you know making them is more fun than raising them lol :rolleyes: