I think
That something I ate didn’t agree with me. Or maybe I might have the flu. If it was something I ate, it didn’t agree with me for a value nearer ‘Is strangling me to death from the inside” If it’s the flu, that explains the desire to lick all my co-workers coffee cups.
Eye doctor’s truck is giving him grief. Co worker lost the alternator in his Isuzu. This weather is not good on vehicles. I keep toying with the idea of buying a plain old Bronco, and in the end, the all mechanical no electronics part of it appeals to me a great deal.
14 comments Og | Uncategorized
I have entertained the idea of getting a vehicle that only has enough electronics to replace points and capacitors. Once owned a 1976 K5 blazer for use on the beach, I could never lose it, all I had to do was follow the bits of rust that fell off it.
Boy, I remember all kinds of issues that we used to have keeping naturally aspirated vehicles running in this cold. Heaters for oil and water. Getting the combination of air, fuel and spark just right so it would fire in this cold.
I think I like the modern car just fine.
Course if you have to work on them anyway, might as well have something simple.
Thing is, you can do that to an old engine. You can get a simple and reliable fuel injection system that will work really well, and electronic ignition doesn’t need to be as complex as it usually is. A tiny bit of technology would take a bronco like that and make it a ludicrously reliable vehicle
I do remember a Mercedes with a mechanical injection system. It did seem to start pretty good.
I see a marketing niche. take some old POS stuff and make is reliable as hell and then sell them.
Some boys around here did a land office business of getting two wheel drive PU form down south and bring them up here and setting a 4×4 running gear under them. Just about doubles the money, if you discount the work.
If you ever go east on 163 from Pella you will see there shop on the north side of the road. They have expanded some what.
Still, they did not make them any more reliable.
I had a 1977 Bronco like that, it had electronic ignition box that would just shut off with no warning.
Yeah, the new stuff is a lot more reliable and simple enough that a kid with a soldering iron can make it work reliably
I once had a ’69 Saab.
Any electrical issues could generally be resolved by popping the hood and running a finger down the fuze block.
And it was the best handling vehicle I’ve ever had on snow and ice. I don’t recall ever getting it to swap ends.
I miss that fridge.
I wonder what they’re going for now…
BGM
I have mid-80’s engines in my 32′ Tollycraft boat, a pair of 350s, one a Crusader and one a Volvo (replacement in 98 for a blown Crusader). The older Crusader was a constant fiddly-bit hassle until I spent $125 on a Pertonix electronic points replacement kit. 20 minutes to install and calibrate, and I have done nothing in the ensuing 10 years to that engine AT ALL except lube, PM and water pump kits. The Volvo, which already has the equivalent to the Pertronix, is about to get a rebuilt water pump. Prop-shafts got Teflon packing in ’02, still good. Nothing but no-alcohol gas for those guzzlers, so the quadra-jet carbs are fine.I put 25% undersized fuses in all 20 or so electrical circuits, and the fuses tell me when the circuit needs attention. A drawer full of AGC fuses is cheap insurance.
Screwdriver, matchbook and timing light, baby!
I’ve been looking at ’75 and earlier vehicles, especially VW’s and Ford F150’s with inline 6’s. Good looking ones with no rust, and in generally good condition are available for not too much money around here.
I’m looking for reliability, EMP insensitivity, and dot-gov proof electricals.
Da Missus thinks I’m paranoid, I wonder if I’m paranoid enough, what with the shit the .gov is pulling these days. Besides paranoia is the UNREASONING fear of something that isn’t there.
Just because you’re paranoid, it doesn’t mean they aren’t out to get you.
Gerry: I would love to have an F150 with a 300 six, they had no speed but would pull like a freight train. My biggest trouble with them is the estimated 9.6 mpg.
Dog: Sounds like you have that all set up rght. if I ever get out there in season, I may ask you to take me for a little cruise. if you promise not to try to kill me.
Had a 73 ford with the 360 once. It got 7 mpg. The good thing was it got that 7 loaded or empty.
Og – could a simple electronic FI system be fitted to the Ford 300? That would improve the fuel mileage, I’d bet. Nothing too fancy….something like the Bosch L-jet or the throttle body system GM used in the late 80’s.
they have whole manifold systems, yes. And not too horribly expensive.
I put a Pertronix module in the distributor of my ’69 F100 several years ago. I had one in the 396 that was grafted into my ’50 F1, too. I hope the guy who invented it made a million bucks.