Wildguzzi.com
General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: Tom on November 30, 2020, 03:17:35 PM
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Look at what we use to drive....... :grin: and some still do. It's a fun nostalgic look for me. :shocked:
https://flashbak.com/the-massive-american-cars-of-1970-433963/?utm_source=GetTheElevatordotcom
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I am pretty skeptical of the claim that Japanese cars outsold American cars by 2 to 1 in 1970. I recall Dataun 510s and the Honda Civic with the bored out 350 motorcycle engine but Toyota?? Maybe they did ten years later.
Pete
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I am pretty skeptical of the claim that Japanese cars outsold American cars by 2 to 1 in 1970. I recall Dataun 510s and the Honda Civic with the bored out 350 motorcycle engine but Toyota?? Maybe they did ten years later.
Pete
The Civic of 1972 onward had a water-cooled inline four cylinder. The '67-'72 N600 and '70-'72 ('74 in other markets) Z600 had a twin cylinder air-cooled engine that was much like Honda's motorcycle engines, but wasn't simply a bored out one. My brother had the N and I had a Z.
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My late father LOVED big car, especially Cadillac's and Oldsmobile's!!
The biggest whale was a 1975 Cadillac Eldorado which was a 500 cubic inch, 8.2 liter, front-wheel drive land cruiser! :laugh: :grin: :wink: It was so big, it would not fit in our garage!
She did ride nice at 75-80 mph however!! :wink: :thumb: :cool:
(https://i.ibb.co/vBgb4wH/Screen-Shot-2020-11-30-at-2-58-16-PM.png) (https://ibb.co/vBgb4wH)
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I'll never forget Dad's Buick Estate Wagon, with the beastly 455! He would load us all in it with a couple of weeks worth of gear, hook up the camper trailer, and off to Florida we would go. I can't guess how much gas he went through!
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The Civic of 1972 onward had a water-cooled inline four cylinder. The '67-'72 N600 and '70-'72 ('74 in other markets) Z600 had a twin cylinder air-cooled engine that was much like Honda's motorcycle engines, but wasn't simply a bored out one. My brother had the N and I had a Z.
But the thread says 1970. No four cylinder Honda cars. My roomate had an N600. They weren't exactly flying off the showroom floors. He may have one of three in the county.
Pete
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I am pretty skeptical of the claim that Japanese cars outsold American cars by 2 to 1 in 1970.
Pete
me too. The US was production leader into the 1980's.. I found this on google
he automotive industry in Japan rapidly increased from the 1970s to the 1990s (when it was oriented both for domestic use and worldwide export) and in the 1980s and 1990s, overtook the U.S. as the production leader with up to 13 million cars per year manufactured and significant exports.
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This would be big. I remember one coming into our Mopar dealership all loaded up with Carbon.. You needed room to run these things..
https://www.hemmings.com/stories/2015/10/09/hemmings-find-of-the-day-1970-chrysler-300-hurst-edition
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The Civic of 1972 onward had a water-cooled inline four cylinder. The '67-'72 N600 and '70-'72 ('74 in other markets) Z600 had a twin cylinder air-cooled engine that was much like Honda's motorcycle engines, but wasn't simply a bored out one. My brother had the N and I had a Z.
I had one of the little two-cylinder sedans, a 70 model. The gearshifter stuck out of the dash, and the engine looked like a 305 Superhawk engine on steroids. Plenty of room inside, and it had about the same performance as a mid-60s Beetle, being made partly out of fiberglass and very light, about 50 MPG ..... Sold it on before something happened to it, the Honda dealers laughed at the idea of supplying parts for it in 1988 ....
Then got one of these, '72 T-bird ...
(https://i.ibb.co/cFXybsS/Thunderbird.jpg) (https://ibb.co/cFXybsS)
Biggest, heaviest, smoothest sedan I've ever driven. Weighed over 5000 pounds, 429 engine option. Running 90 it was dead silent and felt like it was just floating. Why'd I sell it? 9 miles per gallon, that's why ....
Lannis
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I had a Z600 several years ago. The typical "bored out 450" reference is no more accurate than the claims about the Benelli Quattro sharing lots of parts with a Honda 500-4. Cool little car, with emphasis on little- Mine left on a regular 5x10 utility trailer. A neighbor about 1/2 mile away has an N600 but I haven't seen it yet.
The Z600 was a big contrast to my current 1967 Ford Galaxie 500 that soon replaced it. It's the big red car that's the wallpaper in the background of many of my V700 project pics. The Galaxie rework was well under way when the Guzzi cut in line. Depending upon equipment, weight is around 4100-4200lbs. Similarly equipped, my old 67 that I had when I was a kid scaled at 4070lbs. There's nothing like a big Ford and the original 428 does help make the pounds seem less relevant...
(https://i.ibb.co/NVVLRz0/image.jpg) (https://ibb.co/NVVLRz0)
(https://i.ibb.co/xjYy22R/image.jpg) (https://ibb.co/xjYy22R)
After 67, all the EPA & DOT mandates changes things a lot.
Edit- a little better pic..
(https://i.ibb.co/z5XbPHv/image.jpg) (https://ibb.co/z5XbPHv)
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I had one of the little two-cylinder sedans, a 70 model. The gearshifter stuck out of the dash, and the engine looked like a 305 Superhawk engine on steroids. Plenty of room inside, and it had about the same performance as a mid-60s Beetle, being made partly out of fiberglass and very light, about 50 MPG ..... Sold it on before something happened to it, the Honda dealers laughed at the idea of supplying parts for it in 1988 ....
When I owned mine, I was car-pooling with a friend about your size. With him on board it went from almost peppy to almost as slow as a moped. Worked that little engine hard climbing from Burkittsville to Gathland. I don't remember any part of the body being fiberglass on my brother's N600 and only the rear hatch was on my Z600. Parts were still available from the dealer a few years before - at least a cam chain, guide, tensioner, misc. seals, gaskets and carb kit were.
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I'm not sure how "massive" the older cars were. Maybe when you include all the airspace they took up.
As an example 1970 El Dorado Coupe Deville weighed in at 4784 lb curb weight with a 471 cu-in engine (7.7 liter)
2020 Tesla model S weighs in at 4848 lbs. The Mercedes S class is pretty much the same.
Since the 1970's most cars, including most foreign cars, have actually gotten "chubbier" even though their outer dimensions may have shrunk.
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Sitting in my garage as I type is my 72 Ford LTD convertible.. All 19.5 feet of it!! Shes been off the road for almost 20 years now, but getting her back up and running this winter. Nothing like the ride!! And really the big Fords of that era handled pretty well.
(https://i.ibb.co/p4LNtCZ/36723369-10156675205317268-9004833977596379136-n.jpg) (https://ibb.co/p4LNtCZ)
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In 1982, I painted my newly acquired 1970 Maverick, equipped with a rust seized* straight six, a two speed "slipomatic" transmission, mismatched hubcaps and a crumbling plastic interior, with a brush dipped in brown rust paint. The car cost me $80 from a city auction. I had many compliments (Ok, comments, anyway.) on the textured paint job. The Maverick was a compact car in those days, but probably as heavy as a modern large car. Very little rust, which for a 12 year old, Montreal area Ford was unheard of. It turned out the car had spent most of it's life in the Yukon, where it's too cold to use salt on the road. I got at least twice my money's worth of use out of that crapmobile. :grin:
That's a pic of an identical looking car, before my artistic umber finish was applied.
(https://i.ibb.co/C0m69F2/maverick-1970.jpg) (https://ibb.co/C0m69F2)
* Took the head off, the pan off, removed the rod bolts and then beat on the seized piston from top and bottom until it came loose.
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I'm not sure how "massive" the older cars were. Maybe when you include all the airspace they took up.
As an example 1970 El Dorado Coupe Deville weighed in at 4784 lb curb weight with a 471 cu-in engine (7.7 liter)
2020 Tesla model S weighs in at 4848 lbs. The Mercedes S class is pretty much the same.
Since the 1970's most cars, including most foreign cars, have actually gotten "chubbier" even though their outer dimensions may have shrunk.
My Galaxie is a big, long, heavy car but still weighs less & has far more open space compared to many modern cars. In addition to the added emissions-related equipment under the hood, the added bulk related to passenger safety equipment started to accrue in earnest in 1968- collapsing steering columns, minimum mph/impact bumpers, door side reinforcement, rubber bumper pads, crush zones and lots more. 1970 Chrysler passenger car vehicles had a very extravagant full-surround chromed steel front bumpers as a last ditch effort before additional rubber pads were added.
As a token effort at safety, the 67 Fords like mine have a kind of ridiculous big wonky steering wheel center pad. Never had to test how effective it is but I have my doubts. Cars are safer now.
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I took my driving test in my dads 67 Newport. A few years back I saw one at a car show, dam that car was big,I don't I could parallel park the car today! I could fit 7 friends in that car.
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I took the driver's test in my Dad's 1970 Ford Country Squire station wagon. We located some discreet pieces of tape in the rear windows so I could tell when to cut the wheels for parking the boat during the test.
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No way the Japanese cars outsold American cars 2 to 1 in that time period.
My dad had a 1967 Toronado I loved that car. To this day I wish I would have been able to own one.
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Big?
A 2020 Suburban is over 5500 lb, an Expedition is about the same. Tons of those around here, not to mention the pickups.
Rich A
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70's cars were mostly pretty lame. Poor quality...I remember the door gaps in my mom's 1975 Pontiac. Had to be 1/2". The overhangs on many of those cars were enormous. The trunks stuck out several feet past the rear wheels. I wonder who set the record for overhang.
I remember turning the key to the off position, and then waiting for the car to quit dieseling, and finally actually quit running.
And rust. It was accepted that you'd have rust-through in just a few years. Kept Ziebart in business.
I can understand some of the nostalgia for the 70's cars, as they had some style and individuality, but bottom line is, the American consumers were suckers. Thanks, Detroit.
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When I was a teenager I remember myself and all of my friends driving 4 to 8 year old gas guzzlers that we were able to buy for a couple hundred dollars. Of course our world pretty much consisted of a 10 mile radius of where we lived.
Now-a-days the full sized SUV and Trucks have replaced the full size car of the 70s. My wife and I each have a truck, and we share a 32 mpg crossover that is used for anything not needing a truck.
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70's cars were mostly pretty lame.
The biggest problem that I remember is that they had taken 1960's engines like the slant-six 225 or the 350 Chevy, and cobbled so much pollution-control crap onto them that the engines would barely run, not to mention being impossible to work on through the air-pump plumbing and stuff ....
Lannis
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Here is another beauty my Dad owned, then me, for a brief period - - 1969 Oldsmobile Delta 98!!!
455 cubic-inches of factory low rider! - At age 18, a buddy of mine and I drove this HUGE WHALE in the dead of winter from NY to Aspen / Vail CO and back, without a whimper of problems! :thumb: :cool: It also had a factory 8-track and a GREAT heater!!
(https://i.ibb.co/YQcJTGd/Screen-Shot-2020-12-01-at-11-18-46-AM.png) (https://ibb.co/YQcJTGd)
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70's cars were mostly pretty lame. Poor quality...I remember the door gaps in my mom's 1975 Pontiac. Had to be 1/2". The overhangs on many of those cars were enormous. The trunks stuck out several feet past the rear wheels. I wonder who set the record for overhang.
I remember turning the key to the off position, and then waiting for the car to quit dieseling, and finally actually quit running.
And rust. It was accepted that you'd have rust-through in just a few years. Kept Ziebart in business.
I can understand some of the nostalgia for the 70's cars, as they had some style and individuality, but bottom line is, the American consumers were suckers. Thanks, Detroit.
Looking at 1970s cars with today's eye is not really fair. My favorites from the 70s were the 72 Camaro, 73 Mustang Mach 1, mid 70s Monte Carlo with the swivel front seats, '76 or so Ford Elite, the Opel GT, my '74 Triumph Spitfire, El Camino SS, and I'm sure I can name more if I wanted to think about it.
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I owned one of these from 1997-2003. mine was light blue with a while top. Still miss it.
(https://i.ibb.co/nnCKdzw/1969-ford-galaxie-xl-sportsroof-429ci-w-factory-4-speed-heavily-documented-1.jpg) (https://ibb.co/nnCKdzw)
sold it to by a torino like this
(https://i.ibb.co/CsHPfQZ/cropped-medium-1969-ford-torino-gt-2-door-hardtop-fastback-80bd1d3039.jpg) (https://ibb.co/CsHPfQZ)
should have kept the galaxie.
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I had a 71 Buick Lesabre in the 80’s I bought for 300$.I got it stuck in a new Taco Bell drive up because the curve was too tight.The driver front tire was on one curb and the passenger rear on another.
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Now that's funny. :laugh:
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I took my driving test in my dads 67 Newport. A few years back I saw one at a car show, dam that car was big,I don't I could parallel park the car today! I could fit 7 friends in that car.
My dad had a Newport. All four kids could fit in back comfortably, as long as you didn't need a seatbelt...
A real American icon.
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As an example 1970 El Dorado Coupe Deville weighed in at 4784 lb curb weight with a 471 cu-in engine (7.7 liter)
Actually a 472. Caddy went from 429 to 472 to 500. My personal favorites were Oldsmobiles. None of these cars were designed to be rust buckets. People were, and still are, too damn lazy to keep them clean, hence the rust.
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As an Englishman, I'd not seen many 'Yank Tanks' (as they called them here, back then) and owned a Triumph Spitfire as my daily runner.
I worked for an Italian company at the time and the job involved much travelling and I spent around half a year in the USA (mainly in NC) in the early '80s.
The company I worked for had a US distributor to whom I would report and effectively work for and part of the deal was that they supplied me with transport. At the time the CEO of the company had just replaced his Cadillac (with another Cadillac) and still had the old one lying around doing nothing so, rather than buy/rent a car for me I was given the old Caddy to use; a late '70s Fleetwood Brougham with an 8 track radio/cassette.
I'd never seen such a big car, let alone driven one, nor been in one with so many 'extras' (power seats, electric windows, A/C etc.). The funny thing was that whilst I had it the fuel gauge broke so it constantly showed empty, meaning I was given to fill it up at every opportunity rather than risk running out of fuel - to be fair it probably need fuelling every day or so anyway as it did have a bit of a thirst! Luckily gas was so cheap in the US back then as I don't think my Italian employers would have been happy had I been paying Italian fuel prices to run it.
Luxurious it may have been but it handled like an ocean liner and I didn't have any 8 track tapes so had to make do with just the radio - happy days! :thumb:
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70's cars were mostly pretty lame. Poor quality...I remember the door gaps in my mom's 1975 Pontiac. Had to be 1/2". The overhangs on many of those cars were enormous. The trunks stuck out several feet past the rear wheels. I wonder who set the record for overhang.
I remember turning the key to the off position, and then waiting for the car to quit dieseling, and finally actually quit running.
And rust. It was accepted that you'd have rust-through in just a few years. Kept Ziebart in business.
I can understand some of the nostalgia for the 70's cars, as they had some style and individuality, but bottom line is, the American consumers were suckers. Thanks, Detroit.
\
The early 70's were not all that bad. The cars stopped, and handled a bit better then the 60's era cars. Power was slowly going down, but the bones were still the same. Build quality was hit and miss but the real issues were a little down the road. Once the emission regs came it was down hill!! They just had NO IDEA how to clean up the old engines. Build quility tanked, and things just crashed. The good news is that today these cars are a great starting point to building a cool car. They are a bit safer on todays roads then the older cars. Brakes were pretty good, handling improved. The engines were the same old engines we have had for years, and with todays aftermarket parts we can build them to run powerfull, clean, and efficient. By now any survivers were odds are the beter built ones, and with the knolage over the years we can go back and build them like they should have been built. I always said if you want to daily drive a old car.. you really cant top a 70's era car.
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Not a massive car, but about 10 years ago I bought a 81 G body El Camino...It was rust free but well used..I converted it from auto to 4 speed manual, built a typical SBC engine, urethane suspenson and body mounts, S10 front springs, stiffer rears, changed the power steering box spooling fr a better feel.
The result was a lowered car/truck that handled like a Camaro,a firm ride that was great on smooth roads.. It even had working AC....But there was always the poor build quaity, door windows that bowed outward at high speed, floppy doors,cheap trim parts and generally poor design ....The poor build quality just wears ya down....
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My mom bought a 1970 Chevy Belair 4 door in late 1969. It had a 350 CI Engine rated at 250 Horsepower.
It was totally reliable and I could get 17MPG if I kept it around 55 to 60MPH.
I bought it from her in 1980 for $500.00
I would fill the car up with passengers and travel 1000 miles to Canada for school.
A few years later I sold the car because it was hard to fill up with gas at $1.30 a gallon.
I should have kept the car....
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My car is Riviera -73, I like to drive on it. :laugh:
(https://i.ibb.co/kBJ4NQk/IMG-0367.jpg) (https://ibb.co/kBJ4NQk)
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I have owned dozens of cars in my time, both domestic and foreign.
I remember the days back east when one could buy a "winter beater" car for $250-$500, throw two 50-pound bags of rock salt in the trunk, and flog it through the winter, and then sell it for the same price the following spring, when it was time to break out the motorcycles again. Those were the days... :thumb: :cool: :wink:
From my recollection, a 1970 Ford Maverick was the biggest "POS" I ever owned...cheaply constructed, poor quality, always breaking down...did NOT like cold climates...Mine was a 6-cylinder..."Beater of my childhood memories!" :shocked: :rolleyes: :huh:
(https://i.ibb.co/xznS28p/Screen-Shot-2020-12-02-at-8-22-38-AM.png) (https://ibb.co/xznS28p)
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It looked cool. :wink: While living in Mesa before moving back to Hawaii. I had a 442, Torino, Diplomat, Checker and lastly a Ranchero w/biggest engine you could get oem. Should have kept that one. :embarrassed:
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....and lastly a Ranchero w/biggest engine you could get oem. Should have kept that one. :embarrassed:
(https://i.ibb.co/xFcR46x/43-FC7332-B956-4441-A6-E1-0-A3-C269-E7-CAD.jpg)
The insurance on the el Camino is like $200 bucks a year with Hagerty so I keep the truck. It has a 396 with Hooker Headers (mistake) and a mildly lump cam which sounds good at idle but of course it sucks buckets of gas and is unGodly hot in the summertime. In terms of size, I don't think it is much bigger than the standard F-150 and with any bike in the bed I can't close the tailgate just like the Tundra's I use to own.
Guys are always trying to trade me their big ass trucks but they shy away when I try to hand them the keys.
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Wishful thinking on their part. Where was that picture taken 'cuz it would take a lot of water to keep that yard green. :huh:
Currently working on a '86 El Camino Conquista w/305" engine. No hot rod but I can work on it. :thumb:
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Not a massive car, but about 10 years ago I bought a 81 G body El Camino...It was rust free but well used..I converted it from auto to 4 speed manual, built a typical SBC engine, urethane suspenson and body mounts, S10 front springs, stiffer rears, changed the power steering box spooling fr a better feel.
The result was a lowered car/truck that handled like a Camaro,a firm ride that was great on smooth roads.. It even had working AC....But there was always the poor build quaity, door windows that bowed outward at high speed, floppy doors,cheap trim parts and generally poor design ....The poor build quality just wears ya down....
I have a '86 G body that I'm using for hauling bikes and as back-up. You ever replace the hinge pins on the doors. The driver's side is sagging. I'm waiting for the parts to come in. Seems straight forward but I'll be doing it by myself. I'm looking at the engine hoist or the bike lift. Not sure at this point.
The mounting circle clips for the rear brake cylinders is a real piece of engineering design. :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: Definitely confirms my theory that the design engineers don't work on the vehicles that they design.
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Wishful thinking on their part. Where was that picture taken 'cuz it would take a lot of water to keep that yard green. :huh:
Currently working on a '86 El Camino Conquista w/305" engine. No hot rod but I can work on it. :thumb:
House in Floriduh, taken last winter. Winter vulnerable plants were in the bed of the truck which was headed back into the garage.
I always liked those mid-80's el Camino's and the 305 is reasonable OK in terms of gas mileage. The weak aspect of my vehicle was the stock rear suspension, so I removed the 50 year old air suspension and installed a new system with new springs and shocks.
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Mine has air shocks installed by the PO., good for the infrequent bike loads from the harbor. :thumb:
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I have a '86 G body that I'm using for hauling bikes and as back-up. You ever replace the hinge pins on the doors. The driver's side is sagging. I'm waiting for the parts to come in. Seems straight forward but I'll be doing it by myself. I'm looking at the engine hoist or the bike lift. Not sure at this point.
The mounting circle clips for the rear brake cylinders is a real piece of engineering design. :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: Definitely confirms my theory that the design engineers don't work on the vehicles that they design.
yes, Did the hinge pins..A bike ift would be ideal, I used a wheeled floor jack , the door steadied by my wife...You may still need a helper or.a temporary wooden cradle secured to the lift
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I figured the bike lift would work best with caster wheels and tie-downs. Probably some 4x4's & 2x4's. Did you take the hinges completely off or just at the pins?
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I figured the bike lift would work best with caster wheels and tie-downs. Probably some 4x4's & 2x4's. Did you take the hinges completely off or just at the pins?
Forgot to answer this question. I just replaced the entire hinges, this was a dozen+ plus years ago, but I don't remember it being anything complicated. If my memory is correct I just fabricated a small platform to keep the door up and I replaced one hinge at a time.
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Good thoughts. :thumb:
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(https://i.ibb.co/xFcR46x/43-FC7332-B956-4441-A6-E1-0-A3-C269-E7-CAD.jpg)
The insurance on the el Camino is like $200 bucks a year with Hagerty so I keep the truck. It has a 396 with Hooker Headers (mistake) and a mildly lump cam which sounds good at idle but of course it sucks buckets of gas and is unGodly hot in the summertime. In terms of size, I don't think it is much bigger than the standard F-150 and with any bike in the bed I can't close the tailgate just like the Tundra's I use to own.
Guys are always trying to trade me their big ass trucks but they shy away when I try to hand them the keys.
You don't see many cars with painted stripes these days. All vinyl decals now. That is a beauty for sure. If I was the type who wanted to spend my weekends sitting around car shows I would have a rig like that. Definitely wouldn't drag race something that clean.
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European cars have got bigger over the years. But Clarissa still shocks when i take her out for a ride! :-). She’s a big girl. (72 Newport)
(https://i.ibb.co/TvRL0DX/OLYMPUS-DIGITAL-CAMERA.jpg) (https://ibb.co/TvRL0DX)
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I figured the bike lift would work best with caster wheels and tie-downs. Probably some 4x4's & 2x4's. Did you take the hinges completely off or just at the pins?
I removed the hinges becaue the pin holes were egg shaped..I welded and got them back it shape...Might be easier to buy new ones ff the quality is decent. Can't imagine any original one being around but ya never know.
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My car is Riviera -73, I like to drive on it. :laugh:
(https://i.ibb.co/kBJ4NQk/IMG-0367.jpg) (https://ibb.co/kBJ4NQk)
That's a beauty. What size is the engine?
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I removed the hinges becaue the pin holes were egg shaped..I welded and got them back it shape...Might be easier to buy new ones ff the quality is decent. Can't imagine any original one being around but ya never know.
I have the ones that come with different insert hole liners. I'll probably do one hole at a time with the door attached to the body. I was overthinking the whole process with taking the door off. The sag seems to be in the bottom hinge.
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That's a beauty. What size is the engine?
If it's a stock Riviera, they all came with the 455 ci engine; 250 HP standard or 260 HP with the performance options .. Pollution control was killing the 455 by then; the earlier 455s had options to take them to almost 400 HP ...
Lannis
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If it's a stock Riviera, they all came with the 455 ci engine; 250 HP standard or 260 HP with the performance options .. Pollution control was killing the 455 by then; the earlier 455s had options to take them to almost 400 HP ...
Lannis
That's a beauty. What size is the engine?
Yes, the car is unrestored and the engine is big block 455, 250 HP DIN ( …. 400 HP SAE).
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Remember those HP ratings are NET, not gross, like they wer in 1970.
Today's engines make tons more power then the much bigger engines of yesteryear.
For example, my 70s 318 Chargers were rated at 150 HP net.
My 92 318 is rated at 230 net. That's the gross HP rating of the 318 in 1970.
We have engines now running on pump gas making 700+ HP NET all the while getting twice the gas mileage. And these engines aren't even broken in at 100k.
In all areas today's vehicles are light years ahead of cars from back then...except for one.
RUST. Breathe on todays cars and you can hear them rust.
MoPar or no car!
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Rust? Most of todays vehicles are WAY better dealing with rust. I had a 65 El Camino that at 10 years of age had half a rear quarter panel fall of due to total rust through. Chrysler vehicles as a whole were rust buckets. Have owned four Hondas, three of which sat out their whole life and were never waxed. All had over 200K miles and one almost 300K with nothing more than slight bits of surface rust around the real wheel well. My old 96 Nissan PU had sat out it's whole life without any rust. Dusty is still using it.
GliderJohn
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Remember those HP ratings are NET, not gross, like they wer in 1970.
Today's engines make tons more power then the much bigger engines of yesteryear.
For example, my 70s 318 Chargers were rated at 150 HP net.
My 92 318 is rated at 230 net. That's the gross HP rating of the 318 in 1970.
We have engines now running on pump gas making 700+ HP NET all the while getting twice the gas mileage. And these engines aren't even broken in at 100k.
In all areas today's vehicles are light years ahead of cars from back then...except for one.
RUST. Breathe on todays cars and you can hear them rust.
MoPar or no car!
Ya, 72 changed from gross to net.. Also the year that they started detuning for emission.. The good news is that under all those air cleaners was the same small and big blocks that are still run today on streets and tracks everywhere.. We know so much now how to get good, clean, efficient power, that its amazing what these old lumps can do with a few basic mods. Granted a lot of todays engines are a better starting point...
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Rust? Most of todays vehicles are WAY better dealing with rust. I had a 65 El Camino that at 10 years of age had half a rear quarter panel fall of due to total rust through. Chrysler vehicles as a whole were rust buckets. Have owned four Hondas, three of which sat out their whole life and were never waxed. All had over 200K miles and one almost 300K with nothing more than slight bits of surface rust around the real wheel well. My old 96 Nissan PU had sat out it's whole life without any rust. Dusty is still using it.
GliderJohn
Ya, im sitting here in upstate NY and have to say anything over 10 years old is on borrowed time.. Most modern stuff is MUCH better in controlling rust. There are some out there that rot just as fast though... I think the much greater uses of salt, and this new slurry they are on the road is a huge factor though.. Working on cars from the 60's and 70's alot in the past I will say that with some exceptions [Aspen and Volare im looking at you!] the 70's stuff seemed to be sealed to the weather much better then the 60's stuff..
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You don't see many cars with painted stripes these days. All vinyl decals now. That is a beauty for sure. If I was the type who wanted to spend my weekends sitting around car shows I would have a rig like that. Definitely wouldn't drag race something that clean.
Thanks but it’s not a show car. It gets loaded with plywood, cement,etc and of course Xmas tree’s.
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Ya, im sitting here in upstate NY and have to say anything over 10 years old is on borrowed time.. Most modern stuff is MUCH better in controlling rust. There are some out there that rot just as fast though... I think the much greater uses of salt, and this new slurry they are on the road is a huge factor though.. Working on cars from the 60's and 70's alot in the past I will say that with some exceptions [Aspen and Volare im looking at you!] the 70's stuff seemed to be sealed to the weather much better then the 60's stuff..
Too funny- we moved to SC in 80 with our 76 Volare wagon. It was my mother's car and wasn't all rusted up. I think it was 84 when i jacked it up in the driveway to fix a flat back tire. There was only about 1" (probably less) of frame rail remaining at the top of the frame arch. I told Ma the Volare was parked for good...
This was after we rebodied our completely rotten 73 Chevy C20 4x4 farm truck, also from VT. We only had to burn off a few bolts and the remains of the body fell away on its own. I've still got it parked out back, think the entire rolling chassis is now officially lace paper thin. It's like art. It makes my current 73 Cheyenne daily driver look like its rust free, even with the holes through the floor.
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Here is the song "Rusty old American Dream".
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CeYpr5-HFWA
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I moved to the Rochester NY area in 1973. A girlfriend had a bought new 70 Cougar that was starting to rust through at the door bottoms and top of the front fenders...I bought a 71 Datsun in 75, during a rainstorm my feet got wet..Front floors were gone,replaced by thin plywood. Most new vehicles showed holes in 5 years. Ford got stuck replacing the quarter panels and doors on the mid 70's Torinos because of rust through. Mopars would suffer from rusted torsion bar mounts , Dodge van rear springs came through the floor. Ford PU truck cab mounts rusted causing the cab to drop and jam the steering column.
I had a 65 Chevy PU rusted so badly you could see the inside from outside with the doors closed
There was good rust and bad rust...Generally unit body vehicles suffered bad rust...
Vehicles have been much more rust resistant the last 20 years..Well sorta. A few years ago I bought
a low mileage 09 4x4 Ford Ranger 5 speed. I knew the bed was rusted under the bed liner...Got a rust free Western bed....When the old bed was pulled, the rear part of the frame was very rusty and two crossmembers were nearly cut in half bt rust...A lot of grinding, welding in new metal saved a nice running truck...I learned that Ford had sold quite a few rear frames....it's a two piece affair riveted together just behind the cab..The front section had no bad rust issues....No recall that I know of..
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And then are Toyota PUs that have broken in half on lifts.
kk
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And then are Toyota PUs that have broken in half on lifts.
kk
Are those the ones that Toyota replaced the frames at no cost to the owners? I'm no Toyota fan boy but they did step up and take care of it....
GM Ford and Dodge all suffer from rusted through rear front spring hangers on half tons...No factory recall I know off...
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European cars have got bigger over the years. But Clarissa still shocks when i take her out for a ride! :-). She’s a big girl. (72 Newport)
(https://i.ibb.co/TvRL0DX/OLYMPUS-DIGITAL-CAMERA.jpg) (https://ibb.co/TvRL0DX)
Reminds me of the B-52' "Love Shack" song line..."I Got Me A Car That's As Big As A Whale..." :huh: :shocked: :rolleyes: :thumb: :wink: :cool:
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Are those the ones that Toyota replaced the frames at no cost to the owners? I'm no Toyota fan boy but they did step up and take care of it....
GM Ford and Dodge all suffer from rusted through rear front spring hangers on half tons...No factory recall I know off...
Yes, some of the early Tundras and Tacomas had frames that would rust out. Long taken care of. Mine is a 2017, so no issues for me (yet) lol
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Talking about rusty cars, I had a 1963 Buick Skylark Special 2 door that had a rod knock in the little v6 that sounded like a jack hammer, and a rust problem like I've never seen before or after. The whole car from the back seat rearward was so rusted it sank over the frame, and the rear frame rails were 4" up into the trunk. Eventually, it dropped the fuel tank out of the car when I hit a bump on a left handed sweeper. About 1/4 mile down the road the car sputtered and died. While standing in front of the car with the hood up trying to figure out what was happening a town police officer pulled up and asked me if I lost anything. He walked me back to his truck (was a 4WD truck as it was a beach community) and pointed to a gastank..... He helped me bungy it down inside the tank, took me to a hardware store and gas station, we ran new rubber fuel line to the tank, put 5 gallons in and away I went.....
I loved that car.
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My ex-business partner had a 03-04? Tacoma with the rusted frame issue and Toyota offered a frame replacement or an alternative which I can't remember what the offer was but the ex took the alternative. At that time I thought that was a big mistake but he wasn't the listening type.
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At the end of 1973 my dad bought a new Chevy Caprice Estate wagon that had sat on the dealer lot for over a year. Nobody wanted a gas guzzler during the oil embargo and gas rationing. I guess he got a good deal. That wagon was a tank. It was loaded and had a 454 cu.in V8. A/C, power everything. It weighed 4779 lbs. I remember driving it to San Francisco and parking it on a hill where the parking was 90-degrees to the street. I had to really work to get the door open uphill. It got about 10 mpg. My friend Wade's parents had the same wagon. I was following him up the street to our house going faster than we should have (I was 16) and suddenly Wade veered a little to the right and mowed over a stop sign. The sign bent over 90 degrees at the bumper height and was parallel to the street. The car had a huge chromed steel bumper.
When I was 16 I inherited a 1969 Dodge dart slant 6 from my grandfather. It had been sitting for over a year and when I got it in 1975 it had 9900 miles on it. I had that car thru college and drove the hell out of it. It was a great car. The trunk was so big I could fit 220cm snow skis in it..... I never needed a ski rack even with four guys off to the slopes for the weekend. The Chevy picture looks very much like our wagon. My Dart had the same color vinyl roof but the body was a metallic dark tan and didn't have fancy wheels and no turn indicators on the hood. It wasn't fast but would cruise at 100mph all day long once it got there. At stop lights passengers would ask me if my engine had died because you couldn't feel it.
(https://i.ibb.co/VNJVyBq/1969-roanoke-va-deck.jpg) (https://ibb.co/VNJVyBq)
(https://i.ibb.co/28wN2PR/8383254-Dart-Wss.jpg) (https://ibb.co/28wN2PR)
(https://i.ibb.co/BsQDHqJ/2.jpg) (https://ibb.co/BsQDHqJ)
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Too funny- we moved to SC in 80 with our 76 Volare wagon. It was my mother's car and wasn't all rusted up. I think it was 84 when i jacked it up in the driveway to fix a flat back tire. There was only about 1" (probably less) of frame rail remaining at the top of the frame arch. I told Ma the Volare was parked for good...
This was after we rebodied our completely rotten 73 Chevy C20 4x4 farm truck, also from VT. We only had to burn off a few bolts and the remains of the body fell away on its own. I've still got it parked out back, think the entire rolling chassis is now officially lace paper thin. It's like art. It makes my current 73 Cheyenne daily driver look like its rust free, even with the holes through the floor.
Back in the day my dad had a 76 aspen wagon with a 318 and 4 speed. Cool car. My sister was driving a 76 Volarie.. Nice looking two door. Bucket seats, center consol, but a slant six, and MAN those things were SLOW back then!! Still think they were one of the best looking cars of the late 70's, and after you rebuilt them right, and fine start of a cool car project. As for trucks... Im working on my old 74 Powerwagon as we speak.. Step dad got it in 76, and it only has 19k miles on it. Been off the road since 86. Shes rough but the chassis and drivetrain are real solid.
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Back in the day my dad had a 76 aspen wagon with a 318 and 4 speed. Cool car. My sister was driving a 76 Volarie.. Nice looking two door. Bucket seats, center consol, but a slant six, and MAN those things were SLOW back then!! Still think they were one of the best looking cars of the late 70's, and after you rebuilt them right, and fine start of a cool car project. As for trucks... Im working on my old 74 Powerwagon as we speak.. Step dad got it in 76, and it only has 19k miles on it. Been off the road since 86. Shes rough but the chassis and drivetrain are real solid.
Our 76 Volare was silver with wood grain 318 automatic. Very good car. We replaced it with an 82 Buick Estate wagon. My grandparents had a burgundy 75 or 76 Volare 4 dr, pretty sure it was a slant 6 because Gramp had no need for more. Before that, they had a 69 Coronet 2dr post, dark green. Same stripped down base model deal. I can remember popping open the back windows for fresh air. They didn't roll down. When I started doing cars and driving down here, My Mopar friends liked the 2 doors' especially with a 340-360.
The Powerwagon sounds like fun. Our old 4x4 is toast, really just needs to go away. Not many miles on it. My 73 Cheyenne is just a good old truck that cost $350 20+ yrs ago. Over 200k on the original plain distributor 350 at this point, still gets 18mpg on the interstate. I'm 2nd owner. It's got quite a backstory that's not WG pc... I didn't get or groom it as a "patina" truck. Now some people respond to that stuff. They don't get that a truck is a truck & paint doesn't matter. Beyond that, it's had so many motorcycles in the back & behind it, it's hard to count them-
(https://i.ibb.co/rkz8kKn/image.jpg) (https://ibb.co/rkz8kKn)
Kinda rusty, but a good heavy floor mat helps...
(https://i.ibb.co/gjv7C7K/image.jpg) (https://ibb.co/gjv7C7K)
(https://i.ibb.co/SNfC534/image.jpg) (https://ibb.co/SNfC534)
We went to cut & bring home a Christmas tree yesterday. The tree farm owner asked a bunch of questions about the truck, said how great they are, typical comments. We drove home past our old dairy farm, pretty cool to be bringing our tree home in my old truck. Kinda hard to believe it's nearly 50 yrs old. I've been driving a 73 Chevy longbed almost continuously since i started driving there on that farm, even before I got my license.
I've got another nearly identical but much less rusty 73 Cheyenne longbed to replace it when this one finally ends its run.
(https://i.ibb.co/9HJFgwY/image.jpg) (https://ibb.co/9HJFgwY)
Engine & trans are newer in it.
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This LAND YACHT is from 1960...but you get the point!! :laugh: :grin: :wink: :rolleyes: :shocked: :huh:
(https://i.ibb.co/Pm10zHC/Screen-Shot-2020-12-04-at-6-12-02-AM.png) (https://ibb.co/Pm10zHC)
(https://i.ibb.co/gMV7Cj0/Screen-Shot-2020-12-04-at-6-11-15-AM.png) (https://ibb.co/gMV7Cj0)
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Are those the ones that Toyota replaced the frames at no cost to the owners? I'm no Toyota fan boy but they did step up and take care of it....
GM Ford and Dodge all suffer from rusted through rear front spring hangers on half tons...No factory recall I know off...
I just picked up a Toyota from a relative, a 2004 Solara convertible with a 3.3L V6.
The car had been abused and then abandoned, and left to set at the edge of the woods for a year and a half. The property owner wanted it gone, for free if that would get it out of there. I gave the $.06/pound scrap price for it and towed it to the house, trailing water and leaves.
I pulled all the rubber plugs out of the trunk and floorboards; the resulting creek almost washed the gravel out of my driveway, must have been 30 gallons of water in it, the spare tire was floating a foot above the trunk floor.
I stripped out all the mats and carpets, let it set in the sun for a couple days, and behold - not a speck of rust anywhere. I promise you (having been there/done that) that if this had been an old MG or Fleetwood, it would have been in two pieces from corrosion.
I flushed the engine, radiator, and transmission, put in a new battery, and she purrs like a kitten. Put in new brake lines, rotors, and calipers, and two CV joints/axles, took off the tires and rebalanced the wheels, and she drives straight and handles great. Then I sprung for a new convertible top; now I've got the electric window and the electric top motor to sort out and I should have a nice car.
At any rate, that era Toyota must have been made of stuff so tough that you can't kill them!
Lannis
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"Twenty-eight feet from bumper to bumper
The last of the big old time gas guzzlers
Hard to drive, harder to park
But when you do, somebody remarks
'That's a mighty big car!'"
Fred Eaglesmith
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Back in the day my dad had a 76 aspen wagon with a 318 and 4 speed. Cool car. My sister was driving a 76 Volarie.. Nice looking two door. Bucket seats, center consol, but a slant six, and MAN those things were SLOW back then!! Still think they were one of the best looking cars of the late 70's, and after you rebuilt them right, and fine start of a cool car project. As for trucks... Im working on my old 74 Powerwagon as we speak.. Step dad got it in 76, and it only has 19k miles on it. Been off the road since 86. Shes rough but the chassis and drivetrain are real solid.
My mom had a baby powder blue Volare (maybe Valiant?) But it was a Plymouth with slant 6 and 3 on the tree manual. She offered it to me and I made a hard pass for a 63 Buick......
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My mom had a baby powder blue Volare (maybe Valiant?) But it was a Plymouth with slant 6 and 3 on the tree manual. She offered it to me and I made a hard pass for a 63 Buick......
Probably a Volare if it was '75 - '76 or later ... Valiants were older.
Lannis
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Y'ep.
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I had 3 slant 6's, a truck from the early 80's, a van from the late 70, and an Aspen from the early 80's ( I think). They were all junk. I did like my 318's.
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I had 3 slant 6's, a truck from the early 80's, a van from the late 70, and an Aspen from the early 80's ( I think). They were all junk. I did like my 318's.
Mid 70's to mid 80's was a bad time for the old /6... They responded to mother Mopars attempt at cleaning emissions pretty badly. Zero power, bogging, pingging, dieseling lump it was.. I likened it to driving a ship... you had to go faster, you pushed the pedal.. that information was transferred to the engine room... after the engineer finished his coffee, he would respond, and wake the stokers, and get the power going... 0-60 was measured in days.. A sad twilight for a great, tough old engine!!
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I just picked up a Toyota from a relative, a 2004 Solara convertible with a 3.3L V6.
The car had been abused and then abandoned, and left to set at the edge of the woods for a year and a half. The property owner wanted it gone, for free if that would get it out of there. I gave the $.06/pound scrap price for it and towed it to the house, trailing water and leaves.
I pulled all the rubber plugs out of the trunk and floorboards; the resulting creek almost washed the gravel out of my driveway, must have been 30 gallons of water in it, the spare tire was floating a foot above the trunk floor.
I stripped out all the mats and carpets, let it set in the sun for a couple days, and behold - not a speck of rust anywhere. I promise you (having been there/done that) that if this had been an old MG or Fleetwood, it would have been in two pieces from corrosion.
I flushed the engine, radiator, and transmission, put in a new battery, and she purrs like a kitten. Put in new brake lines, rotors, and calipers, and two CV joints/axles, took off the tires and rebalanced the wheels, and she drives straight and handles great. Then I sprung for a new convertible top; now I've got the electric window and the electric top motor to sort out and I should have a nice car.
At any rate, that era Toyota must have been made of stuff so tough that you can't kill them!
Lannis
was it filled with a solution of water and road deicing salt or chemicals?
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Probably a Volare if it was '75 - '76 or later ... Valiants were older.
Lannis
Yeah, either that or an Aspen, but I think it was the Volare. Congrats on the Solara!
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was it filled with a solution of water and road deicing salt or chemicals?
I didn't analyze it, but it was whatever it is you get when you fill a container up with water, oak leaves, and sycamore leaves for 18 months. Maybe it's a preservative of some sort, like leather tanning solution.
Lannis
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My mother got my Grandfathers 68 Dart with a slant 6 I love that car,it looked great maroon with matching interior with bucket seats. Then when my sister got out of collage she bought a low milage Plymouth Scamp,Plymouth version of the Dart with the slant 6, I don't remember the year, but it was an early emissions car, what a POS car would stall a stop signs, no power, she hated that car. It's amazing now you can buy a car with 700 hp that get good milage and run clean.
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I did not realize that many modern luxury cars were so heavy. I guess the main factor in a smooth ride is still the ratio of unsprung axle mass to gross body mass. I would have guessed axles and wheels had become significantly lighter in order to achieve a more fuel efficient overall weight while still maintaining a smooth riding axle:body weight ratio.
The 66 Coronet 440, which I nicknamed The USS Forrestal with a big block 360 was my biggest entry into the field, but it had a two cylinder air conditioner and I got it from a retired heating and airconditioning business owner. It was so sweet and chilled like an ice box at 8 mpg on a good day. Perhaps the best $350 I ever spent.
(https://i.ibb.co/42JQp4c/dodge-coronet-9-011800000efa060f.jpg) (https://ibb.co/42JQp4c)
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I didn't analyze it, but it was whatever it is you get when you fill a container up with water, oak leaves, and sycamore leaves for 18 months. Maybe it's a preservative of some sort, like leather tanning solution.
Lannis
My wife puts oak leaves in the brine when making pickles....
I know that the later Toyotas and many others are coated well to prevent rust....But one pinhole in the finish and if there's chemicals that promote corrosion, it's bad news . But it does appear you got a winner.....
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Funny the talk of the slant 6, and the Darts! My first car was a sky blue 1972 Dodge Dart with the slant six. Bought it, with some help from Mom and Dad, in 1985. What an absolute dog that hing was, lol. Not like the 318 my brother's convertible Dart had. I beat the living hell out of that car in my late teens, then it sat at folks house for over a decade. Started right up with a new battery when sold years later. The Blue Thrasher.
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In 1973 My oldest brother ordered this Charger. 400 Big Block,Torqueflight, 323Posi and rallye suspension.
(https://i.ibb.co/rZ2hhHk/Charger002-001.jpg) (https://ibb.co/rZ2hhHk)
He drove it for ten years and then gave it to my Dad when he retired. In '99 my Dad quit driving so the Charger came to me. I have taken care of this car and done a driving restoration over the last 20 or so years
(https://i.ibb.co/520TSJZ/Charger-at-car-show-002.jpg) (https://ibb.co/520TSJZ)
In September My great nephew turned 16 so the Charger went to Santa Fe to stay in the family and now he can carry on the stewardship .
(https://i.ibb.co/ZMMX7QW/WGI-0040-002.jpg) (https://ibb.co/ZMMX7QW)
Paul B :boozing:
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Quote from: ozarquebus on Today at 10:49:36 AM (https://wildguzzi.com/forum/index.php?topic=108330.msg1717991#msg1717991)I did not realize that many modern luxury cars were so heavy. I guess the main factor in a smooth ride is still the ratio of unsprung axle mass to gross body mass. I would have guessed axles and wheels had become significantly lighter in order to achieve a more fuel efficient overall weight while still maintaining a smooth riding axle:body weight ratio.
The 66 Coronet 440, which I nicknamed
The USS Forrestal with a big block 360 was my biggest entry into the field, but it had a two cylinder air conditioner and I got it from a retired heating and airconditioning business owner. It was so sweet and chilled like an ice box at 8 mpg on a good day. Perhaps the best $350 I ever spent.
(https://i.ibb.co/42JQp4c/dodge-coronet-9-011800000efa060f.jpg) (https://ibb.co/42JQp4c)
That was a 361. The 360 was a small block.and didn't c[size=78%]ome out until 71 and was available at first only in the C body (full size) cars.[/size]
The reason the leaning tower of power was so gutless was because they had 2.40-2.70 gears in them. Then throw in the OD 4 speed and it's a real slug.
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In September My great nephew turned 16 so the Charger went to Santa Fe to stay in the family and now he can carry on the stewardship .
(https://i.ibb.co/ZMMX7QW/WGI-0040-002.jpg) (https://ibb.co/ZMMX7QW)
Paul B :boozing:
That's one lucky 16-year-old but I hope the car comes with an allowance from grandpa's Trust Fund to pay for gasoline. Not many 16-year-olds have a job that would allow them to drive a 10-mpg car!
Lannis
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And MoPars don't have Posi rears! They have Sure Grips! :boxing:
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Not toyota, :thumb:
https://youtu.be/RJc5NxtoGAQ
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This is like a reunion - I too had a Honda Z, the Z360 which was very underpowered the 600 would have been more like it. Though, as compensation it was like brand new condition when I bought it...apart from a blown engine. So Dad bought a N360 that was rusted and we swapped engines. I once had 8 people in it, well I was 17. I think I had it up to 55 once, downhill.
And to continue the theme I replaced it with a 1968 Fairlaine with a Cleveland 302 that I never should have sold. The boot was big enough to put a couple of shortboards in. You could sleep on the bench seats. The steering was a little vague.....And we once scraped up 98c for petrol.....I had ideas for the car, but rust attacked a critical area and I sold it to my Uncle Maurice for very little....
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Not toyota, :thumb:
https://youtu.be/RJc5NxtoGAQ
That's interesting .... My Mom drove until she was 80, and the car she had the longest was a 1965 Mercury Comet 404 2 door sedan with the 289 engine. She loved that car, and when she finally sold it with about 220,000 miles on it and no major work ever done, she cried as it went out the driveway.
It did have rust in the fender corners, the pivot pins on the column shifter had broken, a couple gauges had failed, but it still drove well and you KNEW there was a motor under the hood when you kicked it down a gear to pass ...
Lannis
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Its a modern car, but my 2007 Focus has proved pretty good at 150,000 miles so far. Wished I had bought a station wagon version though - just more practical.
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Not an American piece of Iron, but to Date, my highest Mileage car was my 1982 SAAB 900. Bought it in the mid 90's with 225K and when I sold it in 2004, it had 513K miles on the original engine and turbo, and was on it's second transmission. In the background here, can't seem to find other pics.
(https://i.ibb.co/c16ypcD/VISITATION.jpg) (https://ibb.co/c16ypcD)
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I'm not a hardcore car guy (or even motorcycle guy, for that matter) but just finished reading David Halberstam's The Reckoning and really enjoyed it despite my ignorance. Talks about the Ford family heritage, the competition from the Far East, Lee Iaccoca, etc...great writer and really recommend the book if the land yachts are big in your memory. We'd go 5,000 miles every other summer in the old Ford station wagon, back seat flipped down, big Igloo cooler in the back. It and us three kids were missiles if anything ever went south...don't remember even any scares. My mom (an RN) smoked and drank while I was gestating. The norm back then...and maybe explains a few things about me!
Steve
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Quote from: ScepticalScotty on Today at 02:07:12 PM (https://wildguzzi.com/forum/index.php?topic=108330.msg1718244#msg1718244)This is like a reunion - I too had a Honda Z, the Z360 which was very underpowered the 600 would have been more like it. Though, as compensation it was like brand new condition when I bought it...apart from a blown engine. So Dad bought a N360 that was rusted and we swapped engines. I once had 8 people in it, well I was 17. I think I had it up to 55 once, downhill.
And to continue the theme I replaced it with a 1968 Fairlaine with a Cleveland 302 that I never should have sold. The boot was big enough to put a couple of shortboards in. You could sleep on the bench seats. The steering was a little vague.....And we once scraped up 98c for petrol.....I had ideas for the car, but rust attacked a critical area and I sold it to my Uncle Maurice for very little....
68 302s were Windsors. The 335 series heads didnt come till later.
UNLESS you were in Oz.
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(https://i.ibb.co/HXGptYH/fury.jpg) (https://ibb.co/HXGptYH)
Me with my Moms car when it was new.. 69 Sport Fury convertible. I loved that car, and so upset when she traded it in in '76. Grew up in big cars..
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The fuel tank on the Ford Pinto was precariously located just ahead of the rear bumper. These cars would meet a violent, cataclysmic end if rear-ended with any kind of force.
I was reminded of this a few days ago when I spotted a lime green Pinto cruising down the freeway. It was missing a hubcap, one of the taillights was broken, and the rear bumper was bashed in like it had been hit by a Mack truck. It must have been a dud.
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Back in those days a family in our area lost both parents and two out of four kids (other two weren't along) when their Pinto was rear ended and ruptured the gas tank.
The other Pinto sad story was concerning a female I knew that much of the time was one step from homeless. She finally got a full-time job and found and bought a Pinto for $200. Two weeks later it was stolen. Poor gal just could not get a break.
GliderJohn
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(https://i.ibb.co/HXGptYH/fury.jpg) (https://ibb.co/HXGptYH)
Me with my Moms car when it was new.. 69 Sport Fury convertible. I loved that car, and so upset when she traded it in in '76. Grew up in big cars..
It was probably around 1976 when my aunt's brother-in-law Phil stopped at the farm with his early 70's red Fury convertible. My brother and I were used to the TR3B as the all-summer-long convertible perspective that was very open but pretty spartan & intimate in that small sports car. It wasn't ever a cushy ride on VT roads, either.
Uncle Phil's convertible was so big & luxurious and it felt like we were floating. I'm almost certain we had all 8 grandchildren in the car plus Phil driving. The only rules were no feet on the seat, sit down and behave. It was a perfect warm sunny VT summer day. That is still one of the most memorable car rides of my entire life.
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Those 1970s leviathans are what I learned to drive on. It was rather like driving an oil tanker... which I suppose is what they were :laugh: And may be why I switched to small zippy roadsters -- preferably English but I wasn't picky -- my senior year in college.
Looking back on it all, I cannot help but wonder if that ancient but innocent-seeming 3-main-bearing MGB I picked up for $200 back in 1975 might have been the gateway drug to Moto Guzzis...
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It was probably around 1976 when my aunt's brother-in-law Phil stopped at the farm with his early 70's red Fury convertible. My brother and I were used to the TR3B as the all-summer-long convertible perspective that was very open but pretty spartan & intimate in that small sports car. It wasn't ever a cushy ride on VT roads, either.
Uncle Phil's convertible was so big & luxurious and it felt like we were floating. I'm almost certain we had all 8 grandchildren in the car plus Phil driving. The only rules were no feet on the seat, sit down and behave. It was a perfect warm sunny VT summer day. That is still one of the most memorable car rides of my entire life.
Ya, nothing like thumping down the highway.. Gliding along, with the sun shining, and top down. My love of the full size convertible was locked in with that car, and I still have it.. My 72 LTD I have now keeps that alive, but its been off the road for WAY too many years.
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When I was 14 in 1957 we had a neighbor that bought a new red '57 Chev convertible with a continental kit. Talk about LUST!.
Now it is 63 years later and I still can't afford a '57 Chev. I've dun good in life, huh?
I had a '66 Caddie with fold down foot rests in the back, I don't know how many ash trays and sucked gas like a team of toilets flushing. 10mpg. The man that bought it from me wanted to know how long it was 19' 6". His garage was 20'. I don't know how much it weighed.
Tex
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Ya, nothing like thumping down the highway.. Gliding along, with the sun shining, and top down. My love of the full size convertible was locked in with that car, and I still have it.. My 72 LTD I have now keeps that alive, but its been off the road for WAY too many years.
I feel the same way about my Galaxie. The Galaxie is as much of a point of reference in my life as my V7 Sport. Got my old white 67 two days after I turned 18. Even though it's not the same car, it's like an old friend. This one is getting closer to being back together, but it's just a car. life is life.
LTD convertibles like yours have always seemed very rare, at least around here. I've chased Big Ford stuff locally since the mid 80's and only seen 2-3. The last decade has made many convertibles and rare equipment cars seem more plentiful as they emerge from hiding while others died from actual use.
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I feel the same way about my Galaxie. The Galaxie is as much of a point of reference in my life as my V7 Sport. Got my old white 67 two days after I turned 18. Even though it's not the same car, it's like an old friend. This one is getting closer to being back together, but it's just a car. life is life.
LTD convertibles like yours have always seemed very rare, at least around here. I've chased Big Ford stuff locally since the mid 80's and only seen 2-3. The last decade has made many convertibles and rare equipment cars seem more plentiful as they emerge from hiding while others died from actual use.
There were VARY few full size convertibles made in the 70's. 72 was the last year they made a full size one. Production in 72 was just over 4000 units.. in 71 there were just over 5000 units. Im not sure of 69-70 numbers, but I dont think it was a huge amount more. You really gotta go back to 65-66 before the numbers became anywhere close to a level to make the cars common. Really though... I think today your more apt to find a 71-72 convertible, then a station wagon ... The normal wagons, 4 doors and the like were ran, used, and worn out.. the convertibles were kept out of weather. Drove on nice days, and taken care of.. SO they live on.
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My first car was in this category. When I was 16 I took all my tobacco money and bought the new 1969 Dodge Cornet Super Bee, 383 magnum with a hurst 4 speed, 140 MPH out of the box. Total lost it a couple years later.
I tried to add a picture but for some unknown reason it keeps turning the picture sideways, never encountered that here.
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Concerning lust over 57 Chevys...There is a now elderly black gentleman living in Wichita that has an extremely well kept 57 2-door with the high output 289 carb motor (except for expendable items all is original including having the window sticker and bill of sale) that he bought new in Texas at the time. He said that he loved the looks and just felt that he had to have it. Looks like he made a good investment. The only downside was that he was a black Master Sargent in the AF with full cash money in hand and still had to go to six different dealerships before one would sell him the car.
GliderJohn
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Concerning lust over 57 Chevys...There is a now elderly black gentleman living in Wichita that has an extremely well kept 57 2-door with the high output 289 carb motor (except for expendable items all is original including having the window sticker and bill of sale) ....
GliderJohn
That original window sticker wouldn't have had any number like "289" on it, though ... 235 Blue Flame Six, or a 265 or 283 V8 for positive sure ....
Lannis
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From Lannis:
Brain fart on my part, meant 283.
GliderJohn
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Maybe the modern kids do the same thing and I don't even know it, but back in my day, I could spot any brand of car from a quarter-mile away. You might not be quite sure if the oncoming car was a Dodge or a DeSoto, or a Nash or Rambler after they merged, but there was NO doubt whether it was a Ford or Chevrolet or Plymouth or Dodge, or Packard or Pontiac or Studebaker or Cadillac, or Chrysler or Mercury or Lincoln or Buick or Olds. They were all SO distinctive, their grills and body-style so different, and you knew what sort of engine was in them, from the flathead six in a mid-50s Dodge Meadowbrook to a 392 (still beloved of drag racers to this day) in a big Chrysler.
Today, any aerodynamic egg-shaped wonder has to get within name-badge distance before I can tell one from another. Again, maybe modern 12-year-olds know the difference, but I sure can't tell despite having actually BOUGHT Subarus and Toyotas and Mazdas and Fords in various conditions over the years ....
Lannis
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Maybe the modern kids do the same thing and I don't even know it, but back in my day, I could spot any brand of car from a quarter-mile away. You might not be quite sure if the oncoming car was a Dodge or a DeSoto, or a Nash or Rambler after they merged, but there was NO doubt whether it was a Ford or Chevrolet or Plymouth or Dodge, or Packard or Pontiac or Studebaker or Cadillac, or Chrysler or Mercury or Lincoln or Buick or Olds. They were all SO distinctive, their grills and body-style so different, and you knew what sort of engine was in them, from the flathead six in a mid-50s Dodge Meadowbrook to a 392 (still beloved of drag racers to this day) in a big Chrysler.
Today, any aerodynamic egg-shaped wonder has to get within name-badge distance before I can tell one from another. Again, maybe modern 12-year-olds know the difference, but I sure can't tell despite having actually BOUGHT Subarus and Toyotas and Mazdas and Fords in various conditions over the years ....
Lannis
The same for me... :wink: Nowadays, all the SUV's look alike...and I have to look at the logo to see what brand it is! :wink:
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Maybe the modern kids do the same thing and I don't even know it, but back in my day, I could spot any brand of car from a quarter-mile away. You might not be quite sure if the oncoming car was a Dodge or a DeSoto, or a Nash or Rambler after they merged, but there was NO doubt whether it was a Ford or Chevrolet or Plymouth or Dodge, or Packard or Pontiac or Studebaker or Cadillac, or Chrysler or Mercury or Lincoln or Buick or Olds. They were all SO distinctive, their grills and body-style so different, and you knew what sort of engine was in them, from the flathead six in a mid-50s Dodge Meadowbrook to a 392 (still beloved of drag racers to this day) in a big Chrysler.
Today, any aerodynamic egg-shaped wonder has to get within name-badge distance before I can tell one from another. Again, maybe modern 12-year-olds know the difference, but I sure can't tell despite having actually BOUGHT Subarus and Toyotas and Mazdas and Fords in various conditions over the years ....
Lannis
X 10
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Laughed when i read the thread title.My first car was a 1970 Pontiac Parisienne,i called it Das Boat,had myself and 7 friends in it often,4 in the front 4 in the rear,lots of fond memories.
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I've had this since 1977. 1973 351 Cleveland isn't really strong even with the smog stuff removed. Sounds great and handles a lot better now than when new.
(https://i.ibb.co/px7Kx10/stang.jpg) (https://ibb.co/px7Kx10)
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I just saw this on BAT. The heck with SUV's this car rocks!
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1975-honda-cb400f-super-sport-6/
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Way overpriced.
That bike was nothing really special. It had a 4 into 1 pipe from the factory. Aftermarket makers had already taken care ofnthat on all the fours. It had a six cog tranny. So did the CB 360.
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Yep, Cleveland 302 as yes I am 100% Aussie. :grin: Falcons, Fairmonts, Fairlaines and LTDs made at the Broadmeadows plant in Sydney I believe. The great days of Aussie V8s, including the fabled GTHO Phase 3 Falcon, Torana, Monaro, even the Commodore.
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Yep, Cleveland 302 as yes I am 100% Aussie. :grin: Falcons, Fairmonts, Fairlaines and LTDs made at the Broadmeadows plant in Sydney I believe. The great days of Aussie V8s, including the fabled GTHO Phase 3 Falcon, Torana, Monaro, even the Commodore.
AND the Last of the V8 Interceptors ....
(https://i.ibb.co/Thpcd46/v8max.jpg) (https://ibb.co/Thpcd46)
Lannis
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If I was buying a 70's big car and had the budget, I would be bidding on this real P Code 429 police car-
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1972-Ford-Galaxie/333821028148?hash=item4db948a734:g:tnQAAOSwPjZf0nws (https://www.ebay.com/itm/1972-Ford-Galaxie/333821028148?hash=item4db948a734:g:tnQAAOSwPjZf0nws)
(https://i.ibb.co/D1cfJsL/image.png) (https://ibb.co/D1cfJsL)
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If I was buying a 70's big car and had the budget, I would be bidding on this real P Code 429 police car-
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1972-Ford-Galaxie/333821028148?hash=item4db948a734:g:tnQAAOSwPjZf0nws (https://www.ebay.com/itm/1972-Ford-Galaxie/333821028148?hash=item4db948a734:g:tnQAAOSwPjZf0nws)
Not a bad deal, that, if it's as nice as the ad says. I had that engine in my '72 Thunderbird and it was a monster ....
Lannis
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Not a bad deal, that, if it's as nice as the ad says. I had that engine in my '72 Thunderbird and it was a monster ....
Lannis
We had a 69 429 TBird for years.. Lots of fun. After it died but before it left, I kept the 2.80 Traction Loc 9 3/8" rear end with 31 spline axles. The chunk is going to replace the open 2.80 9 3/8 chunk that's original in my 428 Galaxie now. A 9" is arguably better, but 9 3/8" is what typically came as original equipment in most original 428 & 429 big cars.
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If I was buying a 70's big car and had the budget, I would be bidding on this real P Code 429 police car-
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1972-Ford-Galaxie/333821028148?hash=item4db948a734:g:tnQAAOSwPjZf0nws (https://www.ebay.com/itm/1972-Ford-Galaxie/333821028148?hash=item4db948a734:g:tnQAAOSwPjZf0nws)
(https://i.ibb.co/D1cfJsL/image.png) (https://ibb.co/D1cfJsL)
Cool car!! 72 was kinda a off year for the 429 though.. up to 71 had great heads, and high compression.. granted with the fuel needs to go along with it... For 73 they improved the heads so they worked better on the lower compression motors. I have sitting in a 71 parts car a 429 2bbl motor.. for some reason they offered a 2bbl on a 10 3/4 : 1 engine!! One day it will end up in my 72 convertible.