The joys of old car ownership

[BC38]

The only big job so far was having the heads machined (leaking head gaskets are a common issue with 7.4L engines from the 90's).

I do have an O2 sensor that throws a code and then resets- replaced it once (?).

Also the trans does not like to run 8 hours at 85mph in 95+ degree weather with the AC on. Prolly need an additional trans cooler over the one integral with the radiator.

Still, not too bad for a car with 200k on it.

Yeah, I have a 95 3/4 ton Suburban with the 6.5L diesel. Pushing 200k and pretty much trouble-free. I had the head gaskets replaced at 160k, but that's been pretty much it. Kinda wish it had the older mechanical injector pump like the 6.2L instead of the newer electronic version, just for simplicity. On the other hand, the 6.5 electronic pump/injector system produces a better balance of performance & economy than the old mechanical systems ever did. There's always a tradeoff...

 

[BC38]

I own a '98 Jaguar XK8. I have found parts are not too expensive it's the labor on the stuff I can't do myself that kills my budget. Next year it gets antique tags. $65.00 for 5 years and no state inspection or emissions test.
SWCA 892

What would be the definition of "stuff I can't do myself" on a 24 year old Jag? Just curious....

 

[Golddollar]

Part of the fun of binge watching the old Perry Mason shows is seeing all the old cars.

 

[Golddollar]

What would be the definition of "stuff I can't do myself" on a 24 year old Jag? Just curious....

Hey, this is a family show!

 

[venomballistics]

I do think vehicles today are just way too complex. I tend to keep vehicles for a long time. My daily driver is a 96 Chevy 4WD truck with over a half million miles. I like it because it's got just enough technology to be really trouble free, but not so much I can't work on it myself. The basic fuel injection is much better to live with than a carb. On the other hand, it's got a distributor that's pretty normal for a guy that grew up on the old HEI units

Some of the engine related advancements have been wonderful since the age of points ignition.
It's mission dependent though.
A back country rig needs to be such that one has no trouble taking a pressure washer to the interior after back country adventures leave too much back country in and on the rig.
Most of today's production leaves one reluctant to employ a bottle of Windex

 

[Tom S.]

Ah, the good old days. You could troubleshoot a car with a matchbook and a test light.

Problem was, you were doing it a heck a lot more often. Oil changes: 1200 miles. Spark plugs, points, condenser about 15,000 miles. Ignition wires distributor cap and rotor, about 30,000 miles. Tires and drum brakes 12,000 and 15,000 miles respectively. Wheel bearing repacked, chassis lubes and tires that flat spotted in cold weather. Then there was the miscellaneous repairs, generally all before 50,000 miles: Exhaust, shocks, generator/alternator, carburetor rebuild, starter motor, u-joints, heater core, water pump and all the belts. And while diagnosing problems did not require a computer, it still required mechanical/electrical knowledge and a few gauges and/or meters.

Most cars today will go 100,000 without touching anything mechanical other than brakes. Oil changes are now based upon how you drive and can be 3,000 to 7,000 miles. And when something goes awry, a little "check engine" light pops on to tell you something is wrong that you didn't even know about! No more guessing either. They plug in a computer and the computer tells you "Replace XXXXX" and you're good to go.

And don't get me started on the safety differences. People walk away with a wrist sprain from accidents that would have killed them back in the 'good old days'.

I love old cars (speaking of which, the Woodward Dream Cruise is only a few days away) but today's vehicles are vastly superior in every way to the oldies.

To those who complain about repairing a used car: go price a new one and you will sing a different tune!

 

[Bald1]

That would not be accurate among the truly skilled mechanics.
The code reader will point to a problem, say, an O2 sensor reading out of spec.
Can it be the sensor? Yeah .... But it can also be the wiring going to said sensor.
A proper tech will take steps to confirm the condition of the wiring and connections before condemning the sensor itself.
However, it is a field cohabitated with slackers perfectly content to go by the code, bilk you for the part, then sheepishly backtrack through procedure running up a bill.
It would almost be worth creating a problem to screen your technicians

We used to call it diagnostics by replacement. It gets expensive if your wrong.

 

[LVSteve]

What would be the definition of "stuff I can't do myself" on a 24 year old Jag? Just curious....

If you had said "in a Jag" I have a story about that, but not for the gentlefolk on this forum.

 

[venomballistics]

We used to call it diagnostics by replacement. It gets expensive if your wrong.

Very ... though today, some refer to this as "loading the parts canon".
In some cases, it still remains the only way through to a solution.

 

[venomballistics]

If you had said "in a Jag" I have a story about that, but not for the gentlefolk on this forum.

might go along with how the back seat of a Mustang was considered Fords contribution to birth control.

 

[BRL40]

Always had old used cars, mostly because that's all I could ever afford.

Had this '69 Chevy C/10 Stepside for a little over 27 years now and it is a daily driver.

Added tool boxes on top of each wheel well just in case and added a GM HEI distributor because I don't like changing points and condensers all the time, but this thing has always been great!

 

[IAM Rand]

Part of me misses the old timers. I have both a 79 FJ40 and I think it was a 76 Scout II with 3 on the floor. Don't get me wrong, I have a newer F150 with a lot of bells and whistles but, something about an old engine with a manual transmission that I miss. Don't want to trade my heated or cooled seats but, down the road I will have to do a little more than reminiscing.

 

[Racer X]

Problem was, you were doing it a heck a lot more often. Oil changes: 1200 miles. Spark plugs, points, condenser about 15,000 miles. Ignition wires distributor cap and rotor, about 30,000 miles. Tires and drum brakes 12,000 and 15,000 miles respectively. Wheel bearing repacked, chassis lubes and tires that flat spotted in cold weather. Then there was the miscellaneous repairs, generally all before 50,000 miles: Exhaust, shocks, generator/alternator, carburetor rebuild, starter motor, u-joints, heater core, water pump and all the belts. And while diagnosing problems did not require a computer, it still required mechanical/electrical knowledge and a few gauges and/or meters.

Most cars today will go 100,000 without touching anything mechanical other than brakes. Oil changes are now based upon how you drive and can be 3,000 to 7,000 miles. And when something goes awry, a little "check engine" light pops on to tell you something is wrong that you didn't even know about! No more guessing either. They plug in a computer and the computer tells you "Replace XXXXX" and you're good to go.

And don't get me started on the safety differences. People walk away with a wrist sprain from accidents that would have killed them back in the 'good old days'.

I love old cars (speaking of which, the Woodward Dream Cruise is only a few days away) but today's vehicles are vastly superior in every way to the oldies.

To those who complain about repairing a used car: go price a new one and you will sing a different tune!

HOWEVER!!!!!!!!!

when you use modern parts in a 50 year old car/light truck, you can REALLY extend those service intervals, and completely change the experience.

platinum plugs, high efficiency filters and synthetic oils/lubes/grease, modern friction material on brakes, modern shocks with new springs, LED bulbs, quality radials. Makes a HUGE difference, believe me.