Gearheads and the internet

[JohnnyL]

I am relatively new to this forum and took up the hobby of wrenching on old trucks three years ago. As a teen, I wrenched on cars to keep then running. But gave up on it once I got out on on my own and could afford a new vehicle. It was just too big of a hassle for me to at the time. This was in the late 70's.


Fast forward to today. It has dawned on me how much easier it is to restore and customize old vehicles with the internet. Finding specialty parts that once took days if not weeks to find has become a simple matter of point and click. Even the local auto part chains have websites where you can find a part and the site will lead you to the store that has it in stock. The number of affordable reproduction specialty parts for old cars and trucks is amazing. I can remember a time when auto part stores were often grungy and ran by grumpy ole farts. You dreaded buying a part. Not so today. Stores are clean and well kept. The grumpy ole farts got replaced by people who are enthusiastic about what you are doing.


I still have a lot to learn. There are steps and precautions the repair manuals assume you know but I don't. I can google a project and find pages of how to information from installing spark plugs properly to overhauling a rear differential. I can cruise forums like this and find multiple replies to someone who posted a repair or project similar to what I am doing. Old school 60's/70s' technology is where it's at for me. Inexpensive and simple. A major repair often costs what a minor repair costs on a late model vehicle. There are occasions I do a repair twice to get it right but so what? The parts are cheap and I learned something that will stick. The con is having two old trucks is practically a must. You need one to drive while the other is on blocks. But that's OK.


I have accumalated so many tools with this, I had to buy one of those 400 lb monster tool chests. It's the Harbor Freight variety but it does the job fine. With all these tools and information on hand, a repair is no big shoe anymore. A tragic sitution has become a laughing matter. It's a matter of spending some quiet time with yourself, your tools, and spending a few bucks. Probably the most valuable tool I own is this computer and internet provider. I would practically be lost without it.

[bobss396]

Welcome back! I never totally stopped turning the wrenches from 1968 until today. I gave up the profession in 1980 as a result of a 1978 car accident that left me unable to do the heavy work any longer. So I'm almost TOTALLY lost on the new things, but have picked up things quick when I had to.

Oh yeah, give me a 1965 Falcon any day of the week. Nice and simple, no gimmicks, less crap to break down on you. And they got 27 MPG!

I have an accumulation of tools, a couple of big chests stuffed and more all over the garage. Plus welding equipment, machine tools, etc. I had loads of fast street cars and dabbled in circle track cars for a long time too.

Oh yeah you have to have TWO old cars or trucks. I drove a '68 Mustang and a '65 Belair wagon for years. When one was crapped out the other always worked. Those two cars started taking on characteristics of the other, it was weird. I had a door panel off the Belair for years, and eventually the same one was off on the Mustang. Similar things would be wrong with both cars at the same time, it was freaky.

I'm looking for a project car now, nothing too extreme, something I can drive every day and not worry about getting it scratched up. Keep us posted on your truck projects.

Bob