Things You Learn as an Old Car Driver

[jamespowers]

One thing you learn as an old car driver, is on a cold morning like this morning (6 degrees), is to give your old car plenty of time to warm up before even trying to start driving. Then, once you do start out, take it slow till everything is really warmed up and moving right.

This old '65 Ford is my primary vehicle. It has almost 300,000 miles and no major repairs/replacements. Given a new paint job (which is the plan for later this year), it'll be ready for another 50 years.

You also learn that they are likely going to out last you in the long run.

 

[Stanley Doble]

Re the cold bloodedness of old cars. I thought that until I "restored" the air filter and choke system on a 1970 Dodge six cylinder pickup truck. I replaced the rusted out "stove" on the exhaust (made one from a tin can) , replaced the controller for the hot air system ($12) replaced the automatic choke ($16) and tuned up the engine.

Believe it or not, that motor started and ran like it had fuel injection. Also, the choke came off quicker. It ran perfect, without any hesitation and mileage went up. All by putting everything back the way the factory meant it.

You might check your Ford's choke, air filter system etc. and make sure everything is working correctly. I was amazed what a difference it made.

 

[Big Man]

... You might check your Ford's choke, air filter system etc. and make sure everything is working correctly. I was amazed what a difference it made.

This car works the way it's supposed to work. I've been driving it myself for over 30 years now. My point was, in cold weather (especially VERY cold weather), you should take extra time to let the car warm up before taking off. And then, take it easy till everything is really warmed up good. Driving it with care has, I believe, contributed significantly to getting almost 300,000 miles out of it (and who knows how many more left to go).

 

[jamespowers]

This car works the way it's supposed to work. I've been driving it myself for over 30 years now. My point was, in cold weather (especially VERY cold weather), you should take extra time to let the car warm up before taking off. And then, take it easy till everything is really warmed up good. Driving it with care has, I believe, contributed significantly to getting almost 300,000 miles out of it (and who knows how many more left to go).

You'll probably get a million miles out of that car.
There is a guy around here that has a 70s Cadillac that as a million miles on it Still looks great too. His job required him to travel---a lot. He just kept logging the miles on the same car. I am sure the mileage is correct---he got paid for mileage.

 

[Big Man]

You'll probably get a million miles out of that car. ...

I doubt I have enough years left to make it to one million miles (that's not enough years for ME, not the car). Since it was new, it's had the oil changed regularly, been serviced on a regular basis, and has been kept maintained. It's never had any major issues other than having had to rebuild the transmission after about 230,000 miles.

Even as cold as it was this morning (6 degrees), I pumped the accelerator two times (to set the choke) and it cranked right up after turning over only several times. Had to hold the accelerator down just slightly for a few minutes, but continued to let the engine warm up for about 10 or 15 minutes before driving off.

I let it warm up for two reasons: 1) it's good for the car; and 2) it takes that long for the heater to throw out enough heat to be good for me.

 

[jamespowers]

I doubt I have enough years left to make it to one million miles (that's not enough years for ME, not the car). Since it was new, it's had the oil changed regularly, been serviced on a regular basis, and has been kept maintained. It's never had any major issues other than having had to rebuild the transmission after about 230,000 miles.

Even as cold as it was this morning (6 degrees), I pumped the accelerator two times (to set the choke) and it cranked right up after turning over only several times. Had to hold the accelerator down just slightly for a few minutes, but continued to let the engine warm up for about 10 or 15 minutes before driving off.

I let it warm up for two reasons: 1) it's good for the car; and 2) it takes that long for the heater to throw out enough heat to be good for me.

The heater is a perfect reason for that. No use blowing cold air on yourself.

 

[1mach1]

This car works the way it's supposed to work. I've been driving it myself for over 30 years now. My point was, in cold weather (especially VERY cold weather), you should take extra time to let the car warm up before taking off. And then, take it easy till everything is really warmed up good. Driving it with care has, I believe, contributed significantly to getting almost 300,000 miles out of it (and who knows how many more left to go).

That's the way I do it! :thumb:

 

[1mach1]

No use blowing cold air on yourself.

I have been telling my wife that for years, but, in one ear.......

 

[jamespowers]

I have been telling my wife that for years, but, in one ear.......

yeah, yeah, I know that one.

 

[Big Man]

Well, I learned something new today - do not wear big, heavy hiking boots while driving an old car.

I bought myself a new pair of hiking boots today and have been wearing them around the house to help break them in prior to going hiking. Getting a bit bored just walking around the house and seeing it was such a nice day today, I decided hop in the old '48 Plymouth for the short ride over to the state park and walk around their trails for a while.

I should have "seen it right off" there was going to be a problem, but nooooo, off I went anyway. There are several up and down hills and a number of sharp curves between the house and the state park, and trying to work the clutch, brake, and gas with a pair of very big, very stiff size 14 EEE hiking boots was just about impossible. On a good day there's really not enough room in the floorboard for my big feet to easily work the pedals, but add a pair of new hiking boots to the mix and it's a disaster waiting to happen.

After much effort (and a lot of "jumping" the clutch), I made it to the state park. However, for the return trip home, I drove barefoot.

 

[LizzieMaine]

FDR had an arrangement in his car where he could work the pedals with hand-operated levers. It could be a useful accessory for many.

 

[Big Man]

FDR had an arrangement in his car where he could work the pedals with hand-operated levers. It could be a useful accessory for many.

I sure could have used something like that on my outbound trip today.

 

[jamespowers]

Well, I learned something new today - do not wear big, heavy hiking boots while driving an old car.

I bought myself a new pair of hiking boots today and have been wearing them around the house to help break them in prior to going hiking. Getting a bit bored just walking around the house and seeing it was such a nice day today, I decided hop in the old '48 Plymouth for the short ride over to the state park and walk around their trails for a while.

I should have "seen it right off" there was going to be a problem, but nooooo, off I went anyway. There are several up and down hills and a number of sharp curves between the house and the state park, and trying to work the clutch, brake, and gas with a pair of very big, very stiff size 14 EEE hiking boots was just about impossible. On a good day there's really not enough room in the floorboard for my big feet to easily work the pedals, but add a pair of new hiking boots to the mix and it's a disaster waiting to happen.

After much effort (and a lot of "jumping" the clutch), I made it to the state park. However, for the return trip home, I drove barefoot.

This is the same reason I can't drive an XKE. The damned things have pedals the size of a small book of matches. That and the pedals are in a deep well where you can't see your feet. I had to pass on that one.

 

[LuvMyMan]

This is the same reason I can't drive an XKE. The damned things have pedals the size of a small book of matches. That and the pedals are in a deep well where you can't see your feet. I had to pass on that one.

Many sports cars from "back in the day" have similar pedal issues. One thing that can help slightly is to purchase race drivers shoes. They look like a sports shoe or what a boxer would wear, without a hard sole, are normally a bit narrower in the shoe construction to help you be able to get your toe from the gas to the brake pedal and your lefty foot on that clutch! And as you know many older cars may not have much rubber left on the pedals (some cars never had rubber on the pedals) so these race shoes help your foot from slipping off the surface of the pedals. Varooom! LOL!

 

[1mach1]

This is the same reason I can't drive an XKE. The damned things have pedals the size of a small book of matches. That and the pedals are in a deep well where you can't see your feet. I had to pass on that one.

That and they are English.....

 

[LuvMyMan]

This is the same reason I can't drive an XKE. The damned things have pedals the size of a small book of matches. That and the pedals are in a deep well where you can't see your feet. I had to pass on that one.

Have to ask this....(you know how it is...) LOL!!! Is that "deep well" the only reason you can't see your feet? LOLOLOL! (cheap shot, I know...could not help it....nope)!

 

[jamespowers]

That and they are English.....

Are you saying they have three speeds----forward, reverse and breakdown?

 

[jamespowers]

Have to ask this....(you know how it is...) LOL!!! Is that "deep well" the only reason you can't see your feet? LOLOLOL! (cheap shot, I know...could not help it....nope)!

I was much younger then so yeah, it was that tight cramped space they put the pedals in. That and I am fairly tall so when I sit in the damned car---instead of looking through the windshield in a convertable, I look OVER it.

 

[jamespowers]

These are way too small for regular humans:

 

[2jakes]

I was much younger then so yeah, it was that tight cramped space they put the pedals in. That and I am fairly tall so when I sit in the damned car---instead of looking through the windshield in a convertable, I look OVER it.

Ahhhhhh youth...
....at 6' 3'' was able to waltz all night in a VW beetle !