What I Did on My Lunch Hour

[Vic Piano]

I can't really complain about the '03 F-150 or my wife's '04 X-Type Jag. They both have over 100K on them and I've only done routine maintenance on each to date. Just recently have they both started to cost money with repairs but, I guess that would be the same with just about any vehicle... I just hate to spend money on what I consider new cars (that would be anything built after 1968)...

[41ford1]

I agree Tom. 115K miles is about the time you will see the repairs that were more common place at 60K to 70K miles a few decades ago. The truck looks like a solid one. So if it runs up $3,000 to $4,000 it still beats trying to find a decent late model used or buying a new one. Plus you will continue to have a known entity. The expense equates to only a few of todays car payments. It boils down to if you like it keep it. Who knows, maybe the F-1 gremlins decided to move.

[TomT/Williamsburg]

41Ford1 - Chuck, you and I are on the same page ...

Vic, given what you've said about maintenance and such, fix it but expect more major replacements - perhaps even get it up on your lift and check things over. Shocks, exhaust, brake lines, etc, etc. This way you are "in the know" and perhaps can make some of the replacements yourself as time, help, cost, and ease of replacement make it a financial gain at little "time" expense to you. I have even gone so far as to have an account at my local Advance Auto Store - I get mechanics prices and they deliver Mon - Sat. A win-win for me and they are happy to get the business ....

[Vic Piano]

Right Chuck, the F-1 is running well right now... We'll see how long that last... I don’t mind using the “old” cars and trucks for daily drivers, in fact I enjoy it, but I don’t think my mom would appreciate riding 600 miles back to Georgia in the ’51 F-1 or the ’39 CS, etc.

[Vic Piano]

I hear you Tom... Only problem is... my BFH only works on our Flatheads...

[TomT/Williamsburg]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Originally Posted by Vic Piano

I hear you Tom... Only problem is... my BFH only works on our Flatheads...

I thought you were ambidextrous?! LOL!!

[Vic Piano]

No, I'm bilingual... but only when working on Flatheads…

[Shadetree]

I have a 1999 Honda Odyssey that we bought new that has 267,000 miles on it and I cannot wear it out. It still has the original exhaust, I have never put a drop of oil in it between changes and I get 80,000 miles on a set of Michelins. It sets out in the weather and driven in salt and there is absolutely no rust anywhere. I get paid mileage when I work and it has probably paid for itself. It is our car of choice when hauling several people to a Mexican Restaurant 60 miles away. We have a 2004 Mercury Marquis we use for vacations, it too is a good car but untested with only 60,000 miles on it.

Today's cars and trucks are the best they ever made without doubt.

[41ford1]

Originally Posted by Vic Piano

Right Chuck, the F-1 is running well right now... We'll see how long that last... I don’t mind using the “old” cars and trucks for daily drivers, in fact I enjoy it, but I don’t think my mom would appreciate riding 600 miles back to Georgia in the ’51 F-1 or the ’39 CS, etc.

I think the Courier picked up one of the F-1 gremlins. The sputter/misfire I had continued to get worse. Each thing I did along the way made things better for a while. Gapped the points, changed the condenser later on, then replaced the plugs and wires. We made it home from Lorton to NH Wed. at 2:00AM. Checked the timing With a light Wed. It is bouncing around and I have a new noise at the front of the engine. I'll be investigating the timing chain on the six. Any body want a pictorial on RR for a six timing chain replacement?

[Vic Piano]

Glad you got home ok, hope you don't find anything too bad with the I6.

[Marv]

Originally Posted by TomT/Williamsburg

I suppose you are right, Marv, but it is the most expensive route to take.

For me, I am always open, searching, and just plain keeping my ears open for a good used car or truck. The little old lady car, the truck that was bought and hardly used, someone just has to get rid of a nice vehicle. You just never know. It's a crap shoot I know, but I've only been burned on 2 vehicles over the years. That's better odds than when folks buy new these days .... and, there's always the option of renting a vehicle you don't have for those occasions in which they are called for.

I also buy my used vehicles based on my good and trusted mechanic's skills as I only change the oil and filter, rotate tires and perhaps an O2 sensor every now and again. So, right now I have a 13 yr old Honda Accord (only 89K) and a 7 year old Toyota Tacoma (129K) - both right up his alley and either one can go across country right now with no problems. That leaves me the time (and $$) to play with my old cars and as long as the wife has a nice car she is comfortable with (read that as no problems), we'll stay with that vehicle until it does start giving me issues.

Anyhow, that's just me - no payments is the way I like it and it's put me ahead of the "new car" game my whole life ....

Tom everyone has a reason for the way they think. I have done a lot of what you said. I found that the few new cars i bought and drove to 100,000 miles i had no real maintenance but most of the cars after that i was always replacing something to get to work or to get home. What has worked best for me has been buying low milage car that is totaled and repair it, drive it 75,000 miles or so and sell it . You have no payments and a lot less money than new off the lot. That was when i was a lot better shape and moved a lot faster.

[V8COOPMAN]

Originally Posted by Vic Piano

only 115,000...

.....Bummer! DD

[Vic Piano]

I've been the Road Warrior for the last three weekends, with the '51 F-1 at the "Barner's Bash" in Sarasota, Punta Gorda, Ft. Myers and Tarpon Springs. The Monday after the "Bash" I drove our '03 F-150 up to North Georgia to pick up my mom and bring here down to Long Boat Key (near Sarasota) to spend the week with my sister, etc. and last Friday we drove our '04 X-Type down to Long Boat Key spend the weekend with family... Yesterday I drove my mom back home to North Georgia, and drove back to Tampa today... I just got a call from the shop, they told me that the transmission in the F-150 is fixed... I can't wait to get back in the garage and play with Flatheads... I need a rest...

[Vic Piano]

No rest for the weary... Now the '63 Avanti's power steering unit has sprung a leak... I had wanted to get the '53 F-100 Panel Truck up on the lift to drain the cooling system and flush the block and radiator... Oh well, there's always next weekend... One good thing, the weather is finally getting to be conducive to topless cruisin’… Now, if I could just get a chance to take a ride…

[Vic Piano]

The Dreaded Vapor Lock Monster Strikes Again...

I had to go to the local John Deere Dealer (some 30 miles from my house) to pick up a spring for the mow deck pulley system on our lawn tractor (sure wish I had an 8N)... I thought I'd give the '39 LZ some road time as the weather is beautiful for topless cruisin'. I had not counted on all the traffic... and hitting all the red lights... She started acting up about five miles from the John Deere shop, guess she didn't like sitting at every red light. I pulled into the parking lot, shut her off and as I was getting out, two guys pulled up in a mini van and started asking all kind of questions about the LZ. I like it when people take a genuine interest in our cars/trucks and I enjoy talking about them... After a few minutes I went into the store to pick up the spring. When I got back into the Zephyr she fired right up and I backed out of the parking space. I shifted her into low and took off only to stall... VAPER LOCK!!! I got out, opened the hood and removed the gas cap from the filler neck. After a few hand chokes she came back to life and we drove home (this time I took a different route with less traffic and traffic lights). After driving for a few minutes, without stopping at a traffic light, she settled down and ran smooth all the way home. This story is true... even though we all know that Vapor Lock doesn't exist...

[Ken/Alabama]

Put a inline 6volt fuel pump close to the tank for such situations .

[Vic Piano]

Ken, you're right, I've done that is several of our Flatheads, (both 6 and 12 volt) and it does eleminate the Vapor Lock... I just haven't gotten around to it in the Zephyr yet.

[41ford1]

Are you sure you're not experiencing varnish or lining floaters in the tank? I've had stuff in the tank block the fuel pick up and stall the engine "VAPOR LOCK". Even 10% alcohol can cause problems.

[Vic Piano]

Hi Chuck, I've had this problem (vapor lock) with the Zephyr several times, and the conditions are always the same, excessive heat. Normally, in the heat here in Florida, the LZ has no fuel related problem however, when she has to sit at these ridiculously long lasting stop lights in 80+ degree temps, she gets cranky and, once I shut her off the heat vaporizes the fuel in the fuel pump and the line going to the carb. The trick that usually works is to open the gas cap and hand choke the carb to get liquid gas flowing...

[41ford1]

"when she has to sit at these ridiculously long lasting stop lights in 80+ degree temps". I forgot about those "millennium" traffic lights. We timed one at 11 minutes when we were down there. I don't remember exactly where it was.