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Automotive technology you miss.


Dirtman

Former Middleweight Moss Fighting Champion
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2.3 (4 Cylinder)
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
2WD
Total Lift
It's up there.
Total Drop
It's down there.
Tire Size
Round.
My credo
I poop in the furnace.
Rusty should love this one...

What are some things that use to be common in vehicles of days past that you truly miss.

#1 Floor mounted high beam switches. It's just common sense! You shouldn't need to take your damn hands off the wheel on a dark country road to turn your high beams on/off or flash another car for deer/cops ahead!

#2 Cigarette lighters. You give me 30 cigarette lighter ports specifically made so a lighter wont fit!?! Screw you!

#3 Glass headlights. Ok sure plastic is lighter but you know plastic does that glass doesn't? FADE!

#4 Tinited windshields. I dunno what the dumb black bubbles are suppose to do but they are no replacement for the old school blue or yellow top tinted windshields.

#5 Mechanical vents. What was so hard about pulling a lever to just let some fresh air in? I dont want to set a thermostat or turn a fan on with 900 buttons, I just want air.
 


det107

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Ford
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3.0
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Manual
#1 Floor mounted high beam switches. It's just common sense! You shouldn't need to take your damn hands off the wheel on a dark country road to turn your high beams on/off or flash another car for deer/cops ahead!
You must be kidding...? Hard to do when doing the 3 pedal tango, added a switch in dash for easy on/off. Nowadays, the switch is in the stalk in steering column.

I have been lucky so far but some day I'll miss the battery in engine compartment-
 

rusty ol ranger

Im a Jeep guy now.
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Location
Michigan
Vehicle Year
1987
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
2.9 V6
Engine Size
177 CID
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
2WD
My credo
A legend to the old man, a hero to the child...
Ohhhh boy.....

1- Vent windows. Why did these go away anyways? They are perfect for those days when its a bit to hot for just the windows but not quite hot enough to justify AC.

2- Carbs and distributors- Simple, reliable, CHEAP, easy to diagnose, just...imo...perfect.

3- Manual transmissions- Yes autos are eaiser, but everytime im towing heavy with my E4OD all i can think of is feeling the slip of death. Atleast manuals usually give plenty of advanced warning IF they go out. Plus, they are basically maintence free.

4- Creeper low manuals- Say what you will, but if nothing else it saves the clutch. Plus nothing pulls to my favor like a big block funneling torque through a 6.69:1 first.

5- HVAC sliders- Im not a fan of dials, and certainly not a fan of electronic.

6- Manual windows/locks - Self explaintory.

7- Full time front hubs- Impossible to kill, with the convience of not having to get out and lock them and way more stout then auto hubs. Fuel mileage be damned.

8- Dual tanks- Whats one thing that can totally ruin a trip? Yep, dead fuel pump. Good thing dual tanks have two.

9- Seperate knobs for things. How much shit can you really pack onto one turn signal stalk?

10- Tripod mount mirrors. They just look so much cooler then the plastic telescoping shit everything has nowadays.

11- Small rims/big tires- Whats the point of 2 inches of rubber on a 20 in wheel? One pothole and it folds like a wet tissue. Ill take a 16 in steel anyday.

12- V belts. So much eaiser to change and seem to last much much longer.

13- Actual keyed ignition. I trust a steel key more then some plastic thingamabob with a battery.

14- Frames. Unibodies are to hard to straigten with a chain and a tree.

15- Bench seats- Self explanatory.

16- Easy to access fuses.

17- PUSH BUTTON/KNOB RADIOS- sorry but it shouldnt take 15 minutes to figure out how to find some waylon.

18- No airbags/trac control/skid control whatever. Id rather take a chance with the steering wheel then have a bomb explode in my face. The other stuff is just stupid and a real damper to fun on a moonlit dirt road. Learn to drive. This includes ABS.

19- Drum brakes. They NEVER wear out.

20- CABLED THROTTLES- What exactly is the point in drive by wire? Really? My wifes escape had issues with the motor and it literally made the thing act like shit. There was no "oh squirt WD40 on it and keep on truckin"

21- Sealed beam headlights. Cheaper, eaiser, and didnt turn yellow.

22- Halogen head lights. Those purple things are annoying as having to piss when your too drunk to stand up.

23- Regular old tailgates. Sure that power latch and shit is nice now....but hows it gonna work after 20 years?

24- Metal tailgate hinges. Never, EVER had one break. More then i can say for cables.

25- Colored interiors- Not really tech but annoying nonetheless. Grey/beige/tan gets real old real quick.

....ok i think im done. No wonder i drive old shit.
 

85_Ranger4x4

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As a twist on Dirtman's 1 I like the ratchet style high/low switch in a first gen over the typical one.

On my '85 I pull it back and it goes to high, pull it back again and it goes to low. Lever is always in the same place. A newer truck you push the lever ahead for high and it stays there and then you pull it back to low.

Manual t-case is nice. I know at least the t-case is engaged and I have the option of neutral if it needs towed.

I wish they could get automatic hubs figured out too...
 

rusty ol ranger

Im a Jeep guy now.
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Location
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Vehicle Year
1987
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
2.9 V6
Engine Size
177 CID
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
2WD
My credo
A legend to the old man, a hero to the child...
Oh shit i forgot a couple...

26- Twin I beams. This new junk one hard plow down a dirt road in spring its time for an alignment. I beams not so much.

27- King pins- yes they wear out but who cares? The effects are liveable and wont fail dramatically like a ball joint.

28- IRS/Coil springs on the rear of trucks/SUVs. One reason i refuse to buy another expedition.

29- power sliding doors/liftgates- If youre that lazy....

30- Drag link steering. Why do you need your pickup to drive like a maserati?

31- Daytime running lights/auto head lights- all they do is blow thru bulbs faster.
 

85_Ranger4x4

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Engine Type
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Engine Size
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Transmission
Manual
Oh shit i forgot a couple...

26- Twin I beams. This new junk one hard plow down a dirt road in spring its time for an alignment. I beams not so much.

27- King pins- yes they wear out but who cares? The effects are liveable and wont fail dramatically like a ball joint.

28- IRS/Coil springs on the rear of trucks/SUVs. One reason i refuse to buy another expedition.

29- power sliding doors/liftgates- If youre that lazy....

30- Drag link steering. Why do you need your pickup to drive like a maserati?

31- Daytime running lights/auto head lights- all they do is blow thru bulbs faster.
To build on that I don't like ball joints made into control arms and unit wheel bearings, bolt on ones are expensive and press in ones are a PITA.
 

Grumpaw

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Location
Virginia
Vehicle Year
2009
Make / Model
Ford Ranger XL
Engine Type
2.3 (4 Cylinder)
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
2WD
Total Lift
Stock
Total Drop
Stock
Tire Size
Stock 225/70/15
My credo
I don't count birthday's anymore...just happy to be looking down at the ground instead of looking up
X2 on the swing open vent windows.
X2 on the smaller 15/16 inch wheels with some decant sidewall rubber.
X2 on the granny low first gear on manual tranny (creeper low)
X2 on more interior colors.
And, more more more exterior colors. Bright two tone's, complementing each other, both cars and trucks Take a look at color options for the 60's and 70's trucks and cars.
Individual styling from the manufacturers, can't tell a Honda from a Kia, from a Hyundai, from a Toyo, from a Nissan. They all look like tapered poop.
At least you can tell a Ford truck from a GM.
And, a plain, base vehicle, car or truck, that dosen't have controls you need an electrical or computer degree to operate, thats reliable and that dosen't cost half what a house costs.
Grumpaw
 
Last edited:

rusty ol ranger

Im a Jeep guy now.
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Location
Michigan
Vehicle Year
1987
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
2.9 V6
Engine Size
177 CID
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
2WD
My credo
A legend to the old man, a hero to the child...
To build on that I don't like ball joints made into control arms and unit wheel bearings, bolt on ones are expensive and press in ones are a PITA.
Forgot about those. Yes. They can kiss my ass to.
 

8thTon

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Location
Pennsylvania
Vehicle Year
2004
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
3.0 V6
Engine Size
3.0
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
2WD
My credo
My world is filled with stuff that needs to be fixed
Front door window vent, AKA Wind Wings :)
Yes! I bought a 1986 Escort GT new, and it was a very warly production model - it had vent wings! I really like those.
 

Dirtman

Former Middleweight Moss Fighting Champion
Joined
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Messages
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Location
41N 75W
Vehicle Year
2009
Engine Type
2.3 (4 Cylinder)
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
2WD
Total Lift
It's up there.
Total Drop
It's down there.
Tire Size
Round.
My credo
I poop in the furnace.
Trunk/bumper fuel doors. Screw the fire hazard, so much easier to pull into a busy gas station when it doesn't matter which side of the pump you park on.
 

wildbill23c

Well-Known Member
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Location
Southwestern Idaho
Vehicle Year
1987
Make / Model
Ford Ranger
Engine Type
2.9 V6
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
2WD
Total Lift
0
Total Drop
0
Tire Size
215/70-R14
My credo
19K, 19D, 92Y, 88M, 91F....OIF-III (2004-2005)
Sounds like several people are finally getting tired of all the electric and electronic shit in today's vehicles. In my 84 Ranger I turned a knob to turn on the radio and the same knob controlled the volume. Now you have to press a dozen buttons followed by another dozen buttons just to get to the damn radio feature. Talk about distracted driving today's vehicles are crammed full of them...used to be drunk driving was the major cause of accidents, then cell phones, now its the damn touch screen tablet in the dash that causes the most accidents.

Vacuum & electronic HVAC systems, talk about failures, one vacuum leak and you get no airflow or airflow where you don't need/want it, or it just doesn't work at all. Because that manual lever connected to a cable was apparently just too reliable.

Automakers: Hey the cars we built 20 years ago are still moving on their own power.
Engineers: Ok, we can fix that, we can make everything electronic and all ran through 1 touch screen device so when it fails the whole vehicle fails too.
Automakers: Awesome get that started right away.
 

Dirtman

Former Middleweight Moss Fighting Champion
Joined
May 28, 2018
Messages
19,304
Reaction score
13,326
Points
113
Location
41N 75W
Vehicle Year
2009
Engine Type
2.3 (4 Cylinder)
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
2WD
Total Lift
It's up there.
Total Drop
It's down there.
Tire Size
Round.
My credo
I poop in the furnace.
I miss the days when you could drive around with a stiff manhattan in one hand, smoking a cigarette in the other while your kids crawl around in the back with no seatbelts...

People were just tougher back then. Because if you weren't you didn't live long, the way nature is suppose to work.
 

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