automotive lost arts?

Wait, just realized I HAVE played with a carburetor. Forgot about outboard engines.

oldtin wrote: Who's played with friction shocks?

I'll see your friction shocks and raise you a pair of Watson Stabilators and a full set of four Delco Lovejoy double acting, remotely adjustable lever shocks.

Anyone ever rebuilt an Owen Dyneto?

Trans_Maro wrote:

oldtin wrote: Who's played with friction shocks?

I'll see your friction shocks and raise you a pair of Watson Stabilators and a full set of four Delco Lovejoy double acting, remotely adjustable lever shocks.

You have an occupational advantage at this game.

I just count myself lucky to have seen a race car with friction shocks

pete240z wrote:

aeronca65t wrote: Push starting a car

A 25 year old kid asked me last momnth to jump start his beater stick shift Saturn. I asked if he ever push started it; you know, pop the clutch. He never heard of this. Replied like I just made it up.

how many have ever push started an automatic ?

did it on a '62 Mk X Jag sedan... steep hill ~ 45 - 50 mph pull it into L ... viola ... it started

edit: finally read this entire thread and saw where several folk had already asked this question

how 'bout using a starter switch that's on the floorboards right beside or above the gas pedal ? you turn the key on, push in the clutch, mash the gas pedal / while operating the starter with either the side of your foot or your toes

I still like working on a car from a pit...

How about syncing carbs?

I have push started an automatic, although by some of your all responses you belong on the classics board because you are old enough to be my granddaddy.

wbjones wrote: how many have ever push started an automatic ?

How many of you have push started a flathead with an automatic?

pinchvalve wrote: Flipping down the license plate to put gas in the car is something I kinda miss. Didn't matter which pump you pulled up to, the filler was in the middle of the car.

I've had some trouble with this one lately. Any modern gas pump has a hose too short to reach low enough and to the center of the car for me to fill up. I usually grab an end pump and back up to it.

oldtin wrote: Who's played with friction shocks?

I have.

Zomby woof wrote:

wbjones wrote: how many have ever push started an automatic ?

How many of you have push started a flathead with an automatic?

Some early automatics could be push started because they had a rear pump.

My buddy speednugget can rebuild a 1912 Detroit Lubricator carburetor. And can drive a 1914 Renault. I can do almost anything else listed.

I'll see your "shift" and raise you the venerable "Three on the Tree".

I took a Hungarian friend of mine for a ride one day and about 3/4 of the way through he says "I see you're pushing something there on the floor... What is it?"

"A clutch"

"I thought big American cars were Automatic!?!"

one of the first cars I ever drove had " Four on the Tree"

I know of two that had four on the tree. Old SAABs and the Goliath/Hansa 1100.

Moms van had a 'D on the tree'

Made a 'four on the tree' in a '77 F-150. Had the truck 3-speed out for a clutch install, it looked close to the T-10 I had on the shelf, measured it up n bingo fit right in. A few mods to the shift levers and add a separate lever on the floor for reverse... but ya had to put the tree in neutral and then shift to reverse.

Took the truck in for inspection, showed the mechanic how it worked and left instructions on the dash JIC. Two days later when I stopped in for the truck it still sat there unmoved. I had to pull it in and wait for inspection to be done... the mechanic was not amused.

When I was in Singapore (then with the Navy) the cab driver had a 5 on the tree.

I was in awe (mostly because it was a new car 1990+) I tipped him with a few bucks and chewing gum (just legalized) and it was like I just paid his kids college tuition

iceracer wrote: I know of two that had four on the tree. Old SAABs and the Goliath/Hansa 1100.

this was a Simca (late '50's ????)

Old Mercedes had 4 on the tree also. Got to drive on once as a teen with the owner in the passenger seat teaching how. And have driven 3 on the tree numerous times. Remember the floor dimmer switch also. And starter switches on the floor also although mainly in trucks that were old then. The army trucks/jeeps also had that when I first went into the army. Although the starter buttons were above the clutch, not the gas. Had to depress clutch to engage the starter with the toe of you foot. And have push started an AT, a powerglide in a 65 Chevelle. It did start it but wasn't really good for the transmission, was never the same after that.

@flightservice - how about old enough to be your daddy (not granddaddy) and I am on the Classic board also. Probably do have kids your age and I am a granddaddy but they are less than 2 yo.

I'll add:

• Removing a wheel by way of lead hammer
• Operating a choke.
• Gapping, cleaning, and with all of the platinum, changing spark plugs.
• It's EFI and computers, but I'll also add pulling computer codes by way of paperclip and a single blinking light.

I'm actually pleased with the number of these I've done, considering I'm 35. There has been a lot of push starting, and a painful amount of pushing sans starting.

I used to 'bump and run' my Spitfires and GT6.
1) Open door, put in neutral, pull out choke, turn on ignition.
2) Applying pressure to doorframe, push car as fast as you can.
3) Jump inside, push in clutch, select 1st gear, push gas pedal, dump clutch, hope it starts.
4) Repeat as needed until it starts, or you become exhausted.

Fortunately, most of Miami is pretty flat.

Being young and stupid, the distinct possibility that I could trip, fall, get run over, AND crash the car didn't bother me.

Dismounting/mounting tires using nothing but a couple of 'spoons'?

mmosbey wrote: * It's EFI and computers, but I'll also add pulling computer codes by way of paperclip and a single blinking light.

There's also pulling codes on K-cars by cycling the key from off to run the right number of times (its been a while but I think it was 5) to get the light to blink out the codes.

80's Caddy's used to display codes through the automatic climate control.

used a distributor dyno. Mostly to set the advance curve with alternate weights and springs...

< how 'bout using a starter switch that's on the floorboards right beside or above the gas pedal ? you turn the key on, push in the clutch, mash the gas pedal / while operating the starter with either the side of your foot or your toes

I've done that way before I could leagally drive. It was my Uncles's car, maybe a 53-54 Ford.