Re: [Amc-list] How I drive my cars/front brake drum resolution/generator vrs alternator

[Tom Jennings <tomj@xxxxxxx>]

I think the biggest problem is that kids are immortal. Nothing
kills kids! Well, it was true when I was a kid, or at least I
assumed so... Brakes? Seat belts? Maintenance? Who needs 'em!

What can you do to kid-proof an old car...

* Take off the sway bars (oops, two of mine don't gots one)

* Put in a tilt switch that shorts the points when the car gets
  more than 0.1G in any direction.

* Drain the gas.


Seriously, I'm not sure I'd let most of my adult friends drive
my Ramblers, never mind kids. The cars are fine, it's them
humans I don't trust. They all grew up with plastic cars with
plastic cup holders and a cheap plastic switch on everything. I
barely trust myself to not screw up.

Imagine the sweat your grandpa would shed, letting even us
experienced car nuts drive a Model T or brass era car? Leather
clutch?! Straight gears?! Same difference.


(Actually, you could do the tilt switch... a simple pendulum
inside a grounded metal ring... tie pendulum to points. Done
deal.)



On Mon, 17 Mar 2008, Matt Haas wrote:

> Bruce,
>
> Just remind them that your car was built at the end of the "hose it out,
> replace the windshield, and sell it to the next guy" era of safety
> standards. You could also make them watch some of the early crash tests
> they did in the early days of making cars safer (that or the driver's ed
> films I had to watch in the 80's -- at least your car would look like
> the ones in the films I had to watch). Seeing a crash dummy's head
> removed by the steering column should make them think a little bit.
>
> Tires squealing around corners isn't always due to speed. Low tire
> pressure (or bad tires) or cruddy suspension design (think 80's Chrysler
> mini vans) can make for squealy tires.
>
> I've also noticed that I drive my old cars differently than my truck.
> Besides being aware of its limitations (little safety equipment and 4
> wheel drum brakes), you are not isolated from the road like you are with
> new cars and I tend to pay more attention to things. Then there's also
> the AM radio issue. If it's anything like it is around here, chances are
> slim that your kids will be jamming to talk radio or a hell and brim
> fire sermon.
>
> There is also one other thing that makes it harder to drive like an
> idiot: slow steering. I know you haven't driven your car much but since
> it's like 500 turns lock to lock in the steering, it's likely going to
> be more effort to take a quick corner than today's lazy youth is willing
> to put forth.
>
> Matt
>
> On 3/16/2008 12:55 PM, Bruce Griffis spouted this sage advice:
> > I'm a grandpa driving kinda guy, too. Not a grandpa yet, but my kids
> > are 22, 18 and 12 - so, ...
> >
> > Anyway, I'm seriously weighing whether to let the kids drive the
> > Rambler at all. We've had discussions about speeds and brakes and
> > shifting - but I can hear the tires squeal on the corner when they're
> > in the Miata or beating on my Corolla. Think once the Rambler is
> > running right, I'll give them the grandpa's version of driver's ed.
> >
> > (Although their real grandpa drove over 100 in his Windstar with them.
> > New minivan, not paying attention to the speed - kinda got carried
> > away. But we won't talk about how fast real grandpa's drive.)
> >
> > On Sun, Mar 16, 2008 at 11:24 AM, Joe Smith <know_ware@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> >> I drive mostly like a grandpa.  I am not exactly a grandpa yet, but my identical twin has 2 grandchildren and all of our kids call us both dad, so we call me grandpa joe.  :-)
> >>
> >>  Regarding the front brake drums:  Doug Galvin found 2 that are still within specification in his parts yard.  I bought them.  I am also getting the alternator bracket from him and then I will purchase an alternator from TOPS Automotive in Santa Ana, CA on the corner of Bushard and Lincoln.
> >>
> >>  http://360.yahoo.com/karl_haart
> >>
> >>
> >>       ____________________________________________________________________________________
> >>  Be a better friend, newshound, and
> >>  know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile.  Try it now.  http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ
> >>  -------------- next part --------------
> >>  An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
> >>  URL: http://splatter.wps.com/pipermail/amc-list/attachments/20080316/a5058d8e/attachment.htm
> >>  _______________________________________________
> >>  Amc-list mailing list
> >>  Amc-list@xxxxxxxxxxxx
> >>  http://splatter.wps.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/amc-list
> >>
> > _______________________________________________
> > Amc-list mailing list
> > Amc-list@xxxxxxxxxxxx
> > http://splatter.wps.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/amc-list
> >
> >
> >
>
>
_______________________________________________
Amc-list mailing list
Amc-list@xxxxxxxxxxxx
http://splatter.wps.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/amc-list