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Hot Rods Mis-named Automotive Equipment...

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by Fortunateson, Jun 13, 2021.

  1. Fortunateson
    Joined: Apr 30, 2012
    Posts: 5,331

    Fortunateson
    Member

    I'm starting this thread for discussion purposes only and not to create something for some to disparage, argue, or insult any posters. So if you can't abide by that I say move on...

    I know the engine (correct LOL) versus motor debate will rage on forever but that's ok. What I like to read about in others opinions is how some automotive equipment has been tagged with misnomers. Case in point is the Automatic and Standard transmissions. The opposite of automatic would be manual but back in the day manual transmissions were viewed as the standard issue and hence their name. But I still use the term though I try to check myself. Another example would be the "emergency" versus "parking " brake. For this I can see both being appropriate though in some forums it is only a parking brake to which I would ask what would you do in an emergency? (Must be the result of never driving a "standard" trans...LOL)

    We could also look at high beam versus country/highway lights as well.

    So what are your views and are there other pieces of equipment that come to mind?
     
    Last edited: Sep 26, 2021
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  2. Mr48chev
    Joined: Dec 28, 2007
    Posts: 33,861

    Mr48chev
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Localisms has something to do with it.
    Manual trans being called "standard trans" is all too easy, The three speed manual was the standard transmission in cars or trucks and the 4 speed truck or later car trans or automatic was an option. Came with a 3 speed as standard equipment.

    Park brake, Emergency brake is probably who ever wrote the info on it. When they had the lever next to the floor shifter they were far more likely to be called an emergency brake. When you pull the handle under the dash or push the pedal next to the kick panel you of think them as a park brake than emergency brake. Still probably more about who you learned your terms from than anything else.
     
  3. Interior light or dome light? WTH is a dome anyway? Rear windshield or rear window?
     
  4. TrailerTrashToo
    Joined: Jun 20, 2018
    Posts: 1,289

    TrailerTrashToo
    Member

    Headlight or headlamp - just discovered this while Googling a headxxxx switch.

    Condenser or capacitor - depends on who you are talking to - sometimes can alert you to someone who enjoys being that Richard Head....

    Russ
     
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  5. Fortunateson
    Joined: Apr 30, 2012
    Posts: 5,331

    Fortunateson
    Member

    No much wind to be shielded from through the rear window!
     
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  6. Fortunateson
    Joined: Apr 30, 2012
    Posts: 5,331

    Fortunateson
    Member

    I would bet that the electrical engineers crowd would favour the capacitor term. Very polite referring to Richard by the way!
     
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  7. ClarkH
    Joined: Jul 21, 2010
    Posts: 1,412

    ClarkH
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Usage is a thing that evolves over time and location. It's strange how some folks can get quite worked up about terms like hubcap vs. wheel cover, sway bar vs. anti-sway bar.

    Tinfoil hats are actually made of aluminum...:D
     
    Last edited: Jun 13, 2021
  8. moparboy440
    Joined: Sep 30, 2011
    Posts: 1,087

    moparboy440
    Member
    from Finland

    Aluminium, not aluminum ;)
     
  9. ClarkH
    Joined: Jul 21, 2010
    Posts: 1,412

    ClarkH
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Damn, stop reading my thoughts. :)
     
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  10. “ cherry picker “ for an engine hoist .
    “ jibble jack “ under hoist jack
    “Windscreen” windshield
    Back light , back glass , rear windshield
    Hub cap , wheel cover
    Frost plug , casting plug , welsh plug , butt plug
    “ bondo “ for any type of body filler
    Indicator , blinker , turn signals
    Idiot lights , warning lights

    Some places in Quebec and the surrounding area call it “ Prestone “ instead of coolant

    along with all the ones that have been said

    lifter , tappet , follower

    the list goes on and on the more you think about it , a lot has to go with how old you are I think .
     
  11. oldiron 440
    Joined: Dec 12, 2018
    Posts: 3,299

    oldiron 440
    Member

    Now a standard transmission is an automatic as most cars and trucks don't have a manual transmission available.
     
  12. Oilguy
    Joined: Jun 28, 2011
    Posts: 663

    Oilguy
    Member

    Parking lamps. Never did understand that term. Never used the lights when parking, either. Maybe it has to do with parking along the side of a dark narrow road in the middle of the night.
     
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  13. Rckt98
    Joined: Jun 7, 2005
    Posts: 1,132

    Rckt98
    Member

    This side of the world we have bonnet v hood.
     
  14. If my hydraulic brakes fail and I grab the parking brake, I'm pretty sure it becomes an emergency brake!
     
  15. Rckt98
    Joined: Jun 7, 2005
    Posts: 1,132

    Rckt98
    Member

    And to make it more confusing we have a hood lining inside the car.
     
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  16. Oilguy
    Joined: Jun 28, 2011
    Posts: 663

    Oilguy
    Member

    And you also have dizzies. Or is that the UK?
     
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  17. Stan Back
    Joined: Mar 9, 2007
    Posts: 2,178

    Stan Back
    Member
    from California

    This is making me dizzy -- what is that any way?

    Why isn't the rear end all the way to the back?
     
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  18. TrailerTrashToo
    Joined: Jun 20, 2018
    Posts: 1,289

    TrailerTrashToo
    Member

    I am a retired electrical engineer (courtesy of many years in night school...). I bought a Delco (Trademarked division of the General Engine Corporation) ignition condenser to stabilize the reference voltage to a Ford voltage regulator (Very Off Topic Ford alternator hanging from the side of a Cummins 4bt in a 1986 Ford F150). Just speak the language of the person that you are talking to (Si habla Gringo?...).

    EDIT: Night
     
  19. Jokester
    Joined: Jan 29, 2005
    Posts: 687

    Jokester
    Member

    Dashboard???? I prefer instrument panel. My horses don't "dash" much anymore.

    .bjb
     
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  20. 51504bat
    Joined: May 22, 2010
    Posts: 4,755

    51504bat
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Rev counter or tach. Dynamo or generator. Earth or ground.
     
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  21. DDDenny
    Joined: Feb 6, 2015
    Posts: 19,136

    DDDenny
    Member
    from oregon

    A bit before my time but many model T's had the accelerator moved from the column to the floor and it was referred to as a foot feed.

    upload_2021-6-13_13-55-19.png


     
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  22. Slopok
    Joined: Jan 30, 2012
    Posts: 2,919

    Slopok
    Member

  23. Harv
    Joined: Jan 16, 2008
    Posts: 974

    Harv
    Member
    from Sydney

    Yep, we have dizzies.

    We also have guards (fenders), spanners (wrenches), boots (trunk), sills (rocker panel), tyres (with a "Y"), bog (bondo), bonnets (hoods), seat belts (safety belts), wheel nuts (lug nuts), exhaust pipe (tail pipe), petrol (gas) and tailshafts (prop shafts).

    Our hotrods often have Armstrong power steering (a car without any power steering) and 4-and-80 airconditioning (4 windows down and 80 miles per hour). Sometimes fast glass (electric windows), but rarely Stairs to the Roof (rear window louvre). You will not find Gibbs, Marvel or Kroil here, but everyone has a tin (can) of dubbeyah-dee fourtee (aka Mechanic in a Can).

    The British are often rightfully mortified with what we do to the Queen's English :)

    Cheers,
    Harv
     
  24. big john d
    Joined: Nov 24, 2011
    Posts: 366

    big john d
    Member
    from ma

  25. Cotter pin - who was Cotter? The British "split pin" makes more sense.
     
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  26. "Foot feed" ("feed" it more gas (petrol)) and "emergency brake", I would guess harken back to the Model T/Model A cross over years: the Model T had a hand throttle, the Model A had a foot pedal. The Model T had a foot brake on the transmission and an "emergency" brake that was hand operated.
    Glove box/Jockey box
     
  27. He was a high school teacher wasn't he?
     
  28. Forget emergency or parking brake...it's a handbrake;)
     
  29. In the auto industry,,,you find out real quick it is not called an emergency brake .
    It is a park brake .
    I assume it is the connotation that it can be used to stop the car in an emergency,,,,which it would not be able to do .

    However,,,,it is a very good tool to use as an extra safety margin while the car is parked .
    Because,,,,even though you think you put it all the way in park,,,,, the pawl did not completely enter the slot and lock in place .
    Ooohhh boy,,,,,,,the things can go wrong when that happens .

    Yes,,,,it took me a while to get used to calling it a park brake ,,,,,but now I use that term as if it was always called that.
    I just wished more people used them,,,,,,most dont .

    Tommy
     
  30. Sky Six
    Joined: Mar 15, 2018
    Posts: 9,480

    Sky Six
    Member
    from Arizona

    My Dad said "hi beams" and "low beams", My Mom said Bright lights
     
    Last edited: Jun 14, 2021
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