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Am I thinking clearly? Or should I step back and relook what I want to do?

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by xxwelderxx, Jun 14, 2009.

  1. My commute is on Rt. 46 and never go over 45mph. I do agree with 287 being crazy though. I hate driving on it and I-80 in the 91 dodge.

    Funny thing about the gas milage. I avg. 13mpg with my 91, I used to get 19mpg with the 53 Plymouth.

    I appreciate all the response though. It's giving me some food for thought.
     
  2. teisco
    Joined: Mar 25, 2008
    Posts: 171

    teisco
    Member

    Look at this way,,,if you buy an '09 it will be worth half what you paid in six months,,,if you put that same amount into a nice old ride you will have something cool to drive and something that will be worth more in six months.
     
  3. Yeah for as much as I LOVE my old cars, the really old stuff is not the best choice for daily commuting. I think that you'd get sick of the 50 mph top speed and the rattles and rough ride in about a week. I also can't imagine driving your truck in the snow and salt. I'm sure that the heater and defrosters are marginal, at best.

    A few years ago, I used to commute 80 miles a day in my 75 Dodge Monaco and other than the gas mileage absolutely sucking, I really enjoyed it. BUT this car was designed for families taking road trips and had great suspension, disk brakes, A/C, tinted glass, etc. A 50's pickup with drum brakes, skinny bias ply tires and hay wagon suspension... not so much. I carried a few spare ballast resistors, ECU's and voltage regulators and my small toolbox but rarely had to use the stuff. I got another job closer to home and used to drive my other projects to & from work, but if I would have had to go another mile further...

    I do agree about the computerized cars to a point though! I used to be the kind of guy who'd stop to help if I saw someone broken down on the side of the interstate, but lately all that I can do is stare at the maze of computers, wires, vacuum hoses, etc. and shrug my shoulders when they ask "Why won't it start?"

    If I were in your position, living that far north with the snow and salt, and having to drive that far to & from work... I'd find a decent beater car (even from the 60's or 70's if you have to have something "old") and keep the truck for having fun with.
     
  4. chappys4life
    Joined: Sep 10, 2008
    Posts: 460

    chappys4life
    Member
    from Austin, TX

    I drive my 53 f100 as my dd. Stock flathead, stock rear, and stock drums. Runs good but anything above 60 is pushing it. Wipers are okay and heat is good. It all depends to drive an older vehicle everyday you have to be willing to make comprises and make sure you are okay with that. My truck was down for 3 days getting the starter fixed (only 1 place would rebuild it). I have a beat to crap 82 c10 I have as a back up though worse case.
     
  5. Well If my 91 Dodge sells Im deciding between the 53 Dodge Pilothouse and a 65 Power Wagon Quad Cab 4x4. I found the PW surfing the web today and think it has possibility of being a family hauler when my wife and I have kids.
     
  6. storm king
    Joined: Oct 16, 2007
    Posts: 1,989

    storm king
    Member

    I do the deal on the old truck!
    My daily drivers are an '86 and'87 dodge. I took off the lean burn crap and went back to a regular ignition. I know what I'm driving isn't like driving a '50's truck, but if you are just running 45 mph, that's no strain on it.
     
  7. shortbed65
    Joined: Feb 20, 2009
    Posts: 204

    shortbed65
    Member
    from ne Ill

    Drive the old truck///My DD is a '63 C10 , prior to last March for 19 yrs was a '67 C10,Chicago winters really ratted it out but that's the way it goes
     
  8. Well I'm test driving the 53 hopefully this week. We will see what happens. I might end up keeping the 91 Dodge for backup.
     
  9. Ruiner
    Joined: May 17, 2004
    Posts: 4,141

    Ruiner
    Member

    Just fucking do it...and fuck all the prissy guys who can't be pleased without a pillow under their ass and A/C...yeah, it's extra work, big deal, it's still better than dicking around with $200 sensors and computer shit...at the speeds you're running, that rearend swap and some good tuning/rebuilding of the carb, suspension bushings, bearings and brakes (and flush/seal the gas tank) and it'll be fine...for those guys that fight warzone-like traffic for their daily commute, it sucks to be you, but you're the one that's still putting up with it, so quit your bitching...
     
  10. gas pumper
    Joined: Aug 13, 2007
    Posts: 2,957

    gas pumper
    Member

    Now that sounds reasonable.

    You do need to keep one modern car on insurance to keep QQ plates on the rest of the fleet, here in NJ

    Route 46 was mostly done in the 40's, right? the newer parts. The older sections was called route 6 and was from the 20's. Still some bridges around with the route 6 signs on them.

    45 minutes at 45 mph sounds good to me. With a backup for the shitty weather.
     
  11. You know exactly how I feel! Drive and enjoy that '53.


    BloodyKnuckles
     
  12. 57JoeFoMoPar
    Joined: Sep 14, 2004
    Posts: 6,138

    57JoeFoMoPar
    Member

    Out of curiosity, how many miles are on the 91? If the truck has a ton of miles on it, you can hardly fault it for things breaking. Shit happens. They're cars, they break with use. Stuff wears out. Maybe the answer is a new late model. Sure sensors and stuff aren't cheap, but neither are good parts for old cars.

    I've replaced every Oxygen sensor in my Mustang (4 of em), and the MAF sensor, for a total cost of around $400. Not too shabby for a car I drive 25K miles a year. I've thrown 10 times that at my older stuff making it reliable. I get the impression by buying this 53, all you're doing is swapping a small project for a larger one.
     
  13. When I was selling cars I used to get people in every day that would say "I just need a beater to get me back and forth to work". My response was always that driving to work is the most important driving you do. That said, I think that if you think the 53 is reliable, go for it. If you think it might leave you hanging then step back and take a second look. As far as comfort is concerned, well if we were looking for comfort we'd be doing something else as a hobby, I'm 61 years old and I can't wait to be able to drive my Roadster every day. But I also know that some days I'm gonna want to drive my Ford Ranger.



    Oldschool66
     
  14. 39 All Ford
    Joined: Sep 15, 2008
    Posts: 1,531

    39 All Ford
    Member
    from Benton AR

    I drive my 55 Lincoln to work pretty much everyday.

    I made a few upgrades like a dual master cylinder, a "freshened" engine, and a tranny upgrade to a THM350...

    I think it is great and I enjoy the drive a lot....

    BUT... I live about 3 or 4 miles from work... as much as I would LIKE to tell you to drive the 53 daily,,, it probably is too much to have to RELY on the 53 for daily transportation...

    My Lincoln is reliable and comfortable at highway speeds, but still,,, that is a long trip for every day...

    If you could have both trucks and drive the 53 when you wanted to this would be a little more realistic...
     
  15. sirhc
    Joined: Mar 3, 2008
    Posts: 164

    sirhc
    Member
    from Boise, ID

    The older truck may not be quite as reliable in the long run, but I've found my boss to be more forgiving when I'm late to work when I have an issue with my 56' (as opposed to my new, modern daily driver).

    Do what makes you happy!
     
  16. Dr.Theo
    Joined: Jun 25, 2004
    Posts: 148

    Dr.Theo
    Member

    so what happened did he get one?

    and i drove my 69 elco as my daily driver every day that there was no now on the ground for nearly 3 years
     
  17. 56oldsDarrin
    Joined: May 9, 2009
    Posts: 396

    56oldsDarrin
    Member

    Well, I was driving my 56 Olds every day,then I blew it up 250 miles from home. now I'm borrowing my cousins 98 trooper. In any measurable way its a superior vehicle, But I cant stand it...no soul...I feel like any other SUV fool.
    I am building another motor and hauling it back to his place, i'll put it in in his driveway.
    All will be right...
    Darrin
     
  18. 454_4_ON_THE_FLOOR
    Joined: Feb 15, 2009
    Posts: 179

    454_4_ON_THE_FLOOR
    Member
    from Selden, TX

    I would go for it. There's lots of stuff you can do to make a flathead more highway friendly. Electric fans for instance.
     

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