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MY FUTURE OLDER CAR?

81 messages,  Last post on Apr 03, 2009 at 12:54 PM

You are in the Classic Cars Forum. Your Host is mr_shiftright

What is this discussion about? Coupe, Convertible, Truck, Sedan, Wagon

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#67 of 81 Re: My Future Car ? [piCARso] by Mr_Shiftright HOST Jan 15, 2009 (1:21 pm)
Replying to: piCARso (Jan 15, 2009 12:54 pm) Well it looks clean but you know, a 6 cylinder auto with the 170 cid engine is going to be a very sedate car to putt around in. Dealer's feedback is good.
#68 of 81 Re: My Future Car ? [piCARso] by andre1969 Jan 15, 2009 (1:26 pm)
Replying to: piCARso (Jan 15, 2009 12:54 pm) I have no idea on value, but it looks like a nice little car. The 170 straight six isn't a bad engine, but is pretty weak....maybe 110 hp by that time? And keep in mind that's the old gross hp rating. By today's net standards, we're talking 85-90 hp.   I can't see the shift quadrant well enough to see whether it's a 2-speed or 3-speed automatic. Neither one is going to be a barn-burner, but hopefully it's the 3-speed! I'd guess 0-60 would come up in around 17-20 seconds. But for nice, leisurely cruising, it should suffice.   Also, I'm not sure how the later years of the first-gen Falcon were, as they beefed up its looks a bit for 1964-65, but the earlier models were ultra-fragile. They also scare me, because the puncture-prone drop-in gas tank sits about 2 inches from the rear bumper! In a rear-end collision, these things are almost as bad as a Pinto. In fact, considering how long Ford had been making these explosion-prone cars, I'm surprised it took until the late 70's and the Pinto for them to finally get called on it! Replies to this message: Mr_Shiftright (Jan 15, 2009 1:31 pm)
#69 of 81 Re: My Future Car ? [andre1969] by Mr_Shiftright HOST Jan 15, 2009 (1:31 pm)
Replying to: andre1969 (Jan 15, 2009 1:26 pm) You can ask him to read you the transmission code on the door plate. That'll tell you if you have a C4 (good) or a Cruise=o-matic (not so good).
#70 of 81 Re: My Future Car ? [piCARso] by texases Jan 15, 2009 (1:45 pm)
Replying to: piCARso (Jan 15, 2009 12:54 pm) My first car was a '65 Mustang with a 170, but a 4 sp. manual. Certainly not fast, so the auto would be slower still. You would need to drive one to see how you like it, it requires a major change in driving style. It was reliable for 6 years, just required frequent tune ups (points and plugs, set the timing).   These Fords were rustbuckets, so you'd have to check carefully for rust. Mine rusted heavily, to the point when a relative was driving it, the fuel line let go, and the flames came back through the 'firewall'. Just need to check. I echo Andre's comments on the convertibles, not a lot of body strength, so any rust is an even bigger issue. Sellers sometimes try to conceal it with a fresh coat of paint and bondo. This one sure looks good, but you'll want pictures of the floor pan from below, they often rust out under the pedal area (from water dripping through rusted-out ventilation area sheet metal). You'll see carpet!
#71 of 81 My Old Car by piCARso Jan 15, 2009 (7:38 pm)
News from the dealer, Ford O Matic, two speed code 3. It has floor and quarter panel work but no holes now. Unknown drive- train rebuilds but it runs and shifts excellant. The vin number tells me 6 cyl. 170 cid, horsepower 101, carbs 1-1bbl, compression 8.7:1. Engine- 101hp economical engine offering good performance while delivering 22 mpg off reg. gas. 16 hours and counting at $5900. Replies to this message: texases (Jan 16, 2009 7:52 am) Mr_Shiftright (Jan 16, 2009 3:12 pm)
#72 of 81 Re: My once and Future Q ship [andre1969] by xrunner2 Jan 16, 2009 (6:07 am)
Replying to: andre1969 (Jan 14, 2009 11:16 am) Wife bought a 1969 Barracuda 340S new. I had a 68 Firebird Formula 400 at the time and my seat of pants thought that the Firebird was a little faster. The 340S had a nice growl on acceleration. I would guess it did 0-60 in about 7.5 seconds.   The Barracuda had the handling package and was real nice to drive enthusiastically. Whille the engine and trans were bullitproof, there were numerous other problems with the car. Some she got covered under warranty. Others came up after warranty. Got rid of the car after 2+ years. That car was the worst car that we have ever owned in our lives and caused us to swear off any Chrysler product for life.   Would not recommend buying any Barracude, if any still exist.
#73 of 81 Re: My once and Future Q ship (xrunner2) by hpmctorque Jan 16, 2009 (6:17 am)
"That car was the worst car that we have ever owned in our lives and caused us to swear off any Chrysler product for life."   Since the engine and transmission were bullet-proof, the engine emitted a nice growl, and you praised the handling package, what specific issues caused you to have such a strong negative reaction to Chrysler products? Replies to this message: xrunner2 (Jan 16, 2009 6:47 am) andre1969 (Jan 16, 2009 6:57 am)
#74 of 81 Re: My once and Future Q ship (xrunner2) [hpmctorque] by xrunner2 Jan 16, 2009 (6:47 am)
Replying to: hpmctorque (Jan 16, 2009 6:17 am) When we got rid of it, we joked that we should write notes, maybe a book, about all of the problems. I will ask wife later tonight to try to recount. But, here are some that come to mind.   Found oil spots on garage floor beneath differential at about 6 month point. Dealer replaced differential, housing had a crack.   At about 1.3 year age, noticed braking diminishment, longer stops, a little more pedal pressure needed. Examined front brake calipers and found that on one side, don't remember which, that piston was rusted shut in the bore. Had full shop manual and it advised to use a Chrysler part number piston remover to pull out piston. Went to Plymouth dealer and bought part, pulled out piston. Cylinder bore was not badly pitted, so used fine emery to polish bore. At about 1.8 year point, the other side brake caliper piston rusted shut and had to repair. Was familiar with taking off calipers, refacing rotors, putting new pads on front of 68 Firebird. Had 68 Firebird for about 10 years and never encountered rusted caliper pistons. Chrysler engineering very poor in bad design not being able to keep moisture out of cylinder bores.   At about 1.5 year point, and on vacation in Colo, votage regulator failed and had to be replaced.   At about 1.2 year point, and while driving on vacation, noticed strange sensation under right foot and gas pedal came off of lever/mount. Quickly pulled off on shoulder and was able to put it back together. Don't remeber any specifics on parts, perhaps there was a C ring involved, can't remember. This was probably the most outragous, unbelievable thing to happen on that car.   Therre was much more. Maybe wife has better memory.   Stay away from Barracudas. Replies to this message: andre1969 (Jan 16, 2009 6:57 am)
#75 of 81 Re: My once and Future Q ship (xrunner2) [xrunner2] by andre1969 Jan 16, 2009 (6:57 am)
Replying to: xrunner2 (Jan 16, 2009 6:47 am) I have heard that those early disc brake setups that Chrysler used were pretty bad. I just had drum brakes on my Darts. 9" on the '69, which had a slant six and 10" on the '68, with a 318. I tended to go through front brake shoes about every 10-15K miles, rear was around every 15-20K.
#76 of 81 Re: My Old Car [piCARso] by texases Jan 16, 2009 (7:52 am)
Replying to: piCARso (Jan 15, 2009 7:38 pm) "101hp economical engine offering good performance while delivering 22 mpg off reg. gas"   I don't think it has what I'd call 'good performance', you'll be the slowest car on the road, but it'll be fine for leisurly drives on city streets and back roads. Just stay off the freeway! And I'd sure want to take a careful look at it for rust.

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