Future "Old Iron"

[tmerideth]

I have been infected with the "orange/yellow/red fever since about July. I cannot allow a morning or evening to pass without checking out everything new on the web site. I was checking out the recent addition that Kent has added of the new "Legacy" and the old Cushman cart. Is there anyone besides me that just cannot stand this new "round" profile that all the manufacturers are using? Being a young man of 52, I find myself musing about what I will do in my retirement years. I have visions of bringing an old B model or perhaps a tired AC 720 back to life. But, hey, those are the units we are restoring now. What "new" tin being made today will be the "old iron" we will crave 10-15 years from now? There was just something brawny looking about the square, boxy look of a B series or the Simplicitys that just aint there today. Sigh, I am not looking as forward to retirement now as I once was.

[MPH]

But ya just gotta think of the fuel eff. you'll be getting with that areo dyn. tractor when your out mowing your lawn. If I bought one I'd probably have to make a new hood for it..MPH

[JDSnyder]

There is such a concept as restoring the "good old iron" again. Especially, since I don't believe in keeping my tractor only as a showpiece, I like to work it! That's half the fun. Finding or building attachments is also fun.

[Kent]

I agree with your tastes, Tom. I like the smaller size of the 1960s tractors before they put running boards and everything on them. But, if Simplicity continues to support their products the way they have, we should have another 29 years of parts for the Sovereigns that we can use.... I think I'll hold out for a nice 75th Anniversary model that needs restoring.... I always wanted to try my hand at taping off and painting flames.... ;<) Kent

[StinKy]

We should take into account that someone not yet born may be lavishing paint & elbow grease on a current model which we find boring or odd styled. This current crop of tractors will be rare old gems to a hobbyist 30 years from now. Personally they can have em cause I too like square hoods and cast iron engines!! Dick

[Danb24]

I agree "square is better"

[ka9bxg]

I have talked with some older people from some of the local shows a while ago about old iron and talk about this new stuff at a show (1950 stuff)when they started going to shows these were new tractors.There will always be good old stuff for the younger ones to redo it will be the old stuff for them.I remember when our wonderboy 700 was called a old piece of junk just get rid of it.People were saying that no one would want to collect something like that.Now I have 2 of them,sad to say the the first one was sold for $100 back in 70 Wih I had that old piece of junk.Bob

[Roy]

I like the square hoods appearance wise but the new rounded hoods should fit beneath bushes, shrubs, etc. better. The front of my tractors are scratched from trimming as close as possible. A Weedeater does not fit my hands. Roy

[B_WALLY_]

I guess we get used to things as they age, But it's really going to be difficult with the new Dodge trucks. They went from unusual to ugly with their new front ends.

[PatRarick]

Dutch, Is it as comfortable as the Lincoln?...Pat

[johnmonkey]

Dutch, my '48 Studebaker M-5 pickup truck looks much worse for the wear. The sheet metal is good but completly covered with a thin coat of rust. The prior owner painted it with gray primer and never sealed it thats why all the surface rust. Any suggestions on how to go about painting it? I have not done much body work. I do have a substantial compressor for air tools. Are there any good videos for sanding priming and painting? Thanks John

[Roy]

Take care of the Studebaker pickup truck! As an old Studebaker fan (had 5 1953 lowboy coupes) I would hate to see another Stude disappear. Roy

[BradW]

It truly is "Hip to be square"!! That if for sure, you cannot beat an old one, but then again, like Roy said it is easier to fit these more aerodynamic ones under bushes it is true, I have had very good luck with that, my Regent is ALOT easier to trim with.-BradW P.S., Wally, I'll agree, these new dodge's are about the ugliest trucks I have ever seen, that is what happens when chrysler steps in to truck production!, I think I will stick w/ my ford ranger!

[MPH]

HEY NOW Brad, I gotta go defend my ole 75 Dodge. She ain't pretty, but she ain't bad. Them new ugly ducklings are owned by overseas Chrysler....Merry Christmas...MPH

[powermax_paul]

John, You may find the below link helpful. You'll have to remove & nautralize the rust. Don't use a sand blaster, but a D/A sander will save a lot of hand work. You'd be wise to "etch" the bare metal, followed by several coats of primer/surfacer. Try to use all products from the same manufacturer, and ask the supplier for recommendations. If you've never done bodywork before, experiment on an old hood or appliance. If you get the truck ready to paint, check with your local MAACO. They will spray a prepared vehicle for less than the materials cost me, and the finished job is pretty good.[A href='http://www.autorestorer.com/q_boards/trucks/index.cgi']http://www.autorestorer.com/q_boards/trucks/index.cgi[/a]

[powermax_paul]

Ya know, I think it's kinda funny how these many reply messages drift from the original point. Anyway, Herb, I'm currently (well, for the last two years) rebuilding a 1986 5.0 L Ford V8 to put into my '88 Bronco II. I've got the body work done on the Bronco II but I haven't painted it yet. Debbie keeps telling me to take it to Maaco, even though I already have the paint. How do they work? Do they mask it off and paint inside the doorwells etc.? They almost sound too cheap, but if it gets my project done should I care? Paul

[BradW]

Paul, Most (all?) MAACO shops are independently owned, so I can only comment on the 2 around here. The local ones will do everything (for a price). Their paint jobs are very acceptable, but their bodywork is NOT consistent and costly for the most part, and their detail work is lacking. I perform all my own bodywork and preperation (I even mask if I'm fanatical about the job). Otherwise MAACO will mask, wipe down, spot sand if necessary, and spray. MAACO currently charges me $150>enamel, $200>urethane, $250w/clear coat. Since you already have the paint, I'd spray the hood & fender edges, and door jambs myself.

[MikeES]

My pick up is "square", but some people call it the ugliest truck in town. I've been driving it 20 years, and think it's getting better with age. Not much work to keep it "clean", no washing or waxing, just push the trash through the big hole in the cab floor. http://home.att.net/~herb.niewender/chevpu.jpg

[BradW]

MPH, I wasn't talking about the older dodge trucks, those are the good ones! Really, body work is not too bad to do, I am getting ready to repaint my ranger within the next few weeks for when I get my license, Paul, what year is the 5.0 engine?? Carb or Fuel Injected? If you plan on fixing it up, polish and port your heads, you can gain 125+ horsepower with that motor by doing that, Fords most restrictive heads were on the 2.0, 2.3, and 5.0 liter motors, they make ALOT of kits to do that with, guess i'm getting to excited, spotted myself a 1966 Mustang coupe with a "390 C.I. Hi-Po" motor and 4 speed floor shifter, I know I need a Simplicity, but a Mustang sounds pretty tempting too, hmmm, decisions, decisions!-BradW

[johnmonkey]

Thanks for your response Dutch, What is a D/A sander? It sounds like it must be some sort of air tool but I am not sure. I am a "shop teacher" by trade (mostly woodworking) for 8th graders. My other career experience other than the U.S. Coast Guard in the early 1980's has been a carpenter with a little electric and plumbing on the side. I have done mechanical work on cars but thats where it ends. I always like to try and learn "trade secrets" before I embark on a new experience. Thanks, Happy Holidays. John

[powermax_paul]

Herb, Thanks for the info on Maaco. I think Ill do as you say on prep and strongly consider them to shoot it off. Brad, Actually I mis-spoke. I think it's a 1987 5.0L. It is from a 4x4 truck so it already had the dual sump pan which is needed for this swap. I think it was TBI, as I remember, but I'm going to a Holley 450 carb on an Edelbrock Performer manifold and regulating the fuel pressure down as needed. Just a mild Melling cam. I'm going with C4 tranny on stock drive train so I can't hop up the HP too much or I'll snap drive/axle shafts. With a little Bronco II, it don't take a lot of HP. Should still be a fun little screamer. Email me if you want to talk about it some more. Paul

[MPH]

Gee Brad, would you happen to about 16?? Mustang lookin better than Simplicity...The old dodge made the trip to Fairbanks today, 426 miles, cuz my van took to blowing 4.5 gal of oil out on my trip to Anchorage last Tues to pick up my son for Christmas break. Think I believe in PRO-Long, I put in 4.5 qts the first time, which is a change with filter. Pretty sure cuz is the PVC valve freezin up. Don't know why, it was only 47 below out there..must be too new..MPH

[BradW]

I forgot to mention the "beutiful" part about the mustang, I can get it from my friends uncle for 600 bucks, needs body work, sold a sears lawnmower for 600 bucks, cha-ching, I'm getting me a Mustang! Now this will be a noteable project!, Paul,-What size motor was originally in the bronco II? If you need wiring harnesses or anything, you might want to try summit racing, they can be reached at http://www.summitracing.com and another place to try would be J.C. Whitney located here in Illinois http://www.jcwhitney.com both places have alot of good stuff for ford motors, I plan on dropping a 2.3L turbo motor from a thunderbird turbo coupe, need a vocational school project, there are plenty of junked turbo-coupe thunderbirds around here to get the motor for that swap, might actually get my little ranger to get up and go, the SVO (special vehicle operations) department at ford made some great motors!,-BradW

[PGL]

John, D/A = "Dual Action" (see link). One tool that replaces the overly aggressive grinders & "jitterbugs" (that left swirly marks) that were used years ago. Old is not always better.[A href='http://buy.snapon.com/catalog/PRO.asp?Group%5FID=832&Group%5Fname=Dual+Action&Cat%5FID=823795&Cat%5F']http://buy.snapon.com/catalog/PRO.asp?Group%5FID=832&Group%5Fname=Dual+Action&Cat%5FID=823795&Cat%5F[/a]

[StinKy]

Hey, Dutch as soon as I can get a digital picture of "ole Gert" my 1980 Ford f-150 flatbed 4X4 I'll be able to show you the ugliest truck that's still in daily use at least east of the Mississippi. Would'nt dare take her to any of those fund-raiser car washes that high school kids put on cause I'd be paying doctor bills for cut fingers etc. Dick