Do You Own Your Car, Or Does It Own You

To some of us, control and mastery of our machinery is the essence of what the car hobby/sport is all about. Unfortunately those things are becoming harder to attain and maintain all the time. Some people actually go looking for complication and trouble by converting their older, simpler rides to modern electronics and fuel injection. A recent experience with a simple voltage regulator really put it all in perspective for us.
*MERCHANDISE:
Get Your UTG T-Shirts Here: uncletonysgarage.com/product/...
Get Your UTG Stickers Here: uncletonysgarage.com/product/...
OUR STORE: uncletonysgarage.com/shop/
*SOCIAL MEDIA:
Facebook: / uncletonysgarage1
Instagram: / uncle_tonys_garage
#EFIsucks #oldshcool #Mopar

[@somedudeRyan]

another good reason to support Louis Rossmann in his quest for establishing right to repair laws. let's own our stuff again.

[@rubberbandman1410]

I whole heartedly agree.

[@mjra5121]

He has actually done some repair work for me. Half the price of the Apple and done right.

[@MrTheHillfolk]

@@mjra5121 Is he still fixing stuff? I have a Hewlett-Packard laptop that google told me the blinky lights mean it needs a new battery. Perfect, just in time for tax time 🙄

[@THRASHMETALFUNRIFFS]

HE's a cool dude for sure...

[@metsrock15]

Definitely

[@JasonsGarargeandrvrepair]

“Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” - Leonardo da Vinci.

[@AryDontSurf]

"Simplicity don't need to be greased" - Billie Joe Shaver

[@jeepsblackpowderandlights4305]

Leonardo is wrong. Get out of the dark ages.

[@Russeljfinch]

“Simplicity is the key to genius”

[@uliwehner]

i thought leo was italian?

[@blipco5]

You've reached perfection not when there's nothing left to add but when there's nothing left to take away.

[@thymekiller]

Very well said.

[@blipco5]

Thanks guys but I can't take credit for that saying. Somebody famous said it, I can't remember who. But it's true. Simple is better.

[@robs1852]

Definitely well said...And the complete opposite of a new car!!

[@Beverlys-Hillbilly]

I am a few years older than you, and have always bemoaned the throw away society that is the "modern" world. Everything you said makes perfect, reasonable sense to me.

[@bobroberts2371]

The cost of manufacture has gone down dramatically however the cost of repair hasn't, that is why some stuff is throw away. I have a box fan that was bought in 1980 for $ 19.99 , that same fan can be had in 2021 for 19.99. When run through the CPI calculator, 19.99 in 1980 $ is 69.06 in 2021 .

[@fritzcaddy]

The guy knows what he talks about and is able to help us understand in the simplest way possible.

[@danmello4176]

@Superduper DavidMiorgan That's BS, dead shorts can catch the wires on fire if there's no fuse to break the circuit. You should know that if you bypass a circuit that blows fuses you will most likely catch the circuit on fire. It has nothing to do with increased voltage or increased amps, it's a dead short to ground. It's about safety, UTG said he'd rather let the car burn to the ground than chase down electrical issues. His choice but not good advice for people trying to learn how to do thing correct and Safe. I'm sure most people don't want their cars burnt to the ground.

[@danmello4176]

@Superduper DavidMiorgan Grow up you adolescent piece of sh@t!

[@bobroberts2371]

@Superduper DavidMiorgan Gee you sound like you are on the wrong end of the Dunning - Kruger effect.

[@bobroberts2371]

Have a look at this vid, The One Wire That Will Save Your Car! on the channel Uncle Tony's Garage

[@bobroberts2371]

@Superduper DavidMiorgan Well, that makes you safe. . . .

[@throttlewatch4614]

New semi trucks are a nightmare, that’s why I chose to rebuild my old 1995 , people nowadays are dependent on everything and it’s all throw away. Great segment Tony

[@chacholiades]

which one do you have?

[@MrTheHillfolk]

What I find insane is the new 70-100k pickup trucks. For that dough I'd get a class 8 and become a big mothertrucker😝

[@throttlewatch4614]

@@chacholiades I have a 1995 T 600 DD series 60 2 million miles but everything is new engine, transmission and rears

[@CooterELee]

@@MrTheHillfolk I paid 51,000 for a 2013 glider (glider is new cab and frame but rebuilt engine trans rears) April 2017 with 363k miles. At 726k miles, has barely been in the shop. So about 350k miles for the price of the cheapest new 2017 f350 diesel, I can pull 51,000 lbs on a flatbed, and I expect several more years of service.

[@akallio9000]

30 year old farm tractors are in big demand for the same reasons.

[@Max-me9xq]

It doesn't sound crazy. Your controlling the chaos in your world. We all want to and you found what works for you and share that with us. Thank you for that

[@sarahdeshay1394]

As an 18 year old on a road trip in NYC my friends 70’s Subaru quit at the entrance to the Lincoln tunnel. Turned out to be a set of contact points in the fuel pump located at the top of the engine. I had the car running in less than 5 minutes by cleaning the points with a matchbook striker, we then continued back to Florida with no more issues.

[@markbarber7839]

Thanks for the video. Our '72 valiant 225 was a shade tree mechanic's dream. That era is gone

[@rldunn38]

Tony is my favorite KZbinr, not just because he knows EVERYTHING MOPAR, but because of his wisdom and sense.

[@TheDracfink]

back in the day the owners manual told you how to do everything and the part needed.

[@cesare8020]

I own my cars as well, however im also a dealer tech. And know the modern day systems like the back of my hand. Just as you said, when its getting finicky, I know in my head where to start, and what im looking for.

[@billwyatt1115]

I'm 74 and I understand completely. I try to do the same thing.

[@thomasmarti5856]

amen!!! Eliminate all the possible fail points and a simple diagnosis= you are back on the road,with cash leftover.

[@WatchWesWork]

Doctors wanted to install a pacemaker to save my great grand father's life. He said "F#$k you, I want to own my heart". It's written on his tombstone. True story...

[@bcbloc02]

Nothing wrong with going out on your own terms................

[@graham2631]

On Lucas's tombstone it says "don't drive in the dark". He also built their refrigerators that's why the english drink warm beer.

[@metalbill]

This is how I've kept my cars for the last almost 30 years. I OWN my cars. But, I do use fuses and relays.

[@THRASHMETALFUNRIFFS]

Bruh... Fuse's are /w\METAL/w\ !!! I use them on my amp about 3 inches from the battery

[@trevorpomroy550]

Fuses aren't so much the problem as ACCESSIBLE fuses. The same goes for relays and mosfets. One shouldn't ever have to throw out a part because one of these has failed and can't be easily replaced.

[@ronniepate4315]

I agree100 percent .I use to carry a box in the trunk a little bigger than a shoe box . A 20 inch tool box and two full size spares . I never had to worry about a breakdown .

[@The_R-n-I_Guy]

Who else would love to be Uncle Tony's neighbor? He would definitely get tired of me before I would get tired of him. The vast knowledge of everything mechanical is inspiring

[@jimjungle1397]

The 1970 and newer two field Mopar alternators can be used with the 1969 and older mechanical voltage regulators if you run a ground wire from the alternator case to one field and hook up the remaining field as a single field alternator.

[@tarstarkusz]

Tony, it's all solid state. What you are calling the analogue system is also solid state. Just because it's on a PCB doesn't make it unfixable. Those are big components which should be easy to replace, even if they (diodes) are germanium.

[@throttlewatch4614]

I’m into vintage motorcycles and youth today had no idea how to work on them and they are for the most part kick start

[@northidahoguy5549]

That was a master class in Keep It Simple Stupid Philosophy!

[@creativerecycling]

Uncle Tony, I have been taking my stuff apart and fixing it for 50 years. Carbs, starters, alternators, switches, etc. As it turns out, I designed and built tooling for decades. My motto was “The shortest distance between any two points is a straight line”. The simpler the better! If you can make something functional with 4 moving parts, why build it with 20? I’ll be 70 next year and I still fix all my own stuff. I’m teaching my grandkids to do the same.

[@marcinbiernacki8555]

Soviet Union engineers knew that so most machines from that era could be fixed in the middle of Siberia using hammer and a screwdriver. ;)

[@MrTheHillfolk]

Even though its been debunked on snopes , I like the NASA/russian space race story about nasa engineering a pen to work in space ,and the Russians said : vee use pencil 😆

[@andypdq]

@@MrTheHillfolk The reason NASA designed a pen is because pencil leads are graphite, which conducts electricity. If you break your pencil, you then have a small piece of graphite floating around in the weightless environment of your orbiting space craft. If that graphite eventually finds its way into some electrical equipment, it has the potential to cause a short. NASA weren't prepared to take that risk, the Russians were.

[@MrTheHillfolk]

@@andypdq Someone sent me a link , years ago ,to snopes that the whole story was fake. I like to believe in it though because it does sound cool.

[@andypdq]

@@MrTheHillfolk Propaganda oneupmanship by Ivan, LOL. It still continues....

[@timmck6352]

I am of similar age plus 15yrs or so. I collect and drive 70's vintage pickup trucks as daily drivers. I am in total agreement with your understanding of reliability through simplicity and reparability coupled with more robust construction. Thank you for sharing that incite for the unenlightened.

[@bobroberts2371]

Cars from the 70's were not " reliable ", they needed constant repairs. Think about this, most every gas station up until the 80's had service bays. How many gas stations do you see with service bays today? This is because rather than needing a tune up ( spark pugs ) or similar service every 15,000 miles, cars can go 150,000 without being touched.

[@Broken_Yugo]

@@bobroberts2371 Exactly, I drive beat up 100k+ mile 90s cars for dailies, mainly Toyota, have for over a decade, those sort of failures that can be tweaked roadside to keep going on old cars simply dont happen on the newer ones. I've lost an engine (probably my fault), once a starter (new contacts put it right), that's about all that's ever suddenly stopped a modern car for me, and I beat the hell out of them. I don't even change spark plugs anymore unless the car exhibits idle misfires and such, which has never happened to me.

[@bobroberts2371]

@@Broken_Yugo Yep, if the starter was the Nippon Denso style that has a solenoid about as large as the actual motor, those L shaped contacts are about the only thing that fails. One thing on changing spark plugs. When the gap gets very large, this causes firing voltage to rise and this stresses the rest of the ignition system. Once insulation breaks down, you can get an intermittent miss fire that can be difficult to diagnose and $$$ to fix due to having to replace coil packs / coil on plug coils. Plugs are cheap.

[@Broken_Yugo]

@@bobroberts2371 Plugs are cheap, but aluminum heads aren't when a plug that's been in there for 10 years decides to take threads with it on the way out. They do come out fine with finesse on a stone cold motor with oil worked into the threads, but that requires a well calibrated wrist from what I've seen so I don't recommend others try it. I'll change the plugs on a new to me car, when I have the time to be careful with it, but past that I just let em rip even if it calls for a fairly short interval copper plug (like the weird dual strap ones in the current Corolla), because I got tired of replacing perfectly good looking plugs to no benefit.

[@gregsimon9061]

Being born in 52 we always repaired our vehicles, my dad taught me to repair not replace and wouldn’t you know it, I grew up and had a career as a Ford parts manager, in a time were you rebuilt carburetors, alternators, starters and engine’s. Much simpler time and a much better time.

[@THRASHMETALFUNRIFFS]

This is EXACTLY what I was talking about in the other vid where I swapped points to HEI in my 70 Monte Carlo SS in high school and now had to carry a spare ignition module made of circuits and sealed wax that would go bad on hot days and cost 3 times as much as an extra set of POINTS that's just as easy to change on the side of the damn road!! BONUS! The coil in the cap cost more, is fragile and giant size!

[@williamwigfield7296]

NOT crazy! You've just explained the first tenet of all engineering: simplicity. Occam's Razor at its finest sir! Thanks for all the content including the older podcasts. Nice to reminisce since I can't do thus stuff anymore. Keep the torch lit for the rest of us

[@THRASHMETALFUNRIFFS]

& the Power of Parsimony... That which is most likely is most often true!!

[@steveschug80]

Simplicity is best, my boss told me his dad had a rod knock in his Model T along the highway, he said he only had a suitcase, a crescent wrench, and a can opener. He cut a hole in the pan and found the loose cap, took the leather strap off the suitcase and put it in the journal, beat the pan shut and drove it 20 miles back home. That man tought me MUCH over the years.

[@funone8716]

Yea ain't no can opener cutting into a T oil pan, not happening.

[@terryburns8917]

You make perfect sense to me. Things have already gotten way too complicated, and they’re only continuing to make them worse every year.

[@4supertigers]

I’m ready to buy old cars in good condition than new cars that a dealership technician has to fix.

[@billdursa4724]

My newest vehicle is a 1998. I love driving down the road and seeing vehicles that are new to 2 years old on the back of a rollback, very satisfying.

[@erniew5805]

you wouldn't actually be stranded just ground out the alternator. your lights will be real bright. if you think your battery is going to explode just unhook the ground for a while. not much different than the limp home mode on the GM duramax you will get there eventually

[@agostinodibella9939]

The regulator made me laugh. I was helping someone with an old step-van during the ‘80s that the battery kept dying. I narrowed it down to the regulator. I was surprised when I opened it and found the same thing! Solid state, inside of what used to be a mechanical voltage regulator! I totally agree, today’s cars are too full of computers and extra crap to go bad and cost more money to fix!

[@funone8716]

Same here on a farm tractor. And those idiots make the case way larger than it needs to be to house that small circuit board.

[@roryanri804]

Im a recent subscriber. I'm only 17, but I've been buying old junkers since I was 13. I've never owned any carb mopars, so I just picked up a 1971 dodge coronet wagon from a guy who was going to scrap it. Its been a NY car its whole life and has sat in the woods since 1981. I don't think i would have bought it if i didn't watch your mopar videos. Thank you and keep up the good work.

[@pre1980cars]

My grandfather had a 71 cornet, glad you saved it

[@roryanri804]

@@pre1980cars there is bot much left. No floor, no frame, rot on the whole bottom 1/4 of the wagon. Im planning on doing a rough patch up and put in on a 87 k10 frame.

[@jeffreyrubish347]

"I would rather the car burn to the ground..." Lol.

[@NightWrencher]

Insane right? 🤣

[@2lotusman851]

Them fuses are the Devils Work! Heres the part number--- AGC 666

[@robertcrawford7709]

All my stuff is old analog and it always starts and everybody's stuff is dead and I being a mechanic for 35 years laff at them they became a slave to technology they go brain washed

[@NightWrencher]

@@robertcrawford7709 ok 🤣 I have several efi cars over 300k miles that have never left me stranded. You guys really need to take of those tin hats 🤣🤣

[@livewire2759]

Honestly, if you wire it yourself and run the wires properly and carefully, they will never short out anyway. I can't think of any time I've ever blown any fuses in any of my trucks in the 20+ years that I've owned them.

[@academaciated7466]

Yup! When we rebuilt our 70 Amc Ambo, initially we had a Fitech on it but just couldn’t sleep at night so, now reconfigured back to a carb 👍🏻

[@Z_732]

Makes sense to me. I have examples of this. I can diagnose my older vehicles in seconds, while I have a 1998 sitting out back in the weeds because myself and 3 different shops cannot diagnose the issue. But the 1981 runs like a champ. If it dont, gimme 5 minutes and she'll fire. Lol

[@josephfine3394]

I had a 1984 Chevy Blazer 4x4 with the 2.8 V6 4 speed T-4; This little Blazer came from high-altitude Arizona. It never had a computer, it had an all-analog distributor, half-a-mini-quadrajet analog carb too. I put in low-altitude jets, rebuilt the engine, new everything, I installed a lopey Crane cam, lifters and springs, ported the heads, opened the oil passages and ported the oil pump, even chrome valve covers (those were good for 10 HP). Jim Oddy milled the heads .060, a muffler shop installed a true dual exhaust. It would smoke all 4 tires easily, had to be making 225 HP easily. It ran and ran until the body rusted right off of it. Never any problems!

[@thechannelofultimatedestin4720]

You should look up arduino efi systems. Someone built an efi kit using completely open-source hardware and software.

[@BerkeyFilms]

Just watched some new videos about the Speeduino DropBear. Still in alpha, but it looks great. I have a 1UZFE that i would love to tune. kzbin.info/www/bejne/bInHZWChfsqjr6M Obviously not going EFI on my Mopar build

[@mrbriggs3074]

It is a throw away society Tony. My money is worth the time too!

[@bobroberts2371]

The cost of manufacture has gone down dramatically however the cost of repair hasn't, that is why some stuff is throw away. I have a box fan that was bought in 1980 for $ 19.99 , that same fan can be had in 2021 for 19.99. When run through the CPI calculator, 19.99 in 1980 $ is 69.06 in 2021 .

[@AryDontSurf]

As usual, I'm with you. "Primitive, that's how I live"

[@ToddRobinson13]

I have always believed that mopars are more detail oriented with regards to understanding how everything works. But if you can diagnose and fix mopars, then you can fix damn near any vehicle. I love this channel!

[@bicylindrico]

Unless you buy a 40-50 year old car, most won't have the understanding of how their car works entirely. Those people still won't want to live with he old technology. I agree with you Tony I really do, but wanting wont equal reality. People are lazy

[@baileyhatfield4273]

I don't think most people understand how they work at all. They put gas in, at that step alone can give them 3 4 problems. What octane, what is this green handle at the pump, where is the gas door latch, why does it keep clicking ect. Let alone why is this light on, whats that for, whats this weird sound ect. On and on. Most people do is give it gas and complain to somebody when its not working ''right''. Had somebody (i won't mention who) say a car was low on oil and smelled really bad...they kept driving for a bit. I ask them to check it, on a flat surface, whats the stick exactly look like, oh ok a notch in the stick for where the oil is meant to be, still said it was low...hashmarks where its meant to be? Still low? I drive 15 mins to meetup. Its spot on. They were checking the right spot, as i described to them, and still got it wrong. Fairly useless. As for smell i think they left the parking brake on. It's just painful to try to explain not even maintenance just simple checks. Tire pressure, oil and washer fluid CHECKS should be minimal skills to drive a car. It's dangerous if you can't.

[@bicylindrico]

@@baileyhatfield4273 I like his comment how the manual used to tell you how to check the battery fluid level, now it just tells you to not drink the battery fluid. Idiocracy

[@marcusmaddenov2451]

My mom bought a 72 Plymouth Satelite new in 72 it had electronic ignition and a electronic regulator. When we sold it in 2013 41 years later, it still had the original regulator and ignition. Uncle Tony is a little paranoid.

[@smh9902]

I'm 26 years old and I have always shared your mentality. I refuse to buy any vehicle made after 1970 for the reasons you lay out.

[@adam0bt]

This spirit or attitude is still alive with more modern systems, only we use linux as a desktop OS and run a megasquirt or speeduino. Systems we have the schematics on and the source code is available to us. The pain you feel as a solid state regulator fails is the same one when windows won't start up.

[@jerrygramlich5126]

Perfect, that is exactly how I feel too. Keep it simple.

[@kenr.4526]

I've been saying this for years and all I've gotten from the young guys is the "buggy whip" analogy. Spoons do not malfunction ! I would have given this video multiple "thumbs up" if it would let me. You are spot-on ! "Master of your domain" Tony !

[@ohnoitisnt]

I agree with everything except what you said about efi. There are standalones out there that work and you can be effective with easily. And very reliable parts that you have full control over. You can 'own' an efi car if you like

[@vettafaene]

I am happy to have found your channel last year. You're like the uncle I never had. Thank you, Uncle Tony.

[@THRASHMETALFUNRIFFS]

... and Ultra Kathy and Uncle Krystal!!!

[@simpleman5238]

True words of wisdom. Simple. I can change an old school fuel pump in 15 minutes and I am out 20 bucks. If I have to to get home and a gas can strapped to the hood and gravity feed it. Today cars 150 plus bucks to buy electric pump and 4 plus hours to drop the tank and change. Not only a slave to tech but more labor time also. A toast to you brother 100%

[@bobroberts2371]

And what kind of fuel mileage does your mechanical pumped / carb car get compared to a FI car? What sort of oil life do you get with your carbed car?

[@jameshall6294]

This is the *exact* video I needed to see today, Tony. For years now, I've had a '99 Jetta that was owned by my grandpa. It's one of the few things I still have that I can connect to him as a person, but it's been falling apart more and more in recent years, and dammit if they aren't all just electrical gremlins. Power locks don't engage, power windows don't move, battery won't stay charged, the works. It's getting to the point where I'm having to confront the sunk cost fallacy, but because it's connected to my grandpa, I couldn't let myself admit that it may not be worth saving. Now, I've realized that I *don't* want to spend the next five to ten years chasing down electrical problems just to have it eventually give out entirely, when I can just let it go, find a car I can keep running with minimal effort, and free up so much more time in my life. I'm sure I'll find some other nice way to honor my grandpa's memory, but it doesn't have to be something that's just gonna be a burden forever.

[@davidquerry8869]

I agree with you 1000%. Cars are way more complicated than they need to be. Big Corporations don't want UTG fixing his breakdowns.

[@AerFixus]

Hey Tony, I'm an electronics guy, and I feel the same way about electronics as you do in cars. If I didnt repair it myself, I don't feel like I own it. I buy my stuff broken because people look at this stuff as disposable, even the really nice stuff that uses all generic components and can be repaired. My phone, my TV, my computer, all my audio and video gear, video game consoles, etc. All bought broken because I can't stand buying something new that I can't fix myself. Buying broken just means I know I can fix it if it breaks again, and it's cheaper, too! I know it's a different world to cars, but I just want to let you know that there's a similar philosophy. When you know what fails commonly in electronics, you have spares, or know how to hack it to get it going until you get the right part.

[@simcard027]

100% agree. this is why i love my old cars and not my new ones... well one of the big reasons

[@craigcontofalsky4387]

Just checked my timing and dwell yesterday on my 71 Demon 340. Still spot on! Last time I checked was 1985!!! I've only driven 4,500 miles since then!😂 Good to go till I die!!

[@THRASHMETALFUNRIFFS]

Please drive more... I had a $200 71 Demon 318 in highschool

[@scottyb069]

I used to work for a major German manufacturer of white goods and their 20 year old model washing machines were simple and bullet proof, just change the brushes on the motor, some new hoses and a set of shock absorbers and they were good for another 10 years. The new ones though required a laptop for diagnosis, cost a fortune to replace anything electronic, were so overly complicated and difficult to work on yet had the same result as the old machines. It washed your clothes.

[@Townshipfarmer]

Probably the best part of working old tractors and old diesel trucks. No stupid computers.

[@jmcgee3490]

I love the way you think brother. Thanks for the videos uncle Tony.

[@joesmith306]

I'm with you Tony, I'm 72 and I've been fixing my own cars since I got my drivers license at 16 and I still drive a car with a carburetor.

[@scrappyhustler7467]

He breaks it down to what even my 7 yo boy understands and to me that is sweeter than yoohoo!

[@user-lk5hz4vl4r]

You make all the sense we’re too far from the basics and simplicity at this point. We need to take a step back and learn to use our hands again and be able to fix our own stuff without having to rely on someone else to do it.

[@rcnelson]

By Gar, this was the most perfect sketch in favor of simplicity and "who owns whom" I think I've ever seen. Uncle Tony also indirectly makes clear why I admire the Amish: they pick and choose which technology they want. They don't feel pressured to accept every doodad and gadget that comes down the pike, just those that they think will enhance their lives and spirits. Well done, Uncle.

[@trevnerdhubbabubba6230]

I understand this. I was a tank mechanic in the army. The M1 Abrams is basically a gigantic computer on tracks. So many things that can break! Mechanical is better but technology, as long as it is working, provides more ease of use.

[@mackmyles9034]

my grandfather once told me that he doesn’t know much of anything about cars but he remembers back in the 70s he pulled out and completely rebuilt the motor out of his 68 Ford pickup in his driveway by himself other than having a machine shop help with some things and now that he doesn’t even know how to change the oil in his truck

[@ewconway]

UT, this is probably one of the best lecture videos I have seen you put out. I do not think you are crazy, and completely agree with you “owning you’re car”. Simplicity is the best in my opinion. 👍

[@barnetcoll8]

Exactly simplicity is great. The easy life is great

[@twodogs184]

In my Tow Truck in 77-79, I had several "Ballast Resistors".

[@redram5150]

I’ve thought about this the last handful of years. While I really enjoy my truck and it’s been endlessly reliable (knock wood), I’m bothered by being dependent on a dealership in case I need anything done... and I mean anything. If I want to add any system, in order for it to work I need to take it to a dealer just so they can hook it to their scanner for two minutes and select an option box so that my integrated trailer brake controller works. This is a 2013 Ram. I came from a world prior to this where the most advanced vehicle in my life had TBI injection. If I couldn’t adjust or repair something, I could replace it. And the biggest thing that bothers me about new vehicles is my total vulnerability to anyone with a computer system and is clever enough to unlock and rob me, or outright steal my truck. Or worse yet, prevent it from working

[@29madmangaud29]

absolutely! Beautifully said! Most people now ,,,,,,,no, no, no,,,, they just don't "understand" that?

[@marcussamson7640]

I can't believe uncle Tony doesn't run a 12v cummins you could pull start it and no wires needed rock simple i love them

[@mrmtn37]

as I am watching one of the hundreds of fantastic UTG vids I am hearing Davis Jr., Sinatra, and Martin crooning larger then life around Uncle T " and I did it MYYYY WAAAAY!" Lovin it see u tomorrow

[@lemondisc]

i totally agree with you uncle Tony. That it part of the reason i have own nothing but old cars for most of my life. One episode that I will never forget was back around 85-86, My wife broke down in one of our cars in the Williamsburg area of Brooklyn while visiting her relatives. She calls me at home in Bayonne ,New Jersey and I grab a few tools and some spares. Long story short, It had a bad pickup coil in the distributor and I replaced it right there on the side of the road under the broadway El, and in about a half hour she was on her way and I returned home. Try doing that on one of these new cars were you need a engineering degree just to understand what to start looking at.

[@brianhdueck3372]

You make an awful lot of sense. Couldn’t agree with you more. A former boss of mine used to have a huge distaste for anything complicated. He repeatedly stated that anything that had to be complicated was simply because the basic design was flawed. You have an idea that sort of works he would say but it doesn’t work well so you add more stuff to get it to work better. Finally you end up with a huge conglomeration that nobody really understands simply because you started off with something poor. Like you, he was a smart man.

[@Acerimmer99]

What you just described is the fight against the disposable society mantra that's been built up since, say, the mid 80s. You're basically the ultimate automotive recycler. Own a car FOR LIFE. Not just 5 years. It's really hard for me living somewhere where the winters are so brutal; but it's not impossible to run the mechanicals and maintain the body on an old car. Frankly, all costs added up its certainly no worse than running a new car with a loan and warranty. Keep up the good work man!

[@perillouss3506]

JC Whitney sold the electronic regulators in the 1980's, probably into the 90'. I used a few of those and had no problems with them. They are repairable, you just have to check the components on the circuit board and see which component is bad. It's really not hard to do, and you can pull the replacement parts out of discarded home electronic equipment. Most of the components can be checked with a simple multimeter. Look for hot spots on the circuit board. As always, carry a spare.

[@Karkmotuning]

Great words, uncle Tony! Pretty much my way of looking at things. Pro tip: Save 50% of the time for an engine diagnostic by changing the nut on the aircleaner for a wingnut. Saves you from running to the trunk to get the 7sixteenths. Yes, I own my car!

[@PapaPugs]

Simplicity breeds durability.

[@trevorpomroy550]

Exactly. That's why I'm looking for an old d100 or f100 as a support vehicle for my car instead of something newer.

[@bigbear5510]

ROLL UP YOUR CIGARETTE!!! LOL GREAT VIDEO UTG!!! 👋 HELLO ULTRA KATHY!!! That's what I like about older cars, you can usually diagnose a problem within minutes unless it's electrical but it's still easier than the newer cars. Take your newer car to a shop and most of them fire the parts cannon at it, sometimes that doesn't even fix the problem. Basic diagnostic skills will help you fix almost anything! Ramble on Uncle Tony because it makes sense!!

[@tsufordman]

I'm a fan of adding relays, at least on my '60s/70s/80s tractors. The fail point of the electrical systems is usually burned up switches from too big a load on the far side of the wiring harness's 5 dirty plugs. A fresh hot lead with relays utilizing the former hot wires as the new signal wire makes everything happy. All the relays are the same, so I just need one spare to cover me.

[@slateslavens]

And this, Uncle Tony, is why my daily driver is a 1948 Willys Jeep. It has two concessions to 'modern' technology: The original flathead four has been swapped for a 1967 Dauntless 225 V6 for keeping up with traffic, and four-wheel disk brakes (front of a 95 Geo Tracker) so it can actually stop. The brakes are a bolt-in swap that just need a flat 1/2" steel mounting plate, and I fabbed my own double-Y headers so the engine is a bolt in-setup that can be yanked and replaced with the original Go-Devil in an afternoon. Yeah, I gave it fuses and relays for off-road lights, and the fuses have been nothing but a pain in my ass.

[@Sedan57Chevy]

I think a big part of it is responsibility. Most people don't want to be responsible for getting to their destination- they'd rather rely on the car's manufacturer, AAA tow trucks, and the service department. If you're willing to accept the responsibility of making sure your car runs, and learning the systems that make it go- that's a very special thing. And that's why people love these old cars. Sure, sometimes the 'regular maintenance' can be inconvenient...but they'll never be as inconvenient as your car totally dying and having to rely on a dealership to fix the problem and not just make things worse.

[@andrewbobro6094]

I have old and new. I collect old motorcycles and talk about easy to work on! That being said, my 2014 Toyota Tundra is at 260,000 miles with only battery swaps , front brake pads an a blown front turn signal bulb. No old vehicle can even come close to that. It works both ways.

[@unclesquirrel6951]

Personally I blame squirrels

[@mikelaumaillier9271]

Chipmunks did it !!

[@uncle_moose]

. . . The moose . . Dangit!

[@mikelaumaillier9271]

@@uncle_moose That a lot of meat !! Wouldn't fit in a chipmunk hole. :-)

[@uncle_moose]

@@mikelaumaillier9271 tell that to the moose . . . .

[@swhod2190]

Man, this has been my credo forever! Love it!

[@griffparker1466]

I like both modern and old school stuff. New stuff has more crap going on but at least I can plug a scanner in and it will help me diagnose issues. Old school stuff takes experience to troubleshoot accurately

[@DeBunker7]

Wiring the Miata like it was a 63 Valiant. Genius! Taking the digital and making it user friendly? The dream is to own our cars again. That dream is shared by probably millions of guys who no longer can work on their own cars as they did in the past. Now there's a market for something here. Whatever it is, I want to buy it.

[@MrMcbuck48]

I'm with you 100% , I call it learning to live cheap. I don't need a computer to drive my car.

[@rowdyreviews6530]

I am with ya buddy, one of the main reasons I am a MOPAR or NO CAR/TRUCK TYPE OD MAN!!!! I LOVE THE LA 318/360 727 engines and trans!!! They made them forever and even the 3.9 v6 is a 318 missing 2 cylinders and the v10 is a 360 with 2 more cylinders!!! They kept it simple for so many years and I appreciate that myself!!! example the one time my 1990 dodge Ramcharger broke down was on a Sunday right After the parts house closed I mean about 4mins after they closed going down the interstate here in NC I-85 and it just quit and I mean everything is perfect and off coast to the ford and chevy lanes off the actual road and thought it broke the timing chain so I took off the distributor cap and turned it over and rotor was spinning so that told me it wasn't the timing chain,turned switch the tbi sprayed some fuel so fuel pump pass, I said well just need to make sure I got some fire and should be good we'll no spark a lators so called dad and told him to go out to his 1972 dodge challenger bring the coil with him because I was just over a hour away, dad says your is fuel injection isn't it and I replied well just a little bit but it mounts lower then the others but looks the same

[@aussiebloke609]

This is something I've been saying for about 30 years now. Analog may require regular adjustments, but it'll always get you home, even if it required a roadside repair and is still running a bit rough. Solid state/digital either works perfectly, or doesn't work at all - and then it requires a tow and parts, as nothing is readily owner-servicable.

[@clembob8004]

Either own your car or it will own you. Absolutely true. I have had really good luck with the electronic ignition and electronic voltage regulators in my Mopars though. I've driven them for over 40 years and I don't think I've ever had a stock one fail. I did have an aftermarket electronic ignition module fail once though. Pulled out the distributer and stuck in a good old distributer with points and life was good.

[@TonyGeneseo]

Makes PERFECT sense ! My dad told me to grab a stick of gum and give him the foil wrapper. Glass fuse situation. And u know how it went ! We found the bad wire really quick ! But u had to pay attention !

[@lolatmyage]

The "drawing legs on a snake" analogy comes to mind when thinking about this stuff. So much of modern production is non-essential. You don't really need 30 different plastics, foams, rubbers and fabrics for a vehicle interior or several electronic control modules plus a touchscreen integrated into the dashboard but they add those anyway. Within a few years the maintenace costs become too much and this massive object that has so much work put into it is just thrown away. I think there is a better solution for personal transportation and it doesn't include autopilot or taking a bus.

[@miker7294]

SO TRUE. I love carburetors and points.

[@dougshakell8003]

By the way relays are analog . Simple electro magnets that swith high current loads and alow small gauge wire to a witches etc

[@harrys.3165]

Makes perfect sense to me Uncle Tony.You are eliminating potential problems and making a car ultra reliable.Great video as always.

[@llservice3376]

Back in the day you could get a car started with basic tools and a matchbook cover for the points. Someone decided to re invent the wheel

[@morgangallowglass8668]

"Normal" people see a car or truck as a useful object that they need not understand. Then, you have us happy lunatics who truly ENJOY our cars and trucks!

[@AtZero138]

Absolutely!! Those that get it do, those that don't, Never will..

[@morgangallowglass8668]

@@AtZero138 , I buy junk that I like and build it as I want it to be for me. The only computer in any of my cars is in my pocket if I remember to bring my phone.

[@AtZero138]

@@morgangallowglass8668 Oh Man.. I got You Friend.. Cheers from Southern California.. Daily driver everyday and everywhere grandma special 68 Dart.. my tech is a Blue tooth speaker on the dash shelf.. 👍😉

[@morgangallowglass8668]

@@AtZero138 , simple gets it done, Friend!

[@MrBeebeesee]

It's even more crazy when everything is electrical and you can even leave your car in neutral without leaving the ignition switch on because the car will automatically go to P. For example a Nissan Leaf would be undrivable if the sensor that recognizes if the door is open or not goes bad. The car will automatically shift to P if you try to drive it a door open. Let that sink in