What Made The Old Days So Good And Why We Are So Determined To Stay There

Working on cars in the days before everyone was called a "Tech" was a fun, intuitive, rewarding activity. Here are some of the tools we used back in the day.
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[@gregrogers6886]

In 1973 I bought my first car that ran, 1957 DeSoto. I took the car to Schaffer's on Sunset Blvd and for $15 had the car tuned up. Back then, you could stand and watch the mechanic work and I thought to myself, "I can do this." I bought a timing light, dwell meter, feeler gauges, and have been a shade tree mechanic ever since. Although now that I'm on the road to 70 years old, it's getting harder, there is nothing as sweet as hearing and seeing your car come to life by your own hand.

[@m3horn]

I agree with you Greg nothing better then fixing your own veichel yourself.

[@raybin6873]

I do all repairs on my 2 Isuzu Rodeos - a 96' and a 97'. The 96 has 482,000 miles - runs but valve guide seals starting to leak - going to rebuild. The 97 I bought recently has 120,000...runs great.

[@tomjefferson3148]

@@raybin6873 time to change that "break-in" oil in the 96 ;)

[@jerryhablitzel3333]

I was a professional ASE certified master technician in the the late eighties until 2000. Trying to navigate that mine field totally burned me out. Computer controlled carburetors, early sketchy fuel injection systems, trying to keep yourself supplied with tools and information all while working for a guy who thought we should be able to fully service any car any time but didn’t want to step up with the equipment. He thought the world was still like you described about 60’s and 70’s. I own drive and service my own modern vehicles but my real enjoyment comes from my old cars. They just make sense.

[@chrishensley6745]

You are dead on man.

[@starcloakstarside9719]

Affirmative. I’ll never go any newer that ‘85, and never leave carburetors. I might go TBI if I ever get a Chevy (borrowed a few from friends), but carbs and points are best and last the longest.

[@VigilanceTech]

@@DanEBoyd I don't know about that brake/suspension still largely making sense stuff. My passkey III module went on the fritz in my 98 Seville STS so it was spewing traffic all over the network (waking up modules and draining the battery when they all should have been "asleep") and it was cancelling out the active suspension making me think the front shocks were shot to hell!

[@VigilanceTech]

@@DanEBoyd ya, I should be posting a case study video on it here in a week or two.

[@makis2105]

@@DanEBoyd The best period of the automotive industry in terms of quality, reliability and efficiency was the 90s. This is the case with the EU industry especially the german and the italian. After this period there is useless electronic crap inside the german cars and a lot of plastic that after 10 years deteriorates and causes headaches. A classic EFI computerized system of the 90s with a hall effect classic electronic ignition was the top of the industry in terms of reliability and economy.

[@rong4189]

Me too. I’m 59 now and I’ve made my life simpler. Happiness level goes up as the complexity level goes down.

[@OverlandOne]

62 here and I am with you 100%!

[@thetransformatorium7980]

Totally Agree!!

[@albertgaspar627]

The secret is to chase comfort rather than happiness. Happiness is a new shiny object. Comfort is loving what you already have. And for sure, as we age, we stop trying to impress everyone and we get rid of the drama and...life becomes simpler. I look at the tasks around the house, i get the right tools for the job, i work at my pace, and its less of a job...and more passing the time.

[@rong4189]

@@albertgaspar627 Agree. I used Happiness as a figure of speech.

[@albertgaspar627]

@@rong4189 I hear what you are saying. In an age and generation of instant gratification, however, folks do chase the happiness--in a pill or otherwise. My comment was aimed more at them. Honestly, this entire thing about waxing nostalgic for a "simpler" time, i should let it go but...i remember that simpler time. I still don't have a cellphone, but I know its saved a few lives. Without an internet, there was no Crockauto to buy parts cheap, you were stuck with dealer markup or the local parts warehouse who was either really good...or not (I had to laugh the last time their computer went down and they broke out the carbon paper. The idea the kids had to work late to take all that carbon reciepts and transfer them to inventory manually....you could see it on their faces). I could go on. We all can have a simpler life if we just want to have it. My only regret about getting old is the young girls ignore me even more than they did when i was their age (didn't think that would be possible) and I can only work a few hours on a car before my body protests.

[@sondabrown7373]

I'm a 31 year old female and really believe I should've lived in the era you spoke about! I have a 76 corvette and working on it using the "old school" methods is heaven!!!

[@bigbear5510]

👍 I like to see and hear about gals working on cars! I tied to teach my niece (who's 20 now) about cars but she just wasn't into it but did listen well. I don't think she wanted to get her hands dirty.😉 When I was driving OTR, I seen a few gals out there doing a great job driving the big trucks and making them steering wheel holders look bad.😎

[@sondabrown7373]

☺️☺️☺️I appreciate that! I wish all the time I could find a chick that doesn’t mind oily, gassy fingernails 😆 hopefully your niece finds the beauty in it one day.❤️

[@theclubhouse1209]

Well being 31 and working on a 76 vette in this era you have the "advantage" of the internet which is a good thing. Kudos for keeping "Old school" methods and muscle alive. Turn-n- burn little lady!!

[@Canadiancarguy1987]

I'm the same way somedays I feel like I was born in the wrong time period!

[@sondabrown7373]

@@theclubhouse1209 heheee....yep, the internet is an ass saver for sure. lol but, I feel like it robs us of creativity and developing our problem-solving skills sometimes. Glad to have it, but sometimes wish I didn't have to cheat to figure stuff out. Cheers, friend!

[@The_R-n-I_Guy]

I'm 42. I didn't really start working on cars until the mid to late 90's. So almost everything I worked on was from the late 70's early 80's. It wasn't great, but it wasn't horrible either. I've always said that I was born in the wrong era. I should've grown up working on 50's and 60's cars. I would've been much happier

[@mraycgz]

I’m 42 also. We got stuck with junk didn’t we? All the really good stuff was getting hard to come by, the new stuff was junk and there was no Ls or coyote motor. Cummins were too new to be affordable and no one was swapping them. I ran late early to late 70’s Chevrolet stuff. At least the junk yards were full of parts!

[@belindakt]

I'm stuck back there with you, Tony. I have been a professional self employed mechanic for 51 years, & I am so glad that I'm almost done. I've just about seen & worked on everything out there, & I'm truly sick of changing parts & watching my profits go down the tubes buying electronic test scanners & all the newest equipment just to barely keep up ......

[@Canadiancarguy1987]

Belinda, you should start your own KZbin Channel based on what you know!

[@m3horn]

We need more people like Uncel Tony and you belinda to teach use younger guys and gals how perserve and restore these good old classic american cars and trucks and enjoy them. I am 43 years and should have been borne with baby boomers I like how simple and reliable and not over enginered the old cars are. Today's cars are way over enginered and just recall junk.

[@victorriceroni8455]

I knew I had a twin sister out there somewhere.

[@albertgaspar627]

one of the best things to happen to shade tree mechanics and their customers...the internet. specifically youtube. i don't start any new projects without checking the night before for a video on it. no lie, friend of mine was having her rear struts serviced on a Mitsubishi Spyder, and the mechanic couldn't figure out to take them out the trunk or out thru the back seat. I had to pick her up since he spend ALL DAY trying to figure it out. I said, "check youtube" and got that classic sneer, "yeah, right, youtube" a pro would have. Well, sure 'nuff, he checked, he learned, and she had her car ready the next day.

[@stevenbean9706]

You think kids of today are really going to want to keep up with auto manufacturers once they see how much it cost ?

[@hunterpetrovich1154]

"You have not perfected something when you've made itt as advanced as possible, but when you've made it as simple as possible and completes the same task." - Confucius or something

[@thebusybuilder4071]

Nicola tesla once said the best machine is the simplest I believe

[@SoloRenegade]

As an engineer, this is how i design things, and all engineers should have this drilled into their heads. This is how SpaceX operates in fact.

[@mitchevans1692]

A couple you forgot would be leak down tester and a coolant pressurizer. I gave up in 2010, I got tired of chasing electrons as they always lead under the dash, a place I hate.

[@RhodeIslandWildlife]

I'm 67, I remember using match books to set points. All you needed was a timing light and a vacuum gauge and maybe a dwell tach if you were being fancy.

[@MikeBrown-ii3pt]

I'm 52 and I can remember all that too. I also remember buying my first compression tester...all my buddies thought I was going "high society" on them lol!

[@MrTheHillfolk]

I'm 48, in my field of generator service I still get my hands on points equipped engines at least a few times a year still.

[@airplanegeorge]

and sand paper and a dollar bill to clean them points

[@nephetula]

How simple things were back then. How did I set the timing? Advance the distributor until it pings under load, and then just back off a little. Done deal! Remember when just about all cars had the same headlights? That's gone. Now we have giant swoopy plastic things that are all different and cost a grand apeice...only to get hazy and yellow after 5-10 years in the sun. Remember when you could start a car, then take the battery out and drive it all day with no battery? (As long as you didn't shut the engine off.) Remember when cars got 10 mpg and gas was 27 cents a gallon, and oil was 59 cents a quart? ...yeah, wanna go back to the old daze.

[@robbytheremin2443]

You could always tell which service item was common by the number of greasy fingerprints on that page. 😎

[@MitchellSmith]

I am a younger guy (30) and I love this video. Would be happy to see more videos like this from you Tony. The opinion pieces are great! haha.

[@benkleschinsky]

24 years old and couldn't agree with Tony more. I worked in the trade for five years. Now I'm keeping it as a hobby, work on older cars, and going back to college for engineering trade. The auto repair industry is collapsing in on itself. I think you will find many both young and old who feel the same way.

[@peteg4978]

I’m there now. 31 years ago I signed up. I was working on 80’s cars. They were much simpler to work on to me. These toilets we work on today add just complicated for no reason. I’m ready to walk away and base my living on old cars. KZbinr? Maybe. I completely understand and respect you as a mechanic sir

[@midnightAlchemistOfficial]

My teens came rushing back. I'm 57 and these tools were in all of our tool boxes.. I cherished those years. Good vid UT :)

[@dougjones9493]

I remember when I started me apprenticeship you opened the hood and could climb in and work on the engine. Now it takes you hours to pull off all the crap just to find the engine to change plugs

[@xbgtfella]

Yra did mid 2000 lexus v8 coupe plugs. 1 hour odd to get all 8 out?%$@#??? And im no slouch, but no dealer mechanic either.

[@MrRShoaf]

But, plugs are good for 100k. Back in the day, they only lasted 12k.

[@sondabrown7373]

I feel you! The complexity of these modern cars is pathetic.

[@sondabrown7373]

@@jonathanlawson4667 yeah, without a doubt these newer cars are far more durable and reliable. Just a pain getting to the most basic crap. haha It must be nice doing it for a living! I know it's not always the easiest, but definitely fulfilling. :)

[@THRASHMETALFUNRIFFS]

Ex-wived stupid KIA had to take the damn intake manifold off to get the back 3?!?

[@7s29]

"The simple things in life are often the best." I would hear this a lot as a child, as I grow old it makes a lot of sense to me now.

[@JasonsGarargeandrvrepair]

I dig out my old Kmart vacuum gauges at work every now and then. The young guys at work laugh at me . But is is the best diagnostic tool I have in my arsenal . Great video !!!!

[@JasonsGarargeandrvrepair]

@@DanEBoyd correct sir! I have one guy at work that is interested n the old school stuff and my son as well .

[@robs1852]

They laugh at a vacuum gauge and don't even know how much you can diagnose with it

[@garryhatchett775]

I was a mechanic from 1982-2019 and I saw the automobile go through more change than the previous 7 decades. I think each era had plus and minus. The complexity of today’s cars are astounding. They are a marriage of machine and computer. People have unrealistic expectations of what car repair entails. I will say OBDII can be in your favor in diagnosing problems. Racing against the clock is very stressful when performing repairs these days. Great segment UT.

[@garryhatchett775]

Of course. I use it like a compass. You can use fuel trim info, misfire codes help direct which cylinder has the issues, etc...

[@alfov8]

A good obdii scanner doesen't only read fault codes, you can read in real time the values of each sensor or actuator, it's not so difficult to diagnose when you get used to the sistem. Latest sistems whith high preassure direct inyection are getting far too complex and easy to fail.

[@kevinlimo696]

Most of the time faulty codes end up being bad grounds and not faulty parts. Of course it seems each component has 300 different grounds, good luck finding it in a timely fashion.

[@daviddixon2209]

The best thing about the 70s and 80s was that most of the things we wanted and needed were made in America.

[@albertgaspar627]

Other than TVs. But I was into cars back then....Chrysler went bankrupt in the face of global competition, Ford's Fox Body lasted from 1979 until 93 and showed its age (I own one), along with the GM G body that the Monte SS and Grand Nationals were made out of. And of course the Pinto, Vega, and Pacer. Harleys owned by AMF, the maker of volleyballs and leaking oil on the dealership floor. But we did have disco :)

[@hank1556]

Foxbody lasted until 2004

[@unozapato]

I miss the old days when you didn't have to sit through 3 commercials to watch a 10 minute video on KZbin... But I love your videos, Tony!!

[@neilwhitmore]

I'm 19 and I love using my dad's 1974 Chilton's and dodge service manuals on our cars

[@ziggassedup]

I'm 64 and 45 years in the game...You ticked every box there Tony...I couldn't agree more.

[@jeffjankiewicz5100]

I miss those days too. In 1970 I was 13, I learned on a 1966 Chevelle, straight six, points distributor, NO ECMS, no special tools. just a feeler gauge, dwell meter, tach and a timing light to tune it. My neighbor Mr.Jack, who taught me just needed the feeler gauge. His ears were his tools. People would bet him he was off on timing or idle speed, his response was "betcha 20 bucks I am dead on", and they would lose 20 bucks cause he was dead on target and proved it. Went in his house and came back with a timing light, tach and dwell meter. Dead nut on target. He was the guy who lit the wrenching fire in me. I had one of those dwell meters. Good times. Been wrenching on my own junk ever since.

[@alfov8]

I agree! the best way to learn how to work properly in cars was reading service manuals, we don´t have them any more, and internet is not the same.

[@spacecat7247]

100 percent correct. I love my manuals. Have my dad's. Dating back into the late 30s

[@alfov8]

@@spacecat7247 That´s another important andvantage off paper books, they will always be there where you left them. try to find in the web a tech article you read ten years ago...it´s probably gone...

[@spacecat7247]

@@alfov8 yes , most likely. A lot of times I find the stuff on the net is missing a lot of relevant information. Or there's little info on the particular vehicle I'm working on. Not gonna pay for a shop key. When i go to used book stores I look for those old manuals. Sometimes I score sometimes I strike out but I keep looking.

[@mikerobinson3672]

I'm only 35. I work in a fleet shop working on tractor trailers, forklifts, pickups ect. I still use all that stuff minis that fancy tester. Plus an old school VAT. They wonder how I figure out stuff the modern guys can't.

[@graham2631]

Ya, more than once my $10 vacum gauge has beaten a $25,000 snap on scanner. The last time my boss (good mechanic) sat in a motor home V10 for two days changed a few things l walked up plugged in gauge and said stuck valve he said what? I turned gauge so he could see the flutter he dropped his head. Pulled valve cover and two rockers were lying in the head two dead holes. Thing just didn't carry a load.

[@Ursa_rage]

I'm 26 and I've always appreciated the old, simple, easy to work on vehicles, I had a 92 d250 and as much as I hated how unreliable it was, it was the easiest vehicle ever to work on, even with mpfi. Since it was made to run that big ol' Cummins, the puny little 318 that it came with left me enough room to practically crawl up in there and close the hood.

[@100texan2]

I’ve got a 1966 f350 dually with a 300 straight six and 4.88 gears. It does whatever I ask it to. I don’t drive it over 50 mph because that straight six is really wound up at that speed. It don’t have A/c or a radio.

[@electrolytics]

Remember the old "Motor" books? Hardcover. They were like Chiltons but way thicker and covered all kinds of makes and models.

[@Roboticgladiator]

I still have a set of both of them. I preferred Motor to the Chiltons books.

[@ZEPRATGERNODT]

If there is an electromagnet pulse detonation or an apocalypse. Uncle Tony will have the only running fleet in his town!

[@johnoneill2661]

He's not the only one.

[@aaronrepairsall]

Everyone does realize that a points ignition wont work in an EMP/solar flare ect. Right? Its still electronic. Still produces an electromagnetic field through power wires and plug wires. Nothing will work except a mechanically injected diesel with a non-electric starter.

[@chadkarmann8067]

I have never seen a man rope start a diesel. If Tony can do that ? Not even Bigfoot would fuck with him!

[@aaronrepairsall]

@@chadkarmann8067 who said anything about rope? Old school was hand crank or air starter

[@rockymeyers4030]

@@aaronrepairsall and you have to park it on a hill to start and then only on days that don't need glow plugs

[@Bigskyguy56]

Tony, I am 65 yrs old & I miss the old days. YES , we had it GREAT. I , too, still have ALL of my old school analyzer, timing light and so on. Back in the day, we diagnosed, trouble shot, & then removed , rebuilt & replaced the part. Nowadays, they just replace parts until they solve the problem. Usually, they don't resolve the issue at hand. We do not realize how much we have truly lost. Thank you for posting this. STAY REAL!

[@albertgaspar627]

I totally agree, too many mechanics keep replacing parts until the customer goes away. Same thing with doctors, tho....try this pill, no this pill, ok, let's do another test, now let's try this pill. But to be fair, the old days were full of mechanics who replaced parts, too. I'm thinking of folks who didn't understand Rochester FI and just stuck on a carb. Remove and replace was common in the 1960's--and charge 100% markup on the cheapest part gotten, too! How many hot rodders tossed a perfect Q jet to slap on a Holley. and so on.

[@mikebaldwin9972]

That’s stuff I learned with and still have it, I worked 50+ years in the field until trucks went to 3 to5 computers and couldn’t afford the equipment to scan them.

[@34Packardphaeton]

... and, in comparison to older cars with mechanical parts, electronics can fail without warning --- which can be a real problem when you're far away from town!

[@mpccenturion]

I was lucky. The first car I fixed was my mothers VW Beetle. The engine flooded because it was 100F. She wanted to go home and was going to find a payphone and call Dad. I told her to wait a second. I got out, lifted the hood and stuck the carb wide open. I told her to keep cranking till it started and not to touch the pedals. After the 6th roll she slowly caught, then i pulled the throttle open and it went to idle. I closed the hood. I was 9 or 10. I had spent the summer working on a 58 - 1200cc. I never looked back.

[@damonbrenwald4586]

Lol, my son, ( hes 31 ) went with me to an old car lot with a 62 buick with a tiny 6 banger in it. I opened the hood, and he was going nuts asking where was the computer, the serpintine belt, and the sensors. I told him we didnt need shit like that back in those days.

[@AlejandroRamirez-vl8mr]

I'm 27yo and drive vintage Mazda cars. I can learn anything at incredible pace and used to have a shop with a buddy of mine. Always hated dealing with connectors, excessive wiring, sensors, scanners and the overall constrictive nature of modern cars. Here in Ecuador the compact car is the norm, ergo, hatchbacks with fuel injected transverse mounted engines and wrong wheel drive. Hate them. Hate the lack of room to work, hate the fact that most are serviced by hack mechanichs and everything's butchered. So I left the business, and stuck with my '74 Mazda Capella, gifted my '80 626 to my sister, bought a '71 R100 and now I'm on my way to get a '71 1300 station wagon. Happy dealing with carbs, points, and the simplicity of the analog life. I feel you.

[@OverlandOne]

I remember the Keith Black Elephant Engines from the old days. (On UT's T-Shirt) I grew up in the 60's and 70's. I feel a bit bad for the young folks that have never seen a dual point distributor, or set one up, or a carburetor, or rebuilt a carb or tuned one. I never once, not a single time, EVER got stranded in any of my 60's or 70's vehicles. Did they never have any problems? Sure they did BUT, nothing that could not be fixed on the side of the road in 10 minutes and, they always got me home. Even when traveling back and forth to college 900 miles away. (1800 mile round trip and I made that trip over 35 times with no problems at all.) Now, you get a check engine light and the car shuts off even though it had been running fine 1 minute earlier. So, you get towed to the dealer and they scratch their heads and can not figure out what happened and tell you to just drive it...and if it happens again...bring it back. It did...got towed again and they STILL have no idea what is wrong. I am selling it and getting an older car or truck.

[@rcnelson]

Preach it, Brother Tony! I enjoyed the hell out of this video. Many a year ago I tuned up my dad's old Chevy pickup with my timing light and dwell meter. The tune-up kit was like $5 and you got a distributor cap, rotor, points, grease capsule, and condenser. Even though I was and am a complete clod when it comes to fixing things that old truck made the long trip perfectly and got good gas mileage to boot. How satisfying that was. Now it's 500 smackers every time my Subaru goes down. To quote Sir Alfred Tennyson: "O death in life! The days that are no more."

[@johnbossems2849]

My 81 slant 6 lean burn D150 is still my daily driver to work everyday, ok not points or ECU but nonetheless, I got the oldest vehicle at the stoplight most of the time. It's paid for.....that goes a long way with me.

[@Sean-76lt]

As a professional mechanic, starting at 16 yrs old. my career was mostly spent working on European luxury cars, but My passion has always been classic American cars. Nothing beats an old classic for my money. I have a 1976 Camaro and I am just starting on a 1936 Chevy 2dr sedan. The oldest car I've diagnosed was a 1905 Ford model F. It can't be overstated how awesome old cars are!

[@UnityMotorSportsGarage]

I couldn't have said it better myself!!!

[@googleusergp]

You're 100% on point. My father wasn't handy when he and my mother first got married in 1965. My mother commented, "We're trying to buy a house and it's getting expensive to get that car (a 1963 Sport Fury) tuned at the dealer all the time..." My father said, "I'll teach myself". Back then, you could go to Kmart, Sears, or anywhere and get yourself a Chilton manual and some Sears Craftsman tools and equipment. That is what my father did and taught himself. I learned from him before he passed away. The tools, books and equipment are still in my garage in working order. The Actron meter you showed is a version of a similar series that they made for Sears under the "161" model prefix. They were sold under the Sears, Penske and later Craftsman name, but Actron was the supplier. Also, Peerless Instruments also supplied Sears with products over the years, and eventually they were bought by Actron. Peerless units produced for Sears had a "244" model prefix. Actron is owned by Bosch now and does not support the old stuff. But prior to the Bosch take over, I had found a 1980 Sears engine analyzer thrown out on top of a trash can on recycling day. It was complete, down to the instruction book. It was missing maybe one or two small pieces. I called Actron and they gladly sent it to me. A friend of mine had test equipment and said to me, "If you can get me the schematics and specs, I can tune this thing very accurately". I called Actron and they mailed me a copy of the schematics and actual blue prints for the unit. My friend put it on his equipment and tuned it. Back in that era, a trip to the Sears automotive department was all that you needed and for reasonable cost, you could equip your home shop to be pretty well set up. With that being said, a friend of mine gave me his late dad's 1968 Sears 1.5 HP twin cylinder oil lubed air compressor. It looks to be in pretty good shape and with some TLC, I hope to have it running in the future.

[@theoldstyle7453]

... and that is why I listen to you... you're so full of old school knowledge. Thank you so much for sharing.

[@curbmassa]

Headlights went out at 60 MPH on a dark highway one night in my '61 Biscayne. I diagnosed it while I was driving. The chrome ring that threaded onto the headlight switch felt warm so I tightened it up and the lights came on. Never even took my foot off the gas.

[@oldpower7528]

Right on. Back then we were real mechanics. When we diagnosed a vehicle, we were in touch with that vehicle. We were using all our scenes to feel the vehicle on a level not to be seen these days. Keep up the good work brother.

[@MrJeffcoley1]

It was fun when you diagnosed a miss by pulling spark plug wires one at a time to see which cylinder wasn't working; adjusted the carb by turning a screw and listening to the sound of the idle; and rotated the distributor to set the timing and then drove it to listen for detonation. Because the factory smog ignition timing was too tame!

[@beanMosheen]

Man come on...I'm a real mechanic too. If you like the old stuff that's fine, but don't shit on the new guys. I still have to use my senses but I have additional information to work with. I was raised on the new stuff and it has its own "hot rodding" aspects.

[@Ode2Pops]

You’re a man after my own heart! I’ve been working on cars since 1969 and have modern tools and test gear, but long for the simpler days of what you’re describing in this video. A tach/dwell meter, a vacuum gauge, a test light, your ears and your eyes were all you needed to diagnose pretty much any problem in a vehicle back in the day. I miss that!

[@Sebastian_Dinwiddie]

That's Incredible reminded me of Real People. I had a crush on Sarah Purcell.

[@jeffcarruthers2605]

I started my apprenticeship in 1973 with VW in Calgary and retired 20 years ago. I also just bought a Sears Engine Analyzer off flea bay just because. Looks just like yours. My timing light is long gone so that's next up. A nice chrome Sears one. I don't even have a car to use them on so guess I should address that problem too. You're right Tony, great times, simpler times.

[@OverlandOne]

On my 1970 440 Plymouths, (I had 3 of them back in the day) you had to disconnect and plug the vacuum line to the advance diaphragm on the distributor to accurately set the points gap/dwell.

[@bwyseymail]

and that is why toolboxes had golf tees in them.

[@OverlandOne]

@@bwyseymail Exactly right.

[@davidleonard8369]

Thanks for making me feel so Damn old! I'm so old that I have owned and repaired cars that came with owners manuals that told you how to adjust the valves. We recently bought a used car for my girlfriend and had to get an owners manual for it. In it it tells you not to drink the contents of the battery. Now there's a handy bit of information right there.

[@AryDontSurf]

The fact that my Plymouth bible is front and center on my bench right now kinda gave me a feeling of pride. Then I realized when he said "you younger guys" he didn't mean me. Lol!

[@teamkingproject9859]

LOL, I was in HS mech shop 1977 and 78, we had that giant Sun "engine analyzer." We just used it to show off. Dang near every engine tune we did was done by ear, listening and getting it close. Then follow-up if we had to with some sort of gauge or meter. Fast forward, I now have "another" 69 Camaro and am so grateful for my two years of HS auto mechanics. Sometimes take a minute, but it all comes back... except for weird new stuff, like Comp Cams Anti-Pump Up Hydraulic Lifters. Those threw me a inside curveball.

[@tannerthalman4261]

As a twenty year old trying to live before my time. I love these videos!

[@MrTheHillfolk]

Find something with ignition points😁 Even if it's an old dirt bike or something

[@josephhertzberg2734]

I'm a little younger(Gen X) than Tony, but I am with him 100%. I refuse to own newer cars, my Chevy van is 2002 as I needed AWD and I had little kids, but my dailies are 1987 Mitsubishi Montero, with a carburetor and a 1983 BMW, with a Weber 2 barrel. Engine engineering peaked in the 1990s insofar as durability, reliability and ease of repair. My 70s cars have all been simple BMWs and Mercedes, these cars were made to be repaired, not replaced.

[@yobentley7274]

Love the Ramones.

[@MrTheHillfolk]

Omg yes 👍

[@yobentley7274]

@@MrTheHillfolk Sheena is a Punk Rocker!

[@gregorytimmons4777]

Love the Cramps. RIP Lux Interior. Never dreamed i would ever proclaim my love for Poison Ivy.

[@spacecat7247]

I remember rock n roll radio.... yup love the Ramones

[@haywoodyoudome]

I was broke high school senior in mid 80's and my car was running rough. Local shop wanted to run a full diagnostic with his new Sun computer. Forgot how much it was but it was out of my budget. A friend looked at it, found a disconnected vacuum line, stuck a screw in it, and the car ran great.

[@HansensUniverseT-A]

I was born in the early 90s so i arrived late to the party, however i can say without a shred of a doubt that if i could i would grab a one way ticket and ooze my way back to the 90s, because i was a kid and didn't have much of the responsibilities carried by an adult it's easy to see things with tinted glasses but i'm viewing things in an objective manner, for instance i miss the times when society moved slower, people were more relaxed, computers and the internet was in it's early phase for the home average user, we actually lived in the moment before all the technofreaks took over our lives. Also taking into account the perspective of my older family members, at least in Norway the 70, 80s and 90s period were magic in their own ways and is sorely missed not only by me. The way i see it, technology was just about right and well balanced, it wasn't too intrusive, it was there if you absolutely needed it but that's about it.

[@frankscalise7982]

Exactly! We are very much missing that important aspect of socializing. The phone rang and you ran breathlessly in anticipation of who was calling.

[@vincentmarino9825]

24 years old here. Own a 78 trans am. I gotta say, I get it. However. I’ve experienced both sides to the argument and I gotta say, I much prefer pushing buttons on a tablet than rejetting a carburetor. Mad respect to the older guys out there and the old tech, but I like my computers lol

[@TheDeJureTour]

Some folk enjoy working with their hands, it means a lot more at the end than just tapping computer screens...

[@randallsullivan3692]

I thought I was alone in this mindset until I found your channel!!! Thank you for just being there to prove someone else sees what I see!!!

[@Lancia444]

35 years old and WITH YOU 100%!! I miss the old 1970s cars I had in my 20s, I changed out alternators, fuel pumps and other various things which broke down in 1-2hours max (without any guides/internet) and cost me next to nothing! I miss that life....

[@sethbarnes7608]

I miss those days of manuals and dwell meters!!😁😁😁

[@saintm1680]

It's not only the complicated systems on modern cars but the complication in disassembly to fix things. You had 1 coil now you have 8. You had a/c power steering etc facing the front of the engine on top. Now those things are facing the side at the bottom.

[@morgangallowglass8668]

Proud Boomer here! Thank you, Uncle Tony for the wide smile I am no wearing!

[@davedavis775]

Yes it was a great time to live and play with cars. I graduated high school in 1982 . Started working for an auto repair shop working on customer cars during the day and my own car after hours at the shop. My first car was a 77 L78 Trans Am. I was lucky that one of my coworkers was a huge Pontiac enthusiast. He guided me in my pursuit of transforming my car from a low horsepower, low performing smog ear machine into a late 60's early 70's muscle car. Back then you could find plenty of high performance engines in junk yards or backyards. You could even purchase performance parts right from Pontiac. I really miss those days. Back then late model automobiles were just used cars. Even the 60's and early 70's muscle cars were not selling for great sums . All the big shows like Carlisle were just getting started. Chip Miller started Carlisle Events with partner Bill Miller no relation after his 53 Corvette was rejected at Hershey Antique show. He wanted a place enthusiasts could buy sell trade cars and parts from the 50's, 60's, and 70's. Truly great time to be into cars. Simpler times . Thing I loved most is there was nothing I couldn't do to my car in a few hours . No computers no emissions just hours of fun.

[@jeremypike9153]

My boss still pulls out his old snap on oscilloscope on 80s-90s vehicles. It will show you what is wrong ignition wise if you know how to read a firing line for the specific ignition setup.

[@djstl100]

I bought a 69 Z/28 for $4,500 in 1984. I was 19..I got Craftsman tools, timing light, dwell meter, compression tester etc & a Chilton's manual...put a Jenson super tuner III, new tires & shocks, and I was a street hero..in my mind🤣.. early 80 we're a wierd time ,you could still find muscle cars ,but they weren't $50,000-$100,000

[@petermontagnon4440]

I have all of those tools..man!! They are great!!

[@nwredneckturner1508]

Preach it Father Uncle Tony! I see the exact same thing in the HVAC field. The Gubiment mandated higher efficiencies on furnaces & AC units. As with cars that meant more complicated systems, that break down more often. The $$$ you save in fuel/operating costs is more than gone with one out of warranty repair. At least there are still older vehicles out there that can still be put on the road. My favorite vehicle right now is my oldest and it is my boat! It's a 1974 with a ford 302 I/O and OMC 'stringer' sterndrive. I can do almost anything on it myself with basic tools and almost all parts are available and affordable! One factory manual (not even half as thick as that Plymouth one) covers the engine & outdrive and has everything I need to know! Good times!

[@brucew13]

Wish I could be at the UTG open day at the new shop, but I am 8000+ miles away from USA :( Hope you live stream the whole event!!!! I am a Kiwi like your buddy kiwi, hope Kiwi will be there to represent all us Kiwis :) Kiwi down a Speights for all us kiwis at the UTG grand opening :)

[@xbgtfella]

Or a stein or 2 if you're in the North Island

[@79tazman]

I was going to school to become a mechanic and take over my uncles shop when he retired but so many old school mechanics and mechanics at the time told me to get another career so thanks to them I chose another career to get into because with being a mechanic now days you have to keep going back and upgrading and you need big money to have the software to service the cars of today. I'm so glad I did not follow through with it because there is really not much money in it after all the upgrading you have to take and the money you have to spend to have a updated shop capable of working on all the cars of today.

[@thisisyourcaptainspeaking2259]

I have that very same dwell meter, I bought two of them new from Sears at the same time a vacuum gauge, a timing light and a compression gauge. Somehow I lost one of the dwell meters! :( I still use all of these today, along with both a digital and analog voltmeter and last year I bought my 1st dial-back digital timing light.

[@yobentley7274]

If any of my friends in the 70's bought a new car (new to them) we to the book store and got the Clymer's Service Manual for it. And Yes, they sold them in actual book stores. Those had everything we ever needed to know about the car and we used them a lot.

[@MrTheHillfolk]

I'd feel naked until I got a manual for my car 😁

[@daviddennison4287]

Could not agree with you more 👏

[@tabbott429]

Ive been working on my own cars since i was old enough to drive 35 years ago. Today, my muffler and tailpipe separated on my 2006 F150 in a parking lot as i was leaving the store. Had to get out and bungee cord it in place to make it a few miles home. I got home and fixed it proper with a welder and some clamps. Im looking forward to NOT working on cars. I ordered a stainless steel Electric Cybertruck for that reason No rust, no oil changes, no loose mufflers. Ill keep my 58 Chevy Bel Air ( frame off restored by me) to "tinker with" but Im done fixing cars out of necessity. I may paint another car or 2 if i find the right one. Each generation of cars had its issues. I enjoyed tuning my turbo Eagle Talon with a laptop after some mods. My Bel air has HEI so I dont have to "mess with" points.

[@RaiderX948]

The past is like pizza, even when it sucks it's still pretty good.

[@nagonzo]

I went to autozone a few months ago to buy a timing light. So I go up to the cashier and ask what isle the timing lights are on, and they looked back at me with a confused expression. They had no idea what a timing light was!

[@chrisfreemesser5707]

A good way to show noobs how cars have changed is to make them read through the owner's manual for a 50-year old car and a new car. The old one tells you all you need to know about maintaining the car...changing fluids, tuning it up, repairing this or that. The new one simply tells you to take it to the dealership when anything is needed. I would love nothing more than daily driving an old car...I just don't have as much courage as Uncle Tony to do so, lol!

[@bcbloc02]

I love my 83 300D Mercedes diesel. 410,000 miles and still going reliably every day. Nothing complicated it just works. It makes me happy to know some sensor failing is not going to leave me stranded sometime.

[@TinHatRanch]

Amen. I’m 15 or so years younger and grew up in the 80’s. F this world. Where’s the EMP!?

[@mauriceholder1386]

My 1st car was a 69 Roadrunner. I was 16 and I drove it hard. A lot of the older hot rod guys would give me advise, and I learned and loved every minute of it. God I wish I still had that car!

[@waddney4121]

Grew up in the 80s and I also felt like the last gen had it better, I never realised how great I had it until it was gone

[@HansensUniverseT-A]

I was born in 92, but i'm extremely grateful for growing up in a world that was still very much analog, i consider the 90s the last good original decade, i love how every decade had it's strong flavors, the world today is just bland and boring, i still watch vhs movies, i use the walkman to listen to music on the go, sometimes i grab my mp3 player, my life is centered from the 1970s - 1990s and that's what brings joy to an otherwise dystopian world we happen to live in now. Everyone should try the fruits from these awesome decades!

[@waddney4121]

@@HansensUniverseT-A yeah the 90s were the last of the good times

[@34Packardphaeton]

Thank the government "do-gooders"

[@feathermerchant]

I absolutely agree with Uncle Tony. I started wrenching on cars with my first car in 1967 (a 1960 Corvair). I still have all that equipment he displayed. Loved those old factory manuals. The Corvair manual was excellent, taught me basic auto repair. I'd go back in a heartbeat!

[@ford300rippergarage]

At 23 I’m the only guy in the shop arguing about how points ignition and drum brakes are better than this new shit. No one questions my authority on old shit .

[@Ryan-vo3rm]

I'm 43 and I apprenticed in the 90's and got my license and when I got my license I worked a few years into early 2001-2002 and I gave it up because of the ongoing training and tools and equipment to buy to keep up with the constant changing cars. It was the best decision I did but I still miss working on the older cars and that's why I have a 1980 GMC C15 to play with and cruise around on weekends, it brings me back to the good days when cars and things we're simple.

[@johnwilburn]

I still have and use that exact Seats dwell meter. Great video!

[@AryDontSurf]

There's one at the shop here too. Woodgrain and all

[@ricklang3046]

I am 72 and I still have those easy to use tools , became an ASE master "tech" trouble shooter for computerized engine controls , carburators , fuel injection, plus the "normal" mech repairs . SO glad to be retired ...kept my 68 Charger my 57 Chev pickup and my 78 shovelhead . 42 years as a wrench twister I learned to value the past . I remember if we diagnosed your starter bad I took it off & rebuilt it including turning the armature as with all the other stuff great profession , never out of work unless you wanted to be. love the old stuff

[@georgebonney90]

I totally get it👍

[@MonsterBuddy10]

I'm just happy that my dad raised me on old cars. He drove an 84 Capri as his daily for years and years. We always were working on the cars grandad bought new, like his 72 furys, 2 door and 4 door. Now I'm 23 and I daily drive grandads 4 door fury. I've got an 86 s10 blazer for winter and hauling but nothing beats the feel of that land yacht!

[@johnoneill2661]

The old days meant you had one paycheck a month for play. Now it's about one day's pay a month.

[@JamesSterling]

Yes, and gas was 23 cents a gallon (as low as 18 cents during gas wars, and that came with free dishes with a fill up) and a months rent was $70. I'm 73 years old and remember it well.

[@albertgaspar627]

The dollar was still tied to gold, and a middle class lifestyle was a single floor house, one bathroom, one TV and one phone--and if there was a second car, it was a stripper Dart or Falcon or a VW if you were brazen. Live like that today, and you aren't seen as middle class anymore. $4 for a cuppa Joe? you took whatever came out of the pot and added something powdered to it..and liked it.

[@SweatyFatGuy]

I'm almost 52. I drive old stuff because I like them, its cheaper to get parts, new cars are like appliances, and the old cars have a style you just can't get with the new stuff. New to me is anything past 1980. Started reading car magazines in 1978, right before the 79 Trans Am came out with its new nose. I was not a fan when it was new. Now I own five 79 Birds, four Trans Ams and a Formula. They grew on me a bit and for most of the 80s and 90s they were dirt cheap. I like the 70-73 Birds more and I have two of them, but my thing is the GTOs. I have no problem mixing new tech in with my old cars. Breakerless ignitions, overdrive automatics, disc brakes all around (stock on two of my 79 Birds) and even EFI on my 455s. For me its more what I can do with them, and how I can enjoy them, than anything else. I build these things to drive them, and I will drive it rain or shine all summer. The work building it is delayed gratification for when I am driving it and win some races. Its a lot of fun having some kid in a WRX try to outrun my 65 GTO through the traffic circles here in town, only to find the old GTO stays with him around the corners, and then blows past him when it straightens out. Swaybars, kinda stiff springs, tubular control arms, and a Jeep steering box, it corners so hard it has dents in the trunk when stuff slid into the quarter panels and pushed the metal out. Get in and other than the shifter and aftermarket speedo I had to put in when the factory ones all broke, you're in 1965. The 69 GTO I need to go pick up will go around corners even better, its getting tall spindles, 12" brakes, and larger swaybars along with low aspect ratio tires, either 17" or 18" and at least 10" wide in back. Possibly an aluminum block and heads 505 to 535 ci Pontiac powering it. You know the kind of stuff I wish I could get my hands on back in 1986 when I got my first GTO. I'm not afraid of new tech or anything, I build my PCs, all my cameras are digital, use GPS for a very accurate speedo, and work on modern cars too, I just don't like it much. Its not too complicated or anything, its still an engine under the plastic and wires, its simply not fun like working on old stuff. Gotta keep the winter beaters going, and I drive things built between 1998 and 2006 in the salt, because nobody will ever give a damn about those front drive crapboxes. I sure as hell don't.

[@xbgtfella]

Love this comment. One day these young'ins will realise they're aint no replacement for displacement.!!! We can strap plenty of huff n blow n squirt on our old gear too.

[@SweatyFatGuy]

@@xbgtfella I want a couple of those nautilus looking squirrel inhalers on my dinosaur engine, huge by unfathomable, large enough to suck the eyes out of a parrot from 30ft. Then we will see how the kids react with their tiny 1/4 of an engine bubble looking things with cheese graters on the deck lid. Oh yes, I want to make Cooper radials billow smoke like John force doing a burnout...

[@generatorjohn4537]

I still have my Craftsman timing light, tach-dwell meter. Boomers rule!

[@TheDeJureTour]

Actually, it was the GI Generation that invented, produced, & came up with everything we love & care about. Boomers & Silents just got their paws on it first, lucky dogs

[@ec5838]

Man can I relate! And to be clear, I never got to live in those glorious times. I'm 31 years old and always talked mad shit about the old guys and their cars... because you're absolutely right. I didn't get it, I had no reference to how easy it was. I grew up with a mountain of tools and test equipment and thought this was normal. Then I got an 80s truck... omg it changed my life. So Damn Easy!! I tore half the thing apart with a screwdriver and a wrench. My eyes are finally open, old cars are where its at, carburetors and minimal wiring! Woo!

[@jontrudell7529]

CULT LEADER UTG!!!

[@edge1289]

Ah the old dwell tach. Man you just jogged my memory Uncle Tony, I got outta high school in 72 and worked in service stations through high school. I worked on my own cars back in the day, still do at times. One of the stations I worked in had the old Sun machine, I never saw it hooked up. The owner was a great mechanic who was old school and he taught me an awful lot. Back in the day, I used to go to the library in my home town and get the Chilton manuals. I got hired by the power company and became a lineman, that’s when I slowed down on working on cars. I’m Originally from central Jersey and the muscle cars of that era were all over the place. We used to hang out in Tottenville back then…… memories. Thanks Uncle Tony!

[@swhod2190]

I'm a "boomer". The 60's were fantastic. End of story.

[@stephenciszewski3564]

Good looking women, great music and fast cars.70's were fantastic !

[@adaboy4z]

I'm 48 Just got into classic cars this year. I have a 58 Bel Air and all the tools I need for the vehicle fits into a carry around Craftsman tool box. Love it!! I've done every repair job on the car since owning it in February. I have the passenger car shop manual and GM build manual that's all you need.

[@unclesquirrel6951]

Personally I blame squirrels

[@uncle_moose]

I still have problems with moose.

[@SweatyFatGuy]

@@uncle_moose moose problems pale in comparison to woodchucks

[@uncle_moose]

@@SweatyFatGuy I live in northern sweden, we don't have woodchucks . . . . . but moose, and beavers.

[@SweatyFatGuy]

@@uncle_moose I live in northern Michigan, among the largest concentration of Finlanders outside Finland, we have moose too, but they will only crush your car and eat your lettuce. The woodchucks are insidious, like brown coat imperial storm troopers with big teeth. They make the killer Rabbit from Monty Python look like a child's pet.

[@uncle_moose]

@@SweatyFatGuy killer rabbit as a childs Pet 🤣🤣🤣 never heard it in that context before. I live 100miles westward from the finnish landborder. My grandparents was from finland.

[@gearhead1234]

The “old days” were indeed much a better time to work on cars and be a mechanic. People make fun of my old cars, and just stare from under their hood, when trying to figure out which wire/sensor/ground has killed their car. I love the smell of the big old blue “Motor “ shop books, of which I have several. Nothing like having a book in hand to look at. I just picked up an old sun machine for tuning. An old friend and are are going to start tuning up the old carb cars as a side gig. In a crazy way, old cars are a sort of time machine.. keep up the great work! Cheers!

[@UnfinishedProjectDartSport]

Plan Z!!

[@552drpost1]

Well needed lecture------ THNX I'm 76 and still a "Back/Yarder lol

[@budspaulding7121]

I spent about 45 years in the car repair biz. I still refer to my old blue 1967 Motors repair manual. When I found myself overthinking the new stuff, I went back to the rock botton basics. Worked like a charm every time.

[@babas990]

Im 22, just bought a ‘79 I4 Turbo Foxbody. Totally understand where you’re coming from. It’s so much easier to work & diagnose this car than the modern vehicles my parents have. Thank you for your videos, properly tuning this carb is going to be so much easier thanks to you

[@penguinsscareme]

I got my driver's license in the early nineties, so my first vehicles were the last of the era of carbureted straight six, three on the tree type vehicles that you could sit in the engine bay with and tune up in a few minutes with fewer than a dozen tools that would easily fit under the seat or something. No AC, no power steering, no electric windows or doors, no cruise, nothing except what you need to get down the road, simple, cheap, "field expedient," and unapologetic about it. You're right on, Uncle Tony.

[@Doosterify]

Amen brother. I'm 56 and at this point my plan is to buy a bunch of old cars and use them. I'm sick and tired of the stupid "check engine light" blues. My current daily driver is a 1998 Subaru Outback and the CEL has been on for years. Fortunately here in North Carolina, any car or truck built before 2000 cannot be failed for the mandatory annual inspection because the CEL is on as long as all the original emissions equipment is still intact. The car runs and drives just fine so I intend to keep driving it. Next cars I buy will be pre 76 Mopars and I'm planning on swapping in Magmun engines with overdrive transmissions and driving them until I cannot drive anymore or I die.