[Shotimes] Maruader...was: RE: OT - Autoweek stuff

[George Fourchy]

On Tue, 30 Mar 2004 14:25:50 -0500, James F. Ryan III wrote:

>Yeah, but your '69 Mustang (or whatever had the 429) didn't have a trans
>with O/D, wasted a ton fuel because of it, and polluted the environment
>worse than a DuPont chemical plant explosion, especially if the carb and
>points weren't adjusted - which they never were.  EFI, electronic ignition,
>O/D trans, and cat converters are all changes for the better.  Besides, when
>a 4-cyl Honda can be made to go faster than your 429 pig - they're doin
>somethin right.

It was in a Country Squire, and it wasn't a pig...I beg your pardon.  I paid
attention to it like I do the Lowrider.  It got 20 mpg on the highway, fully loaded.
 Yes, it only had a C-6, but that was the technology of the time.  (The ring and
pinon didn't need to be rebuilt every 5-10k miles like they do now...!!!)  I had a
vacuum gauge permanently installed, and could monitor the state of tune by the
vacuum it had at idle.  The carb was a simple 'flat-top' 2bbl, and was easy to
adjust.  The distributor was 'right there', at the very front of the engine, and
points costs 4 bucks.  If it needed a tune up, it got it.  Mixture was easy to
monitor...just look at the exhaust outlets....tan was the desired color.  I didn't
want to put any more cam or carburetion on it because I liked the economy....been
there already with the '65 289....and I'd rather spend the money on my wife and
infant daughter.  It might have been making a few NOx, but I'd bet HCs were very
low, along with CO.  It didn't stink.

That block, with 40 years of improved engineering built into it, plus heads,
induction, and ignition to match....what kind of power could it deliver now,
especially in front of a 6-speed Tremac or other suitable tranny?   ...it might need
a 'smog' pump...I'd accept that.

That's what I'm talking about....that's what I'd want to see in a full size
performance sedan today.

Don't tell me how bad cars were back then.....they were only as bad as the owners
who neglected them.   I wasn't one of those.

You were a toddler....I was in my mid 20's, and as much into my cars then as I am
now.   They ran just as good then as they do now.   Just ask my folks.....oh,
they're dead, never mind.  

George