15 thoughts on “Remember when cars were easy to work on?”
I remember when a fuel pump was two bolts, two hose clamps, and a gasket. And the whole thing was in easy reach over the fender on the side of the engine. And now??? Are you up to dropping the gas tank out to even get at it?
Just did a fuel pump last weekend, two bolts, one clamp, one AN fitting and a gasket, over the fender. Start to finish less than 10 minutes.
Eric.
And inquiring minds want to know what vintage the vehicle was…
1974 Chevy Nova.
Eric.
Should have got the 2968 396 Nova…
You piqued my interest at AN fitting.
Now I need to know to what specs this engine is modded to. At least I’m hoping it is not just for show.
My father on a jeep grand Wagoneer cut a hole in the back over the fuel pump put nice hinges and a clasp after his 3rd fuel pump !!!
I did the same with my ’04 Jeep Grand Cherokee, cut out 90% of a circle over the pump/tank area and bent it upward, used aluminum tape to seal up the seams after running Permatex Make-A-Gasket around the cut to seal from corrosion from below – not that much water gets in that area to begin with unless your Jeep goes swimming a lot.
In and out in 3 hours! That was over 10 years ago!!
Looks like a Teens or early 1920’s Model T with an after market body. Neat!
My ’57 chebbies were simplicity itself. Parts were readily available and CHEAP!
on my 1989 4runner there was a bolted down “patch/plate/whatever” to get to
get to the fuel pump in the tank. real easy. like 10-20 minutes tops
replaced it once in 22 years. I have no idea where the fuel pump is in my 2016
4runner. I guessing the tank. which is made of plastic instead of steel like the old one was (1989) kind of wish I never sold the old 89 now a days.
it was a lot easier to work on than this newer model looks to be.
granted I don’t really work on it anymore. I pay someone else to do it now.
although I am trying to do the finishing touches on my 1994 4runner.
it has a automatic tranny instead of a 5 speed. and a V6 engine instead of the great 22re engine. if I could find the bits needed to install a 22 RE engine, I would in a heartbeat ! they hard to find even in junkyards anymore !
My daughter’s old ’05 Escape was like that. You pulled up the rear seat and there was a screwed down plate that covered the fuel pump.
Not really sure I liked having to lay across the floor of the car, with my face in a half full fuel cell trying to unclip the retention bracket for the pump – inside my garage. I was real happy when it got buttoned back up and outside.
Leigh
Whitehall, NY
I remember sitting ON the wheel well in the 51 F1 changing the spark plugs on top of the flat head 6. Biggest issue? Making sure you blew out the recesses in the heaD FIRST otherwise when you pulled the plug ALL THAT DIRT… would just happily funnel itself down in to the cylinder…
Don’t ask how it is I knew that.
Same memory, on a 71 F150. Sat on the wheel well, feet on the motor mounts. Today I defy you to even find the spark plugs, much less try to change them
I remember when a fuel pump was two bolts, two hose clamps, and a gasket. And the whole thing was in easy reach over the fender on the side of the engine. And now??? Are you up to dropping the gas tank out to even get at it?
Just did a fuel pump last weekend, two bolts, one clamp, one AN fitting and a gasket, over the fender. Start to finish less than 10 minutes.
Eric.
And inquiring minds want to know what vintage the vehicle was…
1974 Chevy Nova.
Eric.
Should have got the 2968 396 Nova…
You piqued my interest at AN fitting.
Now I need to know to what specs this engine is modded to. At least I’m hoping it is not just for show.
Leigh
Whitehall, NY
Pingback: Weekend Links | If You are Left you ain't Right
My father on a jeep grand Wagoneer cut a hole in the back over the fuel pump put nice hinges and a clasp after his 3rd fuel pump !!!
I did the same with my ’04 Jeep Grand Cherokee, cut out 90% of a circle over the pump/tank area and bent it upward, used aluminum tape to seal up the seams after running Permatex Make-A-Gasket around the cut to seal from corrosion from below – not that much water gets in that area to begin with unless your Jeep goes swimming a lot.
In and out in 3 hours! That was over 10 years ago!!
Looks like a Teens or early 1920’s Model T with an after market body. Neat!
My ’57 chebbies were simplicity itself. Parts were readily available and CHEAP!
on my 1989 4runner there was a bolted down “patch/plate/whatever” to get to
get to the fuel pump in the tank. real easy. like 10-20 minutes tops
replaced it once in 22 years. I have no idea where the fuel pump is in my 2016
4runner. I guessing the tank. which is made of plastic instead of steel like the old one was (1989) kind of wish I never sold the old 89 now a days.
it was a lot easier to work on than this newer model looks to be.
granted I don’t really work on it anymore. I pay someone else to do it now.
although I am trying to do the finishing touches on my 1994 4runner.
it has a automatic tranny instead of a 5 speed. and a V6 engine instead of the great 22re engine. if I could find the bits needed to install a 22 RE engine, I would in a heartbeat ! they hard to find even in junkyards anymore !
My daughter’s old ’05 Escape was like that. You pulled up the rear seat and there was a screwed down plate that covered the fuel pump.
Not really sure I liked having to lay across the floor of the car, with my face in a half full fuel cell trying to unclip the retention bracket for the pump – inside my garage. I was real happy when it got buttoned back up and outside.
Leigh
Whitehall, NY
I remember sitting ON the wheel well in the 51 F1 changing the spark plugs on top of the flat head 6. Biggest issue? Making sure you blew out the recesses in the heaD FIRST otherwise when you pulled the plug ALL THAT DIRT… would just happily funnel itself down in to the cylinder…
Don’t ask how it is I knew that.
Same memory, on a 71 F150. Sat on the wheel well, feet on the motor mounts. Today I defy you to even find the spark plugs, much less try to change them