Hot Rods As we get older ~

Some concessions have to be made so we can still continue to enjoy our hot rods & customs.

We talked about this at the monthly club meeting the other night,one member is in his mid 70's and because of a injury to his left leg in his youth he is now having a hard time with the clutch & the 4 speed that has been in his car for more than 40 years.

The decision was made to get together and change it over to a automatic but it got me to thinking there is probably a lot of guys that might be contemplating/facing something along these lines in the future,

I love shifting gears but I could live without it to still be able to drive my car. HRP

 

A buddy of mine is getting on into his 60's and he swears by hydraulic clutches. He doesn't have a bum leg or anything though.

 

Yes very true, having to make some changes in my cars as well, fortunately I can still make them by myself


Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

Good on you for helping to keep the car & DRIVER going.

 

Yeah, I'm looking to make a change now, not because of me but my wife has had a knee replacement and never did gain back the range of motion she had before. She can't bend her knee far enough, so getting into the A is a problem, but once she's in she can't sit in it for an extended period, which makes road trips out of the question. So I'm looking now to get something we can road trip in. I'm probably going to keep the A though, I just enjoy it far too much to let it go at this point.

Re shifting. I learned to drive a manual, I've owned many cars with manual shift, and I drove a truck for a living for many years. I've had way more than my share of shifting and clutch work, and at this point I don't have any qualms with auto transmissions at all, not at all. My man-hood is not defined by the transmission in my car(s).

 

I have a bum left hip, may need to be replaced in the future, so my vehicles all have auto transmissions.
That's why my RPU has a C4 behind the Y block.
Back in about 2008 I sold my 6 speed Cobra Mustang and my manual trans Ranger pickup because shifting was just no fun anymore with the pain it caused.

 

As I type my left knee is throbbing. Like it's on fire. PAIN! So that's why my T sedan is getting an auto.

 

Someone said aging is not for the faint of heart


Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

I cant drive a stick any more after the total ankle transplant that failed twice on my left ankle.But I still drive old cars with an auto trans.Bruce.

 

Great topic!.....so true HRP.....I'm looking earnestly at my own capabilities these days, which time is thrusting onto me too rapidly. I will probably have to ''cut back'' on my own projects, and get a more realistic approach to my car ambitions and my own identity....what I can actually accomplish, drive, tranny operation, etc.... I hate to admit it, but the aches and pains are pretty evident these days...my "mind" wants to keep the same pace, but my 'body' isn't moving to the same beat. I shake my head, and mumble, and grit my teeth at the moment....but I'm definitely seeing changes in the near future.....I almost feel the desperation to ''get things done'' while I still can....but, it's surely something I'm thinking about with more concern.....I can totally see myself going ''all automatic'' in the very near future!

 

Old age ain't for Sissy's. HRP.

 

Yup can see this coming.....at 55 YO right now all great and tons of leg strength to boot, ( pardon the pun).
But down the road, bad knee, leg, feet or or weakness in all of them spells, and " he said he drives and automatic".....
So be it, if you can convert, why not, or sell and find the right rod to fit your needs.
I know my old 47 Chrysler, I used to have converted it to a dry clutch and 3 spd trans, but had the over center spring clutch pedal, it ws so smooth and easy to push, almost like a hydraulic, if adjusted correctly...
Good luck in whichever way anyone needs to go, if you are breathin might as well be drivin

 

Don't worry about old age , it won't last long.

 

I'm at that age and have arthritis in my wrist. Looks like the 48 is going to need power steering. Hiway speeds are fine but those parking maneuvers are getting hard.

 

I'm just a kid, only 55....I'm really looking forward to this kind of "fun".

An automatic with a full manual valve body gives you the pleasure of having to shift all the time, without the pain of having to push a clutch pedal.

 

Bruce,
Looking at the pic of you and your ride, is that the "new" Lokar parking brake ?
Seriously, a nice looking '50's color and car.

 

At nearly 70 getting in and out of the Tbucket is getting harder. I would like to sell it and get a coupe or sedan. Problem is that I am too attached to it. This may be the year though!!

Bill

 

Adjustments will be made by all of us. I am 64 and I'm the youngest of the group I run with. The oldest are knocking on 74. In reality some are having a hard time with driving a rod now. I have been driving a friend and his 32 five window to the Frogfollies for a couple of years now. I also drive another friends shoebox Ford to Salina. I'm looking at purchasing a late 30's-to late 40's sedan so we can all pile in and keep going together. Sam

 

At 70, I am still using a clutch without pain on my Model A. But a couple years ago, I spent some time on the clutch geometry to lighten the needed pressure. My next build will likely use a clutch, but I will again approach it cautiously to ensure the foot pressure needed is minimized. I have some arthritis, but not too bad yet for knees and hips.

 

The coupe is in the full manual automatic club, ans I love it! More consistent at the track as well.

 

I had my left (clutch knee) replaced. Went through 33 sessions of physical therapy.
Meanwhile, I had a complete third member from a '55 Chevy on my garage floor.
Pinion was facing the ceiling, to prevent oil from seeping out.
After completing my therapy, I fell squarely onto the pinion, directly onto my new knee, as I shuffled through the garage.
A second round of complete therapy on the knee was the result.
Tore this and that, but the "titanium and whatever else" knee was not wrecked.
I'm now looking for a TH 350 for mine, don't want to give up my rides. Please, not yet.
And yes, I'm in my mid 70's .
Getting old is not always easy, certainly not graceful, as in my case.

 

Anything we can do to help keep those cars on the road and the drivers using them is a great thing. Because of several sports injuries, it's only a mater of time before I will need two knee replacements and I'm worried that I won't be able to comfortably drive my Deuce roadster, not because of the trans but because of tight quarters. Tough to get old!!!

 

Well boys do you know what like about getting old, ??? ( I'm 67 )

NAF ALL.!!!!

Only kidding there are all sorts of benefits getting on in years,
it's just that I keep errrrr......forgetting what they are.!!!
We will just have to keep taking the tablets and rubbing in the creams.

Keep going boys those cars won't repair or build themselves .

 

My legs are gone. The wife was going to buy me a 360 Ford powered CJ5 back in the '90s for a bad weather vehicle. pretty neat little mud crawler, but I absolutely could not push the clutch. So it has been automatics for me for awhile.

Some of the newer multi disc hydraulic clutches are easy enough to push and it may be a concession for someone who likes to row the gears.

 

At 72 I'm just finishing a 32 pu with a 5 speed then doing a 32 5 window with automatic. Have 2 more 5 speed cars and one automatic. Just starting a 32 RPU lakester, I did the last one with a 5 speed but thinking of going automatic on this one? Getting old ain't for sissies. I still build a lot of manual trans chassis for older customers.

 

At 83,I'm sitting here with a LARGE grin on my face..Just wait,all of you,the day will come when you find one thing that will be your biggest complaint..and it isn't automotive related...and Viagra is useless.LOL

 

Thinking about this on the 54 project. It'll be automatic. But the power steering would require a bunch of work.

 

Switched over to auto trans in my cars after my nuts dropped,why fight it.

 

Holy crap. I feel like a crybaby at only 41.....

 

As the old saying goes..... "If Ida known I was gonna live this long, Ida taken better care of myself!"