Technical Remember the old days of rebuilding?

Yes, I do remember when rebuilding parts was standard fare. I miss those times. Many, if not most American males in the HAMB era were able to rebuild the various parts in their automobiles but we have lost that ability as our youth have problems changing a tire let alone rebuilding a starter, generator, carburetor, etc. With the diminishing ability of backyard mechanics as well as "master mechanics" to rebuild parts the companies that produced the rebuild kits have dried up and blown away. In the early HAMB days the owners manuals were only a few pages long and told how to adjust the valves. The owners manuals today are hundreds of pages long and focus on warnings of not to drink the battery fluid.

 

Never had to adjust the valves on the newer stuff I’ve owned.
Or rebuild much of anything on em.
If any generation lost the ability to do something then why did the past generations deem that not worthy of p***ing down.
One reason for losing that ability or supply came from all the “1-800-hot rod” stuff.
Only the strict restorers cared about rebuilding wheel cyls and such.
I did that growing up because of economics. I was broke. When I got to where I could afford new parts I bought it.
Now I rebuild things just for the fun of it.

why didnt my grandpaw teach me to pour babbit?
I guess those darn new fangled insert bearings was the reason.
Dang technology

 

Cars got better, parts lasted longer, people started trading cars in less time than before. Not as much need to know how to repair them when you’re trading them off before they started giving problems. Even the second and third owners didn’t have to replace as many parts as earlier cars had to have done. Lots of cars wore slap out with mostly original parts. Same way today, how many vehicles you see for sale with 150,000, 200,000, even over 300,000 miles? Better parts, less need to repair or replace.

 

I think what is getting by a lot of people on this board is that parts that are made overseas are made in contract facilities.

Production numbers, tolerances, and the quality control is all set by the contract, and the contract terms are set by the agreement of the c-suite, senior leadership, and the boards-of-directors, of United States-based corporations.

You are literally blaming an entire nation that makes up somewhere near 18% of the population of the planet, for quality control issues that were set in advance in the United States, by US citizens.

There's a term for that, but I will refrain from using it here.

 

I’ve got over 30k mikes on my AutoZone parts.
No issues.
Put probably 20k on a Cardone rebuilt brake booster.
No issues.
****, we got threads on here with folks upset their brand new 8 year old tires with 1000 miles on em go bad.

 

The ***le of the thread was “ remember the good old days of rebuilding parts “ , the current system and such I have a fairly good grasp of the drivers that caused it and it’s really sad that we created and financed it. We are the farmers with horses at the turn of the century looking at and shaking a fist at those dang new fangled tractor thingys

 

And there’s the mid 50s Motor manuals, spoke about regulators. How to rebuild/service them and save a buck, but even in the manual said may as well get a replacement

 

In about '75 I went to buy a rebuild kit for a master cylinder. it was a dollar less then a rebuilt master and the rebuilt master was guaranteed.

I can still source good rebuild parts around here (north central missouri) there are even rebuild shops here in farm country. You dont find that stuff as easy closer to the city.

 

I stand behind my Cardone statements, I'm glad some of you have had good luck with them.

Our last problem with Cardone was about 16 months ago. Ot SUV, replaced the rack, drove fine, went together great, customer picks up at noon, 3:00 next day and fluid is pouring out of the seals in the rack faster than you can pour oil in. Replaced with a Napa rack, 16 months later still fine.

Customer installed Cardone steering gear, 3 weeks later stops by and the bearing is totally gone in it, that was 2 months ago.

Just Google Cardone problems, grab a cup of coffee or tea, sit back and read, you'll be there awhile.


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I've always enjoyed rebuilding, I feel it made me better understand that parts operation. Also enjoyed the knowledge and skill set to do it.

Any skill set that is learned, to me, is an advantage whether or not I use it constantly. I now have an ability should I need it and more self reliant and I like that!

Like I've always told my kids, knowledge is something no one can take away from you.

Sure I agree modern stuff last longer, in most cases somethings use better quality seals, oils etc. But this is usually not the case with rebuild parts, infact modern condensers are a perfect example. Never did I mention oem parts just rebuild kits etc.

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We used to be able to buy things like one piston, one set of rings for said piston, bearing shells for one rod or main throw, ad infinitum. We used to rebuild everything rebuildable and I still do. I never buy bearings for starters, generators, ****** bearings, etc. from a dealer or parts house. If it has a number on it, I buy it at a bearing warehouse. Better bearings and much cheaper. Bearings from Japan have been very good for many years, The ones from China are a gamble I don't want to take. NAPA has two kinds of the same bearing around here. Timken, for instance has made in China variety and U.S. variety at a higher price but you have to ask for them. Rod bearings for flatheads are made in Israel, the new hot bed of flathead bearings? Occasionally, Speedway will have a limited supply of Clevite rod bearings, best ever made at a high price. I hate what the world has become.

 

Early last spring I pulled a trans out of a car that’s been sitting in the bush for who knows how long, pulled it apart only to find it little better than the current one one I’m running which is the ******* love child of 3 doner trans already , was tickled to see main bearings made in Canada, so ya gotta know I cleaned those puppies up and put em back to work, along with some other bits, put over 6000 miles on it this past year.

 

Have had good luck having master cylinders stainless steel sleeved then installing an original type rebuild kit. Got a set of Chineesium wheel cylinders for a 66 Mustang and they fit and worked fine but the bleeders are metric. The only time I needed a metric wrench to work on a car I have owned for over 50 years!

 

On a happy note- just rebuilt the power steering pump on my OT daily driver (it's lovingly referred to as "The Toaster"- take your guesses), but one of those vehicles that highly recommends buying "brand-only" parts, fluids, etc. and VERY proud of their parts, fluids, etc.-

Picked up the factory gasket set and seal- had it done in 20 minutes (first time- had to watch the youtube video a couple of times) at 1/3 the cost

 

Given the prices of offshore replacement starters/alternators/master cylinders, etc, it's getting more difficult to find quality kits and parts for rebuilding stuff.

 

Hello,
The old days are like a dream. We went along with what was necessary to get things done. If you can read a manual, then it was simplicity by removing a few nuts and bolts. We thought nothing of removing a carburetor, manifold, headers or any tune ups. But, as it came down to getting specific parts to go into the correct places on the motor rebuild, it was time consuming and a learning experience.

I learned a lot about rods, pistons and torque. It gave me enough confidence to do it the next time we had to tear down the 283 SBC motor to get it ready to get it bored out to 292 specs. Then a whole new ball game was in the specific parts to put back in place.

We gained enough confidence to start work on our own daily drivers and some of our friend’s hot rod builds. The more we did, the more we learned from our initial tries to get it done right. Since both of our SBC motors ran well from our consistent build, knowledge, and just the right amount of mechanical skills allowed us to be confident enough to do other motor work on different cars.

I did not do any electrical wiring or repairs to generators or alternators. One, we never had electrical problems and those things just sat there doing their jobs. But, I learned a ton of knowledge and skill work when we took apart plenty of small electrical wound motors for more horsepower for the drag racing slot cars later on during our hot rod/surfing days.

The work was similar in winding/rewinding wire, modifying/ tuning the motor for specs and keeping it running well for compe***ion. We even did motor modifications with ball bearings for maximum spinning speeds with a minimum of drag. We did complete take apart motor housings and created a new line of modified motors to our liking and drag racing cl***es.

The ball bearings fit in the axle housings. They fit perfectly in the custom br*** tubing frames with ball bearings for better speeds and less friction. Then we modified the small motors with their own set of high performance ball bearings. It was like working on real cars with similar techniques with the exception that it was 1/32 and mostly 1/24 scale work.

Jnaki

This reliable guy took us to 125k worth of miles with minimal care. But, it was a simple job, when it was needed. These days, the longest miles we have on our cars is 45k miles and they just run and run without any difficulties for us old folks. Like the “Energizer Bunny,” they just keep on ticking…

Throughout our 20s and 30s, it was all learned techniques to keep our daily drivers and hot rod projects running smoothly. What does it take to replace a plug or 7 more, along with oil changes as required. So, we move along nicely since we did not have a ton of money to have someone else do the mechanical work. Then, it was the auto mechanic in his small shop that was handy and did it everyday for his vocation. We knew him for a long time and he was our go to guy for maintenance and ideas.

As our lives became more complicated, then it was easier to get the neighborhood mechanic with the good knowledge and skills to maintain our cars. We had other pressing issues to take care of and we were supporting our local workers.

These days, it is easier to maintain the cars as much as we can, without a degree in computer knowledge tuning. So, it is up to the factory mechanic to get them to run right. We just enjoy the new technology on our short and long road trips, prior to the pandemic shut down of final destinations. There is no love lost that says just because I know or have the knowledge/skills to get the job done, why? YRMV

 

For sure there’s that, but I don’t know of a AP store that isn’t geared towards modern stuff. Daily driver vehicles need to be back on the road for the next day. So much easier and quicker to change a part, than pull it and rebuild it and put it back in. Heck, I recall my Motors manual explains how to rebuild a regulator, but after the how to, set up etc even in the ‘50’s they said it was probably best to just purchase a new one “as the savings wasn’t enough to justify “ the rebuild. But the fella that had to walk to the store, get the parts needed, and get it working and save 50 cents, etc, saved.

 

"You-use-ta" a lot of things.

New is better???

Danger danger danger!
Major malfunction!
Danger!

TILT!!! TILT!!! TILT!!!

 

Unfortunately these days a "rebuilt" unit seems to mean it has had the bare minimum of parts replaced to make it function.

 

Hey. That $1.80/day is about what I get every time I'm asked to do something!

I rebuild things not because it is less money, "works just as good for 20,000mi", etc., etc.
I rebuild because I'm tired of taking the easy way out and throwing so much stuff away. Not practicing skills simply because I don't have to is not good for me. To me, and only to me, it's the right thing to do. Not for the environment but for the part, the vehicle, the history, and the maintaining of the way something was built to be. It's difficult to explain in our modern world where we all get defensive about the way we do things.
D

 

There is a definite Zen methodology to doing it yourself. Rebuilding atrociously expensive Stewart-Warner fuel pumps and Stromberg CD175 carbs is second nature to me. Even Autolite 2150 and 4100 carbs. Something personally rewarding about being able to put the same part back on that you took off.

 

Where do you source parts for SW fuel pumps (electric) I’ve two that the diaphragm have deteriorated.
Thanks.

 

I like having the ability above all. It's cool to rebuild something every once in a while just to stay in shape so to speak.

The only part on a car I haven't rebuilt is a total going thru and setup on a rear-end. Other than that pretty much everything thing else.

That ability also follows thru on other things, learn how things work and gain knowledge at the same tune, win! Win!

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i just rebuilt my '57 fords master cylinder, only for it to fail less than a week after when i tried to bleed it.

 

I wasn’t able to get replacement wheel cylinders for a 1965 C60 truck . I was able to find cups but no rebuild kits . Thankfully the bores honed out clean .

 

Most of our cars are not daily drivers especially if you live in the northern climes.
I've always looked at rebuilding parts as putter time. I can set something on the bench and work on it for a bit and walk away and get back to it when I feel like it.
2 other points.
Lot of complaining about the quality of newer parts. The time spent reading and responding about that could be spent researching where to get quality rebuild parts. Not as enjoyable as sitting and reading here but put in the time to locate a source of parts. Not talking about the big 1-800 parts stores 98% of people search but find a old auto electric or brake shop. Many might have the kits needed gathering dust on a shelf. I know my sources do and they are not on the internet. Ask around your local area. Often a shop might close due to retirement but that doesn't mean the inventory was tossed out. I just bought the contents of a closed shop 65 miles away just for the tools and NOS parts. A lot of it was common stuff but the now hard to find items easily covered the time and expense of getting it.
Lastly...slow your roll. Seems nowadays so many folks have almost zero patience,they want it NOW. Gets back to my putter comment. If your building a car you must have a time frame or date. Schedule in rebuilding anything that can be saved because it's most likely better than a repop but that's just my philosophy.
How much research could anyone have done in the time it took to read these 56 posts?

 

Four of the posts I just read when I refreshed this thread made my whole work day a little better.
Not meaning to leave out those who expressed the same sentiment earlier in the thread, but...
I salute
dmar836
62 rebel
lostone
partsdawg

I'm not nearly as good a mechanic as I'd like to be, lots of things I can't do in the garage, but I agree with y'all 100%

 

In the mid-'90s, I drove a '64 Ford Galaxie daily (high school car). It was still running a generator and I recall approx. every 5,000 miles, I'd change out the brushes and shaft bushings. Did the same thing with the starter a couple of times, as well. That stuff was super easy to work on and much cheaper for a high school kid than buying a reman. replacement or having a shop to a full rebuild.

 

Thanks @williebill, that's how mechanics become better! Rebuilding and learning the basics how things work ! The wheel cylinder works on the same principles as the master cylinder, fluid is applied and in response an object is moved, in this case a piston, and pressure is applied.

@Malcolm yes the days of being young, going to school, part time job AND trying to keep the jalopy on the road! That's how I got into things. Rebuilt alot of parts to save money. Kits were cheaper than the parts and my time was even cheaper.

I've always enjoyed learning although I'm sure many of my ex-teachers would disagree.

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Never thought of it as the old days, more like yesterday. Price and availability dictate everything I do though, and if new is a better option, I will go with it. Most of my stuff is rebuilt, but 40 bucks for a new master cylinder is hard to beat for a 60 year old car.