this thread IS funny... I drove an old truck to college every day for 4 years, also to the junkyard and trans shop where I had part time jobs. And drag raced it on weekends in the summer. But I guess kids today aren't allowed to do that.
Thanks finally an answer I am looking for. I have been looking at some of these the last few weeks and found an '81 Supreme with a low rider interior for $500.00 can't go wrong with that. Also love you're picture man Trailer Park Boys is one of my favorite shows watch it all the time when I get back to Canadia.
90% of the cars I have owned in my life have had SBC's so I know what you mean. What about inline 6's though are they just as easy to get parts for and just as reliable?
You started by saying that you did not know if you could repair the car at school. Now you can?? 60's Chevys didn't come with 350s (Camaro excepted). 60's Chevies DO come with 50 years of abuse. Are you sure you won't snap an axle on the way to San José?? Can you pull and rebuild a Powerslide?? What if you need a brake drum, because some hack put in the shoes wrong?? Do you know what wrong is, as it applies to shoes?? Which one goes in front, the long, or the short?? Do you have time to check that, after you buy, before you get on the road?? VW bug?? Are you serious?? Those are really only reliable in people's memory, at least the type of reliable that you envision. And, again, 50 years of abuse. You are not thinking this through thoroughly. School is to be your ONLY thought. And your teachers will know instantly that you are more about the look, than the education. You asked for advice, now take it. Cosmo
I have tried doing that as well. Wouldn't mind finding the little old lady from Pasadena with her brand new shiny red super stock Dodge.
Early 60's Galaxies. They run good, handle good, look good. They might even have heat, ac, and defrost that work!
Nobody said he wasn't allowed...just not practical. I also had an old truck in college...a 66 ford short bed. But I also had a daily driver...83 Cutlass Supreme. I took the 66 somedays, but most days it sat in the yard, cause their was always something to fix on it.
according to the experienced old men, you're supposed to be concentrating on your edumacation, not having fun with old cars. 81 cutlas/regal/etc has all that wonderful computer controlled carb crap on it, the doors fall off, the plastic inside is all toast, the 7.5 rearend needs new axles, etc. I worked on too many of them 20 years ago I guess.
I know what you mean I have had three TBI cars in my life. But what are the laws in California could I have one with a crabed motor?
most of the pre 87 GM cars had carbs, so you can have one with a stock computer controlled carb that meets calif smog laws. If you can get it to run with all that neat old stuff on it. I'm just bitching because I had the 87 suburban strand me a couple weeks ago. if it had been a bit older I could have fixed it pretty easily.
Squirrel, I do respect you. But, how old was old, when you refer to that truck?? Was it 40-50 years old?? That age is the age that this young man is talking about. And those age vehicles are not in junkyards, anymore. The junkyard has become a different animal these days, more on profit than keeping cars. Anything older than 10-15 years gets crushed quickly. I don't know that you can get a part time job at a trans shop today. Hell, just keeping a 40 year old car on the road can be a full time job. Cosmo I know that this is a nostalgic board, but this kid is asking for advice and living in 2010, things, everything, are different now. Almost every post about WyoTech has said the same thing: that the education you get there is in direct reciprocation to the effort you put forth. All efforts should be put toward an education, not towards looking cool, which will really only be cool in your own eyes. He's got 4 years to get an education, an expensive one, and 60 years to be cool. Or to wonder where those 4 years went.
Here's my take on it. When I was in college I did a lot of sitting on my ass watching Jerry Springer eating ramen noodle in the downtime or rode bmx. I lived in the college neighborhood apartments, so i could walk to school. Plus I wouldn't dream of parking a nice old car in those ghetto neighborhoods. If you are cool with taking your downtime to work on your car, go for it. Instead of wasting all your money on booze and pot, put it towards your car. I think it's totally doable. Just be prepared for the days when your car isn't going to get you to an important class or test. Have a back up plan.
I currently have a TBI Camaro and I am swapping in an old carbed L82 in her now. Feels good getting rid of the horse shit.
Thanks I am not into pot cars are my drugs. I probably spend more money on cars though than druggies spend on cars But they have a big policy on car pooling at Wyotech and I will be staying in one of there apartments so if anything does happen I could get a ride from a friend. I am young and stupid so I will probably just get an old car what can I say.
I have nothing against pre-60's cars, as I have some and love them. However, if I was looking for a reliable daily that was born before disco I would look at a 60's GM. A billion aftermarket parts that are dirt cheap, and easy to work on. Many things are interchangeable between model years and they look half decent. Why not a 4dr mid-60's Chevy II or something like that?? Get a 6, it'll run forever, better brakes than an early 50's, super easy to work on, and it's 12V. Doesn't sound like a bad idea to me. But then again, I'm only sayin'...
My kids are in college, they have a late model up there now because they don't have a safe place to park their old vehicles...which include a 50 year old truck and a 40 year old camaro, neither of which have required much work to keep them going over the past few years. The camaro is mostly original, the truck has a rebuilt engine. Pretty much anything that is old enough that it's affordable to buy, is gonna have stuff break. The newer it is, the more stuff there is, and the more expensive the parts are, and the more knowledge/tools you need to fix it. The older it is, the harder it is to find parts for it. I'd stay with something from 55-70 if I were in his situation. There should be some decent cars to buy in norcal, since the environment isn't that hard on them. Pre smog is a big bonus out there. Ok cosmo, I'll give up.
You haven't gotten rid of the horseshit, you have opened up another can of worms. What is your backup plan when CA wants to smog that car?? In Illinois, you have just given the state your licence plates. Methinks you should get your head screwed into the socket of learning. But you'll need to get it out of the socket of caring what other people think. College can be thought of as a place to get the learning, to get the job, that pays the cash, so that you can do what you want. Where you are at now sounds like the place that you want to do that, but you don't have the cash to do that, so you do this, but you really wanted to do that, but you have only the cash for this, so you tell yourself that this is at least as cool as that. And you never really get to do what it was you really wanted. Feels like trying to convince the Chicago river to flow backwards, with two popsicle sticks and the balls of The Toddler. Cosmo
Kid.... old- cheap - hot rod - reliable - easy fix - economical - 60's car. Pick 2 of the seven, you won't get any car that meets all seven. Really the VW is the closest to meeting your expectations. Anything else will be either expensive, unreliable, or new. Non Hamb friendly Honda Civic is best IMHO. Put some on loud exhaust junk and get 30 mpg. Primer it if you think it's not cool enough.
I am not bringing my Camaro to California so no issues there. And I have no auto shop at my high school so the Camaro is a father son project were me and my dad are spending quality time with each other beofore I move half way around the world I see nothing wring with this. I have done so much to the Camaro and learned a shit load. Wile other kids my age are playing video games I am swapping in a Possi rear end how cool is that? I don't do drugs or anything like that I enjoy working on cars with my dad.
Sorry I think there is a law against greasers in Hondas. I would like a VW though that would be sweet.
Don't take this the wrong way but, speaking from experience I would take a prius. You will have plenty of time and money to fix cars once you are done with school have a good paying job. The question you should ask is should I buy a old car for school with limited funds or would buying a newer reliable car make more sense. The guys on here that you believe are laughing at you, know what a pain in the arse old cars can be. Believe me when I say get a reliable car and finish school. You do not need any other distractions when trying to get an education. huero.
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