From: muratlanne@gmail.com   
      
   "Gerry"  wrote in message news:qfm9kk177r2adb27mvmj7022a9b2fdrd4h@4ax.com...   
      
   At 17 I could have bought a 1929 Durant 6 cyl. coupe with 42,000 miles   
   on the clock that had been in the barn for 14 years but I wanted a car   
   to driv NOW. The guy that bought it for $50 dragged it down the road   
   till he got it running then a week latter pushed it into the swamp   
   when it threw a rod though the sid of the block.   
   ------------------------------   
      
   The time I've spent keeping my old car and truck on the road would have cost   
   several times their value if I couldn't do the jobs myself. I was quoted   
   $3500 to fix the rust on one rear fender. Another shop quoted $800 just to   
   weld the quarter-sized hole on other side, painting extra. My second hand   
   MIG welder cost less than half of that.   
      
   They evade questions about the machine shop work and electronic module   
   troubleshooting. For the frozen 4mm distributor cap screw that broke the   
   answer was don't bother, the two remaining screws will hold the cap well   
   enough. I didn't ask about the stainless replacement captive screw I made on   
   the lathe.   
      
   A custom shop told me that their estimate to restore a classic begins at   
   $25,000. My body welding is detectable up close, "OK for an amateur", theirs   
   isn't.   
      
   After solving the intermittent ignition problem on my pre-OBDII 91 Ranger   
   with an oscilloscope and the factory manuals I asked a dealer and a custom   
   tuning shop about it. Both had gotten rid of their manuals and old test   
   equipment, a mechanic had taken the dealer's home.   
      
   I've been watching a nearby Malibu to Chevelle SS conversion. Finding parts   
   seems dependent on knowing who has the right wreck to plunder. At least the   
   car is simple relative to new ones and his wife works for a welding   
   supplier. On 12/17 I peeked under a $70k Bronco and didn't understand half   
   of it.   
   https://www.ford.com/support/how-tos/more-vehicle-topics/engine-   
   nd-transmission/bronco-how-to-disconnect-the-front-stabilizer-bar/   
      
   My former boss, Segway's lead engineer Doug Field moved back to Ford, where   
   he began and is playing toy-maker again.   
   https://www.fromtheroad.ford.com/us/en/articles/2025/simplicity-   
   lueprint-future-ford-electric-vehicle-platform   
      
   I'm glad I was able to build the plans of many brilliant innovators.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)