Vintage Tow Vehicles

[slowmover]

Originally Posted by vswingfield

Big block Chryslers are not heavy engines. They are closer in weight to a small block Chevy. They're actually even easier to work on than a small block Chrysler (or Chevy for that matter). For instance, changing a water pump is a piece of cake compared to most engines.

Sorry . . they are about the heaviest (short of International). A "B" block (383) weighs a good deal more than a 454 Chev, and an "RB" (413 & 440) weighs just that much more again (75-100/lbs). Don't ask about a Hemi with those ginormous cylinder heads.

The external dimensions also need to be checked.

As to design and "work-ability", yes, they are outstanding. Materials in blcok and other internal components was also of higher quality than Ford or GM, generally (always better than Chevy). Will last longer in general service and be easier to re-build (but more expensive as "cheap" is the main Chevy virtue).

[jgerardi]

The highway death rate has dropped dramatically in the past decade largely due to the improvement in our automobiles. At a vintage auto show I will look lovingly at 57 Chevys and 66 Mustangs. I won't drive anything without an airbag.

[Action]

Originally Posted by jgerardi

I won't drive anything without an airbag.

While bags were made madatory in the US in 1998 and were an option on some vehicles prior to that, raw numbers don't indicate that air bags have made any difference.

List of motor vehicle deaths in U.S. by year - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

From that initial year in 1998 to 2007 the fatality rate has been a little over 40,000 each year. This changed dramatically in 2008 with an almost 10,000 drop from 2007 to 2010.

Based on this I would suggest the economic down turn was deployed not an air bag. And the unintended result of a poor economy is less people died on the roads.

I don't know this as a fact, however I have heard that one of the driving habits of a person with a vehicle with air bags is to drive with less caution because of the protection the bag is thought to render.

Anyway I will get off of this detour. I really like my vintage rides! Including a motorcycle I just picked up that doesn't have a belt or a bag. And I do wear a helmet even though it isn't required in Arizona.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Action

[Goin camping]

Considering a 1973 3/4 4X4 Chevy truck. 350/auto. It'll be towing a 25 foot FB.

I'd like to dodge CA's smog laws and go with an extremely simple truck to repair. I look under the hood of our 2002 Suburban and I am lost.

Can this truck haul the trailer at Fwy speeds and up a hill?

[Action]

What axle ratio?
Is the drive train in good condition?


In 1973 this vehicle has some emission controls if it is a 1/2 ton rated. (Not so much if over 1/2 ton)So you may be good with the 3/4 ton rated truck. I am not sure about CA, most other states are going to require all of that emission equipment to be present and the vehicle pass some performance test.

In AZ vehicles built prior to 1966 model year are exempt from any tests or inspections. Part of the reason I have 2 1966 vehicles.

>>>>>>>Action

[Diesel1]

Originally Posted by Goin camping

Considering a 1973 3/4 4X4 Chevy truck. 350/auto. It'll be towing a 25 foot FB.

I'd like to dodge CA's smog laws and go with an extremely simple truck to repair. I look under the hood of our 2002 Suburban and I am lost.

Can this truck haul the trailer at Fwy speeds and up a hill?

It won't pull with the same gusto as your 02 Suburban. However if you don't mind a slower pace it will do just fine. I have found that a lot of people don't like the slower pace required with an old vehicle. There is also a bit of tinkering inherent with the old dogs.
I heartily recommend it! It is good fun!

[Globie64]

I drive my '68 Dodge Dart convertible as a regular driver, and the fun outweighs the doubtful brakes and twitchy handling. Regarding airbags, I would not be typing this if I had been driving my Dart last week, when a brand new Camry driven by an elderly driver pulled in front of me from a stop, about 100' ahead. Things happen pretty fast at 45mph, I t-boned her, her airbags went off, mine went off and we're mostly okay, my car is totalled. I was sitting in the Dart afterward, imagining what my would have hit, with just a lap belt. Yuck.

[bredlo]

Originally Posted by Action

[Snip] Get an entire high mileage (100k miles) doner vehicle that was rear ended and the sheet metal is ugly. You will pay more for low miles and you can cut some of the cost by getting one that has high miles. Face it what ever you do, if you put 50,000 miles after the modification that would be huge so you don't have to spend money on low mileage. And much modern stuff has a expected life of 200,000 miles.

Getting an entire ride means you have all of the engine management pieces. Wiring, sensors, vacuum lines and related parts. Those items will stop your engine and can run a fortune in nickel dime costs. (That's why there are wrecking yards in business!) In addition you might consider taking the front braking, steering and suspension from that ride. At least you have an engineered system...

Good advice, thanks to all who weighed in.

After doing much research (in conjunction with a local hot rod builder) we've decided to mate the Town and Country to a 2004 Durango with the 5.7L Hemi. It was rolled on its roof at -30 mph, creating the unique opportunity for a well-maintained 80K donor vehicle... at 1/3 the price.

I like the notion of keeping it's "soul" in the Mopar family, and I'll probably get big karma points in the recycling department.

The original frame on the wagon is shot after 60 years of road salt and corrosion; putting a newer motor/trans into this old car was only going to prolong the issue.

This Durango has the correct width, length is off by 1" or so, and is a boxed frame derived from the Ram. All non-body parts are in great mechanical condition. We'll simply (yeah, right) mate the old body to the intact Dodge chassis. Everything from 12v wiring to the AC compressor should be able to be reused, I suspect.

Nothing about the running gear will need to change except the wheel size, and perhaps adding airbag suspension, but not sure we'll need to. I imagine we'll also weld on a beefy receiver while everything's in pieces -- I'll consult with Can/Am about maximizing its strength and weight distribution.

Looking forward to all that. Until then, it's all still just make-believe in the driveway...

[Road Ruler]

Originally Posted by bredlo

After doing much research (in conjunction with a local hot rod builder) we've decided to mate the Town and Country to a 2004 Durango with the 5.7L Hemi.

Wow wow wow.....what a sweet project. Please post pics when it is all done.

[kevinkatz]

Classic Car Liquidators 1968 Ford Galaxie 500 big block - $6,999
found this on craigs list in houston. seems like it would be great. would need to add disc and power brakes. not that big a deal. what do yall think? i am not yet in the market and dreaming so feel free to jump on it.

[HiHoAgRV]

Originally Posted by kevinkatz

Classic Car Liquidators 1968 Ford Galaxie 500 big block - $6,999
found this on craigs list in houston. seems like it would be great. would need to add disc and power brakes. not that big a deal. what do yall think? i am not yet in the market and dreaming so feel free to jump on it.

That vintage has a huge rear overhang...
Not ideal for draggin around a trailer...

[Diesel1]

Here's the ole Ford hooked to the Tradewind. A short jaunt up to Williams from Kingman, about 150 miles, most of it on Route 66. The last 30 miles or so are on I-40 with a 6% grade as you leave Ashfork. I was in 3rd gear all of that hill @ about 40MPH. On the way home the new points (400 miles on them) closed up and presented a few challanges. but other than new Chinese parts the trip was great. I must install A/C before next summer!

[nomad3622]

I have a 23 ft Serenity. I ran across a very nice 1949 Ford F1(1/2 ton) pickup. With the proper WD hitch, do you think it could function as a tow vehicle, safely, for short trips?

[FreshAir]

Originally Posted by HiHoAgRV

That vintage has a huge rear overhang...
Not ideal for draggin around a trailer...

Yeah...we have a '71 Buick Centurion. The looong rear overhang is the max for our '66 Trade Wind. I use 1000# wdh bars and still need to carefully load the trailer with most of the weight over the tandem axles. Sure does tow great though!

Neil

[FreshAir]

Originally Posted by nomad3622

I have a 23 ft Serenity. I ran across a very nice 1949 Ford F1(1/2 ton) pickup. With the proper WD hitch, do you think it could function as a tow vehicle, safely, for short trips?

My first car was '48 Ford. The '49 truck flat head V8 might not have enough torgue to safely tow your 23' based on my stock '48.
Neil

[Action]

Originally Posted by Diesel1

On the way home the new points (400 miles on them) closed up and presented a few challanges. but other than new Chinese parts the trip was great. I must install A/C before next summer!

There is an aftermarket electronic ignition applications where you can retain the stock look of the distributor. Pertronix is one found here Ignitor You will have to be a little creative in hiding a few pieces. Ford offered another at one point through the Motorcraft line. A direct replacement of the breaker point plate and slip over rotor wheel using some of the existing distributor wiring. This will be hard to find as it was not marketed very well and had low sales. I have snagged a couple of early (first generation) factory (Ford) electronic ignition systems for future needs should that occur.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>Action

[Diesel1]

Originally Posted by Action

There is an aftermarket electronic ignition applications where you can retain the stock look of the distributor. Pertronix is one found here Ignitor You will have to be a little creative in hiding a few pieces. Ford offered another at one point through the Motorcraft line. A direct replacement of the breaker point plate and slip over rotor wheel using some of the existing distributor wiring. This will be hard to find as it was not marketed very well and had low sales. I have snagged a couple of early (first generation) factory (Ford) electronic ignition systems for future needs should that occur.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>Action

Thanks for the info. I shall look for the Motorcraft version you speak of. I have considered a Duraspark but am not that impressed.......

[Action]

I have done a DuraSpark and it did not have the same OEM look that I wanted.

There is not any Motorcraft conversion kits on ebay at the moment. And they are rare. There is this piece that is close.
ELECTRONIC IGNITION FOR FORD "FE" MOTOR ACCEL CAP MOTORCRAFT | eBay
I am assuming you have a 360/390 in that 350. Or an FE block. If you order a distributor make sure the measurement of the old old matched the new one. The hole is all the same for most distributors even in other Ford blocks. The length of the body does vary even in the FE engine block.

>>>>>>>>>Action

[Globie64]

Thanks for posting the pic of the '72 F-series- I found a campground receipt from 1975 in our trailer, and the listed tow vehicle was a '72 F-series. I always wonder what the original owners towed with when I see an old trailer.

[Road Ruler]

Originally Posted by FreshAir

Yeah...we have a '71 Buick Centurion. The looong rear overhang is the max for our '66 Trade Wind. I use 1000# wdh bars and still need to carefully load the trailer with most of the weight over the tandem axles. Sure does tow great though!

Neil

I had a look underneath a 2011 Mustang Convertible GT(410HP) the other day. Ford uses a couple of extra frame members that help support the rear body structure by boxing that area. They run underneath the rear end. Seems like a good idea. Pics...