Ford Rant

[tlbuser]

Hey, my 1931 Ford Model A Roadster is still going strong and it is all stock.

My 1911 Ford Model T Speedster is very reliable but it lacks all the modern creature comforts of the Model A. The "T" good enough for around town, but I don't take it on trips anymore...

I now prefer the newer Model A for road trips! Having a windshield wiper and electric headlights sure are the "Cats Meow"

....Cheers

 

[scott_vt]

I am a died in the wool Jeep guy when it comes to off roading.

The shame is, wen the Jeep frame was made tougher, it was still an AMC. AMC was not known for quality... An early CJ7, or the '77 and newer CJ% with the box frame, inline-6, t18 granny box, and t20 xfer case, dana-44 rear axle, were a pretty solid unit...

Afternoon Robert,
I too loved my Jeep ! I bought new a 1978 CJ-5 inline 6, I think it was the 258 cu in motor and I had the four speed tranny. I had it for the blizzard of 78 ! I had a ball with it, when all normal traffic was banned from travel, I volunteered to shuttle hospital staff back and forth from their homes durring the storm, oh the memories !

 

[Egon]

Lets not forget the old Dodge Power Wagon!

 

[Volfandt]

I give my, ahem, wife for an old 60's or 70's military jeep. What was it, an M1A1 or something of the like
I used to drive one around all over the little island of Okinawa back in the day. Couldn't go any faster than 45 mph and really didn't want to as they were prone to flip. Danged thing would go anywhere tho and now adays it would put a gator to shame

 

[Kendall69]

...Landcruiser is definitely the 4x4 to travel in

I have to agree.

Back in 1975 my buddy took his new Ford 250 four wheeling and got it buried up to the axel's in an Arizona Wash ( dry river bed ), we had to call a 4x4 wrecker to get him out, the wrecker winched him out, then got stuck himself.
A guy came by in a Land Cruiser, and pulled the wrecker out of the deep sandy wash up a hill, and out of the area, and only had street tires on, and was stock, then pulled my buddy out.
The next week I owned a land Cruiser.

Today I own a Jeep Rubicon, and I will say with it's lockers it climbs like a billy goat, and is sure a pleasure to drive, but this is the second one as the first one was a Chrysler buy back.

 

[RobertN]

That was a M38A1. Civilian version was the early CJ5.

They didn't like to go fast at all. That little four cylinder didn't rev. Most had 5:38 gears. All that spells 45mph with a tailwind You could add a Warn Overdrive though on those older transfercases. Makes a big difference. The '70 CJ5 I used to have, I put 4:88's in it. Added an OD, and it was much nicer on the highway. Still didn't like more than 65mph, nut it would do that all day. The OD added en extra shifter. Since I had converted mine to two transfer case(hi-low, 2wd-4wd), I had four levers to mess with

I give my, ahem, wife for an old 60's or 70's military jeep. What was it, an M1A1 or something of the like
I used to drive one around all over the little island of Okinawa back in the day. Couldn't go any faster than 45 mph and really didn't want to as they were prone to flip. Danged thing would go anywhere tho and now adays it would put a gator to shame

 

[RoyJackson]

Lets not forget the old Dodge Power Wagon!

Yeah...I think the '47 model was my favorite...

 

[cp1969]

I know what you mean about the Toyota Land Cruiser! Buddy of mine had one...had to be late 60's or early 70's...when they still looked like a military vehicle. We just couldn't break the sunofagun!

A friend of mine had one, too. I remember looking at the 6 cylinder engine and thinking it was an exact copy of a 235 Chevy six, right down to the stovebolts holding the valve cover on.

 

[jcmseven]

TLBuser,

I agree the motor has not been out long in this formate, but it is pretty impressive to me how little trouble the engine has had so far. It is a solid motor, regardless of Ford/Navistar's marital issues. The engine has been used and tested for some time. As I have noted in a post some time ago, a friend of mine did turbo testing for Navistar on this exact engine and turbo combination, in 2003!!! So, for those who think this is a new and untested motor, it is not. As each of you know as well this engine is fairly close akin to the cab over Power Stroke, which I think has been in use for a while now. So six months is true in this application but is not a true reflection of the time the engine has been in operation.

John M

 

[alchemysa]

In the US, what is sold as a Toyota Landcruiser is a Toyota Prado everywhere else. Can't get a "real" Landcruiser in the US anymore. .

I don't think so. A Landcruiser is called a Landcruiser everywere.
The 'big' cruiser is still on the Toyota USA website. The smaller Toyota models, e.g, the Prado, seem to look different in every market but the big 'real' Landcruiser is the same everywhere. The Prado is a very tough 4x4 by the way. Excellent in sand.

The Mitsubishi Montero is the same as the Pajero (except no short wheelbase option), but is discontinued in the US market as of 2006. .

Its still on the Mitsubishi USA website. Its actually a very capable 4x4 although it looks much less rugged than the Cruiser or Nissan. Mitsubishi made a mistake and went for a softer appearance about 5 - 10 years ago but that market has now been flooded by very comfy mid-sized urban 4x4's. They should have stayed 'tough' and fought it out in the same arena as the Landcruiser. Nowadays Pajero is struggling to hold its place.

In the parts of the US most like the Australian outback Japanese trucks are pretty rare. .

Thats way, way, off the mark. Toyota Landcruisers and Hi-Lux's, including the tray top versions, are totally dominant in the outback and rural community over here. Nissan Patrols are a distant second, and anything else is just novelty value. Last time i took my Pajero into the bush i felt like the guy who accidently wore fancy dress to a formal dinner. Believe me, its strictly 'Landcruiser Land' out there.