Why some people are too stupid to own a car

rangerfredbob · May 18, 2023

Ford's Lima engines (AkA pinto motors) were non interference and they stopped production in the middle of '01...

jjeff · May 18, 2023

Here's a list of various engines and manufacturers listing interference or non interference, unsure how dated or complete. Seems it doesn't matter if it's single or dual overhead cam. With a timing chain or belt.
Interference Engines - The Complete List - Your Car Angel Interference Engines - The Complete List

Jstpssng · May 19, 2023

rangerfredbob said:
Ford's Lima engines (AkA pinto motors) were non interference and they stopped production in the middle of '01...

Despite their reputation-mostly because of their initial use- that was a tough engine. Several of my friends had Pintos and beat on them the way that only HS kids can do, yet they couldn't kill them. One of my friends even got rear ended and a ride to the hospital. The car was totaled but luckily it didn't explode.

3930dave · May 19, 2023

3 Horse Ranch said:
Last engine I can remember that didn't have valve to piston interference problems when valve timing failed was a L-head Chrysler.

Also Volvo (red-block, cast-iron) gasoline 4 cylinder engines, up into the 90's.

Rgds, D.

rangerfredbob · May 20, 2023

Jstpssng said:
Despite their reputation-mostly because of their initial use- that was a tough engine. Several of my friends had Pintos and beat on them the way that only HS kids can do, yet they couldn't kill them. One of my friends even got rear ended and a ride to the hospital. The car was totaled but luckily it didn't explode.

See, they forgot to light the road flare in the trunk before they got rear ended, pfft!!! That's what the famous video took to get the outcome they were looking for...

My experience is all in Rangers, I've had a '90 since '99 and it's now a turbocharged conglomeration of random stock parts (from thunderbirds, explorers and Rangers), my daily driver is a '97 Ranger with a 2.3L and just over 200k on the clock, gets 22-25mpg commuting... not bad for something I acquired with a bent front axle for $450 3 years and 50k miles ago... sure now I have about $1500 in it but aside from insurance that's what $50/month? can't beat that with a stick considering I went from 16mpg to 22-25mpg...

masseyrider · May 20, 2023

Jstpssng said:
Despite their reputation-mostly because of their initial use- that was a tough engine. Several of my friends had Pintos and beat on them the way that only HS kids can do, yet they couldn't kill them. One of my friends even got rear ended and a ride to the hospital. The car was totaled but luckily it didn't explode.

A friend of mine's wife had a Bobcat. She did everything in her power to kill that car. Regularly ran it with the oil light on. You could hear the knock when she drove down the street.
Finally passed it on to their son when he started driving and he got another couple years out of it. He got rid of it because there wasn't enough body left to even think of fixing it.
Motor still ran.

Fuddyduddy1952 · May 20, 2023

Look up worst cars of all time. Usually AMC Gremlin and Pacer are at the top. Writers Don't know what they're talking about. I've had both and collect cars, the AMC 6's were good motors as was the 304 (Gremlin X).
A friend gave me a 199 cu.in. six Gremlin years ago. He drained oil, put a brick on accelerator and went in for dinner. Came back it was still running.

Jstpssng · May 20, 2023

Fuddyduddy1952 said:
Look up worst cars of all time. Usually AMC Gremlin and Pacer are at the top. Writers Don't know what they're talking about. I've had both and collect cars, the AMC 6's were good motors as was the 304 (Gremlin X).
A friend gave me a 199 cu.in. six Gremlin years ago. He drained oil, put a brick on accelerator and went in for dinner. Came back it was still running.

The Gremlin was butt ugly but still a tough car. I was in HS during the mid-70s when many of the cars were around. There is no better testing ground for durability than a high school boy. The engines were tough but the bodies left a lot to be desired, which was true of any car from that era.

kenmbz · May 20, 2023

i hated my mom's Pacer, getting on the highway was always fun when it took ages to get up to speed. Underpowered and heavy.
The best part was when the rear shock towers popped up into the rear baggage area. The rest of the car had not rust.
At that point we scrapped it and my mom got a 4 cylinder mustang.
Not a great car, but at least while driving it you didn't feel like you should be wearing snorkeling gear.

bigtiller · May 20, 2023

My first new car was a 1973 Levi Gremlin with a 304 and synchro 3 on the floor. That was a great little car. We drove it 1000 miles straight through to Ickesburg Pa. with an 11 month old baby in the back seat.

The only bad thing was we had to start out in 2nd gear on very icy roads because 1st would just spin the tires.