Psychological pressure from this forum to "upgrade". Fake news?

[M2M]

There's so much talk on this forum about upgrades in power (Weber carbs), changing to syncro and o/d trannys, v8 clutch, etc. etc. etc. BUT YET; there was a recent thread and poll about what a stock standard car is capable of, that more or less concluded a stock car with a well rebuild and balanced engine can sit on 55-60 mph all day.

If a standard car can do 55-60 mph I don't get why people are spending large amounts of $ to complicate the car. I do understand that some of these changes make the car easier to drive and for someone elderly or with a disability such changes make sense. For others though, they want a vintage car to drive like a new Toyota Corolla and to sit on 70 mph on Interstates?

What on earth is going on??? Are there people on this forum being paid by suppliers and part makers to promote this unnecessary "Upgrade Lifestyle" that has no basis in reality?

[Pete]

"What on earth is going on??? Are there people on this forum being paid by suppliers and part makers to promote this unnecessary "Upgrade Lifestyle" that has no basis in reality?"

Yes, they have make a living somehow.
Would you have them living in a tent under a bridge?

[M2M]

Originally Posted by Pete

Would you have them living in a tent under a bridge?

Yes, gladly.

[Tom Wesenberg]

Originally Posted by Pete

"What on earth is going on??? Are there people on this forum being paid by suppliers and part makers to promote this unnecessary "Upgrade Lifestyle" that has no basis in reality?"

Yes, they have make a living somehow.
Would you have them living in a tent under a bridge?

So you came from the upper class. I only had a cardboard box.

[quickchange]

Im with Pete,

[1930artdeco]

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My upgrades-such as they are are just to make the car a little safer to drive with today's morons on the road. That is all.

Mike

[updraught]

The Model A is an off road vehicle.

It has large wheels, high clearance, hand throttle, low reving huge flywheel engine, runs on low grade fuel, easy to fix in the middle of nowhere, narrow tyres cut thru mud and snow.

Why would you want to change anything?

[Growley bear]

Originally Posted by updraught

The Model A is an off road vehicle.

It has large wheels, high clearance, hand throttle, low reving huge flywheel engine, runs on low grade fuel, easy to fix in the middle of nowhere, narrow tyres cut thru mud and snow.

Why would you want to change anything?

I concur; a comparison of the roads today/90 years ago, the Model A really is an off road car. An point that I have found over the years is that shiny aluminum plate on the running board that we refer to as a step plate. Originally was intended as a mud scraper used before entering the car. Why change anything?

[Jim Mason]

If the desire is to drive as much as possible..why make getting from point A to point B faster. Doesn't the turn a 2 hour round trip into a 1 1/2 hour round trip, thus defeating the goal?

[leo]

My thoughts on this are that some hobbyists just need to tinker or they are gadget affectionados that have to run out and get the latest and the greatest. I know I'm going to get much static for this next statement. I feel the beauty of the Model A is in it's functional simplicity and adding anything to that is gilding the lily.....

[M2M]

Originally Posted by leo

I know I'm going to get much static for this next statement. I feel the beauty of the Model A is in it's functional simplicity and adding anything to that is gilding the lily.....

You're absolutely correct. Your statement is completely against the prevailing ideology on this forum which would have us believe a stock Model A is completely unsafe and unusable.

[Pete]

Originally Posted by M2M

You're absolutely correct. Your statement is completely against the prevailing ideology on this forum which would have us believe a stock Model A is completely unsafe and unusable.

Not unusable but definitely unsafe per modern safety standards.
Plate glass windows. No seat belts. No turn signals. Inadequate headlights. Inadequate wipers. 88 year old fatigued steel in critical parts.
And the biggest flaw, a product of marginal engineering.

[Oakhurst]

Originally Posted by M2M

You're absolutely correct. Your statement is completely against the prevailing ideology on this forum which would have us believe a stock Model A is completely unsafe and unusable.

I disagree about the "prevailing ideology." I just finished reading another post on the flathead forum about mechanical brakes on early fords, and how much better they are when adjusted properly compared to many hydraulic conversions.

[Pinesdune]

Why are you worried about psychological pressure from a forum? There's all types on here from purists to AV8'ers . It's your car drive it like grandpa did or like a bat outta he[emoji970][emoji970] There will be guys from suppliers on here but I doubt anyone's getting paid to push parts. Old car guys are passionate eccentric farts, some are reliving their glory days while others are recreating the past. The one thing I've noticed on the forum is that whatever a guys into... he promotes.

[Synchro909]

Restore to original, modify, improve, rod. Viva la difference!
I admire any of them if done well.

[rosenkranswa]

I don't see anybody promoting anything on this forum, except the occasional atta boy to vendors that have done something well. Some folks like bone stock (all my cars are that way), some folks like to tinker, even see some rodders from time to time. I see folks talking about their experiences, but not promoting per se. The beauty of a forum is the presence of different points of view.

[Railcarmover]

Hey its your car,you can fill it with concrete and use it as a doorstop if you want.

[M2M]

Originally Posted by Railcarmover

Hey its your car,you can fill it with concrete and use it as a doorstop if you want.

No, no, no! This thread is not about taking away your constitutional right to cut your car into little pieces then eat it if you so wish to do. It's about a fake narrative that's being promoted on this forum.

A narrative that would suggest someone who's unlikely to drive more than 1000 miles a year MUST have a o/d tranny and later wire wheels for 16" radials, etc. etc. etc.

Sorry, that's fake news that's being promoted by people with an agenda or by gadget freaks (mentioned by some else above). These gadget freaks add things to their cars for the sake of adding things. They're the type of people that camp overnight outside an Apple store to be the first to get the new iPhone.

[BRENT in 10-uh-C]

Originally Posted by M2M

No, no, no! This thread is not about taking away your constitutional right to cut your car into little pieces then eat it if you so wish to do. It's about a fake narrative that's being promoted on this forum.

A narrative that would suggest someone who's unlikely to drive more than 1000 miles a year MUST have a o/d tranny and later wire wheels for 16" radials, etc. etc. etc.

Sorry, that's fake news that's being promoted by people with an agenda or by gadget freaks (mentioned by some else above). These gadget freaks add things to their cars for the sake of adding things. They're the type of people that camp overnight outside an Apple store to be the first to get the new iPhone.

This is EXACTLY what I was discussing in a different thread earlier. Some of the most heated debates have appeared here over the mindset that a modification must be made because they plan to drive their Model-A. It then becomes a battle of justification. No one tends to be honest any more and describe their vehicle as it truly is. Everyone likes to use the words 'Barn Find' to imply it is something that it really isn't. How many times have you heard someone brag their car is a 'Survivor Car'? Oh, I don't want a Fine-point car as I want to drive mine.

[M2M]

Originally Posted by BRENT in 10-uh-C

This is EXACTLY what I was discussing in a different thread earlier. Some of the most heated debates have appeared here over the mindset that a modification must be made because they plan to drive their Model-A. It then becomes a battle of justification.

I don't see the point you're you trying to make...