How did we do it......

Blkvoodoo

Blkvoodoo

professionally useless
Moderator
Joined
Mar 16, 2005
Location
Archer Lodge
... BEFORE the internet ?

I'm mean really, WAY back when there was no net, and you had to fix your own junk, How did we get by ?

We READ THE FAWKING MANUAL ! we experimented with what we had, FIGURED OUT how things worked and either FIXED the damn thing or replaced it with one that did work.

Hell, if my junk didn't run, the ole man would tell me I better figure it out, cuz I can't use his. So I fixed it.
THe internet makes it too fawkin easy for somone to whine about thier junk not running.

BASIC electrical theory can get you thru all but the newest of vehicles IF you pay attention.

Common sense takes you along way in figuring out WHY something doesn't work. Cause and effect, what causes this to do that and why isn't it happening.

I dunno HOW many times I pulled the starter out of my old Pontiac Bonniville to dress the contacts in the solinoid cuz I couldn't (didn't want too) afford a replacement.

Rewired several circuts in different vehicles to work the way "I" wanted them to, not the way GM or Toyota designed them.

It really isn't that tough.

The internet is making the next generation slackers ! :flipoff2:
 
true story - i spent 2+ hours researching how to change out a heater core on the 95 chevy that my brother now has... I was sure cause it was a newer truck it would be a royal pain and any tips/tricks would surly help... I found no info on changing it..

So I went out side and dove in... Finished job in 1 hour from lifting hood to closing hood...

Duuuuh
 
I got my first Jeepster when I was 14. My dad was busy trying to raise 4 of us so his time was limited plus he didn't have a clue to 4x4's, neither did I.
I used JC Whitney, Four Wheeler Mag, and the local Jeep dealerships for my socalled mods. I didn't know what a locker was but was pissed that only one or two wheels would spin when I got stuck.
I didn't mind body damage 30 years ago and still don't. I rebuilt my tranny (T400) three times, my Dana 30 rear 4 times, and everything else as needed.
My springs were built at a local truck spring shop. Wayne Caldwell at Tarheel used to help me out when he owned "Off The Road" 4wd shop. I put Remington Wide Brute 32-11.50 15's on it and I had the biggest rig in town!
Eagle headers on my 225 Buick V6, Cutlass leather swivel seats, no roll bar, Porsche stereo (I worked at the dealership), electric antennea and I was stylin':fuck-you:
 
Have you thought about how much vehicles have changed before the internet compared to after? The internet has given a broader range of people more of the basic knowledge on how to build things, fix things, and revise the old stuff. I got the internet in my house when I was in 5th grade, so I dont remember much before that time. By having the tools and info learned on the internet from the beginning, I was able to learn quickly by other's trials and errors of what works and what doesn't. This gives me and probably everyone else on this board a major edge over someone who has never had the internet. I dont consider us slackers. We use the tools given to us to make our jobs easier and more efficient. That's called "resourceful".
 
you can read how to do something 50 times on the internet, but when it comes down to it you have to just get it done. Too bad the internet won't do it for you.
 
I figured out OBA in the mid to late 80's. I'd heard about it, and had a basic idea of how it should work, but it took a lot of time, talking to others, junkyarding, etc to find a way to do it. Now...2 minutes on google, read a couple of articles, and anybody can learn how to do it in 15 minutes.

My first internet was before all the html webpages came along, just email and usenet. That was in the days of all the local BBS's, but I had a toll-free dialup to NJ thru a phone company deal. Most email and usenet at that time was mostly gov't and colleges. That was when I was first looking to buy my 715...luckily found one other person on usenet, clear over in WA, that actually had one, and could give me some pointers.

Nowadays...
 
My dad give me an old mechanics book. But it was dated 1940 something. HE got it when in the Army, WWII. First thing I ever worked on was his(formally my grandpa's) 1948 dodge truck. Went from that to a 72 Delta 88, back to a 48 Willys. From there it started. All of dad's tools fit inside a small ammo box, so I found I needed more. I worked on my own stuff because I couldn't afford someone else to do it. After that, I worked on it because I was too cheap to pay someone. Then I worked on it because I enjoyed it.
All with no internet. and, from what I have found on the internet, you can't believe it all. Heck, I have found many mistake in a chiltons and Haynes book too.
 
Deuce 40s said:
I dont consider us slackers. We use the tools given to us to make our jobs easier and more efficient. That's called "resourceful".
Click to expand...

I think what he's getting at (albeit while standing on a soapbox) is that some people are using the boards, expecting people to spoon-feed them, when it's things they could just as easily find out themselves.

"It's not using the tools to make your job easier" that he's complaining about, it's the fucking slack-asses who won't take the time to get information befor posing a question "My truck is making a funny noise.. help me" Rather than spending some time to be able to better describe it, get detailed information about what equipment is on the truck, etc.

Or godforbid they use the SEARCH function before posting a question that's been asked a million times. :shaking:
 
hahahah this is a great topic..

I would say before the web.. a lot used jcwhitney, 4x4 magazines, 4x4 clubs (usually a group of freinds), etc..

but I do understand what you are talking about.. to this day I find that when I am searching for info on my 1st Gen Dodge there is a lot of gray area..

it seems to me that Diesel truck forums are not as detailed as the 4x4 ones i visit.. so yes I still ask questions, after i search and can not find the answers..

but a lot of the time I just go outside get my tools tear into it and see if I can get it to work ( the old school way )

Kinda like when I painted my motorcycle.. Do I know how to paint "NOPE", did I try it "YES", did it come out good "YES", it is all about just trying something.. you can read all you want but until you get outside and do it.. you have no idea what you are talking about..PERIOD
 
In 1986 I put a 280zx turbo motor/harness/5 speed trans and rear end in my 1984 maixma..the only info I had was a picture and short article feturing Paul Newmans identical Maxima that he had someone do the swap on. I'm sure the internet would have made this a lot easier. Hooray internet...booo trial and error.:driver:
 
BigBody79 said:
you can read how to do something 50 times on the internet, but when it comes down to it you have to just get it done. Too bad the internet won't do it for you.
Click to expand...

Sure it will.
"Hey, I'm buying pizza and beer for any and all that come over and help change my spark plugs."

You'd have a line out to the road from the keg in your garage with people willing to help. See the internet CAN do it for you.
:)
hehe

Of course the downside of it is how much MISinformation is out there too. Some areas even more than in 4x4's. Take a gander at a lot of the electronics/computer type forums. Fan boy's straight up lying to sound better. (Or that Prius forum talking about smoking sports cars off the line with their torque)
 
I think the internet is a vital tool nowadays for other reasons, primarily being how hard it is to find parts for the older rigs. ZERO local yards have any parts for trucks that old, and most remote yards don't either since they don't typically keep stuff that old. My 1969 K5 would be basically the same pile of crap it was when I bought it without the networking ability of the internet. Yay for the internet!
 
Yea, people do need to do a bit of self diagnostics first. That being said I've used the internet to buy cheap parts, tires, and find out a bunch of info just from reading others' posts.
 
The intarweb takes all my money and time, and gives me jeep junk back in return.
 
Rich got the jist of the topic.

My complaint is NOT with the net itself, it is with the folks who haven't put forth the effort to figure things out FIRST before whining about their "south pointing chariot" to others in hopes of a quick fix.

THe QUICK fix is to learn about what you have, and how it works. once you know that, you know how things are related and ways to possibly repair or at least make useable till a poroper fix is available.

I have no problems helping anyone, but if you're not going to put forth the effort to try and figure it out, I ain't got time to mess with it.

YES the web is an AWESOME resource, as are repair manuals, and salvage yards.
SEARCH, most anything ever done to a Jeep, Toyota, Chevy whatever has been posted on the Web SOMEHWERE.

THere are manuals available SOMEWHERE for most any vehicle. Many of us old timers figured out a LONG time ago that Manuals are a suggestion first and foremost, many times following a manual with lead you on a journey FAR beyond what you needed. ( Factory manuals a re VERY good at this )

THe ability to diag/troubleshoot is learned, it doesn't just happen, thought it is true some have an easier time of it than others. ( I'm one that has issues, I'll admit it)

WHile I didn't really want to get up on the soapbox abou this, YES it is something that has bothered me for some time. nobody or no one thing set it off.
 
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