BY AL FREELAND

I really enjoy the Defeat of Jesse James Day’s auto show every year.   I like it for the same reasons that many “old people” like me revel in the event!!!    It is a walk down memory lane, a time to feel a bit younger as you identify with the machines that grew to be an extension of your body and seem still young, and for me and a few others walking around it was because of “simplicity”. 

The best way to describe what I mean by “simplicity” is as follows: 

1. I was talking with a gentleman that had rebuilt a Model-T Ford.  He gave a fascinating rendition of how Henry Ford had made a very usable car for the masses.  He said that Ford fine tuned the car engine and transmission to a point that is basically the same functional engine and transmission that exists in today’s cars. Once Ford developed the new oiling system, planetary gear transmission, and the basics that are still in our cars today, he stuck with it.  To make the massive sales he had, he just kept reducing the prices, making the Model T almost impossible to not buy; keeping all other competitors at bay.   He built millions of them until he was forced to update the technologies in 1927 when the Model A was released (I think I got the facts right).  The exhibition gentlemen had all the facts about the evolution of the Model-T which made for a fantastic visit.  It was the “keep it simple stupid” or KISS method of manufacturing, marketing and success.
2. Next, as I was walking over to a 1930 Pontiac that caught my eye, I overheard a couple of guys looking at some other older cars who were saying the same thing I had said all day long, “would you look at this Sam – can you believe how simple these engines were – no junk hanging all over it like today!”  Their point was proven all the more when I strolled over to the 1930 Pontiac.  One of the side hoods were raised showing the rebuilt and uncluttered engine (see the picture above).  I think you would agree with me if you were standing by my side, that this engine was designed for easy access and maintenance of all of the major engine wear-parts, including:  the spark plugs easily positioned on top of the engine, starter, generator, gas filter, water pump, manifolds, distributor, and carburetor.  I could touch, remove and replace these all with a couple of wrenches and a couple minutes effort.

I would like to make my point crystal clear by telling my “spark plug story” about my Dodge Stratus.  The car was an excellent, fun car to drive.  I literally didn’t even replace brakes or tires for about 70,000 miles.  I was going to sell the car to a friend so I thought I would get it tuned up for them.  I got a quote to replace the 6 spark plugs.  Just the plug change was $350!!!  It appears that they need to loosen the motor mounts (or remove?) and rock the engine forward to get one’s hand between the motor and firewall to get to the back 3 plugs.  Can you imagine the maniacal engineer that would design the need for such a procedure?  I hate to be critical since I do love new car’s electronic ignition and their ability to start in cold temperature.  But I just have to ask WHY – WHY – WHY!!!   Don’t tell me that all of the complications could not be designed out so that a common guy could still service the engines.   

New cars today are undoubtedly designed to mandatorily be taken into a dealer for work that in the past could very simply be done by the home mechanic.  I think that most would agree with me that there are few opportunities to be home mechanics today.  We are all servants of instead of masters of the car.  They are no longer something that we master, control, and use to obtain a sense of power.  We are diminished by them instead of empowered.  

My last little experiment is to ask you car owners to do this: 

Go raise the hood of your car (if you can)

Very quickly, locate the spark plugs for me

Then find the distributor

Then tell me the displacement of your engine

Now tell me if you have ever changed the oil in your car (and if so, wasn’t it fun to get the hidden oil filter off!!)

If you are really lucky – now tell me if you can see the battery J  On my car you have to remove the front tire, crank the wheels over, and remove a hidden door!!) 

If you could answer all or any of the questions above, I would be surprised!  Some of these are trick questions of course (no more distributors or points). 

I am sure that many of you have some snappy responses about the need to protect the engine for meddling “shade tree mechanics”, change to utilize electronic controls and sensors, and the configurations were necessary because of government regulations, and so forth.  You may be right – that that STILL doesn’t make me confident that the engine’s evolution couldn’t have taken a different tack to make us still be masters of the machine!