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My ‘65 coupe was an L76. The only thing in the driveline that survived was the M21. It had a CE low HP engine, diff from a ‘77, and a poorly repaired hole where the rear ujoint came apart.
Yep, that’s a piece of aluminum sheet poorly fit to cover the hole. Still on my list to repair.
Back in the 1970s I had a rear ujoint let go on a 1966 coupe, and I can assure you it is not a nice sound or a pretty sight. The '65 I have now had two holes cut for speakers many years ago and the previous owner did a crappy coverup job. I have been lucky to get my hands on some OEM glass parts just in case I have a half shaft or another driveshaft failure. Got the parts in the attic waiting for another day to use them.
When I was a kid, the free air came from a hose protruding from the base of the pump island itself. There were little rubber wheels on all four sides so you could pull it out and reach all four tires.
Of course, back then there was another air-filled hose running across the ground to alert the attendant when you drove up...
About 20 years ago I looked at a 67 big block coupe for a guy. It had Delco air shocks on it, under the hood there was a little compressor and hanging from the dash a little dial that controlled the compressor. With that set up there was no need to find a gas station. In looking further I found the car had a sagging rear spring and a shot pinion bushing and at some point the drive shaft had beat the heck out of the tunnel in the jack compartment. I guess a previous owner had found it easier or cheaper to add the compressor and air shocks, than to properly repairing it.
My first car was a 71 El Camino, it came with factory installed air shocks.
When I was a kid, the free air came from a hose protruding from the base of the pump island itself. There were little rubber wheels on all four sides so you could pull it out and reach all four tires.
Of course, back then there was another air-filled hose running across the ground to alert the attendant when you drove up...
And, just to the right of that air hose was a water hose to top off your radiator. Great picture
Ding ding ! I'll never forget that sound. My 1st steady job was working at a Sinclar station and I gave away those little plastic dinosours. Dino ! Woah,I just stepped in the wayback machine. Sorry
Everything above is soooooooooooooo familiar. I also worked at a FULL service station the summers of 1957 and 58, between the 7-8 grade and between 8-9 grade.
Put in $1.00 gas (4-5 gal), Check the oil and water, check tire pressure, wipe the windshield. Tire gauge in my shirt pocket, red rag in back pocket. It was a 2-bay station (as above), one bay with a lift for oil changes and greasing, the other bay was for washing cars. Tires were broken down and and changed and flats fixed by hand. I have one of those ancient tire machines in my garage. It gets occasional use.
I found that pic online of the gas station air meter with the Sinclair logos. Thus, I have no answer about the door behind it.
I, too, worked in a full-service gas station while in high school. Tire gauge and ball-point pen in the shirt pocket, red rag in right hip pocket, belt-mounted coin changer with rubber coating to protect fenders. There was an oil rack and spout between the pumps, next to the credit card imprinter. Blue jugs of water for radiators, and black self-stopping bottles of water for batteries. Squeeze squirt bottles and paper towels for windshields. And, of course the air activated driveway alert bell, with the black hoses that ran across the driveway at the ends of the pump islands.
After high school, I moved into the service bays as a mechanic. Somewhat surprisingly, that old Exxon station still exists, and it still has three active service bays that haven't yet been converted into a convenience store. The old air meter was removed long ago. I have no idea who owns the place now, and it's been decades since I've stopped in there, but I roll past it occasionally. I have many, many memories - some good, some not - of that place and those times.
I'd love to have one of those old air meters in my garage, but OMG, the prices they are pulling on E-bay will stun a guy.
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18-‘19-'20-'21-'22-'23-'24
Originally Posted by SJW
I'd love to have one of those old air meters in my garage, but OMG, the prices they are pulling on E-bay will stun a guy.
Live well,
SJW
You're not kidding! Looks like repro's are at least $700, originals $3,000 - $4,000 or so.
Depending on the station and timeframe, don't forget another item in your pocket - the pad of green stamps to hand out. If you forgot to ask "Do you save the stamps?", most customers would remind you, vigorously!
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18-‘19-'20-'21-'22-'23-'24
Originally Posted by silver837
. after checking your oil .
Of course back then cars didn't have inside hood releases, you could just open it up without asking. And it was amazing how many cars were being driven around down a quart.
When I was a kid, I remember a white Ford Torino in our neighborhood..... Keystone Classic wheels, and the back end jacked up..... had one of these stickers on the bumper......
Serious racers didn't use a t-fitting to the shocks....you ran a separate line to each one to adjust pressure to level the car on the launch. Adjustable shocks sorta at the time. They actually worked decent on cars that twisted a lot.
No money back then but bought a set of recapped tires for my Edsel, $9.95 ea. at my local Fina station. The owner let me work it off by running the station on Independence Day, July 4, 1964. I repaired tires when I didn’t have a gas customer.
I remember he had a chamois that was big, heavy, and thick, great for wiping windshields. Could never find one like it.
I read the posted stories and smile. I had air shocks in my 65 GTO. I needed them to add clearance for the Mickey Thompson L-60-15s I had in the back with Keystone mags. In high school and college, I worked at a local Shell and Mobil station. I would perform full service on cars that came in for gas. We even filled the battery with water. Occasionally I would get a tip of 25 or 50 cents. Enough for a gallon or two of fuel. Jerry
02-11-2024, 01:38 PM
It reminds me of the door to one of one of the boilers on the Titanic.
