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Are we driving dinosaurs?

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  • Are we driving dinosaurs?

    I know a few people who work on the old cars and a couple who have restored them and all the cars are pre-electronic. I know I had a devil of a time some years and miles ago with the dealership using the unavailability of modules and supporting connectors to excuse themselves for being unable to repair almost anything that relied on replacement parts for computer repairs. I did have access to a company with a girl who seemed able to find almost anything, electrical and otherwise. It has changed hands and I am at the mercy of my Honda dealer who is doing ok up to now but I worry about the future of this old bird. Does anybody think there is a future for these computer controlled cars as reparable collector cars? I know the Ford dealer told me even the main module for the TBirds was unavailable and un-rebuildable and yet my now no longer available mechanic of ten years ago was able to get one at that time...now...who knows? Are we just waiting for the end of the line or is there a chance we will begin to see Motor Trend shows with car geeks restoring old non gas burners?

  • #2
    I have a FORD certified electrical engineer on staff that exclusively rebuilds 2002-2005 Thunderbird modules. Our normal turnaround is under 7days

    www.TbirdBob.com

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    • #3
      Interesting, Brad, do you do a lot of these? My question was related to the restoration industry. I have never seen on any of the Motor Trend shows a rebuild or restoration of anything with computers. Even the early fuel injection was mechanical although I have seen, I think on Wheeler Dealers, fuel injection kits that come with a small computer and wondered if this was going to be the future for restorations, individual systems with a standardized control module. I mean, even a multimillion dollar 2023 Maserati will need restoration someday and somebody will have to be in the business of supplying parts if there is a collector market. I wonder why that hasn't started already if it is going to be possible.

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      • #4
        We rebuilt about 20 modules last week. I also work on early solid state pinball machines (late 1970's). There are guys that work on Bally computer boards and others that specialize in Williams. Some popular boards that were used in many machines/years are being remanufactured brand new, you select the correct game with dip switches.

        Although the Retro Tbird boards can be rebuilt the boards in new cars cannot due to the way they are now manufactured and with your example of a 2023 Maserati there won't be enough volume to justify anyone remanufacturing them

        The issues could be overcome if manufacturers would use standardized boards but they are built as "one-offs" by the lowest bidder

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        • #5
          Interesting man you Bob

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          • #6
            Brad, thanks for the info. Are you saying that most of new cars are essentially obsolete but that the retro birds can go on for years being repaired electronically or are the TBirds in the same kind of electronic graveyard that most of the other cars built around the early 2000's will eventually be on? I haven't had any electronic problems since 2010 when I had the original module replaced and I'm at 130k. Thanks again.

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