Curse

Loviatar · Feb 03, 2006, 03:33 PM // 15:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by Old Dood

$555.00 is a good price for engine work. Yes...it stings to pay this out. However, remember...it is still cheaper then a monthly car payment. And didn't the Dood mention the thermostat?

.

hi DOOD

i used to do all my own engine work (except the machining)

start to finish less than 500 dollars for a complete fresh engine.

friday after work.......

rent cherry picker (borrowed engine stand)

clean out coolant,oil, remove hood ,radiator,misc small junk) go to bed

Saturday......

remove engine and trans (being sure to use old yoke to plug transmision so gear lube doesnt mess things up)
disassemble

Sunday....

put everything in trunk of parents car (big old ford)

Monday..........

drop off parts at machine shop before work

NEXT FRIDAY

pick up new/remachined parts after work

get shortblock bottom end assembled (LOTS of plastigauge)

Saturday reassemble whole engine and attach tranny

Sunday put everything back in car body

Monday drive it to work with a very good increase in power.

500 dollars MINUS a bit of change

those were the days.

rebuilt my 56 and a 64 as well

Old Dood · Feb 03, 2006, 04:03 PM // 16:03

Loviatar...You cannot meet my Wife.

Guys like you make me look bad.

Seriously...that is fantastic that you know how to do that stuff. I do admire people like you that can do that kind of work. By the time I just started figuring out how cars some what worked...they change the designs. Use to be I could do allot of stuff myself...simple things like changing oil, plugs, water pumps, alternators, etc. Now there is so much "plumbing" and chip boards that it isn't worth the effort. You need those $5K diagnostic panels to read the codes. I will hire it out. I have a good friend that is the son of the owner of a place called Denny's Auto Diagnosis. They are very good at what they do. He has on many occasions run a diagnostic on my cars for no charge. I can't stand that "Service Engine Soon" light.

I'll bet you do home improvements too. If that is the case you will never meet my wife. hehe

Loviatar · Feb 03, 2006, 04:24 PM // 16:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by Old Dood

I'll bet you do home improvements too. If that is the case you will never meet my wife. hehe

only small things that are easy.

last week my 25 year old moen bathroom sink fixture gave up the ghost.

56 and change from home depot and 30-45 minutes to R&R since i used a ratchet (love those deep sockets) instead of those miserable *special* wrenches they try to sell you.

saved mucho time by disconnecting at the shutoff and lifting it all out for east access and using flexable replacement hoses instead of the miserablr bend the copper tubing route. (been there, done that.......didnt like it)

only light stuff save the big stuff for the pros

Raptox · Feb 03, 2006, 04:39 PM // 16:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by Old Dood

That is why people Cuss!

Ha! Exactly.

The thing is, I kind of knew where my key was. I had been at Barcade (yes, a bar filled with old arcade games) the night before and realized my key was missing as soon as I got home. I called them immediately upon this realization, but they had closed.

Now, you're thinking, "well duh, the key was there, why did you get a new one made?" Well, I *could* have lost it on the way home (we walked). In fact, the way my life works, there were only two possible outcomes:

1. I get a new key made. Therefore, the lost key is definitely at the bar.
2. I do not get a new key made. Therefore, the lost key will never be found.

There is no grey area. When everything was said and done, I'd either have 2 keys or 0 keys.

Besides, I couldn't take chances, I had to drive 250 miles back to my house the next day because at that point I still lived in MD. I had to be 100% sure I had a working key or I would have been even more screwed.

Edit: Of course, I left off the end of the story. I got the new key made, called the bar, and of course they had my lost key. I picked it up that night, $200 poorer, and played some Super Mario Bros. The end.

Divinitys Creature · Feb 03, 2006, 09:39 PM // 21:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raptox

Hm, now that you mention it, my car is the same way. So I was wrong, my car can't be hotwired for this same reason.

I've lost my key before, so I'll fill you in on what happens. You call your Roadside Assistance, who sends out a vehicle locksmith. They have the ability to make you a new key and program it, but you have to have a special code for your key so they can program the chip. I was able to get this because I kept the little tags that came with my key in the owner's manual. $200 later I had a brand new key.

I then found my "lost" key that night. Pwned.

Now we just have to wait until someone comes up with a cheap aftermarket add-on that lets you bypass that crap and use regular keys :P I don't think it's even about fighting crime since you don't get an insurance discount, it's about ripping you off for $$$ for a new key :/

I pwnd U · Feb 04, 2006, 12:18 AM // 00:18

so turns out that the intake gasket on my car is in fact broken. Split in two right down the middle. so all the coolant was leaking into my engine and evaporating. hmm maybe if the idoits at the grease spot who said i had condensation in my engine could of put 2 and 2 together and realized that my intake gasket was broken maybe i could of saved this hassle. so yes it was the intake gasket as homer though, but i dont get my car back to RED ENGINE GORED ENGINE GORED ENGINE GORED ENGINE GOing monday. and i have places to go tomorrow and saturday and no way to get there... but homer did give us a HUGE discount on labor prices. he charged us like $50 an hour i think on labor instead of $200... only good break out of the stupid thing. hope its fixed for good once i get it back monday...

Loviatar · Feb 04, 2006, 12:35 AM // 00:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by I pwnd U

so yes it was the intake gasket as homer though, but i dont get my car back to RED ENGINE GORED ENGINE GORED ENGINE GORED ENGINE GOing monday. and i have places to go tomorrow and saturday and no way to get there... but homer did give us a HUGE discount on labor prices. he charged us like $50 an hour i think on labor instead of $200... only good break out of the stupid thing. hope its fixed for good once i get it back monday...

i used to swap intakes on a weekend and call it fun.

gaskets were a few bucks and it took a couple hours.

if my neighbour with the small block vet was swaping for something more radical guess who got the old parts for swaping in?

mnifolds, cams, even his old posi 12 bolt fit

I pwnd U · Feb 04, 2006, 12:47 AM // 00:47

lol gee lovitar where were u when i needed? it still takes a couple hours but with my car you have to replace all the gaskets so they cost $100 for all of them. i usually do all the work on my car since its just cheaper. but this whole overheating and losing coolant thing was befuddeling me so i took it to my good family friend, homer. he happens to be the best mechanic around and a great guy. hes known my family for the longest time. so he figured it out and is getting it fixed for a good price. so the only reason im complaining is cause i have stuff to do and my parents are gone all weekend so i have no way to get anywhere. o well once this is fixed i do believe that its fixed for awhile.

Loviatar · Feb 04, 2006, 12:55 AM // 00:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by I pwnd U

but this whole overheating and losing coolant thing was befuddeling me .

the most befuddling one i had was a oil gallery plug that was leaking past the rear of the head gasket.

those things never leak so i was going crazy,

clean the whole rear of the engine antiseptically clean start it for as long as it took to reach max oil pressure then duated it with baby powder and found it.

head job and reassemble and good to go (needed valve grind anyway)

I pwnd U · Feb 04, 2006, 12:59 AM // 00:59

*jaw drops to floor*

my gosh WHERE ARE U!!!!! you could of solved all my problems with my car probably. course Dood has been more then helpful in identifying the problem(half the battle right there

) next time my car has a problem im gonna make sure i post it here and hope you and Dood reply. that way Dood can identify the problem and you can tell me how to fix it!!

Old Dood · Feb 04, 2006, 02:29 AM // 02:29

*Chuckle* Thank you for the vote of confidence. I only use reason and years and years of paying through the nose and making wrong decisions. Trust me on this...I am no mechanic by a long shot. You just learn to listen to your car...it will usually warn you ahead of time when something goes wrong. Seems like you have a good guy right there...Homer! Homer is a good name of a guy that can fix a vehicle. I do not know Homer from Adam...but I already Like Homer!

I will warn you of this....took me awhile to realize never go to a Quickie Lube place. Never...ever... 9 times out of 10 you will get the "new guy" that knows nothing of your car. And/Or he will have a "Buzz" on while working on your car.

He will forget to put back in the oil plug or strip the threads on it....then bye-bye engine! I take my car to the same place I take it to get major fixes. It might cost me $10-$15 more....the oil is quality and so is the service. Even a Dealership is better to change your oil...more of a time consumer....more of a hassle....but peace of mind.

Also when Homer works on your car...ask him questions. Watch him do the work. I'll bet he would not mind explaining what he knows. I'll bet he takes pride in his work and would share his knowledge. Also when he tears down your engine he might find something else that needs fixing in that area...that is when you get that done too. Cheaper to pay for labor once...parts as you have learned are not that expensive compared to the labor.

Loviatar · Feb 04, 2006, 02:37 AM // 02:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Old Dood

*Cheaper to pay for labor once...parts as you have learned are not that expensive compared to the labor.

have you had the one about the 75 cent *o* ring on the front pump shaft on a ford 3 speed auto that you have to pull the tranny to replace?

75 cents parts 90 dollars labor as a friend

Old Dood · Feb 04, 2006, 02:42 AM // 02:42

No...can't say I have. I was never a Ford guy. (I do like the new Five Hundred tho)

I have been a Buick Dood most of my life. Poor Man's Caddy!

I pwnd U · Feb 04, 2006, 02:56 AM // 02:56

As it is i do sit there and talk to Homer and ask him questions. When i took my car in after i was losing coolant i sat and talked with him about it for a good 20 minutes about what was wrong and how he would fix it. I really have learned a ton about cars from him, my grandpa, and my dad. I will tell you though that without my grandpa this car would never actually get to the shop without getting towed. Atleast 4 times he has come and helped me get it started or atleast safe to drive to the shop. When my car was overheating before we got my thermostat changed he came and helped me get water in the coolant overflow tank so i could drive it the 15 miles to homers. He has helped me so many times and I would be lost without him. He has taught me so much about my car and how to fix it. Now when my sister needs something fixed in her car i look at it and usually can fix it. My dad is really busy so I am usually the one running places to get cars fixed. My grandpa has been such a blessing to always be able to come help me when i cant figure out whats wrong with a car or I am having problems myself. My dad has defiently taught me a ton as well. Though he has taught me more about home repairs and fix ups more then cars. All and all my grandpa and dad have taught me a ton, but they dont know everything so Homer helps fill in the gaps. So when I start my own family ill have a good head start on how to fix most anything.

Loviatar · Feb 04, 2006, 02:58 AM // 02:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by Old Dood

No...can't say I have. I was never a Ford guy. (I do like the new Five Hundred tho)

I have been a Buick Dood most of my life. Poor Man's Caddy!

my parents 55 galexy with the c6 tranny

i am a chevy person since my 56 cheby

broke the 3 speed until i upgraded to the muncie close ratio.

first engine rebuild was when i sucked an oil ring into the oil pan (had a ring ridge you wouldnt believe) and took out the top compression rings (small overrev)

rear end went poof when the rear was subjected to severe wheel hop (before the traction bars) and took out the spider gears

and so on

Dash · Feb 04, 2006, 03:09 AM // 03:09

Hey Old Dude, I noticed that you live in Lansing, I'm from Williamston...sup bro!

-Dash

I pwnd U · Feb 04, 2006, 03:28 AM // 03:28

Dash you should be more respectful of Dood. He is a well respected member of this community and deserves more respect then to be called Dude.

Anyways Loviatar, I am sorry that you were never able to have a grandparent to be there to help you through your hardest years. I have recently started reading a book called Tuesdays With Morrie. I am sure some of you have read it. If you haven't it is about a guy who has contracted ALS, a disease that slowly kills you. This guy (Morrie) was a college proffesor. He was well adored by all who he taught. One person he touched (Mitch Albom author of the book) went and visited Morrie every Tuesday until he passed away. It talks alot about death. It has made me start thinking about how fragile life really is. My grandparents are in there 70's and the thought of them dying just seems so inconviable right now. I cannot even imagine the pain if i lost one of them. I guess at some point I just kinda saw them as always being there. As it is my grandpa suffered a heart attack one night. But God blessed us as it was not fatal. Ever since then we have always been concerened over the little things. What he eats and his blood pressure and so on. He has been such an influence on my life that all the memories I have of him will always be with me. When he does pass away I know I will be greatly saddened and depressed but i will know he has gone to a better place with God. However I could never get back the time I have spent with him, all the times we have shared, all the things he has taught me, and all the memories we have, everyday that i wake up I thank the Lord. Everyday that i live i thank the Lord for giving me such a loving family and i can only hope i can be a half as good of a grandpa and dad that my dad and grandpa have been to me. I wish that you had got to spend more time with your grandparents Loviatar, they are a real blessing to peoples lives. If you havent noticed already i already do and always wil cherish my grandparents.

Ultimate Warrior · Feb 04, 2006, 05:30 AM // 05:30

Down with Ford!! Mopar FTW

Jeez pwnd your car has lots of problems.

I pwnd U · Feb 04, 2006, 05:38 AM // 05:38

ya it does but we are hoping that this will fix it up for awhile since we cant think of anything else that can break. casue we have pretty much fixed everything in this car, practially a whole new car in fact lol now that weve done so much to it. so hopefully its fixed for awhile. *fingers crossed*

Lord Iowerth · Feb 04, 2006, 05:14 PM // 17:14

I've lived a few places, and live currently in Atlanta ... I have to say that we have, by far, some of the worst drivers ever put behind the wheel of a car.

I have my daily driver gas-getter small foreign car, and i've been in 3 accidents within the last year (none of which were my fault). I have two other beautiful restored classic cars, and I fear taking them out of the neighborhood

To everyone who is frustrated with drivers, and wished that you could inform you of their displeasure, is invited to visit the following link:

EDIT: on second thought, there are some strong words right on the main page. PM me if you want a link (very, very cool stuff)

Brief description: flip book of 42 different sayings, such as "Get out of the fast lane, moron!" for different automotive situations, printed large enough to see from another car, printed normal on one side, and mirror image on the reverse (so you can show to someone in their rear-view): all indexed by tabs on the side.