Anyone else work on their own vehicles?

Does anybody else keep their car this clean underneath after 22 years?
 

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I used to work on other peoples cars on the side, then after I retired I found getting out from underneath was getting hard to do. My back doesn't like leaning over fenders either. I still do my own though. I do work on small engine stuff for friends yet. They are 3D puzzles. Sometimes I get a chainsaw all taken apart and in a box. Once an atv was delivered in two truck loads. You never know what challenge someone will bring next.
 
Work on my own vehicles? Naa. Not so much anymore. 2010 Ford Explorer SportTrac. Changing wiper blades and paper element air filter is the extent of my capability. Cost of paper element air filters may drive me back to using a K&N re-useable, though.

Still have all my 60s era service tools. Think often of bundling the whole lot of them and selling on Ebay. Lately been considering emptying my small roll-cab and putting all those old tools into it and selling it as a "60s service roller."
 
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stretch5881 said:
I used to work on other peoples cars on the side, then after I retired I found getting out from underneath was getting hard to do. My back doesn't like leaning over fenders either. I still do my own though. I do work on small engine stuff for friends yet. They are 3D puzzles. Sometimes I get a chainsaw all taken apart and in a box. Once an atv was delivered in two truck loads. You never know what challenge someone will bring next.
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Me too, not now though. Where I'm from this is known as, "Doing a foreigner", and or "I've got a foreigner on".
 
Magna-Carta said:
For some reason, every time I look at the pictures you post I wonder if you have ever been to the Goodwood Revival? Where many people get dressed in a past era and immerse themselves in it. Which reminds me, I need to get my tickets.

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Magna-Carta said:
For some reason, every time I look at the pictures you post I wonder if you have ever been to the Goodwood Revival? Where many people get dressed in a past era and immerse themselves in it. Which reminds me, I need to get my tickets.

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A great event that now attracts thousands, many from around the globe. My neighbour will be there for sure and as it is right on my doorstep I would join you if I could, but alas old age walking ability and pain have robbed me of such pleasures. Still, never mind, nobody lasts forever, and if nothing else a person can think, been there, done that in past times. Perhaps I should advertise for a driver, young blonde who does not mind pushing a wheelchair.
Meanwhile, my brother is being kind enough to flood me with current Le Man's car pictures.

Nice to see we have a few petrol heads on here combined with the stately restorers.
 
Magna-Carta said:
For some reason, every time I look at the pictures you post I wonder if you have ever been to the Goodwood Revival? Where many people get dressed in a past era and immerse themselves in it. Which reminds me, I need to get my tickets.

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The Goodwood Revival, where do I start? We certainly do Goodwood and Retrofestival, and Twinwood, as well as Shake & Stir, and so much more. Don't be shy, come and say hello.
 
454 engine with a fairly stout cam and domed pistons. Hooked to a super T-10 borg warner 4 speed. Front end has tubular A-arms top and bottom, rack and pinion power steering, cpp power front disc brake's, New Station wagon rear leaf springs and overload shocks, and front coil over's.


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Way back in the way back...the 70s...I got a certificate in basic auto mechanics because I worked for a diesel engine manufacturer and thought it would be good to learn the push-me-pull-you theory of internal combustion engines.

What kept us honest in school was that we had to work on our own cars. Fine. There was an instructor right there to help out.

I did most of my own stuff for a while once I was through with school until I tried to rebuild a carburetor. Um. The rebuild kit cost around $10 and had a zillion gaskets. Start at the beginning repacing them meanwhile cleaning as you go, right? Pffft.

My apartment smelled of gasoline for weeks because there was nowhere else to undertake the rebuild effort.

When I got done, the car was just fine as long as it was running, but whenever I had to stop, it wouldn't start again. Sigh. It cost $75 to have it done right by a mechanic. $75 was a lot of money in those days. Diesel engines didn't have careburetors anyway. And cars now are fuel injected.

One day I overhead the chief engineer at the company where I worked instructing a new class of diesel engine mechanics: "When you don't know what you're doing, keep your hands off!" said in his heavy German accent. So I kept my hands off except to change my oil.

That two-year certificate testified that I understood theory and passed all the exams but not that knew what I was doing. I didn't frame it.
 
Magna-Carta said:
There you go; what a beauty!

So go on, what engine do you have in it, and have you done anything 'special' to the engine.
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The hardest part of working on the car is protecting the paint from my greasy, clumsy hands, (lots of blankets to keep tools off) and having to pull my shoes off when working inside so I don't scuff the interior with them big ole work boots.

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See? That's another thing. All the GoJo in the world doesn't get the oil and grease out of your hands and from under your nails (in my case, from under my manicured nails).
 
squatting dog said:
454 engine with a fairly stout cam and domed pistons. Hooked to a super T-10 borg warner 4 speed. Front end has tubular A-arms top and bottom, rack and pinion power steering, cpp power front disc brake's, New Station wagon rear leaf springs and overload shocks, and front coil over's.


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I'm not familiar with the phrase, "stout cam". Maybe I'm from the wrong part of the world. But anyway, is this in reference to lobe separation and or the valve overlap period? Causing that slightly erratic idle I like to hear. Maybe more lift too?

454ci, would that be from the 70's?

Interesting what you have done to the front end. Do you feel the rear might need some form of a better location, an A-Frame perhaps to stop sideways movement of the axle on the springs? Or do you feel it's not necessary?
 
squatting dog said:
The hardest part of working on the car is protecting the paint from my greasy, clumsy hands, (lots of blankets to keep tools off) and having to pull my shoes off when working inside so I don't scuff the interior with them big ole work boots.

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I really did laugh out loud when I saw this. šŸ˜

I've been in some strange positions in cars too. Strictly in a vehicle maintenance, repair, and renovation sense that is; he says sheepishly. And also when trying to listen to and trying to locate squeaks and rattles with my legs up in the air whilst someone else is driving. Much to the amusement of other road users. And even the police on one occasion. "No officer, this isn't my usual sitting position in a car as a passenger".
 
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squatting dog said:
The hardest part of working on the car is protecting the paint from my greasy, clumsy hands, (lots of blankets to keep tools off) and having to pull my shoes off when working inside so I don't scuff the interior with them big ole work boots.

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I really do like the hairdo when you're upside down....speaking as a beautician with no ulterior motive or flirtation intended.
(Yeah, right) Well....I'm harmless.
 

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