With the help and moral support of a few local car mechanics... (btw I highly recommend 67gto, TonyS, Tony(TJ), NJJim's shops), figured out the issue my car was having was a misfire... went ahead and replaced the plugs.... well, half of them, 3 of them are hidden under the intake manifold, and while I was at it changed the cabin filter and a few bulbs that went bad.

 

As a prize, got myself yet more tools from Lowes... although I think they are going back for Craftsmans.

 

Just wanted to share.

Ahh, the satisfaction of doing your own auto repairs. I do all of mine. I suggest getting on of the haines manuals for your car/truck. they help a lot. Once you do it once you realize its not hard. having the right tools makes all of the difference. Just think how much you will save on brakes!! You should attack those rear plugs. Change them all at the same time. Do it on the weekend if you need more time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

With the help and moral support of a few local car mechanics... (btw I highly recommend 67gto, TonyS, Tony(TJ), NJJim's shops), figured out the issue my car was having was a misfire... went ahead and replaced the plugs.... well, half of them, 3 of them are hidden under the intake manifold, and while I was at it changed the cabin filter and a few bulbs that went bad.

 

As a prize, got myself yet more tools from Lowes... although I think they are going back for Craftsmans.

 

Just wanted to share.

Glad it worked out.....

Will be visiting the shop on Sat to get the rest done.

 

I have done alot of work on my old Z28.... on the DOHC... having to take the intake manifold off to change the plugs is nuts... at least to me.

 

On the Z, and the Mazda, have done breaks, suspension, mounts, full intakes, throttle bodies, replaced the lighting system to an HID with new projectors.

 

Only stuff I shied away from was exhaust... since no weld machines... and obviously mounting and balancing tires. And not going to lift the valve covers or the tranny any time soon. lol. I know my limits, and yes, have a service manual for both.

I wish i had a garage...nothing worse than changing oil on a cold and windy day. Glad i got that over with.

I felt that way when I managed to lock my Walther P22 with the hammer back. There is a fix, but after that doesn't work the next step is to send it to S&W for service. Not wanting to pay 40 bucks to ship it I took the whole thing apart. After a few days of tinkering I got it back together. I treated myself to a Dremel to continue improvements. Just felt like saying...

I tell you - I never used to do anything on cars until I got my Scion (you've seen it). Now I do almost all of my work by myself. Spark plugs, brakes, oil changes, etc. You can save so much money by doing it all yourself.

I wish i had a garage...nothing worse than changing oil on a cold and windy day. Glad i got that over with.

 

 

What do you think I just did?

 

Did all that stuff outside, in whatever it is outside now.

 

But it does suck.... and in turn, waiting for a house with a garage to really get serious.

I wish i had a garage...nothing worse than changing oil on a cold and windy day. Glad i got that over with.

 

Heh... I've swapped 3engines now in driveways.

ahah. I remember 3 years ago when we bought our house. I was so excited to have a 2 car garage. It was fill ed with kids toys. Dont think i could even get a car in there. I know my 86 blazer wont even fit. Maybe id i let some air out of the tires...

 

 

 

What do you think I just did?

 

Did all that stuff outside, in whatever it is outside now.

 

But it does suck.... and in turn, waiting for a house with a garage to really get serious.

ahah. I remember 3 years ago when we bought our house. I was so excited to have a 2 car garage. It was fill ed with kids toys. Dont think i could even get a car in there. I know my 86 blazer wont even fit. Maybe id i let some air out of the tires...

 

When its time for me to upgrade i have to be disciplined enough to make the garage my territory. I want it to be my gun shop/car shop all in one. I especially want an epoxy coated floor so incase any oilspillage occurs i have nothing to worry about. Last weekend i pulled the oil drain plug at exactly the same time a 200000mph gust of wind decided to come through.... my drive way looks terrible now.

and I'm the complete opposite. I use to do EVERYTHING myself except rebuilding a transmission. Now I don't do anything myself except an oil change and the occasional brake job. Everything else gets taken to good ole Mr. Troy and his buddies at the GM dealer fix me up. I'm done with the days of crawling on the ground getting greasy for no reason.

I changed my air freshner hanging on my mirror once

I used to do most of the work on my cars, back in the dinosaur days when a tuneup meant changing plugs & points, resetting timing with a light and manual.

 

I don't do much any more. Too many systems are interdependent and computer controlled, and I'm not really interested in turning a simple DIY job into an expensive shop one. I'll still do the occasional brake job, though.

This reminds me that I've had my winter car in the garage for over a month now as I procrastinate and put off working on the cooling system (I HATE coolant).

 

I've spent a fair bit of time busting knuckles and rubbing rust out of my eyes. Swapped a semi-built VQ35 into my 96 Maxima. Swapped the auto for a 5spd. Put a Quaife ATB LSD in that 5spd a year later. Suspension, brakes, complete interior swap. Fun times but sadly, I don't have the time nor the money to fund both cars and guns.

Kobalt tools actually come from the same factory as Craftsman. Read the fine print on the back, they also have the same lifetime warranty. However, the lifetime warranty is known more at Sears than Lowes, I have seen someone get a hard time for trying to return a broken tool at Lowes. I personally always go for Craftsman if I can, but certainly will not hesitate to pick up a tool from Lowes if I need the tool NOW.

I wrenched enough from 14 to 25 to last me a lifetime. I'll do simple things like a battery or serpentine belt but the rest of it I'm done with. I don't do oil just because I don't have anywhere to put it. Back home in Ohio I used to pour it on the driveway.

 

My life time limit of pulling engines has been reached. I used to work for a guy who did MG midget repairs and we used to lift the engines out with a steel pipe and a chain. Why? I don't know, the gantry was right there...it just was easier for us to muscle it out. It probably is why I have multiple herniated discs in my back. It was either that or lifting heads on and off of the various race cars whenever a head gasket blew or we were working on porting and polishing. Small block heads aren't such a big deal but 454 heads were a struggle.

 

As for brakes, if something is stuck and you need a torch, it becomes really frustrating when you're sitting on your butt in the driveway and hunting for tools you used two years ago when you did the last brake job. Bah, I'll just pay Midas to rip me off and be done with it.

I wrenched enough from 14 to 25 to last me a lifetime. I'll do simple things like a battery or serpentine belt but the rest of it I'm done with. I don't do oil just because I don't have anywhere to put it. Back home in Ohio I used to pour it on the driveway.

 

My life time limit of pulling engines has been reached. I used to work for a guy who did MG midget repairs and we used to lift the engines out with a steel pipe and a chain. Why? I don't know, the gantry was right there...it just was easier for us to muscle it out. It probably is why I have multiple herniated discs in my back. It was either that or lifting heads on and off of the various race cars whenever a head gasket blew or we were working on porting and polishing. Small block heads aren't such a big deal but 454 heads were a struggle.

 

As for brakes, if something is stuck and you need a torch, it becomes really frustrating when you're sitting on your butt in the driveway and hunting for tools you used two years ago when you did the last brake job. Bah, I'll just pay Midas to rip me off and be done with it.

 

 

You do know any Walmart, Pep Boys, etc can recycle that oil for you for free... right?

You do know any Walmart, Pep Boys, etc can recycle that oil for you for free... right?

 

+1 - I go right to the Autozone around the corner and just walk in to the back and pour it into their tank. I buy the 5 quart jugs at Walmart (cheapcheap!) and use the empties to hold the old oil.

You do know any Walmart, Pep Boys, etc can recycle that oil for you for free... right?

 

Closest place to take oil is 20-30 minutes away. Place in my town takes it but charges.

 

That plus the mess makes...not worth to me. plus my place gives me a free car wash with oil change.

Closest place to take oil is 20-30 minutes away. Place in my town takes it but charges.

 

That plus the mess makes...not worth to me. plus my place gives me a free car wash with oil change.

 

there is no walmart within 20 mins of you?!?!?!!?

there is no walmart within 20 mins of you?!?!?!!?

 

That is correct. The one in Franklin is 25 minutes because of the horrendous traffic even though it's only about 14 miles.

 

I can get to the one at 287/23 in about 27-30 at around 19 miles. Traffic is a pita.

WOW. I think there are at least 6 walmarts for me within 25 mins.

I've done a lot of stuff myself. As I'm getting older, I pick and choose what I want to do. Craftsman tools are okay but I like Snap On stuff. Especially for wrenches and ratchets.

 

I'm picky tool wise. In tools, you get what you pay for.

I need to find someone with a waste oil burner, I have a lot of old oil to get rid of.

 

I had a friend who had one in a welding shop, but he became a victim of the economy and had to close up.

I've done a lot of stuff myself. As I'm getting older, I pick and choose what I want to do. Craftsman tools are okay but I like Snap On stuff. Especially for wrenches and ratchets.

 

I'm picky tool wise. In tools, you get what you pay for.

 

I have a love hate relationship with snap on tools.. I have invested alot of money into snap on tools, problem is the drivers of these trucks do not do well handeling cash and they go out of buisness in short periods of time last time around no dealer for 3 years now you have to mail in broken tools and wait for replacements or drive to another dealer might as well just have craftsmann tools, so now i have both...

Tony,

 

I have three drivers that border where I work. I bought a new box on a truck account off one and the other is just awesome. I never mail stuff back, I just drop meet up with him. If you need stuff swapped out, let me know and I will get it done for you.

I changed heads on Knapp St and Emmons Ave in Brooklyn - not because I wanted to but because I had to. I have had my share of wrenching.

I changed heads on Knapp St and Emmons Ave in Brooklyn - not because I wanted to but because I had to. I have had my share of wrenching.

What the hell were you doing in my old neighborhood?

What the hell were you doing in my old neighborhood?

 

Driving to my fiance's in Hempstead. Belt Parkway = FML