tricks and tips time savers

Author Topic: tricks and tips time savers  (Read 2660 times)

Offline BIG MIKE

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tricks and tips time savers
« on: February 17, 2004 - 09:42:32 PM »
i thought it would be nice to start a post that would tell the tricks and tips of working on cars. that way we could all gain more ideas when things become a pain.

i'll start with a couple i had to use last week


PILOT BUSHING

pack grease in the center of the pilot bushing, take big punch (or extra clutch alignment tool) that is real close the size of the hole and hit it with a hammer...the grease on the inside will push the bushing out. the only bad thing is you have to clean the grease out after, but it save alot of time.

PACKING WHEEL BEARINGS

this is a little messy but you'll know you got the grease in the bearings

put some grease in the palm of your hand, take the bearing where the big end it down and keep pushing it at the edge of the grease(like you would cut cheese with a wire cheese cutter) till you see grease push out the top, then turn the bearing and repeat..when you think you got it all, lay it flat in the palm of your hand and push down..you should see a full circle of grease push out..then your good to go...i just like this way cause you can see it has grease..

INSTALLING PILOT BUSHING AND OTHER BUSHINGS

put it in the freezer....this contracts it some to help the install be less difficult and less chance of the bushing getting messed  up.
it is more useful in the summer/warm weather or a heated garage


 




Offline Chryco Psycho

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Re:tricks and tips time savers
« Reply #1 on: February 18, 2004 - 01:23:17 AM »
Good Idea Mike
 Use a piece of coat hanger or welding rod along the top of the rocker shaftpedastals to hold the pushrods up while installing the rockers
« Last Edit: April 03, 2004 - 10:14:15 PM by Chryco Psycho »

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Offline BIG MIKE

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Re:tricks and tips time savers
« Reply #2 on: February 18, 2004 - 03:10:37 AM »
i thought we could learn some new tricks to make life a little easier ;D

to keep from tearing the boots on the tie rod/ball joint use a hammer and hit on the side of the spindle....if you don't have a pusher.

tighten the lugs...on a 5 lug in a star pattern starting at the bottom...4 lug.. bottom..top..side to side  this keeps the pull more center to keep from warping rotors...





Offline Chryco Psycho

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Re:tricks and tips time savers
« Reply #3 on: February 20, 2004 - 06:39:12 PM »
When pulling the front Damper off the crank put the crank bolt back in the crank without the washer on it it wll save the threads in the front of the crank

When installing a new cam ior removing the old one bolt a 1/2 wrench to the front of the cam for leverage to keep the cam lobes from scarring the brgs

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Offline Ravage

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Re:tricks and tips time savers
« Reply #4 on: April 03, 2004 - 09:08:34 PM »
If you "find" an old shopping cart and cut the top off it you have a poor mans engine dolly.

Two pieces of wiring conduit ,one slightly smaller than the other and so they slide like a curtain rod can be spead in the engine bay and tied to the tranny so you can roll the car around without engine ,or if designe allows 2x4 laid accross frame and two bolts sticking out of tranny housing will rest on it.

Plastic plate in front of radiator whenever doing front engine work to protect the fragile ribs.

An old side marker light makes a suitable circuit tester.

If your lucky enough to have an old distributor(minus the cam gear) that you dont mind messing up you can hook it up to a drill and run it in the engine and it will run the oil pump to pre lube before the initial start-up of a rebuilt engine.If you just run a screw driver or whatever in there it will only prime 1/2 the block because some/most/all (not sure) require the distributor body to block the path just right to rount things all proper like.





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Offline Burpin Chunks

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Re:tricks and tips time savers
« Reply #5 on: April 11, 2004 - 03:30:38 AM »
If you install the motor upside down you will gain 150 hp!  ;) just dont forget to switch the oil pan and the intake manifold, wouldnt want to make a mess!  :o  ;D ;D

Offline Moparmatt

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Re:tricks and tips time savers
« Reply #6 on: April 13, 2004 - 03:35:39 PM »
Post that on a rice board, burpin chunks, and see how many of them try to do that...

If detailing around the steering column, insert a sheet of paper over its top, between it and the dash to make an effective barrier against paint runoff.

If storing a car, or working with a resto, and you do not want to flat spot your good tires, go to a junkyard and purchase a cheap set. It's useful if you need to move the car, which you cannot while it is on jackstands.
« Last Edit: April 13, 2004 - 03:38:59 PM by Moparmatt »

Offline Grancoupe

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Re:tricks and tips time savers
« Reply #7 on: April 27, 2004 - 11:31:41 PM »
If you want to create custon shaped 1/4, 5/16, or 3/8 vacum hose. Start out with the smae size metal tobing and bens to the proper shape but cut it 1 inch short. the take rubber hose and feed metal hose into rubber hose. Try throwing rubber hose in boiling water for a hile to make it more pliable. Hose 1/2 in past both ends of metal line. This will give you the rubber ends to fit over fittings. The metal line inside the rubber line will keep the rubber line in shape. You cant make rubber look more custom than that. I've used this idea for PVC and bake booster lines. Looks sharp. Let me know if anyone tries it and how it comes out.

Offline oldvamoparfan

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Re:tricks and tips time savers
« Reply #8 on: May 02, 2004 - 12:01:19 PM »
This may be too simple, but maybe some one doesnt know.  When changing oil,  pour new oil into the new filter before installing.  This shortens the pressure build up when restarting the engine.  Ovmf
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