Ever Tried Solving Your Own Vehicle Engine Problems?

Discussion in 'Automotive' started by Cody Fousnaugh, Jul 6, 2021.

  1. John Brunner

    John Brunner Senior Staff
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    Same color as my older brother's brand new '67 Camaro 350SS. Very nice.

    My youngest brother's Mother-in-law always took her car to Jiffy Lube until they either put tranny fluid in the crankcase or engine oil in the tranny...I forget which. Other than the 3rd brother's shop, the only one I've trusted is a guy I found here who worked on my truck and on my 1990 Volvo. He replaced one of the 2 fuel pumps in the Volvo, and it soon began to dog as though it were fuel starved. I took it back complaining, and it turns out that there were leaves in the turbo's intake and some of the relay panel solder joints were loose (the panel sat behind the ashtray), so his tech hit them all with a solder gun. I know this was done because suddenly the electronic 5th gear overdrive stopped randomly popping back into 4th. He did not charge me to do that work, even though I insisted that I at least cover his costs.

    That was near where I last worked. Now it's too far for me to go, leave the vehicle and get back home
     
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  2. Bruce Andrew

    Bruce Andrew Very Well-Known Member
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    [​IMG]

    Thanks, I didn't want a "red" Corvette, but I fell in love with that color. Everybody who sees it IRL says the same thing.

    Haha, yes, those are the stories.

    I did have a trusted guy here, known him for almost 40 years, used to ride motorcycles together, etc. He worked at a place that did restorations and then went on his own 30-some years ago. I totally trust him with my Vette. He does the typical frame-offs on old Mustangs, Vettes, European sports cars, anything, but in recent years has gotten more into collision and general mechanic work.

    But he told me in June that he was diagnosed in May with bone marrow cancer -- for which there is no cure. He may have a year left, two if he responds well to chemo. But it will probably be hellish either way. Damn. :(
     
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  3. John Brunner

    John Brunner Senior Staff
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    I'm sorry to hear that. I've lost my share of relatives to it (2 brothers and my father.) Makes one angry.
     
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  4. Frank Sanoica

    Frank Sanoica Supreme Member
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    @Bruce Andrew

    I like your ramps! I've read horror stories about the cheap steel ones collapsing.I have such a pair, but have bolstered them with steel rods welded across to prevent buckling or collapsing. They do OK with my Explorer, 4400 lbs.

    Frank
     
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  5. Bruce Andrew

    Bruce Andrew Very Well-Known Member
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    Ha, I have some steel ramps, somewhere, that I bought in an earlier life. I did use them a few times, but it was a bit creepy.

    With those 2 x 12 ramps above, I was trying to keep the car somewhat level so the oil would drain properly, but up high enough to get under it. It just barely works.
     
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  6. Frank Sanoica

    Frank Sanoica Supreme Member
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    @Bruce Andrew

    Fox Mustangs with 5.0L engines have two-sumped oil pans, one up front, containing the oil pump, and one at the rear; each has it's own drain plug. Angling the car on ramps did not seem to matter.

    My big complaint about those oil pans is that the same engine series used in nearly all other Ford products used a FRONT SUMP pan. Thus I had to change them over when I did 5.0L HO EFI conversions in earlier Mustangs, Maverick, even did a Toyota half-ton!

    Frank
     
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  7. Bruce Andrew

    Bruce Andrew Very Well-Known Member
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    I'm not a Mustang/Ford guy so not familiar with the pans, but my life-long friend has an '09 Shelby, tuned with headers.
     
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