Mechanic hints...
 

I think a thread like this would be helpfull. Post up some old school / new school hints and tricks like;

using an old rubber tube on the end of a spark plug to help getting it in and out.

surgical gloves help keep hands clean.

never use a jack as a jack stand.

if you drop a tool it will always roll directly to the most dificult to reach place under the car.

etc...

how bout if you replace something and come out with extra parts, you may wanna recheck your work?

lol this always happens when I take apart interior parts. I always end up with extra screws that dont fit the empty holes :icon_doh:

Left hand drill bits for removing broken bolts. I got a set about 20 years ago cause an old timer told be about it. If you are going to drill a hole into the thread area anyway use a left handed drill. About 80% of the time I do not need to reach for the extrator. The drill itself walks the bolt right out. I think its the conbination of heat and vibration that breaks the threads loose.

On a saftey note. Number one cause of minor injuries in a garage is falling starters. They have knocked out many teeth and broke a few noses over the years. Number one cause of people being seriously hurt in a garage is people trying to get stuff out of a car thats on a hoist.

if you have to change a flexplate/ flywheel take out all the trans bellhousning bolts and replace the middle 2 with 7-8 inch long hardend bolts and the trans can be slid back far enough for the work and then just simply slid back into place!! much easier than pulling it out and reinstalling it!! still need to pull the crossmember for this one!
and remember to support the motor and trans as needed!!

take a break.... thats my weak point....

dont work while your frustrated with something. tried to reinstall a dizzy in my driveway at night with shop lights. wouldn't start flooded out. pissed off..waited 2 days relaxed. did it first try first key turn....tuned timing in and its purin nicely now. but i easly waisted a good 3 hours in the cold wet outside doing stuff i did in 5 mins in the barn on a nicer day.

Invest in a pair of comfortable safety glasses with sideshields. And wear them, protect your eyes, you only have one set.

"Gorn" pointed out a great example concerning safety and falling objects.

Watch out for elecrtic fans. In many cars they will go on whenever they get the urge, even with the ignition OFF. Especially cars that use thermo switches to control the fans.

for those of you who reside in rust prone areas, keep a torch in your garage. Heating up bolts helps crack through the rust.

Where I grew up it was being in the flight path of the wrench Dad just launched after smacking his knuckles.

Always block the wheels and use jack stands when working under the car.

Use a big piece of cardboard to lay on when working under the car, if you do not have a creeper. It makes it easier to slide around under there and if the concrete is cold, it allows you stay there a little longer! :)

Always wear shoes, sandals don't count you will learn the hard way if you don't believe me.

Always disconect the battery! too many times did i forget and almost shock myself

My grandfather taught me how to remove bolts that had no top and were screwed into something. Like its just a stick of thread. Take a nut and screw it halfway on then put a second one on and tighten them together. then unscrew the bottom bolt and voila it seats against the second and the bolt screws right out.

well you guys got pretty much everything i could think of except dont work on fords... this time im not bashing but everytime we get a ford in the shop me and my boss complain about how much junk they are seriously we have 6 fords lined up for headgaskets right now and just got 2 done 8 headgaskets in a row seriously stupid fords... ok maybe im bashing

if youre running any type of wireing through tight spaces, tape the wire to a straightened out wire hanger, they def help get the flimsy wire through tight spaces easier

How about,

Whenever your bolting something up that's held on by more than one bolt (which is almost everything), never tightened any of the bolts (including finger tight) until all the bolts are at least started.

Here's one ive heard about a head breaking off of a bolt flush with the surface. It does require a welder but its ingenious. If the head breaks off get a nut with an opening slightly smaller in diameter than the bolt (to prevent from welding to the other surface) and weld the nut to the bolt, let it cool down and now you have a new head. BTW a weld if done right is supposed to be stronger than the metal itself.

i like this one ill have to remember that

How about lefty loosey righty tightey? haha when changing your oil break the plug loose and once its hand tight push in as you back it out, then pull away quickly to not get oil all over you

When starting a project(especially a complicated one), take lots pictures before and during for reference in case you run into a snag when putting back together. Super easy to do with technology now. Plus you can share with us later after you're finished.:D

Great thread!:icon_biggrin:

Better Way For Finding Engine Vacuum Leaks:
I have seen several suggestions here for spraying different chemicals on hoses and their connections to see if the engine's idle will speed up. Brake cleaner can make a mess, can stain paint, and is flammable. Carb cleaner can do the same as brake cleaner, but it can actually blister or remove paint. And starting fluid (ether) is more flammable yet. Do you really want to go spraying flammable liquids on your running engine? You may just find (the hard way) that arcing spark plug wire you didn't know you had. Don't forget to have some marshmallows on hand then, to go with your carbeque!
Here's a better "trick". Take your propane torch, if you have one, and crack the valve on the tip open a just little to where you can hear the gas coming out-don't light it! Now slowly move the tip around to different hoses and connections that you want to test. Since propane is a gas, if there is a leak, the vacuum will suck it in and speed up your idle. The good part of this method is, you're not spraying toxic damaging crap all over your engine and bay.

:icon_goodpost: I've never heard that before.:icon_wink: