Random Car Chat

[TD Charlie]

So my 64 Chevelle has been having sporadic tail/brake/turn signal light issues. It's been tracked down to a plastic/metal mechanism/switch inside the steering column that's attatched to the turn signal lever. Apparently the contacts or wiring have deteriorated over time. I "found" the part but when it arrived it was entirely different. They sent me the switch for a C10 pickup. Luckily, they are taking it back no questions asked.

So I find the correct part, and it turns out that in 1964 there are two versions of this switch. An all plastic piece and a half plastic half steel, which I have. It's the more expensive of the two (about $80 rather than $60) and backordered by the manufacturer for at least a month. I have an open order in with Ground Up so hopefully it's filled quickly.

The car is currently in the shop with the steering column removed. Tech is gonna be pissed when I ask him to bandage it back together and drive it back into my garage at home, where it will sit for at least a month until my switch arrives.

On top of that, pops wants to finally pull the trigger on a disc brake conversion for the front. I might just spend the 7-800 bucks and have it all shipped now. When the turn signal switch arrives, I'll drive it back to the shop and have the lights fixed, and the brakes upgraded.

It still has no reverse lights. When it was converted from a manual column shift to an auto on the floor, whoever did the job didn't route the neutral safety switch wiring to the floor, so of course there's no neutral safety switch even in the floor now. Luckily I'm still able to get a sticker for it even without the reverse indicators working. I guess if I absolutely had to, I could tap into the column and put a toggle switch underneath and out of sight. Just flip the switch and bam, reverse indicators light up. At least enough to pass inspection when I no longer have access to THIS particular shop.

Classic cars...making the simplest of tasks not so simple.

 

[TD Charlie]

On another note, I had my Sorento Hybrid in the hills of Connecticut yesterday. Damn this hybrid REALLY doesn't like inclines. I went from flat to a steep steep grade on battery power, and I think it tried switch to gas at the same time it began downshifting to find the right gear. I felt like I was hauling a tank behind me for a few seconds until I really stepped on the gas. Apparently I'll have to head into inclines with strong momentum with the gas engine engaged. My kids even noticed it and it scared them.

Going downhill was really nice though. I hit the downhill brake assist and the car slowly crawled itself down the road. I actually took my foot off the pedals entirely to see how it did, and it fared extremely well. If climbing hills was even half as good as descending them, this thing would be the perfect machine.

One things for sure, I realized I will absolutely need winter wheels n tires. My days of tooling around in all seasons in front wheel drive cars has come to an end.

 

[HansonBro]

Well the boy is at the shop now. I hate that feeling...but I trust these guys

Just sitting on my hands now

 

[HansonBro]

Just got the call of doom. Shop said no good place to splice in a new line. Gotta drop the tank now and replace the whole line

Guy said $600, so I said I better be getting a free oil change with that, and he agreed

 

[TD Charlie]

Just got the call of doom. Shop said no good place to splice in a new line. Gotta drop the tank now and replace the whole line

Guy said $600, so I said I better be getting a free oil change with that, and he agreed

I missed it, you pissing fuel?

 

[HansonBro]

I missed it, you pissing fuel?

Ya the boy was bleeding. I could smell it for about a month, but the other day I really could see the evidence on the ground.

Not a good feeling when gas is at an all time high here.

 

[HansonBro]

So my dumb neighbor has her daughter's bf out there trying to swap winter tires on. I've done it the last few years for her, but told her last time to take it to a shop and get new lug nuts. Her problem is she has those el cheapo lug nuts with the coating on them to make them look like a chrome lug nut.

Over the years that coating gets very soft and warn, causing rounding and huge pains. I clearly showed her one last year and how I could bend the coating with my hands. Safe to say she didnt heed my warnings

I offered the kid whatever tools and a spot light and cord, to which he declined. It's pitch black out and I can still hear him banging away lol

Lesson here? Listen, and don't cheap out on your lug nuts

 

[TD Charlie]

So my dumb neighbor has her daughter's bf out there trying to swap winter tires on. I've done it the last few years for her, but told her last time to take it to a shop and get new lug nuts. Her problem is she has those el cheapo lug nuts with the coating on them to make them look like a chrome lug nut.

Over the years that coating gets very soft and warn, causing rounding and huge pains. I clearly showed her one last year and how I could bend the coating with my hands. Safe to say she didnt heed my warnings

I offered the kid whatever tools and a spot light and cord, to which he declined. It's pitch black out and I can still hear him banging away lol

Lesson here? Listen, and don't cheap out on your lug nuts

thats brutal. Did they soften up and now they can’t be gripped?

I have changed tires in some AWFUL conditions, but a little WD40 and a good tire iron has never failed me.

 

[HansonBro]

thats brutal. Did they soften up and now they can’t be gripped?

I have changed tires in some AWFUL conditions, but a little WD40 and a good tire iron has never failed me.

Oh they're soft alright. The actual nut itself is steel, but whatever alloy/coating they use to build up the rest of the lug nut is crap. Didn't you have a 09-11 Dodge too? You probably had the same ones.

Its just sad to see a 20 minute job turn into 3 hours

 

[TD Charlie]

Oh they're soft alright. The actual nut itself is steel, but whatever alloy/coating they use to build up the rest of the lug nut is crap. Didn't you have a 09-11 Dodge too? You probably had the same ones.

Its just sad to see a 20 minute job turn into 3 hours

2012

I think it did have coated lugs too. I never gave it much thought as i never had an issue with them. It’s not even like i kept the car clean either, so they had every opportunity to soften up and fail

My ‘90 Cadillac had one of those keyed lugs though. Very annoying because i didn’t have the key. I jammed needle nose pliers in and was able to bite into it enough to bite. Wasn’t fun doing that in the snow, twice.

 

[HansonBro]

2012

I think it did have coated lugs too. I never gave it much thought as i never had an issue with them. It’s not even like i kept the car clean either, so they had every opportunity to soften up and fail

My ‘90 Cadillac had one of those keyed lugs though. Very annoying because i didn’t have the key. I jammed needle nose pliers in and was able to bite into it enough to bite. Wasn’t fun doing that in the snow, twice.

Her problem likely started with the fkn tire shops just blasting the lugs on

 

[TD Charlie]

Her problem likely started with the fkn tire shops just blasting the lugs on

i suppose if you’re not using the right size with an impact you could really beat up the nuts. I just use my trusty four way tire iron. Had it over 20 years and god knows how long my father had it before that. Step on one side, reach back and pull up on the other. I almost face plant every time but it’s never failed me

 

[HansonBro]

i suppose if you’re not using the right size with an impact you could really beat up the nuts. I just use my trusty four way tire iron. Had it over 20 years and god knows how long my father had it before that. Step on one side, reach back and pull up on the other. I almost face plant every time but it’s never failed me

Lol. The trick for those is to find a metal pipe that will fit over the end. Will save your back from twisting...and your face lol

 

[TD Charlie]

Lol. The trick for those is to find a metal pipe that will fit over the end. Will save your back from twisting...and your face lol

Ah good call. Nice way to get easy leverage i suppose. I always ruin my back, roll an ankle, bruise a knee. It’s a bad deal

 

[HansonBro]

Ah good call. Nice way to get easy leverage i suppose. I always ruin my back, roll an ankle, bruise a knee. It’s a bad deal

2-3 feet is enough. Work smarter not harder

 

[TaLoN]

Seasonal tire swap time again

I have to schedule the end of season oil change and detailing for the Shelby before putting on the blanket...

The wheel/tire swap on the S4 isn't near as depressing since that car is so damn much fun when the snow is flying anyway!

 

[rynryn]

I have to schedule the end of season oil change and detailing for the Shelby before putting on the blanket...

The wheel/tire swap on the S4 isn't near as depressing since that car is so damn much fun when the snow is flying anyway!

ha, but I forgot when i did the summer swap i needed new winters. the tech's walk-around video started with a "Uh...we really recommend you don't put these back on your car at 2/32"

 

[TaLoN]

ha, but I forgot when i did the summer swap i needed new winters. the tech's walk-around video started with a "Uh...we really recommend you don't put these back on your car at 2/32"

Whoops!

At least with new winters you'll be getting optimum winter traction. Can't beat brand new snow tires when in a blizzard.

That first season on them is always clearly the best.

 

[HansonBro]

Got my truck back today! He seems happy

Shop owner let me pay cash too, so I saved another $100 in taxes. Sloppy Joes for dinner tonight...today couldnt be any better

 

[TD Charlie]

I have to schedule the end of season oil change and detailing for the Shelby before putting on the blanket...

The wheel/tire swap on the S4 isn't near as depressing since that car is so damn much fun when the snow is flying anyway!

Not sure what's worse, all the tedious prep to tuck your baby in for the winter, or the fact that you can't run her down the road for 4 months. My Chevelle is down the road in the shop right now too. I haven't really been able to enjoy it much this year, which will make the winter nap that much more depressing

 

[ShelbyZ]

So my dumb neighbor has her daughter's bf out there trying to swap winter tires on. I've done it the last few years for her, but told her last time to take it to a shop and get new lug nuts. Her problem is she has those el cheapo lug nuts with the coating on them to make them look like a chrome lug nut.

Over the years that coating gets very soft and warn, causing rounding and huge pains. I clearly showed her one last year and how I could bend the coating with my hands. Safe to say she didnt heed my warnings

I offered the kid whatever tools and a spot light and cord, to which he declined. It's pitch black out and I can still hear him banging away lol

Lesson here? Listen, and don't cheap out on your lug nuts

I remember years and years ago when I did "Quick Lube" at a Ford dealer, this was a common thing. A chrome cap was pretty much tack welded to a nut and would eventually fall off. At least with those from Ford, the cap was sturdy enough to stay in shape when using impact to remove or tighten lugs. The common practice there at the time was to put some stickier bearing grease on the inside of the cap and slide it back over the bare lug nut after it was torqued

But I did run into what your neighbor is dealing with on my wife's old Jeep Patriot. The caps were super thin and real happy to twist around and start rounding off the nut underneath. I ended up having to drill through the stud on the first couple I tried - which wasn't really a bid deal since I was removing the wheel to replace the wheel bearing and hub - then devised a scheme for the rest. I drill a decent sized hole in the dome of the cap, cut a slot into it and then used a punch and hammer to continue cutting through the cap until I could either grab it with plyers and rip it off, or manipulate it out of the way enough for me to be able hammer a smaller size socket on the nut under it. At the end of the day, I think it took longer to deal with that than it did to change all 4 wheel bearings once the wheels were finally off.

 

[HansonBro]

I remember years and years ago when I did "Quick Lube" at a Ford dealer, this was a common thing. A chrome cap was pretty much tack welded to a nut and would eventually fall off. At least with those from Ford, the cap was sturdy enough to stay in shape when using impact to remove or tighten lugs. The common practice there at the time was to put some stickier bearing grease on the inside of the cap and slide it back over the bare lug nut after it was torqued

But I did run into what your neighbor is dealing with on my wife's old Jeep Patriot. The caps were super thin and real happy to twist around and start rounding off the nut underneath. I ended up having to drill through the stud on the first couple I tried - which wasn't really a bid deal since I was removing the wheel to replace the wheel bearing and hub - then devised a scheme for the rest. I drill a decent sized hole in the dome of the cap, cut a slot into it and then used a punch and hammer to continue cutting through the cap until I could either grab it with plyers and rip it off, or manipulate it out of the way enough for me to be able hammer a smaller size socket on the nut under it. At the end of the day, I think it took longer to deal with that than it did to change all 4 wheel bearings once the wheels were finally off.

The poor kid snapped his 1/2" drive socket wrench too. It was Stanley so I told him just to call for a replacement. Ive done it before with success. Hell if you have the part number, anyone could call for a free tool lol

 

[TaLoN]

Man, I love Discount Tire!

Saw snow in the forecast yesterday for this coming Friday and Saturday... the Audi didn't yet have the wheel swap, wasn't thrilled with the idea of driving in it with the summers on. I called them up and asked if there were any appointment times available... none available until Saturday... shit!

I know they fit in walk-ins whenever possible on a first come first serve basis, so I showed up this morning a bit prior to them opening at 8am in hopes of being the first walk-in... managed that, was expecting to have to wait a bit though due to others having an appointment, but they saw what I needed was just a quick wheel swap since my winters are mounted on a set of dedicated TSW wheels, so they pulled it in quick, swapped them out, bagged the summers and was out the door within 15mins!

And of course, since the winter wheel/tire setup was purchased from them previously, all at no charge, as usual.

 

[Elysian]

Got a free car wash for Veterans Day so that was kind of cool. My car needed it real bad, just didn't have time to do it.

 

[TheGreenTBer]

Man, I love Discount Tire!

Saw snow in the forecast yesterday for this coming Friday and Saturday... the Audi didn't yet have the wheel swap, wasn't thrilled with the idea of driving in it with the summers on. I called them up and asked if there were any appointment times available... none available until Saturday... shit!

I know they fit in walk-ins whenever possible on a first come first serve basis, so I showed up this morning a bit prior to them opening at 8am in hopes of being the first walk-in... managed that, was expecting to have to wait a bit though due to others having an appointment, but they saw what I needed was just a quick wheel swap since my winters are mounted on a set of dedicated TSW wheels, so they pulled it in quick, swapped them out, bagged the summers and was out the door within 15mins!

And of course, since the winter wheel/tire setup was purchased from them previously, all at no charge, as usual.

I'm curious: why have summer tires on the Audi if you already have the Shelby as the summer car?