Whats the best "trick" or tech tip a mentor showed you?

junk yard kid · Jul 17, 2012

Well my mentor didnt teach me this one. an idiot did, but he was taught by his mentor only the day before showing me. Anyway, when you are trying to bend some brake line or fuel line and you get a small kink or you flatten it through a turn. You take a crescent wrench and make it so it fits snug over a round part of the tube then you slip it over the kink in the narrow part and work it untill the kink is out or useable.

atch · Jul 22, 2012

bjinx said: ↑

A friend of mine years ago took a gas welding bottle and rigged it up with an air regulator and filled the bottle with air. Then he mounted it to a two wheel dolley.When we would go to the salvage yards with the bottle and an air impact and ratchet, we could get four Mustang II front ends and a couple of steering columns before there was not enough pressure to operate the tools.
Click to expand...

and if you have one of those little compressors that plug into the cigarette lighter you can refill the bottle. it takes a long time, but it'll do it. they don't make enough cfm to run anything except to fill the bottle, but that just gives you time to indulge in a beverage of choice while refilling the bottle.

Royalshifter · Jul 22, 2012

SamIam here on the HAMB with the ""pneumaticchiselphillipshandlehingescrewremovertooldevice""...absolutely works wonderful...save my ass on the Victoria.

56don · Jul 22, 2012

Royalshifter said: ↑

SamIam here on the HAMB with the ""pneumaticchiselphillipshandlehingescrewremovertooldevice""...absolutely works wonderful...save my ass on the Victoria.
Click to expand...

↑ ↑
X2on that, one of the most useful tools I have managed to fabricate.

JimInrADFORDva · Jul 22, 2012

The copper backing for MIG welding holes is well known. The way I do it is by sticking a plumbing end cap over the face of a hammer and use that as the backup. It's great for getting into hard-to-reach places.

Royalshifter · Jul 22, 2012

Agreed I use copper plates as much as I can...thay sure pull the heat away. Perfect example is on the "Teixeira Willys" build I did.

HawgHead · Jul 23, 2012

Didn't read all of the tips, so if this has already been discussed sorry.

Don't have an input spline or clutch alignment tool? Center the disk in the pressure plate as best as you can by eye and tighten down pressure plate. Install bell housing, throwout fork, bearing and clutch linkage. Lift trans into position and start input shaft through throwout bearing and into clutch disc. Have buddy depress the clutch pedal to release the disc. A little jiggling and the trans should slide right in. Works best when doing the Muncie/BorgWarner bench press.

Scott

Scott

DaveVM · Jul 23, 2012

Three here.

A lot of folks use masking tape to hold nuts on sockets to get them on bolts - I prefer plain paper. Falls off and leaves no residue.

When trying to get the filler/drain plugs out of rear ends or trannys and they are really tight - and you are working on jack stands - use a small bottle jack to push up on your breaker bar - be sure you are pushing to loosen - saved a lot of grief - busted knuckles - on my part.

Keep your tools clean.

Just my three cents.

Dave

Kentuckian · Sep 3, 2012

Your wife or girlfriend will appreciate this tip and it will make you look so smart.

The round spring type key rings that are rough on fingernails when you are trying to add or remove a key can be spread easily with a staple remover.

HotRodHon · Sep 4, 2012

That's great.
Both my wife and my girlfriend will like that !

Kentuckian · Feb 15, 2013

[FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot]Put your car keys by your bed at night. [/FONT]If you hear a noise outside your home or someone trying to get in your house, just press the panic button for your car. The alarm will be set off, and the horn will continue to sound until either you turn it off or the car battery dies. [/FONT][FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot]If your car alarm goes off when someone is trying to break into your house, odds are the burglar/rapist won't stick around. After a few seconds, all the neighbors will be looking out their windows to see who is out there and sure enough the criminal won't want that.

And remember to carry your keys while walking to your car in a parking lot. The alarm can work the same way there. Would also be useful in an emergency, such as a heart attack, where you can't reach a phone. If you're working outside in the garage and something serious happens, activate the car alarm so the wife knows there's a problem.[/FONT][/FONT][FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot] [/FONT][/FONT][FONT=&quot]
[/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT]
[FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot][/FONT][/FONT][FONT=&quot]

[/FONT]

fnla39 · Feb 15, 2013

After breaking a tap off in a blind hole and almost ruining the piece I was working on. Dad showed me to weld a nut on the end of a tap t-handle, then remove the handle. Put the in and use an impact wrench to drive the tap in. Take it out and clean it with carb cleaner and well lubed. Only to used on 3/8 and larger taps. NEVER have broken a tap since.

BobMcD · Feb 16, 2013

Years ago I took a class in motorcycle maintenence, at the local community college. The instructor showed us how to gap your points if you were stuck along the side of the road without a feeler gauge. He gave us thickness specs of various brands of beer can tabs. I think Lucky was .016".

Rusty O'Toole · Feb 16, 2013

Just remembered, the old man taught me how to work in the woods, cut down trees, chop firewood etc safely, without cutting off any fingers and toes.

He didn't do it deliberately, in fact he didn't know he was teaching me. I just watched and did what he did, and figured out why.

His method of teaching was to wait until I was working on my car in the driveway and deliberately drive over my tools, smashing them all to hell. This was his idea of "teaching me a lesson". I still don't know what lesson this was supposed to teach me, except that my old man was an asshole and not to be trusted. But I already knew that.

c57heaven · Feb 16, 2013

fnla39 said: ↑

After breaking a tap off in a blind hole and almost ruining the piece I was working on. Dad showed me to weld a nut on the end of a tap t-handle, then remove the handle. Put the in and use an impact wrench to drive the tap in. Take it out and clean it with carb cleaner and well lubed. Only to used on 3/8 and larger taps. NEVER have broken a tap since.
Click to expand...

educated me...
Why does this work better than a tap handle. Seems lik the torque of the gun would snap the tap far quicker than by hand???

Normbc9 · Feb 16, 2013

How to fabricate and install a water/alcohol inject system into the carburetor base.
My fuel economy improved as well as acceleration performance. I use a Ball Mason jar and modified lid. I use a windshield washer bottle holder off an old '54 Nash. My plugs even appear to run cleaner.
Normbc9

fnla39 · Feb 16, 2013

57heaven;8645210 educated me...
Why does this work better than a tap handle. Seems lik the torque of the gun would snap the tap far quicker than by hand???

Using the impact reduces the toggle effect on the handle that you get when turning the tap by hand. Gives more of a straight line twist. Also, the hammer effect of the impact is more precise. If you only have a 1/2" impact and it has an adjustment turn it down by half to start, if not turn down the air a bit. I use a 3/8 impact and adjust it accordingly.
Chasing threads, I just use a ratchet on the handle.

reefer · Feb 16, 2013

When I was an apprentice I was carrying the toolbag for the old fitter, Freddie Bond, a real nice old school, by the book guy....he picked up a kneeling pad and one for me....he said ,always make yourself as comfortable as possible when doing a job,,,,if you're not comfy, you'll not give it your best.I always remembered that and have passed it down to my apprentices.......it always pays to take a few minutes to get yourself set up properly.

NielsK · Feb 16, 2013

Putting a crown into a doorpanel by streching it with hammerblows in a pattern across the panel.It's difficult to hit exactly on top of your stand. Rig up a laserpen so it points dead center on your stand.This way you hit every time and dont miss a single blow

Beanscoot · Feb 17, 2013

Use a block of soft lead between a big hammer and the bearing when driving in a shell bearing into a transmission tailshaft. The lead spreads the force and the bearing shell digs into it a bit, helping prevent the shell from opening up.

A lead block is also better than wood as a backing plate when punching out holes in gaskets.

A good source of soft lead is from the joints in old cast iron sewer pipe. If you have access to a lathe, it is also worth saving pieces of the pipe, especially the bell ends, for turning things like piston ring compressing sleeves.

Wheel weights are harder lead, they have about 4% antimony in them.

When melting lead, I use an old stainless steel spoon to remove the scum. I save up this scum until I have a dead battery, then I add it into the water fill holes. No polluting the garbage dump, and the old lead scum will get recycled along with the battery lead.

I pour the lead into "moulds" that are just aluminum pie plate shells. The smaller ones from pot pies are about right. Don't clean them as the lard residue works as a mould release. Mark the ingots "SOFT" or "WW" (wheel weight).

Another one:

I have a tiny funnel that I use to fill up carburetors through the bowl vents on cars that sit for a long time. It's a lot better than pouring it down the throat, usually the car will start right up and idle. Use two stroke mixed gasoline if you have some handy.

second fiddle · Feb 17, 2013

When trying to remove a leaky gas tank from a old chevy(I think), the blind nut broke the cage so the whole nut and bolt was spinning. with the leaky tank any heat to remove the bolts were a no-no, as was a grinder. No room to use a hacksaw the conventional way, a co-worker had an idea-Hold the hacksaw stationary while spinning the bolt/nut assembly with the impact gun.....Holy crap, it worked!

nmpontiac · Feb 17, 2013

A little fab tip - always chamfer drilled holes - the Weldon style countersinks seem to work best. Sure makes assembly easier..........

KeithDyer · Feb 17, 2013

For all of our race friends who use nitromethane. . . . . , when they quit offering for sale anything but 70% back in the '50's (it was primarily used as a printing ink solvent), Ed Hill told me they used to add some water to the 70% nitro and shake it up a bit then let settle.

After a while, the water / alcohol mix would cloud up and rise to the top of the jug and the heavier (now pure 100%) nitro would collect in the bottom of the jug.

They would just decant off what they really wanted (the 100%) and dump the rest.

Take care, K

Del Swanson · Feb 17, 2013

reefer said: ↑

When I was an apprentice I was carrying the toolbag for the old fitter, Freddie Bond, a real nice old school, by the book guy....he picked up a kneeling pad and one for me....he said ,always make yourself as comfortable as possible when doing a job,,,,if you're not comfy, you'll not give it your best.I always remembered that and have passed it down to my apprentices.......it always pays to take a few minutes to get yourself set up properly.
Click to expand...

My first jobsite as an apprentice I was assigned to this older guy to learn from. The first thing he did was take out his folding ruler and hold it up in the air and in front of himself. He squinted his one eye and rattled off some numbers and told me to go cut some pipe those lengths. I sad there's no way that's going to work! He told me to shut my mouth, do what I'm told and maybe I'll learn something. So I cut the pipe. Sonofabitch if it didn't fit perfectly! It was bigger pipe so it took a while to fab and install. This went on for almost a week, he'd hold the ruler out in front and above him and rattle off numbers and they'd fit! I thought I'm gonna stay close to this guy, I'm gonna learn a lot! Later in the week I had to do an errand before work that didn't take as long as I'd thought, so I got to the jobsite earlier than usual. I walk in and here this prick is up on the lift taking measurements! Real funny! I learned not to screw with the old guys

elba · Feb 17, 2013

This is how you can find stud size when you know wrench size. Example: 9/16 wrench is a 3/8 stud. 1/2 inch wrench is a 5/16 stud. Just subtract 3/16 from your wrench size to get the stud size. Always use 3/16 as the common denominator. Works with all sizes. And of course it works going from stud size to wrench size. ( will not work with 12 point bolts or nuts )

studeynut · Feb 17, 2013

My 1st body shop job (mid 70"s), customer brought in a VW bug with a 6 month old paint job and dents in the roof from his kids climbing on it. You know those cresent moon shaped ridges. Boss took a wood paint stick and a dome faced body hammer and started hammering on the paint stick on the high ridges. With in a half hour he had worked out all traces of the dent, buffed it out like new. Works on mid 30's to late 50's roofs, hoods, trunks, fenders, etc. with that rounded shape. The older thicker steel is harder to do, but doable.

chunk40 · Feb 17, 2013

if you have a striped screw head put valve grinding compound in it and it will help the screwdriver bite into whats left of the head

tjkas1 · Feb 18, 2013

oilslinger53 said: ↑

when gas welding sheetmetal panels together make a snake out of asbestos puddy, and closely surround the area to be welded with this puddy.It acts as a heat sink to prevent too much warpage, and WILL NOT melt, burn, or get stuck to the panel... They don't sell the puddy anymore though, and the shop I learned this at must have had the same stuff for 50 years judging by the color. Anyone know of any simular puddy? Maybe some aluminum puddy?
Click to expand...

I found some stuff today online called "Anti Heat" by Tempil.....anyone ever use this???? Know it probably won't work like the asbestos, but looking for a good 2nd best.

fiftyv8 · Feb 18, 2013

markjenks said: ↑

2 words. Thread file. http://www.sjdiscounttools.com/kdt2249.html

Never knew they existed until someone gave me one..
Click to expand...

Yes, they are great tool to have in the shop.
Also the ends have various thread pitches maked so this can help you to determine the thread on an odd bolt etc.

fiftyv8 · Feb 18, 2013

billsill45 said: ↑

Here's a couple that I picked up over the years:

Keep a container for saving all the oddball and OEM fasteners, clips, retainers, pins, washers, etc. that are in good condition off of junk parts or cars. They can help you out of a jam with future repairs/projects ... if you find the piece that works, you've saved some cash or have one to show the guy at your parts and fastener supply when you need more.

When working under the car on concrete, a large piece of heavy cardboard (think sofa or appliance carton) flattened works better than a mechanic's creeper. It insulates, gives you a few more inches of working room, and is easier to move around on than fighting with the creeper. Best of all, it's free ... check behind furniture stores, etc.
Click to expand...

With the price of gas these days it can also save cash from using gas to drive down to the store for one or two small items

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Whats the best "trick" or tech tip a mentor showed you?

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atch Member from Columbia, Missouri

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