Technical Little tips and tricks for garage hobbyists.

3M exterior mounting tape and a cheap head lamp from Lowe’s





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If you reverse the twist on every other loop, when you toss the roll on the ground and pull one end, it will unroll without tangling.



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i have foam pipe insulation running down the handles of mine. They'll bounce off a fender and not leave a dent or scratch.

 

To remove rust from small parts fill a container (don’t use aluminum) with white vinegar and place parts in the container. Stand back and watch the rust dissolve. Rinse and dry parts afterwards.

 

For those fortunate enough to have a 4 post lift, make panels to fill in between the runners. The lift can be used as (non-osha approved) scaffolding, a work table. spread two panels apart and set the ramps on the side then drive your mower on sideways for maintenance. From lower flange to top of runner on mine is 4” so a 2x4 and some 1/2 plywood works nicely. I built mine from scrap so the sizes are a bit odd. The possibilities are endless.

 

Old carpet makes great jack pads also old throw rugs. Great for fender covers bench covers and great when outside to lay on

 

Posted this one on other tips thread...

Clean Up Ugly Hose Clamps In your Engine Bay. (Credit to Super Scamp 340)

We all know hose clamps are ugly. So with some 1/2 inch heat shrink you can cover them.

 

Just don't leave small parts too long. They may disappear.

Ben

 

I really never thought of the stainless steel clamps as being ugly........but that is cool!




Bones

 

Hand cleaner... Table spoon of table salt, warm water, and a squirt of your favorite dish soap (Dawn or whatever) will clean your hands as good if not better that the commercial hand cleaners. In spite of the salt it is easy on your hands. Try it!
When you drop a small item, like nuts, bolts, sockets etc., ignore what you were doing when you dropped the part and concentrate on watching the dropped part until it has stopped moving/rolling. It is amazing how far the parts will roll (farther than you think) which is why they are hard to find.

 

I like to keep a cookie sheet (shallow pan) around for small jobs so the parts can’t roll off the table.

 

I have used the cheap vinegar trick to clean up the crustiest F 1 hood hinges I had. they came out looking good and work great. For picking up metal shavings , chips, etc, I use old speaker magnets from scrap cars. Put one in a plastic bag & sweep it around the work area. I also use that trick in my alley after the area houses have been re-roofed, lots of stray nails.

 

Love the lamp and the work bench. I would love to have a couple of those carbs.

 

I have 5 of those carbs, one more make 3 sets

 

I can’t find them around here.
When I do find one they are way out of my price range.

 

I keep some old metal refrigerator and roasting pans around for oil and coolant drain pans.

Had a few rigs way back that had radiator petcocks located where it was impossible for them to drain without splashing coolant all over everything. Rubber teat cups from dairy milking machines twisted in place and poked through a hole in the gravel pan worked slick as flexible funnels. Never lost one on the road and always right there when needed. Been away from farming for years now, no idea if they are still available or not.

Ed

 

Took an old shovel handle, and attached a metal hook on one end, and a magnet on the other end. Very handy when a tool or a part rolls under the car, just out of reach!!!

 

That one is from a factory dual quad set. Too early for your car

 

I would like to do a setup for my 61 wagon.

 

To do a quick repaint of a rim while the tyre is still on it make a mixture of dishwashing liquid and water.
With a 2" paint brush paint this mixture on the sidewall of the tyre while the wheel is lying on the ground.
While the tyre is still wet spray the paint on the rim.
The overspray will wash off easily using a hose and a small scrubbing brush.

 

You are sick, Scotty. That table is TOO clean and uncluttered.

Ben

 

Until about a week ago it had been neglected for several years. It wasn’t very pretty then, and I’m sure it won’t look like that for long

 

Great idea

 

Slick. I usually grab a broom but that would be a useful tool.

 

Probably been done before, and done better, but it's better than what I had. Portable so I can bring it out to my heap.
Before:
After:

 

When putting pistons into the block, get a about three foot length of 5/16 or 3/8 fuel line and bring it up from the bottom of the block, around the crank journal , up through the cylinder and push it on the rod bolts. Then when you push the piston and rod into the cylinder bore the fuel line will line up the rod and protect the crank at the same time!





Bones

 

great trick

 

an EMPI banjo straight spoked steering wheel comes in 15.5''
its available white or black
it has a grant 3 hole mount
simply but a grant to chevy spline adaptor
buy a borgeson 31'' 1957 chevy pas conversion inner steering shaft
will be 3/4 36 splines out
perfect length in a 37 pick up anyways....
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a mk1 jeep Cherokee right hand drive pas box Saginaw 900 series uses a 3/4 30 spline input spline
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borgeson sell a 30 splined to 36 spline uj with a built in harmonic damper
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a 60's gm Chevelle pitmann arm is the same sector shaft spline as a mk1 jeep Cherokee at 1 1/8 - it is 6 inches on centres
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the Chevelle pitmann arm shares the early ford taper - comes up from beneath

 

Mitsubishi l200 early bump stops....fit 8 or 9 inch mustang tapered axles that are 2 3/4'' - they will allow the use of 3'' u-bolt shackles and thus 3'' style leaf spring shock mount thingemyjiggers

 

I did something similar,I picked up an old baby bed outta the trash pickup day.I only used the angle iron bed frame & springs.