Guest Hal Posted August 9, 2008 Report Share Posted August 9, 2008 We all do our best to make sure everything is perfect when a customer's car leaves the shop. That's just part of the business (for most). Most of us go the extra mile to make sure everything it going to function properly for the longterm. My question is; do you do this with your own car? Do you jimmy-rig things and hope they'll work? What do you do? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RUTAN TA1647545492 Posted August 9, 2008 Report Share Posted August 9, 2008 duct tape and wire ties! FTW just kiddin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boostedgtp Posted August 9, 2008 Report Share Posted August 9, 2008 I try to do the best job on every car, even my own. I hate being broke down or loseing time on something dumb so I figure just get it right the first time. On some stuff though you are forced to go through a learning procedure. Like on my car, when I got the turbo kit on I had problems with hoses blowing off and IC pipes rattleing, etc etc. I think some of that shit you just have to address as it comes up. I would think on your car that you may have to deal with getting the bugs worked out now but the payoff would be awsome. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nurkvinny Posted August 9, 2008 Report Share Posted August 9, 2008 When I turned wrenches for a living, I treated customer's cars much better than my own daily driver. I think a lot of mechanics are like that. That's why I get a kick out of "owned by a mechanic" for sale ads. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GSXRAntwon Posted August 9, 2008 Report Share Posted August 9, 2008 When working on my own car, I take the same approach as I do working on friends cars. I always do things the right way instead of cutting corners. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rotarded1647545491 Posted August 9, 2008 Report Share Posted August 9, 2008 I worked at Advanced Imports/The RX7Store for 2 years building engines and modifying cars. It was very enlightening to see all of the fucked up kits, and correcting butchered installations which drove me to engineer better ways. As most who know me will attest, I was very meticulous when it came to my car. I went so far as to put a blown up shortblock on an engine stand and test fitted everything prior to installation. I never spliced in wiring, instead I created harnesses with connectors at each end so they could be removed and/or reinstalled on the side of the road should something malfunction. I did the same with my fuel system routing all of my lines so that they could be changed easily, which did come in handy when changing a leaking hose on the side of Bethel road. While I did do a fair amount of parts scavenging and whoring, every item was exactly what I desired and not a cheap chinese knock-off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
V8 Beast Posted August 9, 2008 Report Share Posted August 9, 2008 I dont know about you but I never cut corners! Only the best rubberbands, zip ties, elmers glue, strings, and chewing gum go into holding my car together. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rally Pat Posted August 9, 2008 Report Share Posted August 9, 2008 I had a bolt that fit a hole I was trying to fill, but the bolt was too long. Solution? 5 Washers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
medium fast Posted August 9, 2008 Report Share Posted August 9, 2008 I am this way when working on friends cars, I garuntee anything I do for someone else will be better then what I do on my own. I take the " we can fix that later" attitude when working on my own rides. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conesmasher Posted August 9, 2008 Report Share Posted August 9, 2008 Some people have unrealistic expectations for their own personal vehicles, but after working on them for long periods of time....you begin to realize....not everything works perfectly. Many, many, many thousands of race cars are utilizing zip ties and duct tape. But just because it uses those "features" doesn't marginalize the work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buckeye1647545503 Posted August 9, 2008 Report Share Posted August 9, 2008 Some people have unrealistic expectations for their own personal vehicles, but after working on them for long periods of time....you begin to realize....not everything works perfectly. Many, many, many thousands of race cars are utilizing zip ties and duct tape. But just because it uses those "features" doesn't marginalize the work. sadly I can't get past the wanting it perfect, that is why mine are never done I think Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
88lx5oh Posted August 9, 2008 Report Share Posted August 9, 2008 i try to be a perfectionist when detialing customer cars.. my own.. ehh.. i just dont have the time. or by the time im done with everyone elses car im not motivated enough to spend the time on my own. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Removed Posted August 9, 2008 Report Share Posted August 9, 2008 i dont like being asked to cut corners. if you cant afford to do it right the first time , dont even call me! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clifford Automotive Posted August 9, 2008 Report Share Posted August 9, 2008 i dont like being asked to cut corners. if you cant afford to do it right the first time , dont even call me! I agree with this 100%... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kenny Posted August 9, 2008 Report Share Posted August 9, 2008 The only car I've ever not put 100% effort into was my Talon, it was too rusty to care. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cordell Posted August 9, 2008 Report Share Posted August 9, 2008 If you don't care about your car neither do I. That is why I can't stand people like that. I won't cut corners, just comes back to haunt you. I do as little as possible on my daily, but the Camaro gets extra time and attention. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mopar Posted August 10, 2008 Report Share Posted August 10, 2008 i half-assed my own cars but never my friends or cars i do at work. but i am building my last car (hopefully) and i want it to be as perfect as my wallet will allow. whichs means it will never be done Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zach1647545520 Posted August 10, 2008 Report Share Posted August 10, 2008 Yeah I sometimes half ass the little things thinking I'll come back and fix it later. That usually never works. But I try now to do stuff right the first time so I don't have to worry about it later. (in most cases) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patrick Posted August 10, 2008 Report Share Posted August 10, 2008 I had to half-ass it tonight, because the track day is tommorrow (fan switch) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
baron_ Posted August 10, 2008 Report Share Posted August 10, 2008 yea...most of the full-time mechanics that I know are ridiculously scary...with their own vehicles They tend to think that they know what they can get away with...and what 'will work' rather than be right Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam1647545489 Posted August 10, 2008 Report Share Posted August 10, 2008 Zip ties do wonders.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StratusFear Posted August 11, 2008 Report Share Posted August 11, 2008 Just be more patient. I know I tell Brian all the time to just wait and do it right. He goes to, Wal-Mart, Meijers, Lowes, Home Depo, and even krogers to get parts because he doesnt want to wait. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest 614Streets Posted August 11, 2008 Report Share Posted August 11, 2008 Dam .....Krogers? DAM. Did you guys know on acura legends 3.2 v6 under the manifolds are two very expensive knock sensors? Well CR , on say a 1992 model , after 16 years of heat soak they become very brittle. They are steel and plastic. When you remove the snap connectors gently , they can break. Now , when this sensor breaks if your lucky and talented with a soldering Iron (thank you MMI) , you can resolder in super tiny jumper wires to the flat piezo base and epoxy the sensor plastic body back to the metal body. As a precaution , you may head to radio shack and in the buzzer drawers below all the capacitors and resistors and transistors lie , yes , PIEZO transducers. Now we can add a single ground to the new piezo transducer as well as tee soldering a long red wire into the oem knock to ecu wire and if needed connecting that wire to the new piezo sensor from radio shack. Mounted unridged in a vibration prone enviornment inside the engine bay the new 1 dollor and 53 cent piezo transducer if needed connected will provide the ecu with low voltage to simulate signals produced by the possibly still unfixed factory knock sensor. LOL. PS my s10 has a quick disconnect just after the factory fuel filter. It is infact an air compressor quick coupler and fuel has been running through it since 2003 albeit 1k 270 miles in 03 when the 270 sniper was about , and multiple garage start me ups. Poor s10. Rare indeed but in certain situations quite proper. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cordell Posted August 11, 2008 Report Share Posted August 11, 2008 PS my s10 has a quick disconnect just after the factory fuel filter. It is infact an air compressor quick coupler That's original, I'll have to use that one. lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brrcats Posted August 11, 2008 Report Share Posted August 11, 2008 Nowadays I treat my cars a lot better than I used to. If something goes wrong that I cant fix myself, which is most things. I try to take it to someone who I feel comfortable that they know what they're doing. But this question reminds me of my first car. A beat up 82 Audi 5000S, damn radiator was leakin on me, so me being the 16 year old genius that I was put some duct tape on it where it was leaking. Yeah, that didnt go very well for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.