How do you guys work on these cars?
11-07-2005, 07:16 AM
#1
Teching In
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
How do you guys work on these cars? Man, my brother brought over his 98 Z28 to change out the torque conveter to a high stall. After that I would never buy a newer car again. You guys are either rich to pay someone every time your car needs to be worked on or have very high blood pressure. I have a 69 Dart & a 70 Challenger & can change an alternator in less than 15 minutes. I changed the heater core on my Dart last weekend & took less than a 1/2 hour. There was so much crap on my bro's Z28 to remove I couldn't believe it. We needed (2) 24" extensions & a swivel just to get to the bellhousing bolts.
I'll give you guys credit if you do work on these cars, but I will never buy one as long as I live. I don't care about fuel injection, ABS brakes or all that other crap that supposedly makes life better. I told my bro he should have bought a 69 Camaro with a 454 & then he could have actually worked on it & people would be giving him thumbs up every block.
Good Luck to you guys.
I'll give you guys credit if you do work on these cars, but I will never buy one as long as I live. I don't care about fuel injection, ABS brakes or all that other crap that supposedly makes life better. I told my bro he should have bought a 69 Camaro with a 454 & then he could have actually worked on it & people would be giving him thumbs up every block.
Good Luck to you guys.
11-07-2005, 07:26 AM
#2
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (9)
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Orlando,FL
Posts: 1,021
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
lots of blood,sweat, and explitives go into every mod I put on the car. o yeah and a lifetime supply of cuts on you knuckles that will never heal, b/c you are always workin on the car upgrading somthing
11-07-2005, 07:36 AM
#3
TECH Addict
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Live Oak, FL - in the woods where the creatures lurk.
Posts: 2,003
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I was nearing 50 when I bought my Z28, so you know what kind of cars I grew up with. 
After the first plug change I was feeling about the same as you for a short while. But for driveability I would rather have the Z than any of the muscle cars I had from the '60s.
Besides, band aids are cheap enough.
After the first plug change I was feeling about the same as you for a short while. But for driveability I would rather have the Z than any of the muscle cars I had from the '60s.Besides, band aids are cheap enough.
11-07-2005, 08:49 AM
#4
Hmmm, never owned or worked on old cars, but I can see how other cars could be easier to work on. Just be glad you don't have a VW. I looked in my gf's brother's car and it looks crazy. I've gotten to where working on my car isn't that bad anymore. I can change the plugs in under 30 minutes and other stuff fairly fast as well. Hoping I can do the cam install this weekend in just a couple hours.
11-07-2005, 08:54 AM
#5
10 Second Club
iTrader: (20)
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Winston-Salem, NC
Posts: 1,340
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
<Joe Dirt>I don't care about fuel injection, ABS brakes or all that other crap that supposedly makes life better.</Joe Dirt>
Exactly what response are you expecting from the owners of these cars you registered here to criticize? Is your Mopar forum down for a bit?
If you don't like our cars, feel free to click the little red X at the top right hand corner of your screen.
We sure will miss you!
Exactly what response are you expecting from the owners of these cars you registered here to criticize? Is your Mopar forum down for a bit?
If you don't like our cars, feel free to click the little red X at the top right hand corner of your screen.
We sure will miss you!
11-07-2005, 08:58 AM
#6
I'll bet I can swap the camshaft in an LS1 f-body faster than you can in your 69 Dart. If looking under the hood of a late model car intimidates you, then you probably don't have enough skills to work on them anyways
With the proper tools and skills for the job, these cars are relatively simple to work on.
Tony
With the proper tools and skills for the job, these cars are relatively simple to work on.
Tony
11-07-2005, 09:17 AM
#7
Teching In
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I've worked on Toyotas, Hondas, Fords, etc all my life & seems all newer cars are a pain to work on. There is just too much crap to remove to get to anything. I'm happy with a plain jane old car that I can drop a big block in & have fun. I don't like removing brackets, sensors & wiring harnesses doing simple upgrades. I'm not an ASE certified mechanic & would never want to be. I'm just saying older American cars in my opinion are easier to work on & more fun to own & upgrade. Also, I'm sure many of you know your cars inside & out & could change the torque converter in alot less time then me. Just saying you guys have more patience than me.
Again Good Luck
Again Good Luck
Trending Topics
11-07-2005, 09:25 AM
#8
I haven't owned an old car, but I would tend to disagree that older cars are more fun to work on or drive. You see Tony's opinion and he has both, so just as with old cars it takes time. If you have been working on them for awhile, then obviously it is going to be easier to work on them. Like I said, the first timer may take a couple hours to change the plugs. I've done them about 4 times and I can change them easily in under 30 minutes. It's all in what you've done. The first time I did internal work (oil pump/timing chain swap) it took me a long time I'd guess 10+ hours. I went in and checked things again because I forgot to put locktite on the cam bolts and it took maybe an hour to get it done and back together. It's hard the first time, but once you learn the secrets it's a breeze. Man, I'm getting excited about my cam swap this weekend!!!
11-07-2005, 09:34 AM
#9
11 Second Club
iTrader: (3)
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Covington, LA
Posts: 687
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
A better question is how do you stomach knowing that you're making substantially less power with a thrown-together 454 then you'd make with a cam-only or heads/cam LS1/LS6, getting half the fuel mileage, and losing all of the comforts? 
Mike
Mike
11-07-2005, 09:58 AM
#11
On The Tree
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 100
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
^^ 
although I must admit I have sat on a front fender with my legs in the engine bay to remove heads from a early 70's model car.
although I must admit I have sat on a front fender with my legs in the engine bay to remove heads from a early 70's model car.
Last edited by 10thAnivHawk; 11-07-2005 at 09:59 AM. Reason: adding comment
11-07-2005, 10:13 AM
#13
TECH Enthusiast
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: San Diego
Posts: 618
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Its not too bad. Technology scares some people, but honestly once you figure it out it isn't hard. I'm not a super mechanic nor do I have a lot of patience, but I don't pay people to work on my car usually.
11-07-2005, 10:38 AM
#16
TECH Addict
iTrader: (28)
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Central Texas
Posts: 2,170
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by davesdartgt
You guys are either rich to pay someone every time your car needs to be worked on or have very high blood pressure.
I work on mine with a box of band-aids on my tool chest.
It's really not all that bad once you get the hang of it. First time doing something will take a while, but after that, it can be done with ease. I know I can do a cam swap in less than 3 hours now, then depending on how difficult the springs are being, about 2-3 hours for them. Then, it's
time.
11-07-2005, 10:57 AM
#17
Banned
iTrader: (19)
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: chitown
Posts: 1,879
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
i'm no mechanic, yet i've had the 6spd trans in and out 6 times in a year... installed a new rear-end, installed a new motor, and the usual oil changes and brake service. i've only been modding the car for 2 years and have done most of the work myself. not bad for a non mechanic. these motors are very straight forward and i consider them very easy to work on.
11-07-2005, 11:04 AM
#19
12 Second Club
iTrader: (6)
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Ft. Irwin, California (But Virginia is home)
Posts: 1,501
Likes: 0
Received 7 Likes
on
1 Post
Originally Posted by Bombguy99z28
Its not too bad. Technology scares some people, but honestly once you figure it out it isn't hard. I'm not a super mechanic nor do I have a lot of patience, but I don't pay people to work on my car usually.
Exactly.
11-07-2005, 12:24 PM
#20
12 Second Club
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Yardley, PA / Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 274
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
well, you have to realize things change, that's all. They still have heads, cams, cranks, etc, just a little different. All the basic princlples are the same, some differences will pertain to a particular application, but this is to be expected. It's called CHANGE, just like everything else in life, adapt, or get out of the way....