The Official "How Not To" Thread

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I posted this a while back, but it bears repeating...Never ever use a tool rated for low RPM in a HIGH RPM grinder.


I am in an intense cleaning phase of the Dart. Yesterday, I was using a 3" cup brush in my die grinder to scrub the rust and stuck-on carpet hairs from the floor pans and firewall. Due to the amount of dust created, I wore my full-face respirator mask. Apparently, I had not tightened the chuck properly. The brush came out, smacked my face mask, and kept on going.
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Looking at the location of that gash on the mask, I can imagine that I would be minus a bunch of teeth (at least) if I hadn't had the full face mask on. I still have not found the brush; I think it went into orbit.
Please, please, please wear your PPE!!!
 
Never put twin scoops on a dart by judging where you think they go. I have a friend who bought a really nice 71 dart, he bought twin scoops for it and drilled the holes where he "thought " they were supposed to be. He could only get 3 nuts on because the rest of the studs were under the bracing with no access holes. He called me to come and look at it after he finished, I was sick at my stomach when I saw it and showed him the factory holes in the bracing, he put them on too close together in the center of the hood, I've saw many of good dart hoods ruined because of this same mistake.
 
Haste makes waste. We all know the saying and sometimes get to live it. Hopefully it's just a minor inconvenience when it happens.

Case in point for me, last year I was out in the pole barn and my wife texts me "dinner in 30". I wasn't back in 15 minutes later so she reminds me again. "I bet I still have time to get these wheels studs in" I thought to myself. Let's see how quick I can do this...

Got it done with time to spare. Then set the axle down on the work bench to admire my speedy work:


View attachment 1715521177
I’m sorry but I just snort laughed!!
:rofl::rofl:
 
Never try to rush anything! Sometimes when you get near the end of a build, Anxiety sets in because you can't wait for that 1st ride. Always walk away if the words coming out of your mouth are not in the dictionary. Stuff can get broke and cost you more time and money. Take the extra time to assess issues and double check each detail.
Make a checklist for all and follow it. Once you are finally finished, the only time that you will have to open the hood is when you have to change the oil or show it off.
 
Do not take a running car down to the shell unless:

1. You have a warehouse sized shop to store everything and still be enough room to work.

2. You have 10Gs reserve to order parts and materials at the drop of a hat.

3. You are independently wealthy and don't need to work a 9 to 5er and have infinite time to put into the car.

4. have a 4 man crew not including yourself of experienced car builders at your 24 hour disposal.

5. You are a high dollar sponsored tv show.

The rest of us poor folk need to take it easy and concentrate on one car and one aspect of the car at a time.
I agree times infinity! Biggest mistake I made with my dart.
 
I agree times infinity! Biggest mistake I made with my dart.
Me too. I should have just fixed what was wrong with it and started driving it. Instead, I have parts scattered all over hell and back and I haven't driven it in over 20 years. Huge mistake!
 
Me too. I should have just fixed what was wrong with it and started driving it. Instead, I have parts scattered all over hell and back and I haven't driven it in over 20 years. Huge mistake!
Exactly what I did I blew up my slant six in 2004 and instead of just replacing it and being done I decided I'd "restore" it. Well 16 years later I'm finally starting to get it back together with tons of pieces missing and damaged from storage and not to mention I cant remember where most of it went Haha. The bags the bolts are in are deterated and falling apart the bolts are all mixed up the sharpie I wrote on the bags is long gone i have no idea where have of them go lol
 
If the ignition key won't start the car and you have to jump it at the solenoid to get it going, make sure it's in park first and not in neutral! Because if the reason the key won't turn over the starter is because the neutral safety switch fell off, and the shifter is sloppy so the car isn't completely in neutral but it's a little bit in drive, and you start the car, it starts wandering forwards where it will fall off the lift and crash into the front of your shop. Ask me how I know this!

Thank goodness I had it chocked on the lift so it didn't go anywhere and the lift was down on the ground, but this could have been a disaster.
 
Some supposed engine builders are not so much.
No matter who does the work, check it over yourself.

rockers.jpg
 
Exactly what I did I blew up my slant six in 2004 and instead of just replacing it and being done I decided I'd "restore" it. Well 16 years later I'm finally starting to get it back together with tons of pieces missing and damaged from storage and not to mention I cant remember where most of it went Haha. The bags the bolts are in are deterated and falling apart the bolts are all mixed up the sharpie I wrote on the bags is long gone i have no idea where have of them go lol
At least I have a LOT of photos, ziploc bags with labels, and lots of shop manuals, parts manuals, and FABO to help get it all put back together. My only question will be my physical ability to finish it before my kids take my driver's license away from me. I'm going on 71, and I'm in good health, still strong, but at this age you never know.
 
At least I have a LOT of photos, ziploc bags with labels, and lots of shop manuals, parts manuals, and FABO to help get it all put back together. My only question will be my physical ability to finish it before my kids take my driver's license away from me. I'm going on 71, and I'm in good health, still strong, but at this age you never know.
I hope so. 71 is still young this day and age. My grandfather was still working and doing his own roof at 89 he passed at 91 and up until his last 6 months he got around better than me lol he was probably the strongest man I ever knew not just physically but determination too I guess I got that from him. I'd sum die than fail at everything I do.
 
Never bust off the back exhaust manifold bolt in the head, then drill it and use an extractor, then bust that off and have to buy a high carbide drill bit then develope a leak cause don't ya know it goes into the water jacket. Yeah, don't do that.
 
Never bust off the back exhaust manifold bolt in the head, then drill it and use an extractor, then bust that off and have to buy a high carbide drill bit then develope a leak cause don't ya know it goes into the water jacket. Yeah, don't do that.

I'd like to smack whoever the genius was that thought it was a good idea to have the header bolts protrude into the water jacket...
 
Never forget to remove shop rags in exhaust ports after wire brushing head surface rust to paint...…
Then, assemble starter then fenderwell header then steering column then master cylinder then bleed brakes.....
Then remember..WTF!............DOH! (Wont mention their name)
 
Never forget to remove shop rags in exhaust ports after wire brushing head surface rust to paint...…
Then, assemble starter then fenderwell header then steering column then master cylinder then bleed brakes.....
Then remember..WTF!............DOH! (Wont mention their name)

Or just the opposite. Remove the duct tape from the carb throat on the race buggy before installing the remote mounted K&N air filter. It's really embarrassing when you get the race car to the tech line and hit the starter button :lol:. It wasn't ours, a friend that raced the same class did it :rofl: .
 
Or just the opposite. Remove the duct tape from the carb throat on the race buggy before installing the remote mounted K&N air filter. It's really embarrassing when you get the race car to the tech line and hit the starter button :lol:. It wasn't ours, a friend that raced the same class did it :rofl: .

Not car related , but , NEVER mow too close to the creek after a hard down pour , may not be any dirt/bank under those weeds !
Would like to have had it on camera -----was scary !! Ever try to shut the blades off upside down under a lawn tractor ?

Never hook ur lawn tractor up to ur car trailer to move it for mowing , then get off to help shove the trailer to get it moving w/ the mower in hi gear !---------
Would like to have had it on camera ------
did get it stopped just as it hit the gate !!

Both would have been winners on ''funniest home videos'' .
 
you know when you're in a hurry and you grab a can of carburetor cleaner, brake kleen, PB Blaster, lithium grease etc... and DON"T verify exactly where the nozzle is aiming... eye reflex test in 3 2 1....... AMHIK
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Haste makes waste. We all know the saying and sometimes get to live it. Hopefully it's just a minor inconvenience when it happens.

Case in point for me, last year I was out in the pole barn and my wife texts me "dinner in 30". I wasn't back in 15 minutes later so she reminds me again. "I bet I still have time to get these wheels studs in" I thought to myself. Let's see how quick I can do this...

Got it done with time to spare. Then set the axle down on the work bench to admire my speedy work:


View attachment 1715521177
winner winner :rofl:
 
Dont forget to release the torsion bar before removing the lower control arm....

Man that last bolt was TIGHT!

OUCH.....
 
Never, never, ever saw off the limb you're sitting on. This is a photo of the manual for my husqvarna chain saw. No...for real! It's there!
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oh boy..i have a few of these.
Do not put blocks behind the back tires and jack the front up on blocks.I did just that and left the floor jack below the K frame for removal later. I turned around to see the car roll forward off the blocks landing squarely with oilpan on the floor jack below. Someone smarter than me probably would have seen that could happen but i thought with the front higher if anything it would roll backwards so that's where i blocked the tires.
Yes i had to remove and repair the crushed oil pan AAARGH!
 
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