The thing with the BIG impact lately has been a power probe... wished I'd got one sooner. My guys at the shop use this thing damn near every day and have even "borrowed it" over night. This thing saves so much freakin time!
Game changers: WHAT tool or tactic changed the way you do things?
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71airgrabberRR
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My Dad
My Dad was a game changer for me..... Literally
When I was 7 or 8 years old all of the neighborhood kids were out playing baseball or football and I always wanted to join them. I couldn't because my Dad always had me busy working on our old cars.
My dad always had me working on our cars for several reasons. One we didn't have money to take them to a shop for repair, and two he couldn't do the work physically because of a serious back injury he suffered around that time. Dad crushed 3 vertebrate and slipped 3 discs at the same time. They thought he would never walk again.
So he taught me how to fix cars and a bunch of old school diagnostic tricks that he had learned over the years. It was a valuable skill that I still benefit from today.
When I was younger though I didn't understand what a gift he passed along to me.
Several years ago I finally told him "thanks" for what he did for me.
I'm glad I told him that, because we lost him last August. He was my game changer.
love ya Pop, wherever you are......
My Dad was a game changer for me..... Literally
When I was 7 or 8 years old all of the neighborhood kids were out playing baseball or football and I always wanted to join them. I couldn't because my Dad always had me busy working on our old cars.
My dad always had me working on our cars for several reasons. One we didn't have money to take them to a shop for repair, and two he couldn't do the work physically because of a serious back injury he suffered around that time. Dad crushed 3 vertebrate and slipped 3 discs at the same time. They thought he would never walk again.
So he taught me how to fix cars and a bunch of old school diagnostic tricks that he had learned over the years. It was a valuable skill that I still benefit from today.
When I was younger though I didn't understand what a gift he passed along to me.
Several years ago I finally told him "thanks" for what he did for me.
I'm glad I told him that, because we lost him last August. He was my game changer.
love ya Pop, wherever you are......
Mopar-Charger
Well-Known Member
My story with my dad is not near as touching as yours, but without my dad and his knowledge about cars I don't think I would have every dreamed about owning and enjoy cars as I do now.
When I bought my car, i knew squat about them. Now about 5 months after working on it with my Dad, him sharing little tips and tricks I... well you say it better then I "When I was younger though I didn't understand what a gift he passed along to me."
I tell him thanks every chance I get. I work hard slowly trying to repay the dues owed to him for the time he spent with me on my car. The patience he had with me was beyond comprehension. I do not know how he would understand what I was saying when I ranted on about "I can't get the valve cover (headers) gaskets on because I can't hold up the pipes, gaskets, and put the bolt in at the same time."
Honestly It was a great bonding moment with him, times I will never forget.
Anyways on a less special point: A ratcheting wrench set. Saves about 10 minutes of my life when you get stuck with those hard to get to bolts that require a wrench.
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71AirGrabber...
Man, why'd you go and write all that? Now I'm all sentimental about my late father.....
Man, why'd you go and write all that? Now I'm all sentimental about my late father.....
71airgrabberRR
Well-Known Member
Thanks for listening
Sorry to be a buzz kill.... It just hit me and I started typing what I felt....
i guess I had to vent a little and I unloaded on you guys.
its true though. I owe a lot to my dad.
thanks for listening though.
you all are great!!!
Sorry to be a buzz kill.... It just hit me and I started typing what I felt....
i guess I had to vent a little and I unloaded on you guys.
its true though. I owe a lot to my dad.
thanks for listening though.
you all are great!!!
wannadrag
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ramenth
Well-Known Member
And makes me appreciate mine even more.
Pop had us working on cars at a young age. When the economy fell to rock bottom in the late '70's, early '80's, he went to driving truck. I went on to become an auto tech, both in body work in my early career, then on to the mechanical side of things in my later career. Spending time with the old man at an early age sparked a passion.
Even now, if I need help or advise on doing something around the house, I give a call to Pop.
Back to the question at hand though...
I'd say a hand truck. Seriously. I broke down and bought a hand truck when I recently moved. I don't know how I've ever lived without one.
ZR9B
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Fire wrench....never had one till about a year ago.....I got a 1945 John Deere 440 dozer and it didn't take long to find a set on CL. That thing would still be in one piece and running if I had not got the fire wrench.
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Great story and sentiment. My Dad helped me too, even when I was away in the AF. If I had something i was getting ready to do or was having trouble diagnosing or needed advice on how to do it I would just call Dad and he would walk me through it down to every tool/size I was going to need. Open, Box end, deep socket etc etc. I miss him everyday.
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Fire wrench... Funny term!
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I've been using a aluminum hand truck with solid rubber "tires" on the wheels for about 25 years. It's the only way to move Engines and anything else heavy and ungainly
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We call it the "hot wrench"
wannadrag
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Affordable 110 volt wire feed welders in the early 80s,and my cherry picker are 2 I couldn't live whithout
Mopar-Charger
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Forgot to add: volt meter. My dad introduced it to me when I couldn't figure out why my brake lights weren't working.
He told me it was the "google" of his times. He would never do any electrical work without it.
He told me it was the "google" of his times. He would never do any electrical work without it.
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Tommy lift on my truck was the best tool I ever bought!! Problem is, I bought a 97 and sold the 90 model it was on and so I ended up letting it go with the 90 and never bought another but with the way my back is, I think I'm going to have to bite the bullet and get another.
71airgrabberRR
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Glass bead cabinet
A BIG glass beading cabinet large enough for fenders and doors, with a matching shop air compressor. It bumped my restorations up a notch. The next biggest thing would be a rotisserie. Having built a few cars using both, I wonder how I used to manage without....
Saves a lot of time and travel. Now I don't have to send these parts out for cleaning.
A BIG glass beading cabinet large enough for fenders and doors, with a matching shop air compressor. It bumped my restorations up a notch. The next biggest thing would be a rotisserie. Having built a few cars using both, I wonder how I used to manage without....
Saves a lot of time and travel. Now I don't have to send these parts out for cleaning.
I forgot to add this one. I got a Tommy on the shop truck (first one in 30 years, BIGS you dumbazz waitin' so long!!) I cant believe I didn't do it years ago.
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I am not familiar with these. What is a Tommy lift?
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It's a Hydraulic &/or Electric assist lift-gate on the rear of the vehicle to assist with heavy lifting, most fold up for driving & fold down for use while lifting, act as a tailgate when not in use, very common on commercial Bobtail trucks & Utility trucks, instead of using fork-lifts to unload heavy &/or large items, where there's no loading dock available or street side deliveries, other uses too.... Back Saver
I agree with the floor jack and lift comments. The floor jack I got many years ago, the lift only about 1 year ago. I tell you, the lift makes it MUCH easier to work on stuff rather than crawling around like a worm under the car. I am just learning to weld, so that hasn't changed the game for me - yet.
Two odd tools that really helped me:
1) A 20" and wobble extension for my ratchet. I can't tell you how many busted knuckles this has saved.
2) A fluorescent drop light. I like the smell of searing flesh when it is cow on a grill. Not so much when it is my arm from the old light bulb drop lights.
I was thinking a tommy lift is kind of like a cherry picker mounted to the side rail of the pickup truck bed, but I guess I am thinking about a different named thing. It swings in an arc. It allows you to lift heavy stuff easily up and into the pickup truck bed. Never had one, but always thought about getting one when I had a pickup truck.
Hawk
Two odd tools that really helped me:
1) A 20" and wobble extension for my ratchet. I can't tell you how many busted knuckles this has saved.
2) A fluorescent drop light. I like the smell of searing flesh when it is cow on a grill. Not so much when it is my arm from the old light bulb drop lights.
I was thinking a tommy lift is kind of like a cherry picker mounted to the side rail of the pickup truck bed, but I guess I am thinking about a different named thing. It swings in an arc. It allows you to lift heavy stuff easily up and into the pickup truck bed. Never had one, but always thought about getting one when I had a pickup truck.
Hawk
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Tommy Lift is just a brand name of a Lift-Gate
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I LMFAO... Your right about the old school incandescent bulb drop/trouble lights.. they put off allot of heat too, then the bulbs get hit & they go out way too often, even with the heavy duty type bulbs....
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I really want a 4 post lift, that will be a game changer for me....
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