"Handy Shop Tips..."

[BrandC]

I choose 1000 grit and orange clean.

New pasttime: "Rubbing an orange out".

[equate975]

Fender covers, like someone awkwardly put it. No one likes scratched paint.

A chunk of cardboard for bolts is nice on unfamiliar/complex projects. Draw a diagram of what you are taking apart then stick the threads of the bolts through the diagram to where they correspond. Makes life a lot easier.

I like having a dry erase board, then you can write down everything you need to do/buy. If your like me you can only remember things for about 20 seconds.

[Jscotty]

i don't agree with that... just don't rely on them [cheap sockets] as your main tools.

To append what I stated earlier- I use cheap socket sets and other cheap tools only when I am doing work away from my garage. If I go to a local automotive gathering or I do some sort of community organization work, I am likely to end up with missing tools.

[Ben Carufel]

Just because you have the exception to the rule doesn't mean it's false.

No, Linus, that's not the reason I say that what Sloan said is stupid. His statement completely ignores the fact that women are OK with car stuff in moderation -- even non-mechanic women. Perpetuating the age old "girls aren't cool with us doing our guy car stuff" mentality isn't going to help anything.

In an adult relationship (something which I wouldn't expect many R3v members to have, of course), women can and do show interest and even accompany their mates in and on car related activities...it's part of life.

[Turf1600]

No, Linus, that's not the reason I say that what Sloan said is stupid. His statement completely ignores the fact that women are OK with car stuff in moderation -- even non-mechanic women. Perpetuating the age old "girls aren't cool with us doing our guy car stuff" mentality isn't going to help anything.

In an adult relationship (something which I wouldn't expect many R3v members to have, of course), women can and do show interest and even accompany their mates in and on car related activities...it's part of life.

To respond to that - heather goes to junkyards with me - helped me swap her dash - ect ect - but she becomes impatient when things dont go as planned. which as everyone knows happens nearly every time with e30s. At least for me anyways. For instance, when i did my springs/shocks/struts - she got really irritated and left. That makes the situation that much more frustrating for me - therefore I don't reccomend it. Not exactly the same as what you thought i meant - but i didnt feel (initially) i had to really explain myself.

[HST]

I always add at least 1 hour to what I tell my wife when I am working on the car. She does not mind that much because she sees it as a money saver, more so when I told her what the indy wanted for her 540i radiator job. I save a few bucks, and she goes shoe shopping......... damn

As for tips, I keep a box of sockets by the car so that I will have them handy when I am under it. Nothing sucks more than having the socket you need roll away while you are under there, or having to craw out to get a different size. I use the plastic bag method to keep track of every bolt. Keep every bolt from every parted out car it a great thing, and a life saver. If you have not parted one out, I'd suggest doing it just for this reason.

[ldsbeaker]

To respond to that - heather goes to junkyards with me - helped me swap her dash - ect ect - but she becomes impatient when things dont go as planned. which as everyone knows happens nearly every time with e30s. At least for me anyways. For instance, when i did my springs/shocks/struts - she got really irritated and left. That makes the situation that much more frustrating for me - therefore I don't reccomend it. Not exactly the same as what you thought i meant - but i didnt feel (initially) i had to really explain myself.

My wife is like that as well. She's not much of a car geek, but she appreciates a fine vehicle, and we have similar car tastes. Anyways, she gets impatient, too, especially if I'm out working on the car for ALL DAY (always). She comes up with good ideas sometimes, and surprises the shit out of me.

[Turf1600]

My wife is like that as well. She's not much of a car geek, but she appreciates a fine vehicle, and we have similar car tastes. Anyways, she gets impatient, too, especially if I'm out working on the car for ALL DAY (always). She comes up with good ideas sometimes, and surprises the shit out of me.

Honestly, if heather wasn't helping me I may not have gotten her dash in. She is more patient than I am sometimes.

[LINUS]

I don't mean to sound sexist at all. I'm not - just that many times trying to add you favorite girl to whatever you plan just is a PITA.

Now if you have the kind of girl who likes wrenching & doesn't mind getting into a project & seeing it through, more power to you & she's a great girl. Personally, I haven't dated any girls who showed any interest, and I'm not going to twist an arm to get her out there beside me.

If our interests overlap over cars, great - if not, she can do her thing & I'll go play under the hood. If she's just willing to go to a couple E30 events now & again, that's plenty by me.

The only reason I bothered to interject on Ben was that you have a girl who actively searched out getting into a profession most of us use as a hobby, and that since she's the exception to the rule, the rest of the guys around here shouldn't EXPECT their girls to be as active, knowledgable, or interested in car work as Kellie.

Like I said, no sexism involved. If Kellie was local to me as a shop & I needed her services the fact she's a woman wouldn't cause me to hesitate to take my car to her based on the level of knowledge she conveys here in the forums.

Now if she tried to sell me spark plugs for my diesel truck (really happened-long story), then it wouldn't matter if she shaves her face or her legs - that would be the last time I deal with that person.
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Back on topic of shop tips -

A coat of wax on the inside of your wheels when you have them off makes the brake dust less apt to collect so quickly - it's a no brainer when they are off for brake work, etc.

[Turf1600]

Just wanting to throw this in there - Heather bought me a 2002 for christmas and a set of recaros for the next christmas. Without me knowing.

[Farbin Kaiber]

Mine keeps trying to find out what color I want to do in my interior so she can get me a mtech-II wheel and get it leather wrapped for christmas.

[Turf1600]

Mine keeps trying to find out what color I want to do in my interior so she can get me a mtech-II wheel and get it leather wrapped for christmas.

I still win. Bish. :p

[Farbin Kaiber]

I still win. Bish. :p

I didn't say you didn't, but does yours sit in teh office you built her on the other side of the three car garage so you can still spend time together, making the little woman happy while you do an s52 swap?

[Turf1600]

I didn't say you didn't, but does yours sit in teh office you built her on the other side of the three car garage so you can still spend time together, making the little woman happy while you do an s52 swap?

Yeah we spend all kinds of time together in different rooms??

[FredK]

Ya know what, I always thought your name meant P.S. Loan, not P. Sloan.