Cheap Tricks

[Chris4x4Gill2]

Originally Posted by 64shortbox

Here's one I read - The Best Penetrating Oil out there is a 50/50 mix of ATF & Acetone.

This one is good and definately works well, but it does have a shelf life so mix as needed.

[RenoKeene]

Man, you guys are slick. This thread turned out better than I thought it would.
I'm working on a index for it by tools, tips, products, situations, etc.
Any ideas from you all would be a great help.
Thanks again for sharing your knowlege.

[RenoKeene]

By the way.....we have had almost 7,600 views of these ideas, I know we have helped a few folks out and that was the original idea going in.
Thanks again everyone!

[Dub_X]

Originally Posted by Jack_71C10

We used 1 wire back in the day.
Just touch bumpers together for negative, and wire for positive.
usually a coat hanger.
of course all bumpers were chrome back then.

Nifty idea.
Btw, I love the animated gif for your avatar...I want one! Lol.

[Lost Vegas]

Hey guys new to the site and I I'm considered a youngster but I have a couple. For u guys w the icy windshields and mirrors try rain x they also make a product for motorcycle helmet visors that keeps them from fogging works pretty good here I'n ga not too sure how either would hold up for u guys w REAL winters. Also if any of u r running air ride suspension a little antifreeze I'n the tank will keep the tank and lines lubed up as well as the valves so rust or freezing weather won't stop u from riding. And if ur ever I'n a pinch w an air leak and have no Teflon for a fitting a platic grocery or sandwich bag will work to get u home or to a shop.
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[64shortbox]

This one I have used. Can't get a bearing race out of a hub etc? Run a (welding) bead on the face of the race and it will fall out of the hub. I know, logic says the heat will expand the race and lock it in tight, but running a bead shrinks it and will fall out.

[70STOVEBOLT]

Originally Posted by 64shortbox

This one I have used. Can't get a bearing race out of a hub etc? Run a (welding) bead on the face of the race and it will fall out of the hub. I know, logic says the heat will expand the race and lock it in tight, but running a bead shrinks it and will fall out.

This will work with just about anything that is a press-fit. We have done this several times on diesel engines with dry sleeves to get the sleeves out of the
block.

[El Campo]

If you have body hammers (use this on the Martins and works great) or other lightweight hammers with wooden handles and the heads get loose put them in some antifreeze overnight. Will swell up the wood and make the heads tight again. Won't weaken the handles either. Plus the antifreeze keeps them from rusting unlike water.
Posted via Mobile Device

[463]

Originally Posted by 463

for frost or ice : warm tap water in a pail ,way easy and faster. or credit card

I should have mentioned that i use rain x in all my windshields and mirrors. After you use it you will not go with out it.

[chevy_man5]

Originally Posted by 463

I should have mentioned that i use rain x in all my windshields and mirrors. After you use it you will not go with out it.

How do you get it in the windshield and the mirrors? Sorry, I couldn't help myself. Just teasing!

I have used Rain-X in the past too, and works great, especially with questionable wipers!

[463]

Originally Posted by chevy_man5

How do you get it in the windshield and the mirrors? Sorry, I couldn't help myself. Just teasing!

I have used Rain-X in the past too, and works great, especially with questionable wipers!

ok on my glass. thats ok chevy_man5 . I will have make a note to self to do a second or third proof read be for submiting a reply. I would most likely have done the same

[shawno72]

If you are looking to buy rear drop shocks buy some front stock height shocks from your local parts store should be less than $20 each. Check the CPP catalog, the part number for their rear drop shocks is the exact same part number as their front stock shocks. I've done this for two of my lowered trucks and have saved a lot of money and they work great.

[RenoKeene]

^ Good post Shawn!

[PAWS 72]

Originally Posted by flashed

I use the back side of my comb to scrape the ice off but sometimes my wife goes out and cranks the truck up for it to defrost before she wakes me up.

I know that won't happen around here. Lucky guy

[Maxxd07]

Originally Posted by 64shortbox

This one I have used. Can't get a bearing race out of a hub etc? Run a (welding) bead on the face of the race and it will fall out of the hub. I know, logic says the heat will expand the race and lock it in tight, but running a bead shrinks it and will fall out.

Using a torch does the same thing, expecially for those areas where a welder wont quite get to or for those who dont want to weld the bearing race to the hub.

[Maxxd07]

I just thought of this and I dont think I mentioned it but when reusing coolant, like after hose replacement etc, put a paint filter in a funnel and it will keep the bugs and dirt out of your cooling system. They are cheap and are made of paper so just trash it when done.

[Low Elco]

Add to the above- if you don't have a paint filter, and old t-shirt works great for this,too. Ask me how I know. Also works good for filtering gas into the dirtbikes!

[flashed]

And I just threw away a bunch of paint filters that were just taking up space on my shelf,OH well, now I know better .

[rpmerf]

While pulling apart my shifter linkage today I noticed there was a bit of a gap where it connected to the column. The bushing was 1/2" and the hole in the bit on the column was 5/8"! Went to home depot and got a bushing for about $0.50. I don't have everything back together yet(fixing a couple problems at once and haven't ordered all the parts yet), but that should tighten up the shifter a good bit!

[maskale]

A coffee filter will work great for the coolant or gas also. If u see a trashed coffee pot or before u trash one take the filter housing out, makes a great filter holder with a handle and somewhat of a funnel. Also u can fold a round coffee filter in two or more halfs and then open one of the folded pleats and also have a funnel filter. As a pleat gets dirty close it and open one of the other folded pleats and keep pouring.
Posted via Mobile Device

[rpmerf]

the filtering reminds me of another cheap trick, not really automotive related tho.....

You can take cheap rum or vodka and make it taste almost as good as stuff that costs twice as much! You can run it through a brita filter, but its SLOW and doesn't seems as effective. I build my own filter using activated charcoal and cheesecloth. You can find the activated charcoal in the fish section at pet stores or walmart. Make sure you clean up the charcoal really good first or it will turn your liquor black. I typically run it through 2-3 times to get the best taste. I did this with gold rum and I was able to notice a LARGE color change the first 2 times through.

[64shortbox]

I'll definately remember that.

I also make my own Kahlua - I use a bottle of cheap vodka (Clear Springs or Everclear tastes better tho) 12 cups of very strong coffee, 1-1/2 lbs dark brown sugar & 5 tablespoons of vanilla extract. Yealds about 3-1/2 bottles of home made Kahlua. Total investment about $8.50

[rpmerf]

make your own wine! all you need is frozen juice concentrate, sugar, yeast and water! I've made it a couple times before, its very drinkable, but leads to bad hangovers because of all the sugar.

http://www.wikihow.com/Make-Cheap-Wine

[tpost01]

While working on the shifters for my Mountain Bicycle a while back my teenage daughter came up with a great solution for faded indicator needles. Nail polish. Any Color imaginable, comes with a brush so it is super easy to control. I will be using this when I refurb my dash in the coming weeks.

Also, everyone who has been (or in my case still is) in the military remembers Neverdull on the brass or metal work... The stuff works great for removing rust streaks and such from chrome.





Of course, if you neverdull your bumpers and the rest of your truck looks like mine, you will look rather silly

[PanelDeland]

Wanted to bring this to the top.So here's a "Keeping Momma Happy" tip.Ladder socks.I use an old pair of crew/work socks to cover the feet of my ladder when I bring it in on the carpet in the house.I use it in the garage and the yard and some times the feets ain't clean.With the scks I don't gotta xlean carpets,too.I do have to duct tape them most times if I'm moving the ladder around.