Jacking up a vehicle for an oil change

[JDgreen227]

We used to park over a ditch at my friends house to fix the exhaust pipe. We used a tin ( real tin ) can and 2 hose clamps to cover the hole. We would get about 3 weeks out of it.

On my '73 Nova I got a LOT more life out of that kind of repair...stainless clamps last forever and sturdy tin cans (actually they are galvanized) never rusted out. But maybe you got so much more salt in the UP....it rusted things faster.

 

[TomSeller]

We used to park over a ditch at my friends house to fix the exhaust pipe. We used a tin ( real tin ) can and 2 hose clamps to cover the hole. We would get about 3 weeks out of it.

Reminds me of fixing my exhaust holes with some cheap flex exhaust pipe and clamps. I think I got a few months out of mine.

 

[MH8675309]

Mine was a 73 Monte Carlo but I lived in Lapeer then. Now I'm in Marlette which is in the thumb. The clamps lasted fine but the can would burn out. It's hard to believe we used to fix things that way. Back then a fuel pump was such an easy fix compared to now.

 

[KennyG]

Back then a fuel pump was such an easy fix compared to now.

Back in the day, I could change out a fuel pump in well under an hour and did that many times. On my cars today, I think all the fuel pumps are in the gas tanks, but I don't really know because I don't think I've changed a fuel pump in the last 30 years. I guess it's just a trade-off.

 

[dfkrug]

Back in the day, I could change out a fuel pump in well under an hour and did that many times. On my cars today, I think all the fuel pumps are in the gas tanks, but I don't really know because I don't think I've changed a fuel pump in the last 30 years. I guess it's just a trade-off.

Yeah, you HAD to replace those cheap 5psi mechanical fuel pumps mounted on the engine often. Since we got fuel injection, they are in the tank, very expensive, and almost never fail. I remember being stranded twice on the road due to mechanical fuel pump failure. It always seems to happen in the desert, miles from anything (NM and E. WA).

 

[MikePA]

I see no mention of getting under the car not supported by jackstands or some other method.

It wasn't mentioned. Seems pretty obvious that all of the steps from the article should have been mentioned.

I use ramps with our two cars. No need for ramps to change the oil and filter on my 2004 Silverado.

 

[JDgreen227]

It wasn't mentioned. Seems pretty obvious that all of the steps from the article should have been mentioned.

I use ramps with our two cars. No need for ramps to change the oil and filter on my 2004 Silverado.

Thanks for your confirmation, MikePA....:thumbsup:

 

[CowboyRon]

When I was in high school, I saw a buddy of mine working on his brakes.
His car was jacked up with a bumper jack in a slanted driveway. His chest was directly underneath the disc rotor when I walked up.
I laughingly explained to him that wasn't the best idea he's ever had.

 

[ozob2k]

Used to patch my headers with a beer can, bondo and a coat hanger. 220v - 221v, whatever it takes!

 

[crazyal]

Back in the day, I could change out a fuel pump in well under an hour and did that many times. On my cars today, I think all the fuel pumps are in the gas tanks, but I don't really know because I don't think I've changed a fuel pump in the last 30 years. I guess it's just a trade-off.

After about the second time changing a mech fuel pump I just replaced them wit low pressure electric pumps. The early Vega's had one that would mount to the fender well that worked great for pretty much any carb. For $20 you never had to deal with mech pumps or that stupid shaft that operated it.

My grandfather died when he got under a car using one of the old bumper jacks without the base. I have a BendPak lift and a couple of 4' jack stands. It's actually fun to change the oil now.