Bad Advice

[garrett1308]

We've all met "experts" and learned just what's wrong with our cars. What are some of the ridiculous things yall have been told?

For me, the impeller bearing in my draw through turbo (1981 trans am) went bad is because I overboosted the motor. ALso, the car refusing to idle after being cycled off and on after getting warm, and a left dash blinker light coming on after a bump is simply because I have a "bad" negative battery terminal.

 

[YY1]

"Chrysler is owned by gm"- from a car salesman.

"Prior to 1982, there's absolutely no way to tell from the VIN, what engine a car was built with"- from "I've been in the car business for over 30 years, so trust me I know this" ebay seller.

"You beat my 350 nova because you have a big block 440, see- it says so right there on your fender"- from a gm yahoo, pointing to the "Coronet 440" emblem on my poly 318 powered 66.

 

[Kern Dog]

Ba advice ?
I was told something by a sheep once...I didn't believe a word of it.

 

[747mopar]

Maybe not expert advice but I had a guy tell me about a 426 max wedge hemi that he knew of.

 

[Ironbuilt]

N.T.B. failed my pickup for N.C. State inspection. I had my father-in-law take the truck in and I guess the "so-called" mechanic thought an elderly gentleman was easy prey. He failed my truck for "Steering Components" then proceeded to try to sell my father-in-law rear shocks. The real kicker is the quoted the parts & labor at $295.00. Unbeknownst to the shop, the owner of the pickup was a life long car nut and truck mechanic. I enjoyed bringing the pickup in personally that Saturday and schooling the "so-called" mechanic and store manager on the State's definition of steering component. I also pointed out that I had replaced the entire rear suspension, springs, shackles, u-bolts and shocks just two years prior when I installed the trailer hitch set-up. The shocks brand new from AutoZone were $24.99. They couldn't explain the astronomical labor cost when book rate is 0.6 hrs. Needless to say, they refunded me my money, passed my truck for inspection and lost a customer.

 

[garrett1308]

Ba advice ?
I was told something by a sheep once...I didn't believe a word of it.

Not like a sheep ba, but like BA's advice

 

[69a100]

I had a 66 Rambler American 440, badge said so on the fender [American 440].
Some yahoo said and thought that I had a 440 in it. Since when does a 232 6 banger sounds anything like a 440, plus how would he know what I have under the hood when it's NOT his car?

 

[YY1]

I always wondered if those yahoos thought all Coronet 500's came with 500 CID engines.

...and don't get me started on rambler 770's

 

[Ironbuilt]

I always wondered if those yahoos thought all Coronet 500's came with 500 CID engines.

...and don't get me started on rambler 770's

So then an A990 must have a hell of an engine compartment. LOL

 

[1969CoronetR/T]

I had a guy tell me that my fender mounted turn signals on my 1969 Coronet R/T were not stock. One of the reasons I do not go to car shows.

 

[mopar 3 B]

Upper and lower ball joints were bad an needed replacement.
Found a different alignment shop . Parts where brand new.

Need to replace the lugs because nut they were stick and will not come off. Had to tell the guy the L meet left hand thread.
Chrome makes your car go faster.

 

[69a100]

I always wondered if those yahoos thought all Coronet 500's came with 500 CID engines.

...and don't get me started on rambler 770's

Rambler made a 770? I want one!

 

[68sprtsat383]

Had a guy tell me one time he had a 74 charger with a 440 hemi in it. I just smiled and shook my head.

 

[69Bee]

Saying I didn't have the optional rear wing on my Superbee, I said that was only on Daytonas and Superbirds. He said he was talking about the short wing like a gull wing on the E bodies. I told him none existed on 69 Superbees, and he said his uncle had a factory wing on his Superbee, so I was wrong. Oh, and my 426W was really a 383 because the fender emblems and pie tin said so...

 

[The Rebel]

We used to tell a kid at school that:

Hubcaps made a car
Rearrange all your spark plug wires on the distributor to get better performance

 

[Ironbuilt]

We used to tell a kid at school that:

Hubcaps made a car
Rearrange all your spark plug wires on the distributor to get better performance

 

[63RedFury]

Guy behind the counter told me they never made Dodge Chargers in 1966.He told me 1968 was the first year. I laughed at him and pointed at the front window that I was parked outside of and said what is that then? A 68?

 

[63RedFury]

Oh that was Autozone....

 

[Bb70charger500]

Oh god the amount of b.s. I've been told ! I can't focus in on one but a funny one I will always remember. A old friend of mine is a Ford mechanic and he swore up and down a special tool is needed to replace a rocker arm in a 4.6 I said what ever you say I don't need your stupid Ford tool . He came over to prove me wrong well guess what he brought the wrong tool it didn't fit he told the owner I'll be back tomorrow I'll get the right tool I told the owner I'll have it in in 5 mins buddy said with the tools you have here it can't be done! I said fine let's put $500 on it if your so sure... 5 mins later I used a prey bar it popped right in and truck ran great! The ford *** hole has yet to pay me nor speak to me anymore I guess I hurt his feelings! But he's the real mechanic he says I'm not !

 

[garrett1308]

My 81 turbo trans am isn't running right, not getting gas after the accelerator pump gives its spray. I'm pretty sure there's varnish built up inside of it not letting enough gas flow through the venturi. Had someone insist that the only issue could be a trashed fuel filter. Told them no, because the accelerator pump would spray when the pedal was pushed time and time again. They then over to my car with me knowing, pulled the fuel filter out (clean by the way), held it up to my face and said "THIS is what's wrong with your car". Told them no, started the car with the fuel filter off and it still wouldn't run right, surprise surprise. Later, they showed me a picture of a tore down carb, said my carburetor had idle rods in it just like the one in the picture, and that they are what's wrong with my car. Told them they aren't allowed to touch my car anymore.

Couple weeks ago, that same person heard that popping dents was easy with an oxy torch and a cool wet rag. They grabbed a butane torch, heated up a minor hail dent on my hood to almost red hot, and dropped the rag on it. Perplexed with the still existing dent and a small area of slightly warped hood, they moved about a foot over to another dent, still no success and a new slightly warped area. (car has a "patina" hood, so paint isn't an issue). They tried on the last few dents on the hood. No success, so they moved onto the fender. This time, they heated the area up red hot and dropped the rag on it. Didn't work, so they did it again. Saw what they were doing and put it to a stop. Now have a nicely warped fender that still has a hail dent on it.