Dumb Car Question Thread - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

fresnelly · 11-22-2010, 06:37 AM

Here's a judgement-free thread for those of us who weren't born with axle grease under our finger nails. Feel free to jump in with questions that you're afraid to bring up down at the Gas n' Gulp for fear of being kicked off the bowling team.

#1.) Often I hear classic-car guys talking about early Fords without mentioning model names and I get confused.

For example: "We took this 54 Ford Coupe and chopped the...." or "We pulled the back end off of a 52 Ford and mounted it..." and so on.

Was there a period of time where Ford or other major American mfrs only had a few models and so went without name-names? Like they were defined by body features only?

What's the deal?

cj2112 · 11-22-2010, 06:58 AM

In a nutshell, there were very few models. The example of this that comes to mind is the '57 Chevy. Basically, there was the 2 dr. Bel Air sedan (hard top and convertible), the 4 dr. Bel Air sedan, the Nomad (station Wagon), the corvette and the pick up. If I say '57 Chevy, unless I specify otherwise, it's pretty well understood I'm talking about the 2dr. sedan. For the most part, Early Fords were the same way. (I chose the '57 Chevy because it is so common that most people know what it is).

Leto · 11-22-2010, 09:01 AM

Okay. This sounds like a good place to put my dumb car question. Does it have to be trivia or can it be maintenance as well? Anyway, I'll put in my maintenance question hopefully some kind - knowledgeable - folks on TFP can help:

I had the snow tires put on the car over the weekend. When I got home I saw the following notation on the invoice/work order:

"L/R strut leaking and noisy it may snap anytime"

What the heck does this mean? Is it dangerous? is it expensive? It sounds suspension related, but I didn't think that struts leaked. I thought shock absorbers leak.
The car is a '97 VW with 136,000 kilometres on it.

Martian · 11-22-2010, 10:02 AM

L/R would be left rear.

"Strut" is generally referring to a Macpherson strut, which is a suspension type that contains the shock and spring all in one package. They're very common in modern cars. If it's leaking it's in bad shape and will need to be replaced. It breaking isn't necessarily life threatening, but could make for a very uncomfortable ride.

If it's actually leaking hydraulic fluid you should be able to verify this for yourself with a visual inspection.

I'm surprised they didn't bring this up when you picked up the vehicle.

Leto · 11-22-2010, 01:24 PM

meh. It was Canadian Tire. I don't think he even knew what was on the write up when I picked it up.

You know, I heard clunking coming from the left rear yesterday, but it went away after a while, and far be it for me to investigate something if it's going to cost money.

Didn't know about the shock/spring in one package thing. I wonder if the shock can be replaced by itself. Now that you've narrowed it down for me Martian, I can google it a bit.

Thx!

Martian · 11-22-2010, 02:04 PM

Crappy Tire's trained apes are almost but not entirely useless. I wouldn't trust them to do anything more complicated than change my oil.

Your clunking is very probably a related thing.

The spring will be able to come off the strut, but the shock will not. Technically the strut is just the bit that attaches the wheel to the body, and that is what you'll replace.

I'm all for DIY most of the time but suspension springs can seriously ruin your day if you don't know what you're doing. This is a job for the pros.

11-22-2010, 06:37 AM	#1 (permalink)
fresnelly Functionally Appropriate Location: Toronto	Dumb Car Question Thread Here's a judgement-free thread for those of us who weren't born with axle grease under our finger nails. Feel free to jump in with questions that you're afraid to bring up down at the Gas n' Gulp for fear of being kicked off the bowling team. #1.) Often I hear classic-car guys talking about early Fords without mentioning model names and I get confused. For example: "We took this 54 Ford Coupe and chopped the...." or "We pulled the back end off of a 52 Ford and mounted it..." and so on. Was there a period of time where Ford or other major American mfrs only had a few models and so went without name-names? Like they were defined by body features only? What's the deal? __________________ Building an artificial intelligence that appreciates Mozart is easy. Building an A.I. that appreciates a theme restaurant is the real challenge - Kit Roebuck - Nine Planets Without Intelligent Life

11-22-2010, 09:01 AM	#3 (permalink)
Leto Junkie Location: The Danforth	Okay. This sounds like a good place to put my dumb car question. Does it have to be trivia or can it be maintenance as well? Anyway, I'll put in my maintenance question hopefully some kind - knowledgeable - folks on TFP can help: I had the snow tires put on the car over the weekend. When I got home I saw the following notation on the invoice/work order: "L/R strut leaking and noisy it may snap anytime" What the heck does this mean? Is it dangerous? is it expensive? It sounds suspension related, but I didn't think that struts leaked. I thought shock absorbers leak. The car is a '97 VW with 136,000 kilometres on it. __________________ You said you didn't give a fuck about hockey And I never saw someone say that before You held my hand and we walked home the long way You were loosening my grip on Bobby Orr http://dune.wikia.com/wiki/Leto_Atreides_I

11-22-2010, 10:02 AM	#4 (permalink)
Martian Young Crumudgeon Location: Canada	L/R would be left rear. "Strut" is generally referring to a Macpherson strut, which is a suspension type that contains the shock and spring all in one package. They're very common in modern cars. If it's leaking it's in bad shape and will need to be replaced. It breaking isn't necessarily life threatening, but could make for a very uncomfortable ride. If it's actually leaking hydraulic fluid you should be able to verify this for yourself with a visual inspection. I'm surprised they didn't bring this up when you picked up the vehicle. __________________ I wake up in the morning more tired than before I slept I get through cryin' and I'm sadder than before I wept I get through thinkin' now, and the thoughts have left my head I get through speakin' and I can't remember, not a word that I said - Ben Harper, Show Me A Little Shame

11-22-2010, 01:24 PM	#5 (permalink)
Leto Junkie Location: The Danforth	meh. It was Canadian Tire. I don't think he even knew what was on the write up when I picked it up. You know, I heard clunking coming from the left rear yesterday, but it went away after a while, and far be it for me to investigate something if it's going to cost money. Didn't know about the shock/spring in one package thing. I wonder if the shock can be replaced by itself. Now that you've narrowed it down for me Martian, I can google it a bit. Thx! __________________ You said you didn't give a fuck about hockey And I never saw someone say that before You held my hand and we walked home the long way You were loosening my grip on Bobby Orr http://dune.wikia.com/wiki/Leto_Atreides_I

11-22-2010, 02:04 PM	#6 (permalink)
Martian Young Crumudgeon Location: Canada	Crappy Tire's trained apes are almost but not entirely useless. I wouldn't trust them to do anything more complicated than change my oil. Your clunking is very probably a related thing. The spring will be able to come off the strut, but the shock will not. Technically the strut is just the bit that attaches the wheel to the body, and that is what you'll replace. I'm all for DIY most of the time but suspension springs can seriously ruin your day if you don't know what you're doing. This is a job for the pros. __________________ I wake up in the morning more tired than before I slept I get through cryin' and I'm sadder than before I wept I get through thinkin' now, and the thoughts have left my head I get through speakin' and I can't remember, not a word that I said - Ben Harper, Show Me A Little Shame

11-22-2010, 06:58 AM	#2 (permalink)
cj2112 Unbelievable Location: Grants Pass OR	In a nutshell, there were very few models. The example of this that comes to mind is the '57 Chevy. Basically, there was the 2 dr. Bel Air sedan (hard top and convertible), the 4 dr. Bel Air sedan, the Nomad (station Wagon), the corvette and the pick up. If I say '57 Chevy, unless I specify otherwise, it's pretty well understood I'm talking about the 2dr. sedan. For the most part, Early Fords were the same way. (I chose the '57 Chevy because it is so common that most people know what it is).