DACCO Torque Converters

RockAuto now offers DACCO Torque Converters. DACCO strives to produce the most reliable and innovative torque converters. Using OEM specifications as the benchmark, DACCO incorporates numerous upgrades into their remanufacturing process to extend service life and provide exceptional quality. Beneficial aspects of the DACCO Torque Converter remanufacturing process include:

• Single piece impeller hubs of hardened or forged steel
• Clutch materials that mirror OEM specifications (Kevlar, Carbon/Woven Graphite)
• Gauging and balancing during the remanufacturing process to protect against rotational vibration and misalignment
• Advanced welding technology
• New OE quality bearings utilized where applicable
• 100% new seals
• Environmentally sensitive water based paint systems that provide an attractive appearance and exterior protection

Whether you need a torque converter for your 1996 Chevrolet Impala, 2003 Toyota Camry or your 2010 Jeep Grand Cherokee, find DACCO Torque Converters in the “Transmission-Automatic” category of the RockAuto catalog.

Forum of the Month

6thGenAccord.com is a forum dedicated to 1998 – 2002 Honda Accords. The forum includes areas dedicated to DIY, Engine and Transmission, Suspension, Brakes, Wheels and Tires and so much more. With an active network of members you can be certain you will receive the answer you are looking for.

If you are not already a member of 6thGenAccord.com, join today and become a part of a forum driven by enthusiasts!

Repair Mistakes & Blunders

Always Be Aware of Your Surroundings:

When prying a seized flywheel off of a front-wheel-drive car (the suspect in this case being a 1993 Mazda MX6), try to remember not to launch the flywheel at your head with the prybar, or you will have three scars to explain for a while:

1. The one where the flywheel jumps off the motor and hits you square on the bridge of the nose.
2. The one where you instinctively throw your head back and slam the back of your skull into the frame rail.
3. The one where you instinctively jump forward from THAT and slam your forehead into the bell-housing.

Luckily, I must have blacked out for a bit, or I think that chain reaction would have been self-sustaining possibly forever.

Trent in Louisiana

Tell us about your most infamous auto repair blunder or unconventional fix. Use your woe to help others avoid similar mistakes or share off-the-wall solutions that worked (at least for a while!). Please e-mail your story to flamur@rockauto.com. Include your mailing address and if you would like a RockAuto T-Shirt (please let us know your shirt size) or Hat if we publish your story. See the T-Shirts and Hats under Tools & Universal Parts in the catalog. The story will be credited using only your first name and your vague geographic location (state, province, country, continent, etc.) so you can remain semi-anonymous!

Automotive Trivia

In 1984, how did the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) revise the fuel economy estimates printed on new car window stickers?

A. City fuel economy estimates for vehicles with fuel injected engines (both throttle body and multi-point) were increased by 10% to recognize the improved cold-start fuel economy characteristics of fuel injectors compared to carburetors.

B. City and highway fuel economy estimates were decreased by 3% to compensate for the 10% ethanol being added to gasoline. Ethanol contains about 30% less energy than gasoline.

C. Fuel economy estimates for city driving were cut by 10% and highway driving by 22% to more accurately reflect realistic driving styles and conditions. This means an EPA 20 mpg highway fuel economy rating in 1983 was the equivalent of a 16 mpg rating in 1984.

Answer below

New Car Buying Guide

I have always been an advocate for used cars. My wife drives a ’93 Ford Tempo every day that we bought for less than the cost of the optional radio upgrade on some new cars. RockAuto has oodles of regular inventory and wholesaler closeout parts for the Tempo so it has been inexpensive to fix when it infrequently breaks. Need a family vehicle but want a sports car? Buy a used van and a used sports car for less than the price of one new vehicle.

I devoutly practiced what I preached up until now. Subtle but persistent pressure finally overwhelmed me: “Here is a new OBDII scan tool for your birthday. Oh sorry, I forgot, none of your cars are new enough to use it on.” Flamur, the RockAuto newsletter editor, suggested that perhaps I should own a car built this century if I was going to write a newsletter repair tip column relevant to most customers. My wife even cracked open forbidden doors by saying things like, “I bought my ’87 Mazda 323 new (her backup car now) so it is your turn to buy a new car if you want.” I am more than old enough for a midlife crisis. Somehow, everything snowballed into me buying my first new car, not a new to me ten-year-old car but a 2014 model year car.

I thought if I was going to buy one new car in my lifetime, then I should pick the model and order the specific car that would most closely match my family’s needs. Here is my new car buying rubric (that is a word my kids’ teachers use, I think it means a checklist of important things). My rubric might even be useful to other car shoppers.

Benchmark Vehicle: When considering the purchase of any car, I invariably compare it to another favorite vehicle, a benchmark vehicle, I own or have owned. A benchmark vehicle might have generous legroom, a versatile tailgate, be easy to work on, etc. If I eat right and get enough exercise, I will hopefully be driving the new car for a few decades so durability was the most import quality my benchmark car (and hopefully, new car) had to have. A 1979 Chrysler 300 (Cordoba) is the most durable car I own. My father bought it new and it has been driven to every corner of the contiguous United States without ever needing any major engine or transmission work. I enjoyed driving the 300 when I was sixteen and I enjoy driving it now. Our 2014 vehicle had to meet or exceed the qualities of the benchmark, a 1979 Chrysler 300.

Reliability and Repairability: The RockAuto Repair Index compares the cost of parts for two car models. It can help predict the cost of ownership before you buy a car. The Repair Index is best for comparing similar model years. Comparing the cost of parts for the benchmark ‘79 Chrysler to any newer car mostly just reinforced that newer cars have lots of emissions, fuel, safety, etc. parts that were not around in 1979. A remanufactured carburetor might cost less than a set of new fuel injectors, but I still would not complain if my 1979 Chrysler spontaneously had efficient fuel injection.

I decided to simply ponder what initial circumstances and characteristics might have increased the odds that our 1979 Chrysler would be so reliable. I might have been just grasping at straws, but both my reliable benchmark car and the new car I chose are rear wheel drive with V8 engines and automatic transmissions. Both cars were assembled in Ontario. Both cars have well laid out, uncluttered engine compartments. Both cars would not have looked out of place in 1970.

Deal Breakers: My wife and I have three children. We needed at least five seatbelts like our benchmark car has. Other less essential essentials like cruise control and an AM/FM radio come standard on most new cars. Our new car’s radio betters the ’79’s with a CD player and buttons on the steering wheel. The new car also has a much larger trunk, which will help on family road trips.

Safety, Fuel Economy, Performance: Being a dad and an adult, I have to say that performance is a holistic thing that includes safety and fuel economy. The new car has shoulder belts for all the backseat passengers. It has anti-lock, disc brakes and the brake rotors are almost the size of the wheels on the ’79 Chrysler. The new car has airbags galore. I never want to find out where all those airbags are lurking. With kids, having only two doors is a safety feature which both the benchmark and new car have (sure our youngest is 10, but you can never be too safe).

I compared the EPA gas mileage numbers on the window stickers. The new car’s gas mileage is double the old car’s despite it being the heavier car and the EPA being more generous with their numbers in 1979.

Our new car is at least twice as safe and has at least twice the fuel economy of our benchmark car. The new car also has more than twice the horsepower and accelerates 0-60 mph twice as fast as a ’79 Chrysler 300 (the quickest Chrysler built in poky 1979).

More Fun Stuff: The red “fine Corinthian leather” on our ’79 Chrysler was beautiful new but is a little tattered after 35 years. For the new car, I chose a sturdy black interior fabric that looks like the material the typical airplane “overhead bin” suitcase is made out of. However, I did not want the practical engineer in me to take all the fun out of my kids’ childhood new car memories. Thirty-five years later, I still remember and instantly recognize the smell of new Corinthian leather. We opted for a fun sunroof on the new car. I suggested white paint, like on the benchmark car, because it is easy to maintain and repair, but I did not resist when my wife pointed out that we already have two white vehicles. Purple paint seemed like an easy way to make any car more memorable and fun.

The photo shows our benchmark car and the Dodge Challenger my new car buying rubric led us to. My new car is now a used car and I am already adding parts to it from RockAuto. In fact, adding basics like a spare wheel/tire (when did a spare tire become an accessory?), has meant I have been working on the Challenger the most! Watch for future newsletter articles as I become more familiar with the mechanics of a car built this century.

Tom Taylor,
RockAuto.com

To read more of Tom's articles, click this link and choose from story titles on the Newsletter Archives page.

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