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Another Happy Customer!

I recently heard about RockAuto and checked out your products & pricing. I found an electric fuel pump for $25.00--about $100.00 less than any I could find anywhere else!

Thanks to RockAuto I was probably able to save over $500 in repairs if it had been done in a shop!

Jim in California

 

Carlisle Events
RockAuto is the Official Auto Parts Store of Carlisle Events

Carlisle Events

2010 Schedule of Events:
Spring Carlisle & Auction
April 21-25

Carlisle Performance & Style
May 8-9

Carlisle Import & Kit Nationals
May 21-23

Carlisle Ford Nationals
June 4-6

Carlisle All-GM Nationals
June 25-27

Carlisle All-Chrysler Nationals
July 9-11

Carlisle Bike Fest
July 23-25

Carlisle Truck Nationals
August 6-8

Corvettes at Carlisle
August 27-29

Fall Carlisle & Auction
Sept. 29 - Oct. 3

 

Upcoming Events
If you would like your event featured here, email us with details.

2nd Annual Car Show & Swap Meet
4/25/2010
Heber Springs, AR
e-mail

Benicia Classic Car Show
4/25/2010
Benicia, CA
website

May Day! Car Show
4/30-5/1/2010
Show Low, AZ
website

36th Annual Rodders Days
4/30-5/2/2010
Tucson, AZ
website

Tidewater Corvette Club 3rd Annual Summer Car Tastic Charity Event
5/1/2010
Hampton, VA
e-mail

Diablo Valley Mustang Asscoiation-12th Annual Show & Shine
5/1/2010
Antioch, CA
website

Greensburg Classic Car Show
5/2/2010
Greensburg, KS
e-mail

4th Annual Street Freaks Car Show
5/2/2010
Saginaw, MI
email

Nashville Peach Blossom Festival & Car Show
5/2/2010
Nashville, AR
website

20th Annual SCC Car & Truck Show
5/2/2010
Ullin, IL
website

Clovis Motorsports Jamboree
5/7-5/8/2010
Clovis, CA
website

Timeless Cruizers 10th Annual Car Show
5/8/2010
Efland, NC
e-mail

Kiedler Vintage & Classic Vehicle Show
5/9/2010
Northumberland, UK
e-mail

21st Annual Lone Star Corvette Classic
5/14-5/16/2010
Forth Worth, TX
e-mail

Armed Forces Day-Car Truck Bike Show
5/15/2010
Indianapolis, IN
e-mail

San Juan River Rod Run Car Show
5/15/2010
Pagosa Springs, CO
website

First Annual Antique & Classic Car Show
5/16/2010
Stratford, CT
website

33rd Shelby Spring Fling
5/21-5/23/2010
Nashville, IN
e-mail

Auto Fest 2010
5/22/2010
Dundalk, MD
e-mail

Concrete Cruizers Car Club Charity Car Show
5/22/2010
Pleasant Hill, IA
e-mail

CFC Cruise In
5/23/2010
Westerville, OH
e-mail

Cars at the Park
5/23/2010
Rockaway, NJ
e-mail

 

Monroe Econo-Matic Complete Struts

MonroeMonroe Econo-Matic

Is it time to replace the struts on your 2005 Chevrolet Cavalier? Maybe you need new struts on your 1986 Ford Taurus or your 1997 Toyota Camry. If you are planning a strut replacement you’re in luck. RockAuto is now carrying Monroe Econo-Matic complete struts.

These units include all of the components required for strut replacement in a single, fully assembled unit. They feature a pre-assembled replacement bearing plate, upper and lower spring isolators, upper spring seat, coil spring, boot kit, and a strut. The Monroe Econo-Matic struts are based on the Monro-Matic technology.

Monroe Econo-Matic assemblies are similar to the Premium Monroe Quick-Struts, but at a more affordable price. Check out the "Suspension" category in the RockAuto catalog to see all the struts and shocks, now possibly including Monroe Econo-Matic, available for your specific vehicle.

 

 

Forum of the Month

Squarebirds.org

Squarebirds.org is devoted to one of the most misunderstood cars of all time. The 1958 to 1960 Ford Thunderbirds, affectionately called Squarebirds by enthusiasts, were conceived as compact luxury cars with distinctive style. The Squarebird started a whole segment in the car market. The Buick Riviera, the Chevrolet Monte Carlo, and all the two door Lexus and Mercedes are all just imitators of the original Squarebird concept: compact design, unique styling, formal roof, full-length center console, bucket seats in front, contoured rear bench seat and two doors. This great design by George Walker has stood the test of time. Initially reviled as the cause of the death of the two-seat Thunderbird, the Squarebird is now considered a milestone car that is eagerly sought out by collectors.

 

If you are the administrator or member of a forum and you would like to see your website featured in an upcoming newsletter and receive a discount code to share with your members, contact jessa@rockauto.com.

 

 

Repair Mistakes & Blunders

Ouch!

I was living in Seattle when the water pump on my 1977 VW Scirocco (great car) started leaking. I’d never changed a pump before, but thought “how hard could this be?” (famous last words to be sure).

I had no garage or carport, but a gravel driveway with plenty of potholes. As soon as I got under the car, it started to rain (not unusual for Seattle), and rained and rained and rained some more. Pretty soon I was lying in about an inch of water, cursing the day somebody invented front wheel drive, and skinning my knuckles on the (apparent) .028 inches of clearance between the front of the engine and the body.

Anyway, I finally got the replacement installed, swam out from under the Sirocco, started the engine … and saw that the pump was now leaking worse than ever – a veritable geyser. So I took the pump off (I was much faster the second time!) and discovered that I hadn’t removed its original rubber O-ring seal to the engine. But I had put the new O-ring on top of it, and in this case two were not better than one. The second re-installation went much more smoothly, and I emerged from my soggy driveway wetter and wiser.

Had I learned my lesson? About 15 years later, I was changing the oil filter on my 1969 Triumph TR-6, which had an internal filter element and round outer casing that had to be lined up with a large O-ring to seal properly. You’ll never guess what I did … but at least by then I had a dry heated garage instead of a wet gravel driveway.

Graham in Virginia

 

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 awhile!). Please email your story to flamur@rockauto.com. Include your mailing address and shirt size (large or extra large) and we will mail you a RockAuto "Do it yourself?" t-shirt if we publish your story (see the t-shirts under Extras 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

Automotive Trivia

The shock absorbers and struts are cycling up and down whenever a car moves. The shock rod moves in and out and seals retain the oil and keep it moving through the right channels. Approximately how many times will a shock or strut have cycled after 50,000 miles?

A. 2.5 million times
B. 25 million times
C. 87 million times

Answer: C (source: http://www.safety-triangle.com/faq.htm)

 

 

Safer & More Fun to Drive

RockAuto

Monroe is now offering $20 to $150 rebates on shocks and struts. A perfect time to replace the original shocks on my ’86 Mustang GT.

Monroe recommends changing the original shocks at 50,000 miles (80,000 km). Monroe does not specify an age for replacement, but I bet my 24-year-old shocks were past their prime even if they did not have 65,000 miles on them. Surprisingly, a quick wipe down with a dry rag made the old, white shocks shine like new. That just shows you cannot judge a shock by its superficial appearance. Closer examination showed the rubber bushings at each end were badly cracked. The top of the shock had scraped patches of metal bare on the bottom section indicating too much play in the shock rod.

At first glance, Monroe’s 50,000-mile replacement recommendation may seem like a ruse to sell more shocks. If you believe that then plan on buying a lot more brake pads, ball joints, springs, CV half shafts, engine mounts, etc. If I broke open my old shocks I would have found the oil inside had deteriorated to black goo. If the shocks are not controlling the motion of the car then expensive suspension, steering, and drivetrain components will be absorbing that energy and wearing out faster. Monroe will sell more of their brake pads (Monroe is also offering a rebate on those!) if less people replace their shocks.

I was skeptical myself until I attended a Monroe class and test drive last year. I drove cars equipped with new shocks or struts and then drove identical cars with 50,000 miles on the original shocks and struts. What left the biggest impression was how new shocks made the cars quicker to stop. With old shocks the front of the car too easily sank down and the back too easily rose up putting a disproportionate amount of load on the front brakes.

My Mustang GT has four shocks in the back, vertical shocks and horizontal axle dampers (found under "Drivetrain" in the RockAuto.com catalog). It needs those axle dampers to handle the 200 hp and 285 ft/lb of torque churned out by the 5.0L V8. With worn out shocks and axle dampers, my Mustang was becoming prone to axle hop. The tire hops rather than smoothly driving off or spinning. It is about as satisfying a feeling as stepping on your own shoelaces and cannot be good for the tires, rear axle, u-joints, etc.

These days mini-vans routinely have more hp and torque then my old Mustang GT. Power is way up and so is weight. A new Mustang GT is more than a ¼ ton heftier than my ‘86. Newer suspensions might be more elegantly designed, but the shocks and struts are still there valiantly facing even more strenuous loads. A new set of Monroe Sensa-Trac shocks is now protecting my Mustang and making it safer and more fun to drive.

Tom Taylor,
RockAuto.com

 

 

Ray's 1965 Ford Econoline Pickup
Ray's 1965 Ford Econoline Pickup

I purchased this 65 Econoline pickup two summers ago from New Jersey. It has been worked on by people with limited knowledge. As I have been a mechanic since 1972, I found a lot of changes that need to be made. It has a 1971 302 c.i. truck engine shoehorned between the seats.

Just wanted to say Thank You for the great service on the Master Cylinder I ordered for the pickup. Because of the super fast shipping, I was able to finish that part of my project, and move on to the next.

Ray in Ohio

 

Share Your Hard Work
Do you purchase parts from RockAuto? If so, RockAuto would like to feature you and your car or truck in our monthly newsletter. Please email flamur@rockauto.com with details.

 

 

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