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Another Happy Customer!

RockAuto has everything I could ever want for my restoration projects!

Their prices are unbeatable and the parts arrive as early as possible. I could not think of a better way to get all those hard-to-find parts than to visit RockAuto!

Nicholas in Texas



Upcoming Events
If you would like your event featured here e-mail with details.

4th Fridays on Noble
8/22/2014
Anniston, AL
e-mail

TransAm Club of America National Trans Am Car Show
8/22/2014
Dayton, OH
e-mail

7th Annual Prairie Shipyard Cruise Night
8/23/2014
Seneca, IL
e-mail

2013 Car Show
8/23/2014
Ontario, NY
e-mail

Viking Car & Grille
8/23/2014
Sultan, WA
e-mail

Doo Wop Cruisers Car Club 2nd Annual Car Show for Autism Speaks
8/23/2014
Wallingford, CT
e-mail

Transwest Buick GMC Custom Car & Truck Show
8/23/2014
Henderson, CO
e-mail

Tichigan Lake Lions Car Show
8/24/2014
Waterford, WI
e-mail

East Coast Camaro Club 33rd Annual All Vehicle Car Show
8/24/2014
Hudson, NH
e-mail

2013 Summer Car Cruise In Finale
8/24/2014
Richfield, NY
e-mail

Reinholds VFW Post 6759 Car, Bike & Truck Show
8/24/2014
Reinholds, PA
e-mail

Manistique Merchants Car Show
8/29/2014
Manistique, MI
e-mail

Mid-Missouri Motorcycle Rally
8/29/2014
Sedalia, MO
e-mail

Stangs R Us All Ford Show
8/30/2014
Dunn, NC
e-mail

The Invasion
8/30/2014
Dallas, TX
e-mail

Golden State Classics Car Club Annual Cruise In & Car Show
8/30/2014
Paso Robles, CA
e-mail

The Indy Hi-Winder Car Club 2014 Smoke & Burn, Car & Bike Show
8/30/2014
Indianapolis, IN
e-mail

Annual Spill Out
8/30/2014
San Antonio, TX
e-mail

Canal Winchester Labor Day Festival Cruise-in & Car Show
8/31/2014
Canal Winchester, OH
e-mail

The Original 11th Labor Day Weekend Car Show
8/31/2014
Westbrook, CT
e-mail

42nd Annual Car Show
8/31/2014
Plymouth, IN
e-mail

Goodmark Restoration Parts

See what we have from Goodmark

Are you restoring a classic car, classic truck or hot rod? Goodmark, now available at RockAuto, has been producing high quality sheet metal and trim since 1991. Goodmark further broadens RockAuto's selection of hard to find restoration parts.

Goodmark Restoration Parts

Whether you are doing a restoration on a Firebird, Chevelle, Barracuda, Charger, Bronco, Mustang, Beetle or other classic, or need parts for a later model restoration, find Goodmark in the RockAuto catalog. From floor pans to emblems, accelerator pedals to wiper arms, find what you need at RockAuto to get your project back on the road!






Forum of the Month

NastyZ28.com is a Second Generation Camaro (1970-1981) online owners community. It was established in 1998 and currently has over 45,000 members worldwide. The site is comprised of a forum with over 2.7 million posts, a comprehensive Camaro Restoration Guide, a vast amount of Camaro & Chevrolet technical data and VIN decoding information, a high-performance section, photo gallery and much more.

The site is well known not only for its technical excellence but also for its inviting and friendly atmosphere. Membership is free. While the site specifically caters to the Second Generation Camaro, the information and expertise are not limited to that marque; it is also considered one of the Premier Chevrolet technical resources in addition to being one of the largest sites of its kind.




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 cynthia@rockauto.com.





Repair Mistakes & Blunders

Ouch!

I was rebuilding a Holley 4-barrel from my 1965 Mustang. I disassembled the carburetor, cleaned all the parts with carb cleaner and reassembled it with new parts from a kit. When it was back in the car, I tried to start it. It fired right up, then stalled. When I tried to start it again, it was flooded. After letting it sit for a while, I tried to start it again with the same results; it fired up and stalled. When I finally got it to run, the engine ran rough and smoke poured out of both exhaust pipes. I could only drive it a block before it stalled again.

Over the following days, I could keep the engine running, but just barely. After a few minutes it sounded different. The engine was gurgling like a boat engine. Then I noticed oil squirting out of the dipstick tube, but it wasn’t just oil. It was oil and gasoline. The problem was obvious! The fuel pump diaphragm had ruptured, allowing gas to flow into the crankcase. I drained over two gallons of very thin oil out of the crankcase, put in new oil and a new fuel pump, and tried again to get the engine to run. Again the crankcase filled with gas, so I drained it again and added new oil. After getting another new pump and having the same results, I decided the problem was NOT the fuel pump.

Finally I took the carb off and stripped it down. When I put a wrench on the “power valve” that goes between the fuel bowl and the carb body, I realized that it was not even finger tight! Being loose, it allowed gas to pour directly into the manifold past the rings and into the crankcase. After I tightened the power valve and reassembled the carb, the engine ran perfectly and wow, did I have a clean engine internally!

The lesson I learned (again!)…when working on a specific part of your car (carb, ignition, charging system, etc), if it doesn’t work when you’re finished, check the work you just did, don’t look elsewhere for the problem.

Steve in New York



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

Automotive Trivia

Why did Buick begin using the model name "Electra" starting in 1959?

A. In Greek mythology, Electra was Apollo's fleetest messenger.
B. The Electra edition of the 1959 Buick Roadmaster included unique electronics such as window defrosters, fender mounted turn signal indicators and "star view" instrument panel lights.
C. Buick's president chose to name the car after his relative, the sculptress Electra Waggoner Biggs.


Answer below






Info Button Mufflers

RockAuto

My Chrysler 300 was the fastest Chrysler built in 1979. It came with a 4-barrel, dual exhaust and lower axle gears. It has the heavy-duty cop motor and suspension. The original tires had Goodyear printed on the sidewalls in huge white letters. My 300 was based on the luxurious Cordoba but shares the same B-body platform with legendary muscle cars like the 1968 Dodge Charger.

Unfortunately, both cop cars and 300s were slow in 1979. It has become increasingly important that my 300 sound and look fast, so that the parent in the late-model minivan sitting next to me at the stoplight will never suspect that he can blow my doors off.

I was extra careful when I replaced my rusty mufflers this summer. The RockAuto catalog lists a Walker SoundFX muffler for the Cordoba, but I wondered if there might be a louder choice. I clicked the Info button in the muffler’s part description to see a complete layout of my car’s exhaust system. Sure enough, listed below the Walker exhaust drawing was an alternative muffler option, the Walker Dynomax Super Turbo 17747. "Dynomax Super Turbo" sounds fast! I clicked the Part Number Search tab in the RockAuto catalog, found the Walker 17747 and bought a pair!

Walker exhaust diagram showing alternative muffler option
Walker exhaust diagram showing alternative muffler options

Walker and other brand (Bosal, etc.) performance muffler options are usually clearly listed under Exhaust for specific cars and trucks. For my car, why was it necessary to click on the Info button, find the alternative part number on the Walker exhaust schematic and then do a RockAuto part number search? The answer is because Walker did not design the Dynomax Super Turbo 17747 specifically for 1979 Cordobas. With their alternative muffler choice, Walker is just saying it is possible to make this muffler work. They often include this footnote: “Modifications and/or additional parts required.” This means the “alternative” muffler might not have model-specific brackets welded to it. Its body might be longer or shorter, which means custom pipes might need to be fabricated. A skilled exhaust technician might have to do the installation.

With alternative muffler choices, Walker is also not promising anything about sound or performance. Some Cordoba owners may not want their exhaust to be anything but luxuriously quiet. They would be happiest with a convenient Exhaust Kit that includes all the parts needed to make their car sound like new. The Walker Dynomax Super Turbo 17747 muffler is an alternative muffler for vehicles as diverse as the ’95 Jeep Grand Cherokee, ’90 Chevy Astro van, ’73 Olds Delta 88 and ’70 Plymouth Superbird. Will the Astro van owner like how the 17747 muffler makes his V6 or 4 cylinder sound and perform? Will he think it is worth paying more for? Walker leaves those questions for individual Astro owners to answer.

My favorite exhaust technician passed away a few years back. I asked the owner of the corner garage who he recommends for exhaust work. He reverently gave me the name of his exhaust guru. A guy that uses a pipe bender and welder like an artist, and is happy to work on old cars. With newer exhaust systems lasting longer, exhaust guys like that are getting harder to find. It was great to meet the exhaust expert, but installing my Dynomax mufflers turned out to be anticlimactic, easy work for him. There was no need for any custom pipe or bracket fabrication.

A guy that uses a pipe bender and welder like an artist and is happy to work on old cars

It is always a relief to go from that junky, rust-holes-in-the-muffler noise, but my Dynomax mufflers do give my 300 an exceptionally nice sound. I hear a deeper tone when I give it some gas, without ever being loud. Maybe power is also up a little nearer to 200 hp than before! I am sure those minivan drivers are sensing the new confidence inspired by my Walker Dynomax Super Turbo mufflers!

Tom Taylor,
RockAuto.com

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






Dean's 1993 Ford F-150

Dean's 1993 Ford F-150

I am the original owner of this 1993 Ford F-150 4x4 with a 4.9 liter six cylinder engine. All original with the exception of new console seats and converted air conditioning (R12 to R134a). Everything right down to the lighter works!

The truck's name is Gus. Gus has never left me high and dry. I recently rebuilt the entire front suspension, steering, hubs and brakes with parts from RockAuto. In fact I use parts from RockAuto almost exclusively. I take care of Gus.

Dean in Colorado


Share Your Hard Work

Do you purchase parts from RockAuto? If so, RockAuto would like to give you the opportunity to have your car or truck possibly featured in one (or occasionally more) of our publications such as the monthly newsletter, collector magnets or RockAuto social media. New, old, import, domestic, daily driver, trailer queen, classic, antique, we want to see them all! Please e-mail flamur@rockauto.com with your vehicle's history, interesting details, your favorite images and what parts from RockAuto you have used.






Let RockAuto Help

Let RockAuto Help

Are you organizing a car show or other auto related event? From goody bag stuffers to gift certificates...we can help. We can even publicize your event in our newsletter.

Just send an e-mail to marketing@rockauto.com with information about your show.






Automotive Trivia Answer

Automotive Trivia

Why did Buick begin using the model name "Electra" starting in 1959?

A. In Greek mythology, Electra was Apollo's fleetest messenger.
B. The Electra edition of the 1959 Buick Roadmaster included unique electronics such as window defrosters, fender mounted turn signal indicators and "star view" instrument panel lights.

Answer: C. Buick's president chose to name the car after his relative, the sculptress Electra Waggoner Biggs. (source: http://www.waggonerranch.com/images/WaggHist.htm)


Back up to trivia question




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