Little tips and tricks

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Grit dog

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Stretch an O-ring around your universals. It's like Vi-agra for them.

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**** I can't believe this forum censors the name of a pharmaceutical. :mad:
Works for floppy squarebody AC vents as well, if someone hasn’t mentioned it.
 

FireTruck1984

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Did you know, the galvanized ashtray can be polished to a bright shine? A bench polisher and a fine abrasive (Tripoli). It’s an easy way to put a finishing touch on the interior
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wlwarnke

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I was thinking this thread could be for little tricks you figured out that others might like to know. That way when they run into that problem or job it's going to be easier knowing that.

This one is no big deal and some might already do this but, when I shine up chrome I like to use #0000 steel wool for it. Works great! I don't even spray any cleaner or anything. Just get on it if it's not all greasy and too dirty. If so I'll wash it first.

This is the alternator bracket I shined up.

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Comes out nice and Shiney

I'm sure a lot of people can post things like this that maybe you didn't know. Even if it's something simple as this.

It works great for getting bugs off windshields, chrome bumpers, rims and other chrome stuff.
Steel Wool works wonders on glass also!
 

Radiohead

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Did you know, the galvanized ashtray can be polished to a bright shine? A bench polisher and a fine abrasive (Tripoli). It’s an easy way to put a finishing touch on the interior
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That's one shiny change bucket there. Nice.
 

Radiohead

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I had a bunch of tools get flooded by condensate and rusted up badly. I gave them a vinegar (white, from the grocery) soak for a couple days and then scrubbed stuff with a random brass bristle brush laying around. This leaves a nice coating behind on stuff like punches, chisels, & impact sockets and seems to act as a weak bluing of sorts. If I get time, I will investigate the why's and how to make better penetration of the brass but so far (2 years now) no surface rust returns.
 

Trucksareforwork

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Great ideas. Here’s one I learned recently: if you have front posts on your battery with the threaded holes, and the hole strips, just use a short piece of soldering wire (lead) and insert it in the hole as you put the screw in. Tightens things right up.
 

ulm4lyf

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If your truck won't turn over at all, try reaching around with your left hand and pulling the gear shift farther into the park position and hold it there while you try to crank it. Iv'e had two different trucks in the past that I had to do this to.


Anyone have a tip on how to remove window crank handles without busting the clip?
 

Kurnacopia

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I recently pulled all the old bolts out of my fender and fender wells so I can pull the engine. All the bolts were very rusty. I put them all in a bowl and poured in apple cider vinegar. Let sit for a few hours and you will have beautiful rust free bolts. Then take out, rinse, and then plop in a zip lock bag. Get some WD40 and spray liberally in the bag. Shake to cover and zip it up for storage. No more rust.
 

CheemsK1500

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When changing power window motors or window regulators, use a piece of gorrilla tape across the top of the door frame and on each side of the glass to capture the door glass in the mostly raised position (or just low enough to access the window sash.) This is much easier than removing the glass from the door entirely.
 

scrap--metal

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Anyone have a tip on how to remove window crank handles without busting the clip?

Get the tool? Lol

No need for "the tool". Use an old rag or t-shirt. If you slip the edge of the rag/t-shirt between the door panel and the window crank and sort of walk it around the window crank, the edge of the rag/t-shirt will catch the end of the clip and pop it off as the you rotate the fabric.

Different fabrics work better than others. Old t-shirts work well because the fabric is thin enough for the wire clip to easily snag on it, and then rotate. Heavy fabric doesn't always catch on the wire clip. I've been doing it this way for years and have never owned "the tool".
 

82sbshortbed

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Hell yeah, that's some good stuff. Keep'em coming.
 

Mr Clean

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I recently pulled all the old bolts out of my fender and fender wells so I can pull the engine. All the bolts were very rusty. I put them all in a bowl and poured in apple cider vinegar. Let sit for a few hours and you will have beautiful rust free bolts. Then take out, rinse, and then plop in a zip lock bag. Get some WD40 and spray liberally in the bag. Shake to cover and zip it up for storage. No more rust.
I have heard of this before, and I always forget about it. I have a buddy, (he's a Furd guy) but he swears by this. He has a big pickle jar half full in his shop. I'm going to have to remember to try this.
 

Kurnacopia

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I have heard of this before, and I always forget about it. I have a buddy, (he's a Furd guy) but he swears by this. He has a big pickle jar half full in his shop. I'm going to have to remember to try this.
I did another very old rusty batch over the weekend. Left them in over night and wow what a difference. Air is your enemy so zip lock em and spray in that WD40. Lasts longer than a tin foil wrapped meatball in the freezer!!
 

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