WTF Stuff We Find On Cars.

Noticed that but just mentioned the use of a socket as a spacer. Hey, it holds that parallel to the ground. That has to be good, right? <sarcasm intended>

Back in high school, I needed a new car and I was short on cash. Luckily, my sister worked at a shady Hyundai dealer that would do those "Push it, Pull it, Tow it for GUARANTEED TRADE!!!!", which meant their wholesale jalopy lot was overflowing with terrible cars at $250 each. For some reason, the patrons of this dealership had a thing for non-Mustang Fox Body cars, and my family netted 3 Mercury Cougars from there in varying degrees of functionality. The first one that I bought was a white 1987 Cougar XR7 with the 5.0L V8. When I got it home, I started going through the car. 

In the engine bay alone I found:

-A metal fork, knife, and spoon

-Various sockets, ratchets, wrenches, and screwdrivers, basically enough to make a makeshift tool kit

-Three non-functioning security system horns

-About 150ft of wire that went to nothing at all, not even the security horns

-A few rolls of unused electrical tape

-An old Chips Ahoy! box, folded up, and stuffed into the driver's side headlight 

-5 or 6 oil-soaked rags right below the radiator

And more. Granted, this was a $250 POS, not a "restored" classic car, but yeah...

grover said:

dean1484 said:

ebonyandivory said:

In reply to Dr. Hess :

Same show (title) and a ‘53 Cadillac restoration included refrigerant for the Frigidaire AC that the proprietor claimed cost like $7,000 per pound. 

There was a time when I think R12 was unobtainable and it was hugely expensive to charge an old system.  

Can’t you add redtek or propane to an r-12 system? 

Yes. Propane will also work very well in a R22 system. 

The 57 Chevy I used to have had a couple of wire nuts under the dash.

My favorite "fix" was the JB Weld on the transmission U-Joint. Luckily it was only cracked a little bit. 

It was very much a form over function car when I bought it. It took a while to straighten it out. 

wlkelley3 said:

Well, that might explain the parking brake issue. Why a 9mm socket for a spacer? Didn't he know that's what the infamous always lost 10mm socket is used for. 

You are correct, but only in European or Asian model vehicles.  You want to use the 7/16 socket for a Caddy, or that is what the shop manual says.

NOHOME said:

Has the curved cross member been cut where the two bolts are? And the floors just don't look right from below; are they just flat sheet-metal?

 

Er, that is what cars did used to look like.

Those 50s and 60s cars were floppy noodles!

pinchvalve said:

My question is, where do these shops get their people?  That work indicates a complete and utter lack of any automotive, mechanical or technical knowledge, with zero concern for safety or the lives of others.  If I hired a homeless person off the streets, they would be able to do better work, while drunk, and insane.  So it must take effort to be so bad, the question is why?  Less effort would result in better work and more clients.  I am baffled.  

Some shop owners figure to hire anyone who is willing to work for $8 an hour.

Absolutely nobody with any kind of talent is willing to work for $8 an hour.

I was rewiring a Fairlane Fastback for someone. Opened the trunk to find this tail light wiring. I've seen a lot of weird and scary stuff. Quarters used as fuses in a 58 Bentley, vice grips as battery terminal clamp along with every conceivable use of sheet rock screws.

[URL=http://s240.photobucket.com/user/NOTATA/media/Marks%2068%20Fairlane%20Fastback/008_zps2dda37f4.jpg.html][/URL]

I once seen an oil pan drain plug hole repaired via 6 inches of copper pipe and a check valve rtv'd into the hole. It leaked and was the lowest point on the truck begging to be ripped off. 

NOT A TA said:

I was rewiring a Fairlane Fastback for someone. Opened the trunk to find this tail light wiring. I've seen a lot of weird and scary stuff. Quarters used as fuses in a 58 Bentley, vice grips as battery terminal clamp along with every conceivable use of sheet rock screws.

 

[URL=http://s240.photobucket.com/user/NOTATA/media/Marks%2068%20Fairlane%20Fastback/008_zps2dda37f4.jpg.html][/URL]

Is that a power or a ground wire?

And which answer would be scarier?

MadScientistMatt said:

NOT A TA said:

I was rewiring a Fairlane Fastback for someone. Opened the trunk to find this tail light wiring. I've seen a lot of weird and scary stuff. Quarters used as fuses in a 58 Bentley, vice grips as battery terminal clamp along with every conceivable use of sheet rock screws.

Is that a power or a ground wire?

And which answer would be scarier?

Power