The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop The "Feel"

The discussion keeps coming up about working on our old stuff. Maybe we need some education on working with your hands. The guy that taught me mechanics always preached feeling your work. It was rare he ever snapped a bolt off. If you read the service manual for adjusting bearings it talks about the feel. Maybe we need to get back to the basics here. Just saying. Ya know, like the first time your mits had a handful of skin in them.

If you pay attention, you can "feel" a fastener stretch. You can "feel" a bearing clearance as well. But, and this is a big but, to know, really know, you need a torque wrench, and a set of calipers. As for the skin thing....get permission first. In all cases.

I understand what you mean, Don. When we tell folks we want to "see" something we really mean "I want to FEEL it". I always called it an extra "sense".

Feel is something that comes from experience from over tightening bolts, stripping threads, breaking bolts.
If you can "feel" the bolt stretch, you have reached the "modulus of elasticity" of the metal. It quickly stretches right before it breaks. Think of a wad of gum when you stretch it apart. That is what metal does.....only less stretch.

My Dad was a machinist/engine builder when we were kids. He went on to another career in electronics with a power company. During the Johnstown flood of '77, my brother's Gremlin X was caught underwater for a day or so. It was flatbedded home and Dad and my brother rebuilt it in the driveway that summer. Dad didn't have a torque wrench and when he put the heads back on the amc 304, he did it by feel with a twenty-four inch breaker bar and socket. My brother said he checked the head bolts later and none of them were off by more than two pounds.

Gremlin X! Now thats what I am talking about! I have a 1973 that is on the list. Not sure I will ever get to it. It was my first car. My original had a 232 six and I put a 304 out of a Javelin in it. Memories!! My first opportunity to rebuild an engine. 40 years ago! I've been feeling my way around ever since!

My proud brother and his Gremlin after he got out of the Navy

http://laroke.com/larryk4674/2005/gremilin.jpg

That is one cool dude and one cool car.

I was driving back from Boonville, Miss after purchasing my Gremlin X (part duex) years ago, and it was amazing the younger crowd, when I stopped somewhere who asked "WTF is that?" No idea why that style didnt take off. But lots of people hate the look. Stuff a 304 V8 in there, and it blows the doors off most of the 289 Mustangs out there. I had so much fun with that. Larry, next time you talk to the cool dude, be sure to tell him he's not alone. The flared front fenders, the flared rear, the room in the engine comp., just yelled MUSCLE CAR!!

http://devestechnet.com/Images/DevesArchive/Summer/1973gremlinlg.jpg

Im sayin!!

Well there's Eric Foreman. Where's Donna?

I can relate to what Don was talking about in the beginning. Its an acquired thing from years of repetition. My favorite memories was of Bill Mills of Mills Auto Salvage in Newton, KS. Its gone now, but he was our local community college auto mechanics teacher. He was good. He did alot of dirt track racing engines and really knew how to teach young people. When you find a mentor like that, and you aren't too young and stupid to realize what you have in him, you WIN. We spent lots of time together and he taught me so much. 1974-1976 were great years for learning auto mechanics. Anyone who really has an interest in this, never loses the passion. Even though I went a different career path, my evenings and weekends have always been about mechanics and learning new things. All thanks to Bill Mills!

Now that I have time to really get into things that are familiar AND unfamiliar, it has been a great journey spending time with you guys, many others locally, and really pursuing the craft. You are never too old, or experienced to learn new things. I see it all the time... people who think they are now the Elders and know it all. They are really missing out. There are new methods of doing things just around the corner. If living in the past and trying to sell everyone on your expertise is the game, its a fools errand. Learning from each other is the name of the game. Even though I try really hard to give as much as I get, there is much to learn. Thank you guys for being there. (most of you anyway! ;))