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I just turned 66 so I'm a little younger than some but still plugging away at everything I can. I still change the oil and rotate the tires on our daily drivers. Haven't paid for an oil change since high school. Currently have this automatic transmission scattered all over my work bench.
I do have a lift and did pick up a transmission jack for this job. That was good but the jack only lowered the transmission down to about 4-1/2 feet. I put my arms under it and lifted up with my toes and calves and all that happened was I went uggghhhh - nothing moved. Looked up the weight and got 175 lbs without the converter. Ohhh!
So, rigged up a hoist off of my lift with a couple strapped together 2x4s and tied the transmission to it with heavy rope and used my lift to raise it and then lower it down to a furniture dolly where I could finally start pulling it apart. In the background is a 2x4 ladder frame I tied the transmission to, to hold it vertical for reassembly. They are much easier to assemble with the case in a vertical position so the clutch packs can be lowered down and engaged with the various toothed drums.
Sometimes it pays to get a little innovative and think of ways to do the heavy things a bit easier and 2x4s and furniture dollies are cheap.
Dan - "Necessity is the Mother of Invention" is alive and well in your garage.
Quote:
Originally Posted by davekp78 View Post
I got a MaxJax. 8' ceiling in my garage. I've done pinion seal, rear axle bearing, front axle shims, front sway bar and of course oil changes on the '56. Front brakes on the '65. Oil changes and alignments.
I'm 71.
Now there's an idea. I need to check into that.
I also have an 8' ceiling. Can you actually get your car high enough to be able to work comfortably sitting on a shop stool?
Steve
Steve, I have a Max Jax with an 8' ceiling also. There's enough room to work under the car while sitting on a shop stool, but you'll find there's not many "heavy" jobs that involve that, or that give you enough leverage to do things in that position. It's very comfortable to do brakes, tires, etc. like that from the side of the car. But the Max Jax was an absolute game changer for me. I comfortably did a complete chassis swap (to an SR III) using it. Engine swaps (where you're constantly working on top, then under the car are 100% easier. It's the best gift I ever gave myself. BTW, I'm 62 and still very active, but I'd be a LOT less motivated to work on my cars without the Max Jax.
Regards,
Rick
Going on 72 this year and still doing all my own work, from rebuilding the Muncie, replacing the rear spring to recovering the seats and minor body work/paint. Engine work has been limited to rebuilding the Holley, and all the seals (main, pan, timing cover, etc.). OK, I did send out my tach and speedo for refurb’ing, but I did the painting, lenses and filters.
My 17years with GM (many of those on the passenger engine line) also come in handy (the ‘60’s was my type of technology). I was just a pup back then, age 19 to 36, and wish I still had the stamina.
As others have said, I probably couldn’t have done a lot of it without my lift, transmission jack and other tools.
Just 54 here. But ridiculous health problems. I do all my own work but sometimes need a buddy to make sure I get the job done. I run out of steam pretty fast.
Also, you guys are much older than I would have imagined. Right on!
Last edited by TJefferson2020; 03-22-2017 at 07:42 PM.
Its a bit ironic, but I knew more than a few mechanics "back in the day" that worked on cars for a living well into their 60s.... Knew one airframes technican that was still working 10 hour days at age 68.
There is a secret to it though. Pick your parents and grandparents extremely well...
At age 65 last July I single handedly changed engine / trans in my 64. Done it many times. Still enjoy it but slowing down for sure and back surgery last month isn't helping.
Reading the previous posts gives me incentive to "keep on keepin' on". Thanks guys for the motivation.
I am 54 and do all my own work, but I am not writing about me. My father in law is 77 & just finished a body off 56 chevy last year. Engine, body, paint & most of the interior. Ya, I gave him a lot of help, but I have to say for his first restoration he did an awesome job & really stuck with it.. My dad is 83. Doesn't do his own work any more, but whenever I work on his 29 model A, he is right there trying & most importantly spreading his knowledge. This is a great hobby & I hope to be still doing it 20 & 30 years from now.
THE WAY TO GO GUYS - Some real inspiring stories. I'm 71 and do "most " everything on my on going '66 restoration with my crew of mechanics which is ME, MYSELF and I. When I am working on my car with Golden Oldies on Pandora I feel like I'm 25 years old again. Garage time means everything.
At age 65 last July I single handedly changed engine / trans in my 64. Done it many times. Still enjoy it but slowing down for sure and back surgery last month isn't helping.
Reading the previous posts gives me incentive to "keep on keepin' on". Thanks guys for the motivation.
Quote:
Originally Posted by davekp78 View Post
I got a MaxJax. 8' ceiling in my garage. I've done pinion seal, rear axle bearing, front axle shims, front sway bar and of course oil changes on the '56. Front brakes on the '65. Oil changes and alignments.
I'm 71.
Now there's an idea. I need to check into that.
I also have an 8' ceiling. Can you actually get your car high enough to be able to work comfortably sitting on a shop stool?
Steve
Steve, I have a Max Jax with an 8' ceiling also. There's enough room to work under the car while sitting on a shop stool, but you'll find there's not many "heavy" jobs that involve that, or that give you enough leverage to do things in that position. It's very comfortable to do brakes, tires, etc. like that from the side of the car. But the Max Jax was an absolute game changer for me. I comfortably did a complete chassis swap (to an SR III) using it. Engine swaps (where you're constantly working on top, then under the car are 100% easier. It's the best gift I ever gave myself. BTW, I'm 62 and still very active, but I'd be a LOT less motivated to work on my cars without the Max Jax.
Regards,
Rick
Thanks, Rick. That's what I was wanting to hear. No transmission or engine swaps are in my future but it sure would be nice to get off the floor to do transmission fluid changes, oil changes, and to be able to work on brakes and such at eye level and not down on the floor. It would also be great for cleaning/detailing the underside of the car.
At age 65 last July I single handedly changed engine / trans in my 64. Done it many times. Still enjoy it but slowing down for sure and back surgery last month isn't helping.
Reading the previous posts gives me incentive to "keep on keepin' on". Thanks guys for the motivation.
Rex
I agree, Rex. Great motivation. I appreciate all the comments from everyone.
I also have an 8' ceiling. Can you actually get your car high enough to be able to work comfortably sitting on a shop stool?
Steve
Take a tape measure and measure the top of your car to the ground.
Now point it to the ceiling and see if you can get under that.
Remember that the parts underneath will be about 5 inches higher than the bottom of your car. And you should have a few inches of clearance to the ceiling so you don't poke the windshield through the drywall.
Another option is you don't have to have it so high you can stand under it. Many jobs can be done while you sit on a stool. You just need it high enough to get under and sit comfortably.
Last edited by Procrastination Racing; 03-22-2017 at 10:54 PM.
If a lift is in order make sure it goes high enough. My buddy had to have a lift, got a nice one but his garage is limited. I helped him with a clutch on his Challenger. A lift is no good if it is about 6" short of being able to stand up straight. I would rather work on a creeper under the car than try and work squatting all the time. He is happy because he can put a car under it. I would pass unless I had enough head clearance and I am only 5'10" not 6'4".
If a lift is in order make sure it goes high enough. My buddy had to have a lift, got a nice one but his garage is limited. I helped him with a clutch on his Challenger. A lift is no good if it is about 6" short of being able to stand up straight. I would rather work on a creeper under the car than try and work squatting all the time. He is happy because he can put a car under it. I would pass unless I had enough head clearance and I am only 5'10" not 6'4".
That is why I said sitting. When I was selling my '63 convertible, I broke the clutch and a guy was coming to see it that weekend. It was winter and snow on the ground. A family friend had a pit, so we towed it over to his house and I changed the clutch that afternoon.
His pit was set at the height for his Model A truck and so I was bending over slightly most of the time changing the clutch. I could barely move the next day and I was 22 at the time.
03-22-2017, 06:44 PM
That is why I said sitting. When I was selling my '63 convertible, I broke the clutch and a guy was coming to see it that weekend. It was winter and snow on the ground. A family friend had a pit, so we towed it over to his house and I changed the clutch that afternoon.