Newsflash, gramps: There were no "taunts" there, not outside of your imagination. Please refrain from inflicting your paranoid delusions on me, wouldja?

I didn't feel I was being taunted, no problems there. :)

most guys forget.. how many mistakes were made, learning about so basic a thing as *torque* on bolts (where few used to have a real torque-wrench) plus the miserable inaccessibility of rusted / semi-stripped bolts and the like. If you've never done any wrenching, well.. the lore can't be posted for instant absorption.

...Because, you blithering old PC buffoon, I explicitly said she was "excused" from having to know this shit, precisely BECAUSE I remembered all that harsdhip and realised she couldn't be expected to learn it from a couple of posts on the Web. ...

Yep, you did, and knowing it is different than being able to do it. I know how a lot of things are done on and to cars, but I can't accomplish them.

Knowing how to fix simple mechanical things is -- or at least, IMO, should be -- a basic *requirement* for one to be regarded as a fully rounded individual in our modern mechanized society. But, Brenda grew up as a girl in the sexist old Yank culture of yore(*), where girls were discouraged from doing that kind of thing -- so *she* is excused from having to know shit like that. You have absolutely no reason, however, to extend that courtesy to her husband.

Actually, no, Brenda grew up in a guy world. ;) My friends were guys from an early age up through high school. I had few girl friends, and I hung around guys and cars, so I learned a lot about them. My mom did attempt to discourage me, as you said, but I won out in the end. ;)

John knows a few things, I believe, like changing oil, and air filters, tail lights and some other things that are relatively simple (although the new car gave us all a run for our money with it's tail-light!), but he did not grow up in a car-oriented environment... expect maybe to play that wild car game on video... what was that thing called? Man, I used to know! ;)

So John chose to be a computer "geek" so to speak, to read, program, play computer games, and do math as opposed to going into an engine and getting down into the grease. :) Nothing wrong with that, not everyone is interested in cars. As long as you can do the basic maintenance on your car, and you know the basics about keeping it running well, I don't see why just because you are a guy, you should be able to actually do mechanical stuff on it. :)

Shit, don't you remember her description of their creepy control-freak relationship? I went something like: She does the cooking, and in exchange for him being so kind as to eat what she cooks, she gets to do the washing-up... Sure, if they want to live that way, more power to 'em... But in that case, John either lives up to his end of the deal -- and, being The Man, does "manly" things like switching radiators -- or he's proven himself worthless even at his chosen game.

Ah no, somewhere you got confused. I do NOT cook. John cooks. I am a marginal at best cook, who can make very few things, and mostly with the microwave oven. I do the cleaning for the most part, but he loads the dishwasher, and unloads it, and he does his own laundry for the most part (although I start the first load for him), because he wants to. I would be happy to do the dishwasher and laundry instead, but he chooses to do them instead.

John does many manly things, including lifting, we helped my 96 year old Aunt move on Feb 27th, for example, and he does other types of heavy jobs around the house but not cars as a rule. He earns his manly status just fine, thanks.

Brenda

But I couldn't let Conrad go around saying things that were wrong. ;)

Me cook? Not on your life! :)

Brenda

Boxley wrote:>>You could do this ourself brenda, since you arnt doing anything anyway (due to lack of transortation) take your time.<<

I appreciate your confidence in me, but I probably can't even lift the radiator, let alone get it on or off. I know a lot about cars, (well, a lot in my opinion, I guess), but I can't do a lot physically with cars. I for example, know how to change a tire, but I can't physically break the lug nuts loose, nor can I physically lift the tire (at least not on my car. I was able to lift it for the small mustang my ex-had).

ASHTON WROTE:

1) Ignore the gurrl taunts; most guys forget.. how many mistakes were made, learning about so basic a thing as *torque* on bolts (where few used to have a real torque-wrench) plus the miserable inaccessibility of rusted / semi-stripped bolts and the like. If you've never done any wrenching, well.. the lore can't be posted for instant absorption.

Yep, we've had numerous problems with rusted bolts, stripped bolts, and just plain STUCK ones in my car over the years. I relate to that. I've wrenched a little, but mostly it serves to wrench my back more than anything else, and I just threw it out on Sunday to top it off.

2) All good advice above; maybe a local kid can be harnessed to -yes- a pretty simple job needing no 'calibrations' or special insights. Assuming you want to do it for cheap (within reason) -

I used to have a local "kid" although he isn't anywhere near a kid anymore. However, we had a serious falling out and I no longer utilize his services, and wouldn't ask him again ever. He's actually the guy who rebuilt and installed my motor when it threw a rod in 1996.

I also had a local old man, still have him, in fact, but he's getting older and older, and he did/does bodywork and builds cars. However, I didn't want to ask him, as he has been sick a lot lately, and also lives a lot farther away now than he used to, so it's some drive. I prefer not to drive my car with this radiator problem.

So I pretty much lost all my good cheap, friend mechanics. Dobbs however, has served me well for years now, and I know them all by name, and they know me. They know my car inside and out, which I trust, because that's the single most important factor, that they understand Sapphire and treat her right, and know what they are doing. I don't trust just anyone to mess with my car, and I don't know any other local "kids" anymore.

3) I just rebuilt my distributor: an expected oil weep at this age, just beginning because of flattened o-ring seals. Got all parts on the web; ~30% cheaper than dealer rates. Piece o'cake. Know of others who have bought radiators that way (though not for retro-stuff like yours).

The only things I've bought on the web for my car are things that are sure exact matches. For example, I bought the left front fender for my car online from Arizona, and also bought the speedometer cable from there. The cable was actually shorter than the original, but the mechanic made it work. I don't know how exact a radiator is, since it didn't seem to have exact model, (style, etc) listed, just 1968 Plymouth. Perhaps that means they are interchangeable, but I would not want to trust that. Been there done that with the carburetor. Luckily for me, Dobbs was dealing with the carburetor, and they kept sending it back till they got one that fit.

I don't see why your rad is so expensive for 'new'-ish, unless there really aren't that many radiators for '68 iron any more (??) In any event - a recycler's offering can be taken to a shop, inspected for munged cooling tubes, reverse-flushed for luck - and pressure tested. If it flunks - take it back and find another radiator / supplier.

I realize we could have gone with a re-core. I was nervous about that due to it already having been recored in 1995, plus the fact that they told me the fins were really bad, and the whole thing was fairly shot. Even the 2nd company that specializes in radiators told me there was a possibility that the old one could not be recored again.

Again - if you've never used tools and your SO is also deprived: doubt you should try this without supervision -- but if you do, thou shalt then feel Empowered!

I've used tools, but as I said, there's a limit to the car work I can do. John on the other hand wasn't even exposed to mechanics like that as there was no interest in it from his dad or mom or other family members. I grew up around cars and guys, and I learned a great deal about them. This actually impresses the mechanics at Dobbs, because I know what I'm talking about. Plus I got the complete manual for my car and I've read it several times. That always helps.

My friend who used to work on my car always told me, if I had had more strength, I would have made a great car mechanic. ;) As it was, I was better at handing him tools and retrieving screws that sild into tight places in the engine. But I observed and learned a lot that has stayed with me since.

Thanks Ashton.

Brenda