6 of the best sounds to hear in the garage
Working on our vintage cars is all but required in order to enjoy them safely. Even if you aren’t taking on big DIY jobs, there is always something that needs a little attention or a double check for safety. And in that process of keeping our cars on the road, there are a few aural indicators that, when our ears are tuned in just right, make the experience that much more pleasurable. Here are six examples.
The crack of a bolt breaking free
After visually inspecting the problem and grabbing a few tools, it’s time to actually get started. Put the wrench on that first bolt, give it some tension, and enjoy that wonderful feeling of cracking loose. Not breaking loose, as that opens a whole different can of emotions, but the crisp release of the clamping force the threads were providing. The following intermittent soft clicking of a ratchet as the handle swings back and forth, bringing that piece of hardware closer and closer to freedom, can be as comforting to the right mind as a gentle rain.
The click of a torque wrench
On the other end of things is reassembly, and the defined snap of a click-type torque wrench might as well be applause to a mechanic’s ears. The reward for doing a good and correct job. If you are more of a beam-type or electronic torque wrench kind of person, I guess it might be the slight click of your elbow or wrist as the at final tension is reached. Sadly, mechanic’s elbow is much more difficult to calibrate and varies wildly based on age and, uh, chassis condition.
The squeal of the floor jack lowering
A lever long enough would move mountains. But two pistons connected by a contained fluid will just as easily move the heavy cars in our garage. There’s just something to be said for picking up your project for the last time and sliding out the jack stands with that horrible clatter, before the soft wheeze of the hydraulic fluid passes through the small relief valve opened by twisting the long metal handle. It’s a whizz that fades in pitch like a sigh until the car is back on the ground, as if the jack is happy to do the lifting but the lowering is somehow beneath its pay grade. Regardless of how that inanimate object feels, the noise signals good news to our ears.
The first start-up
This one is really a flurry of sounds that all happen at once to create an automotive orchestra written in 12 volts and and conducted at roughly 700 rpm. As maestro of our cars, we click the key over to the start contacts, which is met with a flourish of clunks, rotational grinds, and, eventually, the steady thrum of a drum line comprised of pistons that holds tempo while the fan and valvetrain fill in under-noise. It all adds up to a concert everyone came to hear.
The soft clunk that comes with shifting into gear
We might all agree that gated shifters sound great, but I have gated shifter dreams on a Saginaw four-speed budget. Therefore, that soft tink–tink of a gated shifter is left for YouTube videos and those rare occasions in the passenger seat of a car that is very much not mine. But even a Corvair has a distinct shifter sound, despite or because of the six-foot-long rod that connects the shifter to the transmission. It’s the light clunk that comes right before going somewhere. The car’s way of saying “alright, let’s get rolling and go have some fun.”
Even drivers of the two-pedal persuasion get a noise to pair with the gentle rock that comes from sliding an automatic transmission into gear. The hit of the hydraulic pressure connecting input and output via the first-gear clutch pack is unique to each and every car out there, and more than likely we could all pick out our car in a blind test.
The soft plink of a car cooling off after a drive
The reward for a job well done is shutting off the ignition, letting the engine wind to a stop, and then reveling in the mild plinks and pings that come from the shrinking and expanding of different hot metals under the hood. The subtle noises are the reminder that your car is both a machine and a living thing, and it communicates with us audibly if only we take the time to listen to its delightful sounds.
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These are all wonderful sound’s that I have been blessed to have heard so many times. Another set of sounds I love after any maintenance or repair (or just checking the oil) are the thunk of the closing hood, the several unique sounds of the driver door opening and closing, the snick of the key going into the ignition and finally the roar of the engine as it comes to life!
The sound of an electric fuel pump loading the fuel line, the distinct sound of a Chrysler gear-reduction starter, the muffled “whoomph!” of a 426 Max Wedge firing through those Hemi mufflers and the rhythmic lope of a purple-stripe cam.
Or, as someone else pointed out, that definite buzz of a ’68 to ’72 GM key warning buzzer. That meant that a prime mover was about to be enjoyed. Not to be forgotten is the memorable sound of a ’39 Ford flattie starter. That makes me very, very young again.
When I’m stopped at a light in my 68 XR7, and I can hear the little rotator cam and the sequential taillights in harmonies of 3. Puts a smirk on my face every time.
I think it would be a good story to do a corollary to this: “The worst sounds to hear in your garage”!
e.g., the snap of a bolt breaking off flush with the surface; the sound of the ez-out snapping off inside the broken bolt; the lack of any sound when you drop a (fill in the blank) down the intake; the sizzling of wires after you have just installed a new harness; the sound of a suspension coil spring letting go uncontrolled; the sound of the car coming off the jack with the wheels off; the sound of the drill bit just before it grabs the metal and (a) throws the piece; (b) jams the drill and snaps your wrist; snaps the drill bit off in the piece; etc.
Oh man, I was just sitting here daydreaming about all of the wonderful sounds people were describing, listening to them in my head, and then I came to your comment – – – now instead of daydreams, I’m having daymares! That stuff is all TERRIBLE! 😮
That first time start has a special meaning for me. I was 20 and working at the local hardware/ auto parts & repair / sports and lawn & garden store to pay my way through college. I was razzed a lot because it was the early 80’s and I was the only guy driving a Honda Civic. When I rebuilt the motor on another Civic I bought for $100, I used the store shop. The guys razzed me until I turned the key, before connecting the exhaust manifold to the motor. And VRROOOMMM! Everyone stared in disbelief and never razzed me again. Good times!
The sizzling sound when you are laying down a perfect weld….
My favorite, was the first start up. The feeling of a job well done and the smells of gaskets burning in, the new paint that up carefully applied to your used headers, burning off. hahahaha
I am especially fond of the sound of my S.U. fuel pump springing to life when I turn the key. It always gets things off to a good start.
Kyle, PLEASE tell me that the chain hoist keeping the engine from falling off the stool has been photoshopped out for artistic reasons.
We all make mistakes in the garage, and in the heat of the moment three years ago I used that sturdy wooden stool as an engine stand to swap the clutch on the back of that 1275 for my ’69 Sprite. It was safe, but I understand how it could appear differently. For the sake of leading by example I will try and find a photo to replace that one. Thanks for bringing it up, definitely worth discussing.
How about the sound of a pretty girl saying “I sure like your car. Can you take me for a ride?”
You should have recorded the sounds to bring that article to life
Great reading and thinking!
Maybe the best sound was when I was sitting on the trailer tire holding the light and hearing my Dad say
“ hold the _******>>light so I can ::—-*><** I’m doing!
I miss that togetherness!
Now that’s a garage sound
I’ll never forget!!
Brought back memories -haha (been there)
The sound of a Model A Ford when you play with the spark and throttle lever to get that putt, putt sound that makes you think the engine is going to quit each time it hits. The sound of that damn bird flying around the garage in a panic and crapping on your new wax job.
Hon, diners ready!
Not necessarily the best of sounds but being around long enough to distinguish the sound of a starter whirling and knowing wether it’s a ford, gm or dodge, and being right.