Skinned Knuckle Wisdom
This story first appeared in the July/August 2024 issue of Hagerty Drivers Club magazine. Join the club to receive our award-winning magazine and enjoy insider access to automotive events, discounts, roadside assistance, and more.
Nobody in my family was into cars, and my dad’s toolbox contained just a few rusty odds and ends from his stint in the Navy, primarily as the squadron’s bowling team captain and secondarily as a mechanic. Thus, my journey to mechanical enlightenment didn’t start until college, when I was driving a friend somewhere in my wheezing ’78 Toyota Land Cruiser, and he said, “I think you have a vacuum leak,” and I said, “A what…?”
It’s now 33 years later, and thanks to a few generous mentors along the way—plus several full engine rebuilds including two Lamborghini V-12s—I know what a vacuum leak is. And if I don’t know it, the invention of the internet as a universally accessible repository for all human knowledge (both factual and otherwise) means I can watch a YouTube video about it. As I did the other day before I miraculously—really, the dictionary definition—fixed the Bosch fuel-injection system in a friend’s 1989 Mercedes. College Me wouldn’t recognize Today Me, and not only because there’s significantly less hair.
A few things I’ve learned on this journey: First, no matter how good a professional mechanic is, and there are plenty of fine ones out there (though not nearly enough), he or she doesn’t care about your stuff the way you care about your stuff. The best will competently fix what you tell them to fix, and their bill will often not be high enough to fully compensate them for all the sweat, filth, and scarring they endured to fix your car. But in my experience, they won’t fix all the other frayed, tired, dry-rotted, leaking, and corroding things they find while they are armpit-deep in your machine. Because they weren’t asked to, and it will add even more to a bill that they already know threatens to give you palpitations. So although I am slow and sometimes make mistakes, I care deeply about my stuff. I wire-brush all the nuts and bolts before returning them to duty. I run taps into holes and dies over studs to clean up their threads. I don’t turn a blind eye to other ticking time bombs I find. And I don’t park my classic outside in the sun and the rain while I’m working on other people’s vehicles.
I’ve also found that the hardest step in a DIY project is usually the first step. A car can sit for months with the most minor of problems while I slalom around its dead carcass in the garage and generally ignore it. Finally, after watching a few motivating videos, or skimming the service manual, or scouring the internet for relevant blog posts from 2003, I’ll work up the steam to jack it up and pull off a wheel. Then, at last, there is momentum, without which no garage project ever reaches completion.
We all know the old mechanic’s axiom, “If it’s hard, you’re doing it wrong.” And we all, to a person, forget it in the clutch. Which is why we’ve all suffered broken studs and blown-out sockets and screwdrivers launched like so many Patriot missiles in frustration. Years ago, during my first Lamborghini Espada restoration, my housemate at the time observed that my mechanical technique boiled down to going into the garage and yelling at the car.
It’s true, I yell a lot, because I regularly forget that if it’s hard, I’m doing it wrong. Or I am tired. Or I am in a hurry when I shouldn’t be. A cylinder head doesn’t care that you probably shouldn’t have started to remove it at 5 when dinner with friends is scheduled for 6:30.
A corollary axiom is: “If it’s hard, you’re using the wrong tool.” Years ago, I stopped being stingy about buying tools. I don’t care if I’ll never use it again—that is a problem for Future Me. Today Me, the one with the bloody knuckles and the flung wrench sticking half out of the wall, will blithely swipe a credit card in whatever slot is presented to get at that one last nut hidden at the back of the manifold. It helps that there is a Harbor Freight store walking distance from my house.
A corollary to the corollary is: “If it’s hard, you’ve probably underestimated how long it will take.” Frustration is the handmaiden of expectation; if we expect it to take two hours to replace a water pump and it takes six, we explode. I am as guilty as anyone. Literally every single project I do in the garage, up to and including adding washer fluid, takes longer than I initially predict it will. Partly because I spend so much time wire-brushing bolts and spinning taps into holes. If I were a professional mechanic, I would starve.
The way others work on your car are often do to the fact it is just a job. Most of the cars never get the care they should get so they get the repair they deserve.
I once took my one car in for a recall. I told them I was particular and they gave me the stink eye., The next day I took the car in and the service writer said he now understood. When I picked up the car the tech told me he had not seen a car like mine in that condition since they were sold new. I got special car due to the fact they knew I in turn took care of the car.
The truth the reason most jobs are hard are due to the fact you lack the tools and or knowledge. These two factor no matter how many tools can result in a tough job if you lack just one tool.
Same with knowledge. My buddy has the skills and tools to fix BMW’s other give up on as he can buy the cars cheap repair them and resell them for a profit. To him timing chains and other issue’s are easy he knows what he is doing and has the tools needed to make it happen.
Many cars today take specific knowledge and also tools you can find at Harbor Freight.
Todays car are as complex as ever and often they take special things to repair them. In the past one simple set of tools did it all.
I am *NOT* a mechanic. I own a ’74 Bavaria (where art thou, BMW specialist?). My dad bought it new and I’m sentimentally attached to it. But I’ve decided to part with it because my last foray into a simple fix went completely sideways and it took hours and hours to get it back together. I can’t justify paying a pro to work on it, and I’m s i c k a n d t i r e d of wrenching. Now I’m trying to determine how much it’s worth. The forums and online sales sites have it all over the place. Any buyers out there?
Great article! I can definitely relate…
Yep. Almost nobody will love your car and give it the same amount of attention you would but they are out there. Watching Larry Chen’s video on taking his GT-R to Garage Yoshida in Japan showed me a rare few might take care of it even better than you. Those are worth whatever they charge.
They are out there but you pay for it. Your top restoration shops will give the time time and service but you pay by the hour.
I believe the comments are the local Mechanic.
I’m working on a customers 1972 El Camino. Its pretty nice with alot of upgrades. This ElCamino has chevy rally wheels with all the chrome trim. The tires been changed so many times that the lug nuts and lug nut seats on the wheels are torn to shreds Tires are dated 2007. I told him he needs everything from the studs out. He says great! I can get those new wheels I wanted!
So relatable! And written in a more entertaining style than I ever could have.
I just want to repeat what @Chuck said…I can definitely relate to this article. I too wire-brush bolt heads and threads. I clean, treat, and paint rust. I replace old parts that are worn out and can’t be fixed. I change my own oil, not because I change oil better than the dealership or local oil change shop, but because I know they aren’t going to take the time to inspect the car while they are down there and do things like replace missing bolts or retainer clips on the splash guards. Great article!
I cursed BMW’s as junk and swore the state Capitol of Cali many a time when working on my cars and in the past other peoples cars and yes I earned my battle scars the hard way.
I thought for a minute I was reading about me except for the 12 cylinder part, anyway, Great article! And it’s good to see an improvement in Hagerty “Content Quality” as well.
I’m in agreement on the tools. Over the years I’ve acquired a useful collection. I’m not hesitant about buying another once in awhile if it’s one I don’t have and I know it will help complete the job. Another axiom; the right tool for the right job.
I really enjoyed this article. It’s nice to hear from people that care about their cars. As a professional GM technician for the last 20 years, I can honestly tell you that I typically care more about my customers cars than by far the majority do. I’m not saying that no one cares about their cars, but the vast majority don’t. At least to the extent discussed in the article and comments.
Just yesterday I was doing a “special policy” warranty turbo for a customer. Someone had been working on their vehicle before and the bracket that held the catalytic converter was missing. The parts were about $80 to replace the missing bracket and about $40 to install it. Since it was missing from a previous repair, and the vehicle was well out of the regular warranty the customer would have to pay for the bracket. Which would have to be ordered overnight. So for me it meant I would have to leave the vehicle disassembled on my hoist and work around it for a day. Actually COSTING me time and money. But I was more than willing to do that so the vehicle could be repaired correctly. When the customer was called and asked if they wanted to replace the bracket they got all up in the air like we were trying to rip them off. And only wanted done what they brought it in for, and only what was free. They acted like we’re trying to rip them off. When it was actually going to cause me more work and effort with very minimal compensation, which would not come close to covering my extra effort.
They declined the repair so I put it back together how it was. Which eventually will lead to a cracked catalytic converter or turbo. Everyone is not like that, but very few actually take great care of their vehicles. Even the special vehicles.
However I am very guilty of this line: “ And I don’t park my classic outside in the sun and the rain while I’m working on other people’s vehicles.” I park my stuff outside to work on other people’s stuff all the time. I make my house payment and pay my bills with money from the dealership. I fund vacations and pay for my projects by fixing other people’s stuff in my shop at home. Because I like cars, trucks, Jeeps. All of it. I like it better when it wears a bowtie or an arrowhead, but I like to care for them all😎
I feel your pain on jobs taking longer than anticipated. Over 75 percent of the things I fix take longer than planned. Be it mechanical or house maintenance , doesn’t matter. On the rare occasion something goes perfect and no swear words are used I almost to a double take. Like wait, what just happened
I’ve been dealing with a local shop (clemmons, nc) for decades. The (previous) owner asked if I knew any young guys he could train. I sure did. The ‘boy’ started there 15-20 years ago and recently bought the shop when the owner retired. I’ve know him since he was in kindergarten. Now he’s married with 3 kids.
But sitting around the shop listening to him talk about cars makes me proud that I know him. He treats me right. I have a somewhat odd vehicle- ’96 Honda ACTY mini-truck. It’s showroom condition but also my daily driver. My whole family, friends and neighbors now take their vehicles there.
The whole shop crew knows their S#!+.
There’s not too many places like this nowadays.
We need this in all the trades.
Well again what are you going to do in the 4 hours extra it takes to do the water pump than expected? Hang out in honkie Tonks? It just makes the successful finished product that much sweeter and the first drive like a gift from heaven, plus the next time the same job comes up, (doesn’t it always?) there will be that much less to relearn.
Finally learning your way around a Lamborghini means any other vehicle should be a piece of cake!!
I don’t have the engine or trans knowledge to do that kind of work, but there are plenty of other things that I can do. I had 5 old british cars and replaced water pumps, brake/clutch cylinders, exhausts, suspension parts. I learned from ALL of them! I’ve had my 69 Etype for 35 years and feel a duty to do right by him, and so, do what I can and have a professional manage the rest. Not much I can do on the 2017 F type, but the extractor oil change went amazingly.. After years of under the car oil changes, this one can be done from above. Best thing for car care is routine fluid checks/flushes, oil changes (and maybe doing them in half the time increment the manufacturer says). I made it a point to be kind and courteous to my service providers and it has more than paid off. There’s always an exception, so I keep an ear tuned to stories of bad treatment.