RockAuto.com March Newsletter

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Another Happy Customer!

I made my first purchase from RockAuto last week. The customer service was exceptional! I received my Mercedes tail light exactly as ordered, and had it installed at a local shop.

Savings of approximately $300 over dealership quote for purchase and install. Thank you. I am very happy with your service!

Richard in Pennsylvania

 

Carlisle Events
RockAuto is the Official Auto Parts Store of Carlisle Events

Carlisle Events

2011 Schedule of Events:

Spring Carlisle & Auction
April 27-May 1

Carlisle Performance & Style
May 14-15

Carlisle Import & Kit Nationals
May 20-22

Carlisle Ford Nationals
June 3-5

Carlisle GM Nationals
June 24-26

Carlisle Chrysler Nationals
July 8-10

Carlisle Bike Fest
July 22-24

Carlisle Truck Nationals
August 5-7

Corvettes at Carlisle
August 26-28

Fall Carlisle & Auction
Sept. 28-Oct. 2

 

Upcoming Events
If you would like your event featured here, email us with details.

Camaros for Heroes
3/25/2011
Fayetteville, NC
e-mail

Troop 362 Car Show
3/26/2011
Middleburg, FL
e-mail

2011 Jacksonville Firefighter Car Show
3/26/2011
Jacksonville, FL
e-mail

Southeastern Michigan Mustang & Ford 2011 Spring Shop & Swap Meet
3/26/2011
Livonia, MI
e-mail

31st Annual Mustang & Ford Show
3/26/2011
Lillian, AL
e-mail

5th Annual Skills USA Car Show
3/26/2011
Stafford, VA
e-mail

4th Annual YHS Car Show
3/26/2011
Seaford, VA
e-mail

Wedgefield Firewise Community Annual Car Show
3/26/2011
Orlando, FL
e-mail

4th Annual Early Bird Car/Truck Show
3/26/2011
Gladewater, TX
e-mail

Corona Veterans' Memorial Division Motorcycle Ride & Car Show
3/26/2011
Riverside, CA
e-mail

Fuddruckers Old Car Drop
3/26/2011
Blythewood, SC
e-mail

Van Horn School Classic Fun Car/Bike Show & Craft Fair
3/26/2011
Bakersfield, CA
e-mail

2nd Annual Semi-Annual VW Show/Cruise In
3/26/2011
Hogansville, GA
e-mail

South Jersey-40th Swap Meet & Car Corral
3/27/2011
Woodstown, NJ
e-mail

Empire Galaxies-Spring Breakout Cruise for a Cause Raffle
3/27/2011
Wantagh, NY
e-mail

EAAC 40th Auto Swap Meet
3/27/2011
Marion, IL
e-mail

40th Annual Auto & Truck Swap Meet
3/27/2011
Murphysboro, IL
e-mail

NorthEast Rod & Custom Nationals
3/30/2011
Lansdale, PA
website

Carolina Collector Auto Fest-Spring
3/31/2011
Hillsborough, NC
e-mail

Pontiac Heaven Events
3/31/2011
Maricopa, AZ
e-mail

Lebanon Valley Dragway-End of the Year Banquet
3/31/2011
Torrington, CT
e-mail

Gratiot Cruisers Car Club-Cruise Nites
4/1/2011
Sagniaw, MI
e-mail

Historical Vintage Club of Delaware-Dual Cruise Nights
4/1/2011
Greenwood, DE
e-mail

National Can Am Car Club
4/1/2011
Poole, Dorset UK
e-mail

13th Annual T-Town Show-Off
4/2/2011
Northport, AL
e-mail

16th Annual Mustang Mania
4/2/2011
Tucson, AZ
e-mail

17th Annual St. Johns Flea Market Car Show & Swap Meet
4/3/2011
King William, VA
e-mail

WOHVA-Annual Shows
4/8/2011
Sullivan, WI
website

2nd annual "Cruisin for St Jude"
4/9/2011
Valley Stream, NY
e-mail

Olsen's Events-70's Swap Meet & Greet
4/9/2011
Tampa, FL
e-mail

2nd Annual Aggregates USA Car & Bike Show
4/9/2011
Macon, GA
e-mail

1st Annual Car Show & Chili Cookoff
4/9/2011
Anaheim, CA
e-mail

East Coast Car Association Events
4/10/2011
New York, NY
website

5th Annual Ace Home Center Spring Fling Car Show
4/16/2011
Lusby, MD
website

Bash on the Bayou
4/23/2011
Gonzales, LA
e-mail

7th Annual April SpringFest Car Show & Party
4/23/2011
El Dorado, CA
e-mail

Classic Truckers & Cruisers 4/23/2011
Lavaca, AR
e-mail

Yesterdays 8th Annual Retro Blast
4/23/2011
Bridgeport, TX
e-mail

11th Annual Jeffco Expo
4/23/2011
Port Townsend, WA
website

Show Your Ride
4/23/2011
Charlottesville, VA
e-mail

Fourche River Days Festival Car Show
4/23/2011
Houston, AR
e-mail

FJ Northeasters 4th Annual Northeast Run-Rausch Creek
4/24/2011
Woodbury, CT
website

Wheels on the Drive Car Show
4/28/2011
Winter Garden, FL
e-mail

8th Annual Shakers & Scrapers Car Show
4/30/2011
Corsicana, TX
e-mail

2nd Annual Benefit Car Show
4/30/2011
Waco, TX
website

Cameron Dewberry Festival Classic Car Show
4/30/2011
Cameron, TX
e-mail

First Annual Spanish Fort Spring Showcase
4/30/2011
Spanish Fort, AL
website

San Marcos CFPO Car Show, Swap Meet, & Cook-Off
4/30/2011
San Antonio, TX
e-mail

Facel Vega Car Club
4/30/2011
Colchester, UK
e-mail

MG Car Club Events
4/30/2011
Carluke, UK
website

US Car Old-Und Yountimer Treffen
4/30/2011
Helibronn, Germany
e-mail

The Bombshells 13th Annual Booze Broads Hotrods
4/30/2011
San Jose, CA
e-mail

28th Annual Spring Show-n-Shine Cruise In
4/30/2011
Sequim, WA
website

Norfolk Mafia
4/30/2011
Norwich, Norfolk UK
e-mail

ECRTcc 6th Annual Car Show
4/30/2011
Easton, PA
website

The 6th Annual Central Virginia April Car Show
4/30/2011
Midlothian, VA
e-mail

Hartford Technical High School Lacross Team-First Annual Car Show
4/30/2011
Abingdon, MD
e-mail

Cruise the Ave So They Shall Walk
5/1/2011
Seattle, WA
website

NJ Region AACA Car Show
5/1/2011
West Milford, NJ
e-mail

28th Annual Car Show
5/1/2011
Lehighton, PA
e-mail

Cruise'n Night at the Falcons 2011
5/4/2011
Midland, MI
e-mail

42nd Annual Red Deer Swap Meet
5/6/2011
Olds, AB Canada
e-mail

Bristol Volkfest & Events
5/6/2011
Bristol, Avon UK
e-mail

Hannibal Missouri Loafers Annual Car Show
5/7/2011
Hannibal, MO
e-mail

30th Annual Show & Shine Mustang Show
5/7/2011
Antioch, CA
website

30th Annual Studebaker Drivers Club Michiana Meet
5/7/2011
South Bend, IN
e-mail

Fun in the Park Car Show
5/7/2011
Goldthwaite, TX
website

3rd Annual Auto, Truck & Bike Show
5/7/2011
Savannah, GA
e-mail

2nd Annual Car Show to Benefit "Project Lifesaver"
5/7/2011
Williamsburg, VA
e-mail

Calvary Baptist Church Car, Bike & Truck Show
5/7/2011
Stauton, VA
e-mail

Nashville Peach Bloosom Festival & Car Show
5/7/2011
Nashville, AR
e-mail

Wheeling at the Highlands
5/7/2011
Bel Air, MD
e-mail

Rollin Relics Car & Motorcycle Show
5/7/2011
Porterville, CA
e-mail

Matthew Miller All Corvette Show
5/7/2011
Winchester, VA
website

Hillside Ministries-Food Bank Show
5/7/2011
Copperas Cove, TX
e-mail

Kielder Classic & Vintage Vehicle Show
5/8/2011
Hexham, UK
website

 

Regular Vehicle Maintenance

Regular Vehicle Maintenance. It's easy to do...even the kids can help.

Keeping up with regular maintenance on your vehicle can help you save at the gas pump as well as keep your vehicle running like new. A few quick tips:

  • Keep your tires properly inflated. The US Dept. of Energy says under-inflated tires can lower gas mileage by 0.3 percent for every 1 psi (7 kPa) drop in pressure of all four tires. Purchase a fresh Tire Gauge from the Extras Tab of the RockAuto catalog.
  • Car manufactures might say the spark plugs will last 100,000 miles, but at that point they could be worn to nubs and frozen in place. Take advantage of the current Autolite, Champion & Bosch Spark Plug rebates.
  • There may be some souvenirs from that cloud of bugs you drove through last summer clogging your Air Filter. A new Air Filter improves the fuel efficiency of older carbureted engines and improves the performance of any vehicle.

The RockAuto catalog has the parts and tools you need to keep your vehicle running at its peak performance.

 

 

Forum of the Month
ChevyXtreme Classic Chevrolet Enthusiast Forum 

ChevyXtreme Classic Chevrolet Enthusiast Forum & Link Directory offers truck and car owners year specific forums to talk, ask questions, learn how to repair and rebuild Chevy trucks and cars, share repair tips learned, forge new friendships, and more. Find technical information about classic vehicles and the used & latest new parts available to consumers.

ChevyXtreme offers it members an arcade, monthly contests with prizes, a FAQ section, photo gallery, chat rooms and a real time chat box. So please join us, and meet other Chevy truck & car owners from all over the world!

 

If you are the administrator or member of a forum and you would like to see your website featured in an upcoming newsletter and receive a discount code to share with your members, contact cynthia@rockauto.com.

 

 

Repair Mistakes & Blunders

Ouch!

This event happened over 53 years ago when I was 16 and had my first car, a 1951 Ford. I decided I "needed" twin glass pack mufflers. My friend's older brother advised that I "oil them" to break them in (i.e. make them louder) before installing. Too embarrassed to ask how much oil to use, we assumed he meant soak them in oil. We poured a quart of oil in each one and let them sit to soak in the oil.

Now all this took place at my friend's house and his Mother wasn't too happy we were there in the first place.

When we started the engine, the exhaust was so dense it looked like we were crop dusting! My friend's Mom, came out of the house, through the dense smoke, with a broom screaming at us to get that car out of there. So we quickly jumped in the car and drove it a few streets over to my house. Needless to say, we never saw a car behind of us all the way home. It took a week to finally get the exhaust clear again.

Ah, good times...

Len in Massachusetts

 

Tell us about your most infamous auto repair blunder or unconventional fix. Use your woe to help others avoid similar mistakes or share off-the-wall solutions that worked (at least for awhile!). Please email your story to flamur@rockauto.com. Include your mailing address and shirt size (large or extra large) and we will mail you a RockAuto "Do it yourself?" t-shirt if we publish your story (see the t-shirts under Extras in the catalog). The story will be credited using only your first name and your vague geographic location (state, province, country, continent, etc.) so you can remain semi-anonymous!

 

 

Automotive Trivia

Automotive Trivia

The 1958 Lincoln Continental was controversial in 1958 because of its size. At 229 inches (582 cm) long it was the biggest post-WWII car. For comparison, the '58 Continental is nearly seven inches longer than a 2011 Chevrolet Suburban but nearly four inches shorter than the 1975 Lincoln Continental. In some regions of the United States, late 1950s Continental drivers were required by law to:

A. only use the "truck lane" on certain freeways
B. place special red reflectors on the car's rear and amber "clearance lights" on the front
C. not use street (parallel) parking

Answer below

 

 

Survived Another Winter in Good Shape

RockAuto

Click image for larger view
Click image for larger view

Last fall my wife started hinting she might need a four wheel drive vehicle for the winter. It does not take much of a push to get me shopping for more cars, but after the dust settled, we ended up just buying snow tires and a second set of wheels. (RockAuto has replacement OEM steel and alloy wheels for many vehicles.) Snow tires made a huge difference and safely got my wife and her 1993 Ford Tempo through another winter.

Blame me if we get another snowstorm, because last weekend my 13-year-old son and I took off the snow tires. With the cold temperatures and winter slop, I had not paid much attention to the Ford’s underside. Changing or rotating the tires provides a great opportunity to inspect the chassis. See what parts need to be replaced now and better plan for future repairs.

Here is what we checked on this front wheel drive Ford. Inspecting other vehicles would be similar.
1. While off the ground, we grasped the top and bottom of the tire to see if there was any looseness that might indicate worn wheel bearings, bad ball joints, a loose spindle nut, or other problems.
2. Just successfully taking the lug nuts off was an item on our checklist. Trying to loosen an over tightened lug nut is not fun in the garage but is even less fun on the side of the road. Once I discovered a mechanic had installed a lug nut from a different car. The nut fit the lug stud just fine, but it did not fit the car’s lug wrench.
3. We looked for uneven tire tread wear. Last year I replaced the steering bushings on this car after discovering the edge of one tire worn away.
4. We checked the front brake pads and rotors and the rear brake shoes and drums for extreme or uneven wear.
5. We watched for any brake fluid leaks or excessive grease splatters, which might indicate a bad seal or other problems.
6. We examined the rubber brake hoses for cracks.
7. We checked the CV joint boots for splits. If these boots (shown in photo behind the strut) let dirt and water in then the CV half shafts will need to be replaced prematurely.
8. We inspected the rack and pinion bellows (barely visible through hole on right side of photo). Like CV boots, they keep dirt and water out of the left and right ends of the steering gear.
9. We checked the tie rod ends, bushings, and other suspension and steering linkage for looseness, deterioration, or wear marks indicating parts rubbing together that shouldn’t.
10. We made sure the parking brake cable moved properly and the parking brake held the car.

We found the Ford had survived another winter in good shape. Now I’ll see if my wife starts hinting she needs a convertible for the summer. I could not bring myself to use a cutting torch on our trusty Tempo’s roof.

Tom Taylor,
RockAuto.com

 

 

Wallace's 1974 Mazda RX-4
Wallace's 1974 Mazda RX-4

This is my 1974 Mazda RX-4. I race an RX-3 and an RX-7 with the Sports Car Club of America. One of my fellow racers had this car and was competing in a class call ITA. It was basically a street stock class with some modifications. I purchased the car when he puked the engine. I put a new engine in it and was driving it for some time before I “furred” it out.

Being an old race car every panel on it was bent to some degree. I decided it was easier to glue fur to it than to do the body work. Rules say no metallic paint and no primer. Rules do not say you can’t have hair! All I need to do is shave numbers into the fur. This is still an SCCA legal ITA ride. Now street legal – this car is fast, handles like it's on rails and everybody loves its look.

I’ve purchased tie rod ends, brake pads, and caliper kits from RockAuto. Thank you for the excellent selection of hard to find parts!

Wallace in Georgia

 

Share Your Hard Work
Do you purchase parts from RockAuto? If so, RockAuto would like to feature you & your car or truck in our monthly newsletter. Please e-mail flamur@rockauto.com with your vehicle's history, interesting details, and what parts from RockAuto you have used.

 

 

Automotive Trivia Answer

Automotive Trivia

The 1958 Lincoln Continental was controversial in 1958 because of its size. At 229 inches (582 cm) long it was the biggest post-WWII car. For comparison, the '58 Continental is nearly seven inches longer than a 2011 Chevrolet Suburban but nearly four inches shorter than the 1975 Lincoln Continental. In some regions of the United States, late 1950s Continental drivers were required by law to:

Answer: B. place special red reflectors on the car's rear and amber "clearance lights" on the front

Back up to trivia question

 

 

 

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