|
Just a note to say thank you.
I am very
satisfied with your prices, quick
delivery, and parts availability. Although there are at least 6 different
auto part stores within a few miles of home, on two occasions over the past
few months, they did not stock the part that I needed AND their prices were
25-75% higher than RockAuto prices...
With five older cars (1986 - 1999) to maintain (all in the
125,000 to 190,000 mileage range), I look forward to many years of continued
business
with
you.
Thank You,
Jim in
Minnesota |
|
Upcoming
Events
If you would like your event
featured here, e-mail us
with details. |
|
|
Krusin Klassics Car Club Fun Run
5/30/2008
Escanaba, MI
e-mail
4x4 Jeep & Truck Show
5/31/2008
Madison Heights, MI
e-mail
All Texas LX Event
5/31/2008
Palmetto State Park
Gonzales, Texas
e-mail Vettes In Perfection Event
6/1/2008
Broadalbin,
NY
e-mail
Central New York PT Cruisers 5th All Chrysler
Show
6/1/2008
Jamesville, NY
e-mail
Big Bear Bronco Bash VII
6/6-6/7/2008
San
Bernardino Mountains
website
24th Annual HPAC Mopar Weekend
6/7-6/8/2008
Blue Springs, MO
website
26th All G.M. Car/Truck Show & Swap Meet
6/8/2008
St.
Paul, MN
e-mail
3rd Annual A Night Under the Stars Show
6/7/2008
Freemansburg, PA
e-mail
Cruisin for the Crusade
6/7/2008
Louisville,
KY
e-mail
Chippewa Valley Volkswagen Car Show
6/13/2008
Eau Claire, WI
website
5th Annual Idaho 4wd Association Run
6/13-6/15/2008
Mountain Home, ID
e-mail
Wild West Auto Roundup
6/14/2008
Golden,
CO
e-mail
Windmill Custom & Classic Car Show
6/14/2008
Penn Yan, NY
e-mail
2nd Annual Grace & Restoration
Father Days Show
6/15/2008
Fenton,
MI
e-mail
6th Annual HRCA Classic Car Show
6/17/2008
Highland Ranch, CO
website
International Station Wagon Annual
Meet
6/18-6/21/2008
Sturbridge,
MA
e-mail
Rib-Fest Show Shine Dine
6/21/2008
Two Hills, Alberta, Canada
website
|
|
|
ANCO & Champion Rebates Extended Until June 30th!
Go to the Current
Promotions and Rebates Page for More Info. |
ANCO Wiper Blades
Up to $10 Rebate
|
Champion Performance Driven™ Rebate
Up to $2.50 Rebate
|
Forum Of The Month |
|
Stephen
McNabb's Chevy Nova Q&A
site has over 9,000 members worldwide,
owners and fans of the 1962-1979 Chevy II, Nova and Acadian. The
forum is divided into
several sections, some dealing with technical topics, such as Drivetrain
and
Performance, Steering and Suspension, and Body and Interior, while
others
focus on the specifics of each generation, First (62-65), Second
(66-67)
Third (68-74) and Fourth (75-79). Then of course, there is the
BS area,
which focuses on nothing at all.
In addition to being one of the
best
resources on the net for technical, historical info, and classified
ads
relating to Chevy Novas, we have a great community of friends.
Our motto
is, "Nova People, Helping Nova People."
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 jessa@rockauto.com.
|
Repair Mistakes & Blunders |
|
My wife
and two children were planning their summer trip to visit her
family. Before leaving, I decided to do routine maintenance on
her
'95 Mazda Millenia, including changing the fuel filter. Following
the shop manual procedure, I ran the engine while
disconnecting the
fuel
pump relay to minimize gas in the line. Through a small access
panel
in the trunk, I had a very difficult time removing the old filter
from
the rusted bracket on top of the gas tank. After cutting through
the
old bracket, I had to devise a new way of securing the new fuel
filter. Finally, I was finished and the car was ready for the five
hour trip.
Once they reached their destination, my wife
called to inform me that
the car had been starting to hesitate toward the end of the
trip, and
now would not start at all. My heart sank as I realized that
my work
was not successful. I packed my tools and went to fix the car.
When
I finally arrived, I checked the fuel pump relay and the fuel
pump pressure, and surprisingly, both were OK. Still, I was
convinced the problem was fuel related. Tired and upset, I started
to grasp
at
straws and decided to remove one of the fuel injectors. My
mistake was that I first did not void the fuel line, and a fair
amount
of gas
leaked from the fuel rail into the cylinder.
Knowing that the
gas needed to be removed from the cylinder, I removed
the spark plug and cranked the engine. Gas shot up in the air
and
all over my tools in the trunk of the adjacent car. After
cleaning up the mess, I was out of time, and I needed to take
my wife
and kids home. Broken, but not defeated, I borrowed a truck
and rented a tow dolly to tow the car back home.
Once home, I
changed the spark plugs, and surprisingly, the car would
run, although somewhat rough and smoky. I attempted for days
to find
the elusive problem until at my wits end, I enlisted the help
of a
friend who is a professional mechanic.
The verdict: BAD GAS.
I quickly mailed a note and a copy of the
receipt to the gas station my wife had patronized on the trip.
A few
days later, I received a phone call from the gas station. "Sir,
please look at your receipt. You did not pump mid-grade as
you noted.
You pumped diesel". My wife had allowed my six year-old son pump the "gas" for
her!
Tom in Indiana
Tell us about your most infamous auto repair
blunder. Use your woe to help others avoid similar mistakes.
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. 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! |
Playing The Car Market |
|
Turmoil
in today’s financial
markets leaves the majority of savers and investors wondering
what to do with their money. Watch it wither away in a bank account
paying 1.5%? Follow the crowds running to buy gold? The choices
look bleak.
I am heavily invested in a favorite financial
instrument, but I feel there is no conflict of interest when
I recommend
it. If you are thinking of investing in Beanie Babies do you
want to talk to the McDonalds manager selling behind the counter?
No. You talk to the six-year-old sitting in a booth with a
stack of Beanie Babies on the table in front of her.
You should invest in large quantities of low
cost (just above junk grade) used vehicles. Do not buy something
like
one COPO Camaro or
Hemi Cuda for a zillion bucks. Buy a bunch of tired Ford Econoline
vans for $800 each. This is not about emotional, dream car
investing, but you can still invest with your conscience. Choose
to buy only Chevrolets, Volvos, or whatever your favorite brand
is.
Diversification is a benchmark for any good investment strategy.
Used cars are a great way to invest in diverse commodities
markets, protect against inflation, and maintain maximum liquidity
while minimizing downside risk.
An example of a single vehicle investment
might make everything clearer. My brother bought a ‘77 Lincoln in ‘85
for about $400. Today’s news tells us steel prices are
up 60%, copper is selling for $4 a pound; oil futures are at
$120 per barrel and so on. The Lincoln is nearly 5000 lbs.
(2268 kg) of steel, copper, magnesium, a dab of platinum, etc.
The gas tank holds 24 gallons (91 liters) of refined oil. (I
remember borrowing the car and filling up the tank around ’95
so I know the gas is fairly fresh.)
You can see this car is a commodity
bonanza! But my brother did not buy just one car. He kept
steadily investing. He bought
a Ford in ’86, a Dodge in ’92, and so on over many
years. Roughly add up the tonnage and it is easy to see how
a buy and hold strategy has built up quite a nest egg.
The liquidity of a cheap used car cannot be beat. Sell the
entire car or sell it in pieces at any time. Used cars in the
$1000 range have depreciated fully and if maintained are likely
to retain their inflation adjusted value no matter what the
commodities markets do.
Storage space is a legitimate concern for some investors.
But there are often solutions. My brother put a lift in his
garage and stores a car raised up in the air.
Another great option is to find a neighbor
with a big yard already full of old cars. Buy the cars from
the neighbor, but
be slow about hauling them home. If the neighbor has cash in
his pocket, he might not mind if the cars sit on his land for
another decade or two. But keep in mind, the neighbor could
very well also be a savvy, long term used car investor so don’t
be surprised if he runs you off!
Tom Taylor,
RockAuto.com
|
"The Best Cars In The World!" |
|
Hi,
I bought
this 90 'Olds Cutlass Ciera SL two years ago. This is my first
American car and I am very happy with it. Despite the high price
of gasoline here
in France (€1.40 for 1 liter of 98 octane...over $8
a gallon), American cars are less costly to maintain than
the French cars.
I find all the parts I need at RockAuto with very good prices.
I thank the USA for manufacturing such excellent
cars. They are comfortable and solid. They are the best cars
in the world!
Thanks RockAuto,
Perrier
Mulhouse, France |
Share Your Hard Work
Do you purchase parts from RockAuto? If
so, RockAuto would like to feature you and your vehicle in our
monthly newsletter. Please e-mail flamur@rockauto.com with
details.
© 1999-2008 RockAuto, LLC - Madison, Wisconsin
USA. RockAuto name and logo are registered trademarks of RockAuto,
LLC. Manufacturer names and logos in the RockAuto catalog are
trademarks of their respective companies and are used only to
identify their products. All rights reserved.
| |
|