Category: Dave’s Garage

I recently discovered a neat trick to help form new hard brake lines. I am a huge fan of nickel copper tubing; it is very easy to form and lasts forever. I have found that it makes sense to leave a little more material on the end of the line when making flares, as the…

I recently changed one of the rear wheel bearings in my 2016 Outback. This is fairly typical, as the car just passed 50,000 miles, and this is a common problem with Subaru’s. I have changed many rear wheel bearings on Subaru’s. I can usually do the job in less than an hour.  The Subaru does…

Guest W. Jones this month shows you how to…..  The starter motor is heavy, sturdy and unlikely to get much attention, but a faulty one will be a real headache. Often located in the depths of the engine bay, making it hard to access even in a workshop, it’s not the sort of component that…

From Dave’s guest this month, Don Tenerowicz  The Dymaxion car was designed by American inventor Buckminster Fuller during the Great Depression and featured prominently at Chicago’s 1933/1934 World’s Fair. Fuller built three experimental prototypes with naval architect Starling Burgess – using donated money, as well as a family inheritance. This was the ground-taxiing phase of…

This month’s question comes from Wendell Noble. Anyone who knows Wendell and Mary know they have a preference for manual transmissions. Wendell asked me if I knew why his owner’s manual advises not to keep a hand on the gear shift lever while driving.  The answer is, yes, I know. The gear shift lever is connected…

Paul Baresel from Buxton, Maine  I have never not known a car enthusiast pass by an old barn, or even a collapsing old barn, and ask themselves “What old car or car parts are hiding in there?”.  My big break came for me this summer after day dreaming what buried treasures are waiting for daylight…

Happy New Year! Although 2021 will have many challenges, I truly hope we will all have a better year.  Absent any questions this month, I decided I would write a review for a very affordable and useful tool. I purchased a stud welder/slide hammer from Harbor Freight. This tool allows me to pull dents out,…

Dave!  Hope you enjoyed your vacation? Did you go anywhere fun? Did you find anything that interested you, or your family?  Hey, I need some help, please? I just bought a low profile “sliding” battery disconnect, which will mount to the negative terminal of my antique car’s battery (6v). It seems apparent to me that…

had a question recently that may be of interest. The question was: “How do I lubricate my window slides and door lock hardware in my antique cars?” I use Fluidfilm to lubricate window regulators and the latch on the inside of the door. I undercoat my cars with Fluidfilm in the fall, and keep a…

Dave’s Garage is giving space this month to the 2020 Golden Wrench Award Recipients. Congratulations to you all.  The Vermont Automobile Enthusiasts  Golden Wrench Award  May 29, 2020  (Address & student name……..)  Congratulations! You have been selected to receive VAE’s Golden Wrench Award. We have found you best exemplify the qualities of the positive attitude toward…