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Square drive: make or buy before you need ‘em

As a new tech, all I did was borrow tools from mechanics who were good to me. They usually lent and trained me on etiquette just after. (If you need to borrow it more than once or twice, maybe you ought to buy your own.) It’s not that often that I find myself without...

Watch this video on the invention of the Ford V-8 engine

If you enjoy pioneering developments in automobile history, this video on the development of Ford’s V8 engine is a must-watch. It’s a bit on the long side (a little over an hour), but it’s well worth your time to fully appreciate this revolutionary success in Ford—and...

How to crimp heavy gauge wire (VIDEO)

Description Working on some battery cables or custom ground straps? Your crimped connection needs to be totally reliable, and with a proper tool like Dorman’s 90707 heavy lug crimper, you’ll get secure and consistent results. This crimper also happens to work well...

Should you use anti-seize when installing spark plugs? (VIDEO)

Description Using anti-seize when installing spark plugs was once common practice, but today, you might want to think twice before adding anything to your spark plug threads. Pete explains why today’s plugs generally don’t need any thread prep when installing, unlike...

Snap-on to expand Tennessee manufacturing plant

Snap-on recently announced that they will invest $44 million to expand their manufacturing operations in Elizabethton, Tennessee, according to a press release from the Tennessee Department of Economic & Community Development. This investment will add nearly 49,000...

Tire service tips (that aren’t just for new technicians)

Recently I had occasion to watch the following video from Dorman Training Manager (and ASE Master Tech) Pete Meier:I was fortunate enough to be there live and talk to Pete after he was done shooting, and this video really stuck with me. If you think about it, the...

TECHNICIAN CHALLENGE: The Mystery Box, Part 2

Description The Proving Grounds crew takes on another round The Mystery Box Challenge with new parts and a few new faces. Could you guess these auto parts simply by the way they feel? It’s more difficult than it looks.

The easiest way to remove a cotter pin (VIDEO)

The easiest way to remove a cotter pin (VIDEO)

by | Dec 15, 2021

The easiest way to remove a cotter pin (VIDEO) Description ​For the longest time I used to remove cotter pins with either a hooked mechanic’s pick or a pair of needle-nose pliers. And when I say a long time, I mean, probably 15 years. Then my friend Zito showed me a...
How to fix a Ford cupholder for almost free

How to fix a Ford cupholder for almost free

by | Dec 15, 2021

The in-dash cup holder on certain late ’90s to early 2000s F-150s, Expeditions and Navigators – which also holds an ash tray in some vehicles – has a tendency to break in service, leading to a cupholder that has to be pried into the open position in...