Simple modification jobs never go well for me

[djpheer]

Do any of yall have my luck where any simple mod install NEVER goes like the instructions or video? I did a simple rear deck lid removal today (had white paper showing over the top of the decklid that was stuck on too high in the back). Watched install vid, looked very easy. Of course it wasn't.

1. the plastic part covering the latch that just "pops off" "very simple" was stuck on by superman. Thought I was going to break it trying to get it off.

2. Screws that hold the deck lid on do not line up with holes to unscrew them. Not even sure how ford screwed them on. Had to dremel out the holes to even get a socket on them.

3. Clips that hold decklid on also put on by superman. Managed to break one getting it off.

Now everything is back installed, albiet with a broken clip in the middle. Really can't tell.... still looks evenly held on but still. Anyone elses "easy" mods never go as planned/shown in videos/tutorials or just me?

:doh:

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[IvanCRF]

Yup. The free front swaybar mod took me about 10 hours to drill two holes using many bits and going back to the store a few times to buy more bits.

 

[Volstang]

Sounds about right. If something says it takes 4 hours I plan on 12.

 

[six_shooter]

Murphy's law man.

 

[CorryBasler]

Yep everything I attempt I end up spending atleast 3x as long as everyone else!

 

[AR306]

Those install vids are BS.. I'm 95% sure they're rehearsed.. they do it off camera then do it again on camera and everything just pops right off, slides right in, bolts right on no issues.. and even if there is an issue, they don't show it, they just say something like "oh by the way, be careful with this part as you can ...., if you do ...., then you have to ...."

Look at the CJ Pony parts vid on installing a GT350 steering wheel.. at the end when he's putting everything back together, you can CLEARLY see they snapped one of the clips and glued it back on, he just says something like "oh be careful with those clips as they can break..."

 

[DIBS550]

Doesn't always take me a lot longer than what they claim, but it always takes me longer. However, I almost always smash at least one finger and usually burn myself too.

 

[w3bb3r04]

Life of a car guy! Lol

Oil Change instructions for non-car guy:

1) Pull up to Jiffy Lube when the mileage reaches 3000 miles since the last oil change.
2) Drink a cup of coffee.
3) 15 minutes later, pay and leave with a properly maintained vehicle.

Money spent:
Oil Change:
$20.00
Coffee: $1.00
Total: $21.00
==========

Oil Change instructions for car guy:

1) Wait until Saturday, drive to auto parts store and buy a case of oil, filter, kitty litter, hand cleaner and a scented tree, pay $50.00.
2) Stop and buy a case of beer, pay $20, drive home.
3) Open a beer and drink it.
4) Jack car up. Spend 30 minutes looking for jack stands.
5) Find jack stands under kid's pedal car.
6) In frustration, open another beer and drink it.
7) Place drain pan under engine..
8) Look for 13mm box end wrench.
9) Give up and use crescent wrench.
10) Unscrew drain plug.
11) Drop drain plug in pan of hot oil: splash hot oil on you in process. Cuss.
12) Crawl out from under car to wipe hot oil off of face and arms. Throw kitty litter on spilled oil.
13) Have another beer while watching oil drain.
14) Spend 30 minutes looking for oil filter wrench.
15) Give up; crawl under car and hammer a screwdriver through oil filter and twist off.
16) Crawl out from under car with dripping oil filter splashing oil everywhere from holes. Cleverly hide old oil filter among trash in trash can to avoid environmental penalties. Drink a beer.
17) Install new oil filter making sure to apply a thin coat of oil to gasket surface.
18) Dump first quart of fresh oil into engine.
19) Remember drain plug from step 11.
20) Hurry to find drain plug in drain pan.
21) Drink beer.
22) Discover that first quart of fresh oil is now on the floor. Throw kitty litter on oil spill.
23) Get drain plug back in with only a minor spill. Drink beer.
24) Crawl under car getting kitty litter into eyes. Wipe eyes with oily rag used to clean drain plug. Slip with stupid crescent wrench tightening drain plug and bang knuckles on frame removing any excess skin between knuckles and frame.
25) Begin cussing fit.
26) Throw stupid crescent wrench.
27) Cuss for additional 5 minutes because wrench hit bowling trophy.
28) Beer.
29) Clean up hands and bandage as required to stop blood flow.
30) Beer.
31) Dump in five fresh quarts of oil.
32) Beer.
33) Lower car from jack stands.
34) Move car back to apply more kitty litter to fresh oil spilled during any missed steps.
35) Beer.
36) Test drive car.
37) Get pulled over: arrested for driving under the influence.
38) Car gets impounded.
39) Call loving wife, make bail..
40) 12 hours later, get car from impound yard.

Money spent:
Parts: $50.00
DUI: $2500.00
Impound fee: $75.00
Bail: $1500.00
Beer: $20.00
Total: $4,145.00
Knowing the job was done correctly... Priceless!!!

Sent from my SM-N920V using Tapatalk

 

[CB]

^^^now this is good

 

[plc268]

Oh man. I feel like a bumbling idiot when I do some of these installs by myself. A lot of it is stuff that I've done for the first time, so I attribute some of the struggles to that (kinda like it took me several hours and trips to homedepot to replace a sink faucet, but now that I've done it once, I can get it done in an hour or less). But other times I feel like I have a car where every plastic clip is clipped on tight.

Plastic clips and connectors are the bane of my existence. In the automotive world, these are used everywhere. The clips break to too damn easy, and the harness plugs are all different. 75% of the plastic harness plugs are easy and intuitive to figure out how to unplug, but then you'll get a random one where you spend 15 minutes trying to figure out how it comes apart. Chances are you figure it out right away, but then it's a stubborn p.o.s. and doesn't want to come apart. :frusty:

It's the reason why I just pay pros to do the big installs. Not worth the headache to me.

I envy those who just throw caution to the wind and take stuff apart without breaking it. I'm always in constant fear of breaking shit when I take it apart.

Those install vids are BS.. I'm 95% sure they're rehearsed.. they do it off camera then do it again on camera and everything just pops right off, slides right in, bolts right on no issues.. and even if there is an issue, they don't show it, they just say something like "oh by the way, be careful with this part as you can ...., if you do ...., then you have to ...."

Look at the CJ Pony parts vid on installing a GT350 steering wheel.. at the end when he's putting everything back together, you can CLEARLY see they snapped one of the clips and glued it back on, he just says something like "oh be careful with those clips as they can break..."

LOL. Yes!

 

[Sithel]

Installing my MGW shifter. Although easy, it took me around 3-4 hours.
Damn top bolt you have to slide out the side from underneath is a nightmare on the GT's. You have to pull down on the tranny like a beast to pull it out! And for what ever reason the stock shifter base you take the 4 bolts out to take that apart and pull that down from underneath in 2 halfs and the gasket was so tight on there it took everything I had to get that separated.

 

[Khyber]

my install videos i've done were legit. no fallacies lol

 

[Pa-fatboy]

Life of a car guy! Lol

Oil Change instructions for non-car guy:

1) Pull up to Jiffy Lube when the mileage reaches 3000 miles since the last oil change.
2) Drink a cup of coffee.
3) 15 minutes later, pay and leave with a properly maintained vehicle.

Money spent:
Oil Change:
$20.00
Coffee: $1.00
Total: $21.00
==========

Oil Change instructions for car guy:

1) Wait until Saturday, drive to auto parts store and buy a case of oil, filter, kitty litter, hand cleaner and a scented tree, pay $50.00.
2) Stop and buy a case of beer, pay $20, drive home.
3) Open a beer and drink it.
4) Jack car up. Spend 30 minutes looking for jack stands.
5) Find jack stands under kid's pedal car.
6) In frustration, open another beer and drink it.
7) Place drain pan under engine..
8) Look for 13mm box end wrench.
9) Give up and use crescent wrench.
10) Unscrew drain plug.
11) Drop drain plug in pan of hot oil: splash hot oil on you in process. Cuss.
12) Crawl out from under car to wipe hot oil off of face and arms. Throw kitty litter on spilled oil.
13) Have another beer while watching oil drain.
14) Spend 30 minutes looking for oil filter wrench.
15) Give up; crawl under car and hammer a screwdriver through oil filter and twist off.
16) Crawl out from under car with dripping oil filter splashing oil everywhere from holes. Cleverly hide old oil filter among trash in trash can to avoid environmental penalties. Drink a beer.
17) Install new oil filter making sure to apply a thin coat of oil to gasket surface.
18) Dump first quart of fresh oil into engine.
19) Remember drain plug from step 11.
20) Hurry to find drain plug in drain pan.
21) Drink beer.
22) Discover that first quart of fresh oil is now on the floor. Throw kitty litter on oil spill.
23) Get drain plug back in with only a minor spill. Drink beer.
24) Crawl under car getting kitty litter into eyes. Wipe eyes with oily rag used to clean drain plug. Slip with stupid crescent wrench tightening drain plug and bang knuckles on frame removing any excess skin between knuckles and frame.
25) Begin cussing fit.
26) Throw stupid crescent wrench.
27) Cuss for additional 5 minutes because wrench hit bowling trophy.
28) Beer.
29) Clean up hands and bandage as required to stop blood flow.
30) Beer.
31) Dump in five fresh quarts of oil.
32) Beer.
33) Lower car from jack stands.
34) Move car back to apply more kitty litter to fresh oil spilled during any missed steps.
35) Beer.
36) Test drive car.
37) Get pulled over: arrested for driving under the influence.
38) Car gets impounded.
39) Call loving wife, make bail..
40) 12 hours later, get car from impound yard.

Money spent:
Parts: $50.00
DUI: $2500.00
Impound fee: $75.00
Bail: $1500.00
Beer: $20.00
Total: $4,145.00
Knowing the job was done correctly... Priceless!!!

Sent from my SM-N920V using Tapatalk

Sorry to repost it all. That is just classic! I've never seen that before. It is going up it my shop. I did think this was just me and I was somehow missing it each time. Same goes for home repairs.

 

[Chameleon]

Bill@CJPP rocks!

 

[Volstang]

Classic! I would have been cussing well before step 11 though. Damn Submarine Sailor in me.....

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