[1960chevyapache]

http://www.ehow.com/video_2326947_di...nder-head.html

I thought some of you new guys might like this video series. Here is the summary


Whether or not you are a mechanic, you most likely have experienced that feeling of hopelessness when the body shop manager breaks you the news. What you had hoped would be a hole in the muffler or a bit of water in the gas turns out to be a repair costing hundreds--if not thousands--of dollars. At least that’s what the body shop manager tells you. The hours tick past as you wait for your ride to get fixed and you start to wonder if perhaps this particular business might have exaggerated their estimate just a bit, maybe enough for a new stereo or a trip to Cancun. But how can you be sure? The solution is to know more about your car and what can go wrong with it. In this free auto repair series, Expert Village examines one of the costliest car repairs, so watch and learn what to look for so you don’t get taken advantage of next time at the repair shop.
Doug Jenkins has seen many a cracked head in his time. Damaged cylinder heads are a constant risk in the hot rods which his body shop specializes in: push a car to the limit on the race track and it may show signs of stress and strain. Doug tells you what signs to look for if you think you might have a cracked head. Does the antifreeze level go down too fast? Notice anything unusual about the oil color or hose pressure? Check all of the warning signs first, because actually getting to the cylinder head is a very complicated process, which involves removing everything from the v-belt and ac compressor to the intake manifold and headers. But Expert Village takes you every step of the way.

[DoubleVision]

For the most of us, and I`m not speaking for them. We know how to diagnose a blown head gasket or a cracked head. That`s why we are here. We do the work ourselves and that is why this site is called Hot Rodders.Com
We that are hot rodders know the answers as we`ve been there and done that. We don`t worry about being taken because we will repair it ourselves.
But I do preach, if you don`t do your homework you will get taken. But that`s not what hot rodding is all about. Hot Rodding is taking a chance, but you take it on your own. Even if we don`t know what the problem is we come here and ask and take on the task ourselves. We can`t learn unless we do so with guidance. In the past I tried to guide my girl friends away from any shop as shops look at females as morons that don`t know nothing so they are easy prey. I didn`t realize how true that was until I had a shop that just installed my new tires and wheels tell me I had bad back brakes and a leak from a axle seal that would cost me $800 to repair. I looked at the preppy boy salesman that told me that and laughed. I said "I got long hair, but I`ve also been working on cars since I was 6 years old, if my truck had these problems don`t you think I would know about them? I guess long haired guys makes them morons don`t it?" He didn`t say another word except for my total for tire installation. Lastly, why would I take a body shops word on the condition of the drivetrain of my ride? body shops do paint and body repair work, not mechanic work. If a body man says this to me I would tell him "I thought I paid you to repair the body not the engine"
Were Hot Rodders. We don`t take our rides to repair shops. DYI, Do It Yourself is what we are all about.

[crownver]

Told my wife to go get a tire fixed on her driver the the other day. One of the things I can't/won't do. The car has about 90K miles on it, and the brakes were done at about 50K. While it was on the hoist, they graciously checked the brakes for her. Said they were in need of fixing, gave her an estimate for $1200.00