The Autopian runs under a main rule that our stories have to be Entertaining and Enlightening. It’s our ‘Double-E’ concept that I think makes us different. I love that our comments also technically meet this standard. Time to learn something new.
David wrote about the two silly mistakes he made while building his World War II Jeep. One discovery was a cracked piston, which required David to pull the other three pistons. Spikersaurusrex asks a good question:
Stupid question from a non-wrencher:
Why did you have to pull the 3 good pistons instead of just substituting a good one for the cracked one? Are they not interchangeable?
Hugh Crawford gives a fascinating answer:
Lots of sets of pistons are sorted by weight when they are made, so that the pistons are weight matched to each other, and form a balanced set, otherwise they vibrate like crazy.
The rest of the comments were also great. Sid Bridge:
Wish I could have been there to help out. I would have stood next to you, looked it over, shook my head and said “Yep. It’s cracked.”
I’m afraid I’m not very helpful.
David Tracy:
Honestly, I need someone there. It’s not about knowing what to do, it’s about just having a friend there to make it more fun!
Sid Bridge:
In the immortal words of Adele…
We could’ve had it allllll…
Rollin’ in the Jeeepppp…
You took the piston right in your hand…
And you cracked… you cracked… you cracked it in the sleeve.
Al Lenz:
Many years ago I was putting a 455 Olds motor together for myself in the shop I worked at after hours. somewhere around 10:00 I had 7 pistons installed and properly torqued when I discovered I had an extra ring spacer!! I then proceeded to backtrack all the way back to the second piston before I found where the extra spacer belonged. Needless to say it was a long night spent talking bad about myself!!
Angry Bob:
I worked in a motorcycle shop for a while. Whenever a new mechanic would split engine cases for the first time, the shop manager would put an extra gear in the box of transmission parts. Then we’d all quietly laugh while he tried to figure out where it went.
One new guy (who asked me on his interview if the company drug tested), got the whole engine put back together and never said anything about the extra gear. He either actually found a place to put it, or just threw it out.
Your extra piston ring reminded me of that.
Finally, Mark had a Shitbox Showdown featuring a 1984 Dodge Rampage and a 1990 Honda Civic. TheDrunkenWrench perfectly explains how most Autopians buy cars:
The Civic is absolutely the better choice, so I picked the Rampage.
Have a great evening, everyone!
(Topshot graphic image: David Tracy)
E&E reminds me of Lord Reith’s explanation of the BBC’s purpose in 1928: to educate, inform, and entertain.
Thanks for the shout-out! Sometimes you feel foolish asking what everyone else seems to already know, but it’s better than remaining ignorant. Also, you’re rarely the only one wondering.
I was wondering the same thing, but I got busy after I read the article and didn’t ask the question.
Wow, that has to be my most low-effort win ever. Thanks again Mercedes!
Dammit, now I gotta go for a hattrick.
Oh!
Checks notes — my ninth COTD !
I’d invite you all to the gala reception but I’m snowed in at my daughter’s apartment in Brooklyn.
Sounds like quality time to work on making it a baker’s dozen COTD. Maine got the upper edge of the storm. Not bad at all. 3 more storms coming this week. I’ve only had to use my snowblower *almost* every day. At 49, I’m starting to realize why the older people hire plow guys to clean their driveway. Except I would have 6 vehicles to move around.
9th means you’re responsible for the charcuterie board at this Thursday’s COTD Club meet.
I haven’t been keeping track of my record, so I’ll bring something to spike the punch.
I like charcuterie, but once my son called it “adult Lunchables,” it’s hard to unthink it.
Being an adult means you’re no longer required to care what others think. You can just do things for yourself.
So if you wanna make Shark-Coochie boards for every meal, then Bone-Apple Teeth.
Being an adult also means you’re waiting for death to get on with it. Eating a lot of processed meat and sodium-bomb cheese will speed that up. Win-win.
Living to be 190 would mean giving up everything that would make you want to live to be 190.
There’s a balance to be struck. Everything in moderation, including moderation.
Who wants to live that long? I’m already tired…
Fine. I’ll bring the steaks again. Dammit.
I’ll bring some garlic butter and fried mushrooms.
A regular Dennis Muren! Congrats!
Peak Autopian: “the Civic is absolutely the better choice, so I decided to build a WW2 Jeep from scratch.”