10 year old you should have taken these tips to heart
Most of us got our start thanks to good old Dad and his need to tinker with his ride. If you were lucky growing up, that meant a sweet Ford parked in the drive way. Here are a few tips that your Dad hopefully instilled in to you.
1. How to find that dang 12 mm wrench
We JUST used it, how can it be gone? Your first lesson in the garage is an important one: if any socket will go missing, it will be the 10mm one, followed immediately after by the 12mm and it will do so right when you need it most. Keeping your sockets organized midway through your project will prevent half hour detours to find that pesky wrench or socket.
2. Work smarter, not harder
Your old man is actually an old man with a bad back, and he doesn’t have time to screw around with breaking those rusty bolts and fasteners free. Using some penetrating oil and a pipe extension on that breaker bar makes quick work of even the most stubborn of bolts. In the same vein, he’s smart enough to use a puller tool on any hub, bearing or pulley.
3. Always, always, always use a jack stand
Dad has a vested interest in keeping his best investment (you) not dead. Mom would be totally pissed if that happened! He can fix an engine that won’t start, but the Haynes Manual doesn’t cover fixing you if something were to happen. Always throw a jack stand under your truck when you’re working on it, heck, put a second one there for good measure.
4. At least it’s not a Chevy
Even when he was frustrated that something wasn’t working right on his truck, and the fix seemed insurmountable, your Dad always kept a cool head. He didn’t need to scream and shout at his truck. Why? Because at least it wasn’t a Chevy.
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If Dad didn't give you enough tips to work effectively in the garage then it might help to check out the Ford-Trucks.com How-to section, full of technical content and DIY goodness.
