Ever notice how when someone asks for advice their question is sometimes not answered and the advice given is somehow going to cost them $$ ? For example someone may ask about heads and then be advised to buy aluminum aftermarket heads when their question was about how to do it cheaply. not trying to start an arguement just an observation.
if you ask for an opinion thats what you are going to get. it's up to you what you are going to do with the advice and to consider the source. some may be speaking from experience and may save you money in the long run. you, like them, may not be happy with the results. you may be expecting more than what you are going to get. this is open to all so take the info for what it is. someone elses opinion. digest it and make YOUR own choice..
It is still cheaper to buy aftermarket stuff and have the knowledge to put it in yourself, than to pay HUGE shop bills to have what you had before. Sometimes cheap is just not a option.
To use your example, some people will ask advice on cylinder heads, thinking they will get by cheaply modifying and restoring older heads, when it would actually be cheaper in the long run to buy aftermarket. It's a fair answer, IMO.
advice, opinion The advice and opinions I put into the Mustang II front suspension posting come from the school of hard knocks. I tried to go cheap by using all stock components out of a Mustang II. It sucked. The front crossmember, being sheetmetal, would flex under hard cornering. Made it real hard to drive the car fast. The springs were bad, shocks inadiquate, sway bar not strong enough, etc. I spent 3 times as much money by going cheap as if I had just bought a kit and installed it. I mean ANY kit. (I have no affiliation with any suspension manufacturer.) Similar experiences with head porting, bodywork, paint, etc. all apply to me. Over the years I have learned that quite often, it is better to save up to buy something I can't afford now than to try to go cheap. Somehow, the savings always get eaten up by the problems. Do your homework, learn from others mistakes, and you can save a bundle of money and have a first class ride to boot. --Jay Curtis
Opinions Have been having a similiar argument with my youngest son, he has very limited finances and yet wants to restore his 66 F100. When trying to make things out of used parts etc., he ends up most of the time, having to buy the aftermarket part anyway. Not always true if you have the experience and tools to do the job. Times are changing and the old backyard mechanics like myself are a dying breed. Most parts stores are catering to the parts replacers. Did not have the volume of aftermarket things that we do now and we had to improvise a lot of the time. On another angle related, I see the importers and even a lot of major retailers selling inexspensive items including tools from a far away land. From my own view, the stuff is cheap but won't hold a candle to US made. Buy a set of wrenches for 10.00 and they will not last very long in normal use. Go buy another set and now you have 20.00 invested in junk, could have spent 20.00 for a set from US company and will still have them to pass on to your kids many years from now. Sorry to rant but I have been there, done that and learned the hard way.
I am at the same point that Old Guy Is at, and agree fully. I have a lifetime of working, modifying and building cars from stock cars to sprints to Go kats and all there engines. I try to get a feel for where the poster is coming from and answer to that position. The poster often gives clues as to what there position is in experence and what abilities are to do the work their inquiring about, and answer to that level. I see many answers that indicate the post was't read and understood, with advice and opinion given that is far away from what the poster's position is. There are often many problems with posts of not giving a true picture of a problem, not enough info, mind set (not wanting to here advice that goes against their position), and the list goes on. Often the poster is not being realistic. I for one, don't answer much anymore because there is often some one who will argue the point. Since the boards are an open formatte, that's the way it goes. As many longer term board members know, I don't talk jive and talk to the technical point. This is where the problems begin. People get a little insulted by it, but thats me, and I won't change a lifetime of knowlegde about what I may have to offer.
These guys have summed it up pretty well. Don't get offended by advice when given it. When someone gives you advice you don't want to hear, stop and listen. Many mistakes are very hard earned, and much time can be saved by listening to other peoples mistakes, instead of creating our own costly ones. I know part of life is learning off of OUR mistakes, but now that I am getting older, I really try to listen to advice given from experienced people and not make the mistake myself.
Thanks for all of the good input people. I understand where many of you are coming from a lot better now. keep that advice coming.
AMEN!!!! To "old guy" and Ken, you guys are right, but please do not stop passing all that knowledge on to those of us who want to learn, because of a few "turd-balls". You guys are a great asset to this board!
