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Another Happy Customer!

Always seeing ads for RockAuto, I wondered if they were true. Well, they are!

Bought a pair of tail lamp assemblies for my 1994 Ford Ranger. RockAuto saved me almost $65 over buying them locally! Shipping was fast and reasonable as well.

RockAuto is now my first place to shop.

Don in Washington

 

Upcoming Events
If you would like your event featured here, email us with details.

4th Annual Ride-In Motorcycle Show
6/23/2012
Mayetta, KS
e-mail

5th Annual Queen City Mustangers-Mustang & All Ford Show
6/23/2012
Loveland, OH
e-mail

Bethany Volunteer Fire Department Auxiliary Car Truck & Bike Show
6/23/2012
Bristol, CT
e-mail

Kamrar Free Car Show
6/23/2012
Kamrar, IA
e-mail

4th Annual Fathersfest Classic Car Show
6/23/2012
Fort Collins, CO
e-mail

Cruise In Event
6/23/2012
Dunnellon, FL
e-mail

JDRF 5th Annual Charity Car Show
6/23/2012
Riverside, CA
e-mail

Show & Shine
6/23/2012
Alberta, AB
e-mail

Gasoline Gang
6/23/2012
Weilheim, Germany
website

Hamblen County Car Club Spring Swap Meet
6/23/2012
Morristown, TN
e-mail

Oldtimer Messe Uster
6/23/2012
Ruti, Switzerland
website

Rancho Cucamonga Firefighters Benefit Car Show
6/24/2012
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
e-mail

Gold Coast Cruisers Car Club
6/24/2012
Glen Cove, NY
e-mail

9th Annual Car Show
6/24/2012
Saginaw, MI
e-mail

Elm Bank Estate Auto Show
6/24/2012
Worcester, MA
e-mail

Strictly Street Rod Club 32nd Annual Rod Run
6/24/2012
Martinton, IL
e-mail

Liberty Street Rods 23rd Annual Rod Run
6/24/2012
Sykesville, MD
e-mail

Rotary GroveFest Festival of Cars
6/24/2012
Lisle, IL
e-mail

Classic Rides of Portland
6/24/2012
Portland, OR
e-mail

Gears Ears 35
6/24/2012
Bloomingdale, IL
e-mail

Victoria Swap Meet Car Show & Social Gathering
6/24/2012
Sidney, BC
e-mail

Rochester Mopars Cruise In
6/28/2012
Fairport, NY
e-mail

Studebaker International Meet
6/29/2012
South Bend, IN
rhenn15090@aol.com

Rolling Chrome/Tahoe Thunder
6/29/2012
South Lake Tahoe, CA
e-mail

Sturgis Camaro Rally
6/29/2012
Baker, MT
e-mail

Rod Run 2012
6/29/2012
Sheridan, WY
e-mail

Power Ladies Tirol
6/30/2012
Innsbruck, Austria
e-mail

Cool City Classic Car Show
6/30/2012
Two Rivers, WI
e-mail

Annual Mopar Magic Car Show
6/30/2012
Cornwall, ON
e-mail

Madison Road Apples Auto Show
6/30/2012
Sun Prairie, WI
e-mail

BSA Troop 145 Car Truck & Motorcycle Show
6/30/2012
Clark, NJ
e-mail

Fair Oaks Lions Second Annual Car Show
6/30/2012
Fair Oaks, CA
e-mail

Bandera Riverfest Car Show
6/30/2012
Bandera, TX
e-mail

Kids2 Camp Benefit Ride 2012
6/30/2012
Woodland, CA
e-mail

9th Annual Jim Bowie Days Car Show
6/30/2012
Bowie, TX
e-mail

4th Annual Fools Rush Cruise In
6/30/2012
Flesherton, ON
e-mail

Cowley Tiger Booster Club Poker Run 3rd Annual Show
6/30/2012
Arkansas City, KS
e-mail

9th Street Gang Car Club James Dean Run
6/30/2012
Gas City, IN
e-mail

2011 Sicamous Fabulous Classic Car 3rd Annual Show
6/30/2012
Sicamous, BC
e-mail

33rd Annual Mustang All Ford Car Show in Indy
6/30/2012
Brownsburg, IN
e-mail

Mustang International Show
7/1/2012
St. Albans, UK
e-mail

Angel's Hands Foundation Motorcycle Ride & Car Show
7/1/2012
Bingham Canyon, UT
e-mail

Herrieden markenoffenes treffen
7/3/2012
Neuler, Germany
e-mail

47th Annual 4th of July Car Show & Swap Meet
7/4/2012
Dayton, OH
e-mail

Chicagoland Buick GSCA Annual Car Show
7/4/2012
La Grange, IL
e-mail

Quakertown 31st Community Day Car Show
7/4/2012
Quakertown, PA
e-mail

July 4th Car Show
7/4/2012
Plainfield, IL
e-mail

Sespe Creek Car Show & Chili Cook Off
7/4/2012
Fillmore, CA
e-mail

 

ATK Long Blocks & Cylinder Heads

See what we have from ATKRemanufactured Long BlocksRemanufactured Cylinder Heads

RockAuto is now offering ATK remanufactured long block engines and cylinder heads. ATK has been remanufacturing since 1936. They are the only remanufacturer to maintain the prestigious ISO/TS 16949 quality seal, an internationally recognized symbol of quality. ATK remanufactured engines and cylinder heads meet or exceed all OEM replacement specifications. The addition of these high quality remanufactured parts broadens customers’ choices of long blocks and cylinder heads for everything from Buicks to Toyotas. High resolution catalog photos, often from multiple angles, help customers select ATK engines and cylinder heads.

Remanufactured Long Blocks:

  • Engine blocks are magnafluxed, cylinders bored and precision honed, with main bearing saddles line honed to exacting OE specifications
  • Camshaft bearing line bored for accurate center to center clearance
  • Engine blocks and cylinder heads precision surfaced to ensure proper sealing
  • Cylinder heads magnafluxed or dye checked and machined for three angle valve seats
  • Crankshafts are stress relieved, precision ground, and micro polished for optimum durability and surface finish
  • Camshafts precision ground or replaced with new to maintain the OE profile
  • Each engine is tested for compression, oil pressure, oil leaks, unusual engine noise, and general operation condition before shipment

Remanufactured Cylinder Heads:

  • Cylinder heads magnafluxed or dye checked and machined for three angle valve seats
  • All valve seats are three angle cut, which fits all standard components
  • All valve springs are tested and replaced if necessary

See "Long Blocks" and “Cylinder Heads” for your vehicle under the "Engine" category of the RockAuto catalog.

 

 

Brembo Brake Parts for European Market Vehicles

See what we have from Brembo

Brembo Discs

Looking for brake rotors or drums for your European market Renault Trafic van, Land Rover Range Rover, Ford Mondeo, or Porsche 924? RockAuto now carries Brembo rotors and drums for a wide range of European market vehicles. Made precisely to OEM specifications, offering patented Pillar Venting Technology (PVT) with improved cooling capacity and with corrosion resistant coatings, Brembo is there to stop your vehicle safely, smoothly and quickly. All Brembo brake parts are compliant with European safety legislation as well as certified in accordance with the most stringent international standards. Brembo’s Easy Check innovation allows drivers to monitor rotor wear, while Fixing Screw Kits provide replacement hardware with all rotors, making installation a snap.

You will find Brembo drums and rotors in the "Brake/Wheel Hub" category of the RockAuto catalog – along with our full range of brake parts for all vehicle markets.

 

 

RockAuto is Looking for a Few Good Cars

Brian's Charger
Mika's Galaxie
Andrew's Lotus 7

Show off your vehicle and hard work to the world! Submit a photo of your car or truck to be considered for the next series of RockAuto Collector Magnets. These magnets are sent to our customers worldwide and are given out at car shows and events.

Vintage or high tech street machine, trailer queen, or daily driver, all types are encouraged! Send a high resolution image and a short story about your car and what parts you have purchased from RockAuto to flamur@rockauto.com.

If your vehicle is chosen, we will make sure to send you plenty of magnets to share with friends and family, and make you the envy of your car club.

 

 

Forum of the Month

RamForum.com

RamForum.com is a place for Ram Enthusiasts to share helpful tips and technical advice with one another. There are discussions dedicated to 1st generation rams through 4th generation rams, as well as a specific area to discuss Cummins Diesels. Each of these discussion areas includes a place to discuss the interior, lifts, engine and performance as well as a DIY section. Join today and start asking questions, talking, and forming new friendships with your fellow Ram Enthusiasts.

 

If you are the administrator or member of a forum and you would like to see your website featured in an upcoming newsletter and receive a discount code to share with your members, contact cynthia@rockauto.com.

 

 

Repair Mistakes & Blunders

Ouch!

I recently bought a used Toyota Camry to use as my work/commuter car. I like it, but trouble-free it has not been. However, not all of its "problems" are related to the car. Sometimes its problems are caused by what is in between the seat and steering wheel.

For instance, today I drove it in to work. I pulled into the parking lot, put the floor shifter in park, and turned off the key. The ignition switch is in the dash and you have to push in slightly to turn the key to the left, which allows you to get it to the position where you can remove the key. I've owned the car for about 5 weeks and haven't had any problems with the ignition switch, though my "copy of a copy of a copy" key is reluctant to open the trunk and sometimes it takes some jiggling to hit the sweet spot to unlock the door.

Anyway, this morning, no matter what I tried, the ignition switch couldn't be pushed in enough to turn the key to the position where I could remove the key. I could turn the key to the start position, the run position, and the ACC position, but it wouldn't turn any farther. Exasperated, I left the keys in the ignition and went in to work without locking the doors. Secretly, I was hoping that maybe someone would come along and take the car - at least that way I wouldn't have to shell out for a locksmith.

A little while later, I had an errand to run. I went out to the parking lot and the Camry was still there with the keys in the ignition. It started fine and I was able to run my errand. Upon returning to the parking area, I investigated a little more thoroughly and figured out the problem...

My Camry has a pull out cup holder which is directly in front of the floor shifter. This morning I had used a travel mug and put it in the cup holder. The handle of my travel mug was interfering with the shifter--it couldn't go all the way into the Park position, which, in turn, prevented me from turning the ignition switch to the position that allows the keys to be removed. Once I moved the travel mug, the universe returned to normal and I was able to pocket my keys and lock the doors. Moral of the story: if you drive a mid-90s Camry, only drink 12 oz sodas or use a travel mug without a handle.

Phil in Colorado

 

Tell us about your most infamous auto repair blunder or unconventional fix. Use your woe to help others avoid similar mistakes or share off-the-wall solutions that worked (at least for a while!). Please email your story to flamur@rockauto.com. Include your mailing address and if you would like a RockAuto T-Shirt (please let us know your shirt size) or Hat if we publish your story. See the T-Shirts and Hats under Tools & Universal Parts in the catalog. The story will be credited using only your first name and your vague geographic location (state, province, country, continent, etc.) so you can remain semi-anonymous!

 

 

Automotive Trivia

Automotive Trivia

Which of these car manufacturers did not originally build sewing machines?

A. Adam Opel AG
B. Fiat Group Automobiles S.p.A.
C. Swift Motor Company
D. White Motor Company

Answer below

 

 

Boiled Plastic

RockAuto

Exterior trim clip (nylon)

Exterior trim clip (nylon)

Window regulator roller (nylon)

Tired of breaking the old, brittle plastic clips that hold on exterior and interior trim? Worried that the plastic thermostat housing will either leak or crack after being over tightened? Hoping for a way to rejuvenate the yellowed plastic gears, slides and rollers in that window regulator? Having trouble sliding the plastic handles onto the metal rods that came with that new foosball table? The answer to these and other plastics conundrums is an elixir available at the nearest kitchen sink.

My dad was a plastics engineer for 30+ years. One of the best tips he has given me thus far is to rejuvenate and limber up old and new thermoplastic polymers by soaking them for a minute or so in boiling water. The results with nylon can be especially dramatic. Yellowish nylon goes into the water brittle and comes out supple and milky white. New composite thermostat housings, foosball table handles, and other plastic pieces that must be mounted to metal become slightly more flexible and are an easier and better fit.

The boiling water does not melt the plastic. Soaking nylon in room temperature water for a long time has the same impact as a short bath in boiling water. The chemistry is too complex for just the son of a plastics engineer to explain. Basically the moisture releases tension between polymer molecules that was created when the plastic was first made (molded, extruded, etc.) or that built up over time as the plastic was exposed to sunlight, heat, chemicals or otherwise aged.

Over the years I have only seen good results from putting my plastic parts in boiling water. At worst the plastic seems unaffected, probably a thermoset plastic (rigid body parts, distributor caps, Bakelite, etc.). However, there are myriad plastic resin recipes and plastic products out there and I must include a disclaimer and encourage common sense and caution. Do not soak plastic pieces that include electronics, gaskets, lubricants, paint, adhesives, decals, etc. that are not supposed to be exposed to water. Do not bring a plastic part out of a freezing garage and immediately dunk it into a boiling pot of water. Thin, molded plastic pieces like interior trim or milk jugs might lose their shape if exposed to heat. Heat and moisture from boiling water might not be uniformly transferred through very thick plastic pieces. If you are at all concerned about the temperature of boiling water, then maybe instead try soaking the plastic piece in unheated water for a day or two. Don’t boil a greasy composite valve cover in your spouse’s favorite spaghetti kettle…

Tom Taylor,
RockAuto.com

 

 

Tom's 1961 Ford Econoline Pickup
Tom's 1961 Ford Econoline Pickup

I had been searching for a 1960’s Ranchero/El Camino project car. On the way home one day, I saw one of these rotting away in the weeds, and thought that it would make an interesting project. Did a search online, and a few days later, one in restorable condition was mine.

RockAuto made it is easy to source all the brake, suspension, and ignition parts at lower prices than the specialty suppliers.

Just finished the 18 month “Uni-body On” restoration, and enjoy using it as my truck and weekend cruiser. The door badges read "Falcon" because they were sourced from an Econoline Station Bus.

Tom in Pennsylvania

 

 

Share Your Hard Work

Do you purchase parts from RockAuto? If so, RockAuto would like to feature you & your car or truck in our monthly newsletter. New, old, import, domestic, daily driver, trailer queen, classic, antique, we want to see them all! Please e-mail flamur@rockauto.com with your vehicle's history, interesting details, your favorite images, and what parts from RockAuto you have used.

 

 

Let RockAuto Help

Let RockAuto Help

Are you organizing a car show or other auto related event? From goody bag stuffers to gift certificates...we can help. We can even publicize your event in our newsletter.

Just send us an email with information about your show.

 

 

Automotive Trivia Answer

Automotive Trivia

Which of these car manufacturers did not originally build sewing machines?

A. Adam Opel AG
Answer: B. Fiat Group Automobiles S.p.A.
C. Swift Motor Company
D. White Motor Company

Back up to trivia question

 

 

 

 

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