We all have our favorite…and they’re all flawed on some level. Ever tried to loosen the infamous left hand thread Chrysler lug nuts until you were nearly in tears? Perhaps you have tried to adjust the distributor on a lifted truck equipped with a small block Chevy engine without having your face in the carb and your man parts close to the whirring fan as you laid across the engine? We know, you’d tried to change the plugs in an FE equipped 1960s era Mustang and your multi-jointed elbow and wrists weren’t on the job that day. The list could go on forever, and we’re interested to hear about what you consider to be the most annoying quirk of your favorite brand.
This isn’t about bashing some other make that isn’t your favorite. This is about looking at the cars or trucks you blindly love and admitting that they have some annoying flaws…and as stated above, we know that they all do. If you dig Toyotas maybe you’ll mention the pesky Tacoma truck frames that rusted like they were made from recycled pots and pans. If you are into AMCs maybe it is their less than ideal bridged rocker arms. Like we said, no one is innocent here.
TAKE OFF THE ROSE COLORED WELDING GOGGLES AND TELL US WHAT YOUR FAVORITE BRAND’S MOST ANNOYING QUIRK IS!
The left/right lug nuts on Mopars is a close tie with trying to replace the starter on a late 80’s F-body with a V-8.
The fact Ford built a complete line of modern engines that require the most popular car in history (Mustang) to be cut up to install it!
ok most popular in countries I care about.
OK just the US.
OK Just my driveway.
I love my blue ovals but, the current crop of 3 valve engine with their seizing and breaking spark plugs annoy me to no end. It should not take a day to change spark plugs 🙁
+1 on what starter guy said
I love cars that are lowered to the ground but I hate trying to lift one. Can’t get a jack under them or lift arms. Unless of course they have air ride installed.
THE PRICE ….. !
BMW – Seriously, that starter location works great on a Mopar slant six where you can just reach under the manifolds and unbolt it. But on a newer car with a lot more going on in the engine bay, it doesn’t. There is no excuse for a starter where the official flat rate shop manual says you need 1.6 hours to change it… and there’s REALLY no excuse for a real world time that’s more like 4 hours! That makes a 5.0 Fox body starter swap look easy. Oh, and the convertible top is way too complicated for its own good.
Mopar – yes, the left handed lug nuts got me too. But the one that annoys me most on a slant six Mopar is how there is almost no room to get your hands on the distributor with it tucked between the inner fender and block so tightly.
Agreed on the slant 6 dizzy…but I’m in Australia and had to work on the steering of one a while ago…in Australia we’re right hand drive – so the steering column / box etc is ALSO in that same, tight area….
Changing the spark plugs on a 3L mitsu powered minivan. I don’t know how many I saw that had nice fresh plugs in the front and the originals still in the back. after 200k on it.
Or the spark plugs on a V8 monza…used to cut a hole in the inner fender and make make a cover plate to get the back ones. You shouldn’t have to cut holes in the car to change the plugs!
V8 Monza starter, pull the exhaust to change the starter. But you have to cut it up to get it out. Or the original clutch is a 9 1/2 inch, same as the 4cyl. And yes there is romm for a 10 1/2.
One of my favorites from my Ford tech days.2000 cc Pinto flat rate cam change under warranty/remove radio,drill hole in firewall,slide cam through radio opening,install rubber body plug in hole.get paid to remove head by Ford
the ex had a taurus wagon —heater core replacement—you have to pull the dash!!—what would be a 3 beer fix in my 66 el camino,was a two day project in the taurus
Heater core on 60’s to early 70’s GM A-body. Worse with a big block Olds & a/c. Heater controls and dash pad on 66/67 Chevelle.
Trying to tighten the bottom left valve cover bolt on the 454 in my 73 Monte Carlo.Heater/AC box is in the way its so freakin tight. The other is putting the dizzy back in and having to line up the stupid oil pump tang on Chevy motors. How about where Edlebrock puts the hole on there manifolds for the vacuum passage that cannot be accessed when using a Holley with a rear float bowl. Why dont they change that?
The damn Ford Probe that my Mom and Dad had needed a new alternator. I unbolted it and then couldn’t get it out. We bought the manual and it said “remove the front suspension.” What a pile. Even the dealer didn’t want to deal with it, we ended up taking it to an independent garage.
Or the crappy underspec’d wiring on the early EFI cars. What garbage.
The complete lack of tow hooks on 60-72 Chevy/GMC pickups, sway bar brackets are always destroyed by previous owner yanking em with a chain. Motor mounts on the same vintage are crap, and held i by one totally inaccessible bolt. Cutting a hole in the crossmember on the 2wd’s makes it a bit easier. I’ve upgraded to clamshell on more than one.
How about the later S-10 pickup that you have to drop the dash to change the heater core? What an absolute joy.
Mopars and funny transmission noises. The CLUNK of a 727 going into third gear at low revs. The A604 when coming to a stop and dropping into first sounds like you are riding a bicycle with a playing card slapping the spokes. Both perfectly normal and make you want to drive straight to the tranny shop.