Just in time for warmer weather, Four Seasons, a division of Standard Motor Products, is offering RockAuto.com customers an exclusive 10% instant manufacturer rebate on select A/C Compressor & Components Kits throughout the month of May, 2021!

Four Seasons' PAC-Kits are assembled and shipped in one convenient package with everything you need to perform a successful A/C Compressor replacement including a new A/C Compressor, A/C Receiver Drier / Accumulator, A/C Expansion Valve (or A/C Orifice Tube), A/C Refrigerant Oil, and all of the necessary O-Rings and Gaskets.

Typical Four Seasons PAC-Kit

Do not risk having to re-do your A/C repair -- doing the job right takes more than just replacing the A/C Compressor! The performance and lifespan of an A/C Compressor is greatly affected by the other components in the closed loop A/C system. All necessary components should be replaced at the same time to extend the service life of your new A/C Compressor and satisfy the warranty requirements.

While shopping, watch for the yellow "Promotion/Rebate" in the catalog next to the part listings to instantly save 10% off of RockAuto's already reliably low prices. Find A/C Compressor & Component Kits in the "Heat & Air Conditioning" category of the RockAuto.com catalog.

During May 2021, AutoLine Products is offering RockAuto customers an exclusive 10% instant manufacturer rebate on select Remanufactured Fuel Injectors and New Distributors. AutoLine is a family-owned business that has been making parts better than new since the '60s.

AutoLine Products is known for remanufacturing fuel injectors, carburetors, throttle bodies, distributors and other crucial, precision-made parts. This month's exclusive AutoLine Instant Rebate helps highlight that AutoLine now also builds 100% new distributors, broadening the ignition repair solutions available for many vehicles.

AutoLine new Distributors feature precision machined shafts and OEM Equivalent Electronics (modules and coils), to ensure proper function and long service life. They come ready-to-install with cap and rotor, gasket, wire harness and/or other required parts.

The AutoLine May rebate is instant. While shopping, simply put the select AutoLine parts (marked with a yellow "Promotion/Rebate" ) in your cart to take advantage of this 10% instant manufacturer rebate and save even more on RockAuto's already reliably low prices.

DieselTruckResource.com is a popular forum for Dodge and Ram diesel truck owners and enthusiasts. You will find comprehensive information and discussions on the first through fourth generation (1989-2010 and up) diesel trucks. Engine, drivetrain, towing, off-roading, whatever you are interested in, you will most likely find relevant information here. You will even find a section on the 4500/5500 series commercial trucks!

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 marketing@rockauto.com.

A few years back, I was the proud owner of a 1987 Chrysler Fifth Avenue. For me, this car was really the lap of luxury. However, it did develop a very annoying problem. Every time I hit a bump in the road or turned into a driveway, it seemed as though the whole front end of the car was going to fall away from the vehicle, accompanied by a thundering clump.

I took the vehicle to a number of Chrysler dealers and an independent front end repair shop to have it checked out. But each of the repair shops said there was nothing wrong and that everything was tight with the front end, even though they too could hear the clunking. They all said for me not to worry and to go ahead with an upcoming road trip. Anyway, I took their advice and hit the road for the eight hundred mile excursion, returning home none the worse for the experience.

The following morning, I went out to my Chrysler and lifted the hood to have another look for myself, still baffled at the noise I was hearing. I leaned over the drivers side front fender to look down at the suspension system to see If I could spot anything that was missed. As I looked down, I grabbed on to one of the two long fender support rods which bolt to the firewall and the top of each front fender. I grabbed the rod for leverage as I strained to look down. The rod made a clicking sound. That was when the lights in my mind came on. I ran and got myself a ratchet with a 7/16 socket, returned to the car and tightened the tie down bolt that caused the rod to become loose. I reasoned that the clunking sound was caused by the buckling of the front fender sheet metal, and this time I was correct. I then jumped behind the wheel for a test drive. And guess what...the problem was solved.

Ralph in Ontario, Canada

Support rod bolted to the firewall and the top of a Chrysler Fifth Avenue fender

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 RockAuto 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!

What is the purpose of this illuminated box found on the parcel shelves of some GM vehicles built in the '60s and '70s?

A. The "Radar Safety Alert" option was a Doppler radar detector that illuminated red lights and generated a buzzing sound through the rear radio speaker(s).

B. This low fuel warning light received its power via a relatively short wiring harness connected directly to the fuel gauge sending unit in the gas tank.

C. The "Rear Lamp Monitoring" option used fiber optic cables to show the driver that the tail lamp bulbs were still working.

Answer below

Replacing the oil pump was originally just an easy while-you're-at-it project I decided to do while I had the oil pan off to replace leaky gaskets and seals. After seeing the impressive impact the new oil pump had on the 360 in my '79 Chrysler 300 (Cordoba), I realized I should have made oil pump replacement a priority.

The new oil pump has so far eliminated the valvetrain ticking noises that often occurred when the engine started cold. The oil pressure gauge needle that never moved much beyond the 1/4 mark, once again shows higher oil pressure when the engine is cold, idling or spinning at higher RPM.

The gauge on the dash shows higher oil pressure, but the fresh oil pump is really pumping increased oil volume that enables the higher oil pressures. The engine's worn-out pump apparently could only move limited oil volume no matter how fast it was spun. I disassembled the old pump and found the lobes on its inner and outer rotors were badly nicked and ground down. I am sure a new original equipment (OE) spec oil pump would have greatly improved oil flow.

For my Chrysler, I actually chose a "high volume" oil pump that pumps ~25% more oil volume than the (OE) specification. The left side of my brain thought a high-mileage engine has worn bearings, hydraulic valve lifters and other parts that no longer fit together as tightly as they originally did. Some extra oil volume might help keep those parts with higher clearances lubricated and functioning. The right side of my brain just thought about how cool it would sound if I could say my Chrysler has a four-barrel carb, dual exhaust, Corinthian leather and a "high volume oil pump."

New High Volume Oil Pump & Pickup Tube

The high volume oil pump has a larger impeller that can move more oil, but the maximum oil pressure it can generate is still limited by an OE-spec pressure relief valve. My Chrysler's oil pressure gauge needle is a lot more active and always reads higher pressure at idle, but it never moves too far past the center mark as engine RPM increases.

Oil pump manufacturers are careful not to tout either OE spec or high volume oil pumps as cure-alls for engines that really need to be rebuilt, but a new oil pump definitely helped my Chrysler's not-completely-worn-out-yet engine. Some late-model high-mileage engines might benefit even more from a new oil pump because in addition to hydraulic valve lifters, they may have variable valve timing sprockets (cam phasers), cylinder deactivation solenoids and other high-tech parts that require specific engine oil volume and pressure.

Tom Taylor,
RockAuto.com

To read more of Toms articles, click this link and choose from story titles on the Newsletter Archives page.

My 1986 Thunderbird has been in my life for almost 20 years. My grandmother used to own the ‘BRRD,’ as we call her, and had it since it was brand new. She would let me drive it as soon as I acquired my driver’s learner permit. I had always had a passion for the Thunderbird and performed regular maintenance. I could then cruise in the Thunderbird anytime I wanted as payment for the work I completed on the car. My grandmother promised me that I could have the car once I had somewhere to put it. As fate should have it, I purchased a house with a 950 square foot detached garage in 2017. It was that year that my grandmother signed the title of the car over to me to enjoy for the rest of my life, keeping it in the family.

At the time, the car only had 38,000 miles and ran flawlessly. However, after two years of ownership, I began having issues with fluids leaking due to dried out seals and issues with low oil pressure – mainly since the car never traveled far its entire life. In 2020, right as the COVID-19 pandemic was in full force, I decided it was time to pull the engine, drop the transmission and rebuild both. Spending hundreds of hours in my own garage without a lift, I managed to successfully rebuild the engine and transmission, and made both more durable and powerful -- even raising the compression ratio up to 9.5:1 (on 93 octane gas) from its original 8.5:1.

In order to complete the rebuild, I purchased the following from RockAuto: timing chain, transmission cooler fittings, intake manifold gasket, timing cover gasket, harmonic balancer, fuel injectors, throttle position sensor, throttle body rebuild kit, exhaust manifold bolts, push rods, engine gasket kit, oil pump rebuild kit, camshaft plug, motor mounts, PCV system, and thermostat. Thank you RockAuto for your easy to use interface. A few short clicks allowed me to order the parts I needed quickly so I could get my baby back on the road. Now at 44,000 miles, the car has zero issues – and I cannot wait to one day pass the car down to one of my children. Thank you so much for having the parts for my Thunderbird available to keep her healthy and cruising on down the road with quality parts!

Sean in Pennsylvania (RockAuto customer for over seven years)

Share Your Hard Work
Do you purchase parts from RockAuto? If so, RockAuto would like to give you the opportunity to have your car or truck possibly featured in one (or occasionally more) of our publications such as the monthly newsletter, collector magnets, RockAuto social media or other commercial use. New, old, import, domestic, daily driver, trailer queen, classic, antique, we want to see them all! Please email flamur@RockAuto.com with the vehicle history, interesting details, your favorite images (tips for taking pictures of your car) and what parts from RockAuto you have used.

What is the purpose of this illuminated box found on the parcel shelves of some GM vehicles built in the '60s and '70s?

A. The "Radar Safety Alert" option was a Doppler radar detector that illuminated red lights and generated a buzzing sound through the rear radio speaker(s).

B. This low fuel warning light received its power via a relatively short wiring harness connected directly to the fuel gauge sending unit in the gas tank.

Answer: C. The "Rear Lamp Monitoring" option used fiber optic cables to show the driver that the tail lamp bulbs were still working. (source: Hemmings.com / 10 unusual 1950s-1970s GM accessories)

Back up to trivia question