Jan 27 2010
A New Bump-Stick
I had originally diagnosed Exhaust Valve #2 as not opening so I set out to replace the cam in the ‘58. Good thing, because it was worse than I thought. You can enlarge the side-by-side, old vs. new photos below to see for yourself:
Working on a 350 Chevy in an old truck’s engine bay is really about as easy as it gets. It’s usually just time consuming, but when the over-priced Snap-On junk breaks yet one more time, the process takes longer than it should.
I don’t really give two bits about the life-time replacement warranty and with the mobile tool vendors you’re really paying, in a large way, for that replacement service. It costs money to run those trucks, print those hats & calendars… and the dealer needs to make a living too. No harm in that.
It was all well and good when I worked at Salem County Harley Davidson and Larry Flintcraft would come by or be readily available by phone to repair whatever got broke. That guy had a phone in his truck before cell phones were in. But now that I’m home I’ve got to run out myself whenever something breaks… and it shouldn’t. I want my investment to be into the quality of the merchandise, not the service and the promo goods.
All I was doing with my 1/2″ drive wrench was taking off the driver’s side head-bolts (no cheater involved) when “Bang!” little pieces of The Amazing Exploding Wrench go flying all over my garage! They should list these things in the backs of comic books.
Be the First One on Your Block
Own
The Amazing Exploding Wrench
Fool Your Friends!
All I want is quality that will last. Funny thing, after the stars from my mashed thumbnail went away, I reached for the Craftsman that’s older than I am and finished pulling it apart.
Snap-On may have invented the little ball that snaps the socket onto the wrench (hence the name), but they haven’t done much good since then but build a decent tool box and collect payments. I’m done with ‘em.
I’ll get the valve seals replaced and put the rest of it back together tomorrow.
Ciao.
I gave up on Snap On years ago when my new 15MM socket broke in half. I found out that the lifetime warranty was referring to how long it took to chase down the Snap On guy. I bought a “no name” replacement that is still in my tool box.
PS. I have a couple of newly rebuilt and unemployed small block Chevy engines taking up space in my garage…..Just thought you might want to know.
Snap-On’s great as long as you know you’re paying for a service and the warranty is for “replacement”… which you’ll be doing quite frequently as long as you work somewhere the Snap-On man goes. I speak from experience when I say that the service varies quite considerably from dealer to dealer. Some are outstanding in their field and some should be standing out in a field.
As far as those Chivies are concerned, I’ve still got work for one of ‘em