I'm not looking forward to that...

[Taff]

...but it turned out to be a doddle!

 

Inspired by Inconsistant and his Porker's HGF, and on the back of my X1/9 window mech triumph, what tasks have you been dreading, only to discover it's and absolute piece of piss?

 

Come on, inspire us with your tales of when you surprised yourself.

[Parky]

Chevette steering rack. Was convinced it would be a bitch but was completely bolt off/ bolt on. Haynes had it as a four spanner job too!

 

Off topic I had a broken handle on a double glazed unit. Mrs P called a company who said the entire window would need stripping to replace so I said I would have a go. It looked as simple as two bolts but the glazier said that if you remove them, the entire lock assembly in the window falls out. So I had a go - removed bolts, took old handle off, offered up £6 replacement from screw fix and refitted bolts. That was it! Two minute job for which a "pro" wanted £200. I was undoing those screws as if there was a ton of gelignite in the window frame!

[I_am_Diesel]

Head gasket on my Td5. Easier than a 300Tdi. Hardest bit was actually lifting the head/manifold combo off and back on again, but a pal from work helped me, so happy days.

[sporty-shite]

Head off job after timing belt failure on Alfa 147. Just took my time and kept everything in order as I stripped it. Timing tools off eBay and job was a good one.

[mercrocker]

I put up an enormously heavy bookcase on a supporting wall in the dining room. I could hardly lift the bloody thing and the amount of wall bolts in it are unbelievable. I have not had a very good relationship with rawlbolts/hole drilling/line-y up shit so was dreading it. Getting the thing straight was also a problem. I simply piled it on furniture until it was the requisite height, drilled through the wooden back and then enlarged the holes for the anchor bolts. Sent Mrs Rocker to her Mum's for the afternoon just in case sweary throwy chimp came out but in the end I felt like those blokes on 1960s Practical Householder magazine covers who appear to building a conservatory in pipe and slippers.

[forddeliveryboy]

I reckon the less you look forward to doing something, the easier it is. Psychological, innit. Attractive young females help, too.

 

Nothing difficult if you have the right attitude and tools. Location can help too - I replaced a 2cv's rear axle at the side of the road for a stranded damsel once ( http://autoshite.com/topic/17792-stopped-for-a-cuppa-and-a-cambelt/ ) something which would fill me with dread usually. Best attempted with the body off, there are brake pipes curling around inside it and knocking off stubborn axle arms from the opposite side can be challenging.

[Station]

Just taking an engine out by doing it subframe off and engine out the bottom. You'd think this would be much trickier, but can't sum up how much easier this way is, I did two engine outs one after the other in an hour just using a trolley jack, and that was with mincing about with my mate who was watching.

[seth]

Oil and Filter changes. 

 

Having started off with old cars owning an A35 and then the Oxford I grew to hate this operation what with the replaceable element, bolt up the middle, O ring in the groove, oil everywhere faff it involves. Particularly with the Oxford as it is all above the crossmember so you can't really get at it from below either.  Every time I do a filter change on any car I've had since I don't look forward to it and then get it done in about 5 minutes and wonder what I was worrying about.  Got to do one on the Mirald soon.

[Station]

Just taking an engine out by doing it subframe off and engine out the bottom. You'd think this would be much trickier, but can't sum up how much easier this way is, I did two engine outs one after the other in an hour just using a trolley jack, and that was with mincing about with my mate who was watching.

[beko1987]

The merivas cambelt and zx rear bushes were a doddle in the end tbh!

 

What gripes my shit is when you spend 2 months worrying about a knocking noise, then finally fix it in 30 mins for £16.

 

When you look at the list of shit to do on your cars, tot up a reasonable £170 for the lot then realise you havent got that so need to prioritise parts and work... Im winning atm as my exhaust is probably close to falling off whereas the meriva just has a hole in the flexi section

[beko1987]

Most of that is in the wrong thread, apologies! Cba to change it though...

[Shep Shepherd]

The idea of replacing The Volvo's fuel filter gave me THE FEAR, so much so that I didn't change it until I'd owned the car for six years. It turned out to be a really easy job

[twosmoke300]

I get this with quite a few jobs esp ones that have been stripped waiting for parts for ages . Then you do it and think " oh what was I worried about "

[stuboy]

headlight bulbs etc 2001 yaris apparantly bumper off or small hands with discjointed fingers... 15mins all done,,,

[oldcars]

Checking he pressure on the front tyre of the Reliant. Did'nt involve lying on a petrol station fourcourt after all.

[Inspector Morose]

At this particular moment? Tappets on the P4. It'll be fine when I get started.

[rml2345]

Rear brakes on the Carisma gave me fear as any brake jobs on the Volvos turned to disaster.

Took an hour or so in the end.