Most OEM stuff from the modern era is of good quality, with a few notable and well-known exceptions. Most of the bad press comes from incidental or anecdotal experiences, and a great deal of the rest is nothing more than unsubstantiated brand loyalty. I hate to sound cynical, but that's honestly the truth of it: most cars last a long time, given proper maintenance. As of 2024, the average lifespan of a car in the United States is between 150,000 and 200,000 miles, and it's still on the rise: that speaks volumes regarding the quality of construction in the modern era.
True, but also true of many other chassis/platforms.
That doesn't sound very fortunate, but as long as it happens in the driveway I'm okay with it.
I've seen evacuation systems; they're pretty trick, but I have no room or budget for one... especially not when I have two fundamental forces at my disposal: time and gravity. I don't usually spill anything when I do a change...but I also use lots of paper towels and a secondary drip tray.
Also, I'm now stocking Motorcraft parts, because Bad Life Choices.
Pictured: Better people have been fired for lesser crimes.
I know what you're thinking, and it's "Did that chimp buy a Ford?" And the answer to that is "No; the chimp
sold one...and that was stupid because it was a good truck." As for why I'm stocking Ford filters: they're the same price and of equivalent quality to Mopar filters, and they're usually more readily available...and they happen to fit the Jeep 4.0 that lives under the hood of the Wrong LJ. And that's also why I'm now keeping 10w-30 in the chemicals cabinet.
Pictured: It's the only thing in my shop that's actually organized.
Making room for another vehicle is a pain; I'm glad that we only have the two. I've had to do a lot of reorganizing and reprioritizing in order to figure out how best to accommodate two completely different chassis in my plans and within the small physical space that I have...but I've been mostly successful, so I'm almost ready to get started finishing off that seat bracket and a few other things.
Also: in case anyone happens to have one, I'm looking for an HVAC assembly/blower that'll fit my 73. I'm pretty sure that I only need the interior door from it, but I'll likely have to get the entire thing...so if you happen to have one, let me know!