Public locations to change a car engine
Discussion
You need a nice quiet multistory at this time of year. Preferably an enclosed one to be out of the wind. Find a quiet corner of a level near the top. Drive in to the space so you're working away from the traffic and ideally get a friend with an SUV/MPV/van to park next to you. (I am not taking any further questions about any experience in this field.)
If you are very lucky one of those rent-a-ramp type places might be near you, but I think there's only about 3 left in the country now!
If you are very lucky one of those rent-a-ramp type places might be near you, but I think there's only about 3 left in the country now!
fooman said:
I changed a wheel in a work carpark once, which involved leaving car on bricks for a couple of hours. Got a right roasting from security.
The only thing that is remarkable about this, is that ‘security’ didn’t like it. In the 21st century, a lack of spare wheels seems to have (fortunately) gone hand in hand with much greater tyre reliability.
Go back just a little bit further and you will find a whole generation who thought nothing of changing wheels at work, and in many other less satisfactory locations…
I think it does need to be recognised that changing an engine 30 years ago was a very much simpler job that replacing one today!
People do get really pissy about you working on cars in public car parks or on the road now, busybody tossers can't stand anything different to their grey little lives of television and facebook, but I really like the multistory suggestion that's very crafty.
People do get really pissy about you working on cars in public car parks or on the road now, busybody tossers can't stand anything different to their grey little lives of television and facebook, but I really like the multistory suggestion that's very crafty.
GeniusOfLove said:
I think it does need to be recognised that changing an engine 30 years ago was a very much simpler job that replacing one today!
People do get really pissy about you working on cars in public car parks or on the road now, busybody tossers can't stand anything different to their grey little lives of television and facebook, but I really like the multistory suggestion that's very crafty.
IndeedPeople do get really pissy about you working on cars in public car parks or on the road now, busybody tossers can't stand anything different to their grey little lives of television and facebook, but I really like the multistory suggestion that's very crafty.
Seeing someone washing their own car is a rarity!
GeniusOfLove said:
I think it does need to be recognised that changing an engine 30 years ago was a very much simpler job that replacing one today!
People do get really pissy about you working on cars in public car parks or on the road now, busybody tossers can't stand anything different to their grey little lives of television and facebook, but I really like the multistory suggestion that's very crafty.
An Austin 2200 engine and box out wasn't a simple or light job, but yes back in RWD days it wasn't unreasonable to have an engine out in under an hour.People do get really pissy about you working on cars in public car parks or on the road now, busybody tossers can't stand anything different to their grey little lives of television and facebook, but I really like the multistory suggestion that's very crafty.
Just along the road 2 Polish blokes were renting, no driveway they often did work on their cars on the road outside, heard several derogatory comments, all from people who i've never seen even wash their cars let alone check the oil, the lads never made a mess always left the road clean afterwards, good luck to them was my answer.
In the past I've done a bit of work on my cars in the road or in a public car park. Never an engine swap, but clutch jobs, rear axle replacements etc.
A few snooty looks from the high and mighty but never any bother. What I do remember vividly is being absolute chilled to the bone, and the feeling of gravel/asphalt chippings always getting stuck to me/everything. To be fair that also applies when I've done work on my car on my driveways!
One thing not mentioned above is those large laybys you get on A roads (some off single carriageways, some off dual carriageways). I mean the ones which are a good 8-9m wide, and probably 50m long. Not necessarily by choice, but I have in the past done work in those and found it really good. It's out of the way enough, flat enough, you can park two cars as required to get a safe space etc. I'd still hesitate to do an engine swap unless it was my old Mini A-Series. Definitely wouldn't want to start that kind of job if you can't finish it!
Multistorey is a great shout, esp. if their T&C's don't mention anything. Just claim it's broken down and you're carrying out a repair. I'd be tempted to wear a high viz jacket so it looks like a repair rather than you trying to steal something.
Also just a small point on multistories... if there's any chance of major oil or fuel spills, I'd avoid it. They can completely ruin the entire top surface of the carpark and sometimes require pretty major resurfacing.
A few snooty looks from the high and mighty but never any bother. What I do remember vividly is being absolute chilled to the bone, and the feeling of gravel/asphalt chippings always getting stuck to me/everything. To be fair that also applies when I've done work on my car on my driveways!
One thing not mentioned above is those large laybys you get on A roads (some off single carriageways, some off dual carriageways). I mean the ones which are a good 8-9m wide, and probably 50m long. Not necessarily by choice, but I have in the past done work in those and found it really good. It's out of the way enough, flat enough, you can park two cars as required to get a safe space etc. I'd still hesitate to do an engine swap unless it was my old Mini A-Series. Definitely wouldn't want to start that kind of job if you can't finish it!
Multistorey is a great shout, esp. if their T&C's don't mention anything. Just claim it's broken down and you're carrying out a repair. I'd be tempted to wear a high viz jacket so it looks like a repair rather than you trying to steal something.
Also just a small point on multistories... if there's any chance of major oil or fuel spills, I'd avoid it. They can completely ruin the entire top surface of the carpark and sometimes require pretty major resurfacing.
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