I like going to the Millilani Checkers, they seems to have knowledgable staff who know how to work the computers and registers, not to mention, a few of them have wrench-turning skills, or so it seems. CarQuest seems okay, too, if really cluttered-looking.

I have zip experience with speed shops, I couldn't tell you the name of one if I tried, oh, exept for Ron's Performance off of Nimitz, can't forget that one.

 

Personally, I find checkers on south king st. to be potentially one of the worst places ever. NAPA people have way better knowledge of cars in general, and for the most part are willing to help, there is one guy at checkers on king st. though thats absolutely awesome, he went out of his way once or twice to install faulty batteries in customers cars since they didnt know how to.

About speed shops, I know nothing. Other than that place in Ala Moana, which used to sell some camaro theme'd things, but is now full import.

 

For parts I go anywhere, mostly the Internet unless it's generic, like alternators.

For advice and if I'm too lazy to to mechanical work, I go to Performance Autocare Center near Mililani, call 676-1077, ask for John Pinero, he belongs to both the Camaro and Corvette clubs here on island and had done a lot of Camaro autocrossing. Besides, he's trustworthy.

 

Yo Scott -- taking your advice about multimeters on sale, I hit Sears today and gosh, they were sold out. However, I browsed the other multimeters and bought a more expensive one with a "clamp" designed to take readings from wires without penetrating the insulation. This is very cool... Just snap that buggah on the wire and get a digital readout of AC/DC amps, voltage and continuity showing the actual resistance. It doesn't do tempurature or check for acne, but hey, I don't need those anyway. The sales guy said up to 30-days, whatever reason don't like it, just return for 100% money back. Oh, it was about $60...

 

So, how do you like that? That sounds like a very useful feature. Are the clamps fairly small to get into those hard-as-hell-to-reach areas?

I browsed through a couple the other day, and the clamps looked kind of bulky. Probably not the right ones. I was tempted to get another meter since a few were on sale, but I don't have enough money left. I think I'll have to make use of their '30-day money back' thing on about $150 worth of stuff that I "kinda need."

Scott

 

That's what I thought too... But the marketing hype on the box was misleading, enticing the buyer to believe the "clamp" would provide voltage data by induction. Not so -- only amps. So I returned it for an auto-ranging digital multimeter, about $35.

Heh, that 30-return policy is pretty good, especially for electronics tools.

 

Anyone know a good place to buy cheap load levelers/slings and engine stands? Checker keeps screwin' me and I still have my tpi on tires and phone books....

Other places I've called wants over $100 for their cheapest stand. It was hard enough movin' that thing with only one hook, but having no place to set it down properly really sucks.

I'm probably going to get the leveler from harbor freight or ebay if the s&h isn't too bad. I'm keeping my eyes open for used equipment also. Any advice is appreciated.

Scott

 

Ron's had a bunch of the levelers in the WD (water damage) section for what I thought was a steal, however the Pake in me didn't make me buy one! stew

 

there was a place off dillingham blvd... "blue-sky Hawaii" they sell those swap-meet tent things... but have engine stands cheap as well ($40) last I checked...