Welcome to the NEW & IMPROVED LDJ Auto Body's Car, Truck, & Motorcycle News!

September 1st Marks the First Day of Our New Format Here At LDJ Auto Body's Car, Truck, and Motorcycle News

Register Now to Make Sure You Don't Miss ANY of The Great New Features Starting Today!

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We decided that the official end of Summer would be the official start of the new and improved features being implemented here at LDJ Auto News!  We're excited about our new format and we're sure you'll enjoy all the great information that passes through our doors.  

Here's An Overview Of Our Newest Features

• You'll enjoy a host of new guest bloggers.  Each week, we'll have at least one new guest article from some of the most interesting and influential people in the auto industry. 

www.caruserreviews.com

• New car, truck, and motorcycle reviews from some of the best review sites on the Internet to help you find your new car, truck, or motorcycle.  We do the research so you don't have to.  From pricing to accessory packages, you'll love our new review section.

• New automotive product and accessory information.  Here you'll find information on the latest, greatest car, truck, and, motorcycle parts, accessories, and even clothing and gear.  Our bloggers will research and review the best products and find the best places to buy them.  We'll be updating our affiliate lists so you'll be able to find those products at the lowest prices possible right here in this blog.

• Live "chat" with one of our professional technicians here at LDJ Auto Body & Mechanical!  We're excited about this great new feature.  People will be able to chat live with Larry Blackan, Dee Blackman, Rich Downs, and more.  Information for the "do-it-yourself" project owner straight from the pros who do it for a living.  Get tips on choosing paint and materials for your project vehicle. Tips on bodywork, tools, proper procedures and more.  Get recommendations on what accessories are best for your particular application, and just about anything else in the automotive industry.  Live "chat" is active now.  Simply scroll down to the bottom right of the screen and click on "Contact Us" to initiate a live chat conversation.

• Each month we will be featuring a specific job or project.  Each feature project will include start to finish progress reports along with "how-to" articles, detailed pictures and descriptions of the work being done, and instructional videos.  There will also be a "discussion" forum regarding each project so you can ask questions and get exactly the information you need from our professional technicians.

• We will continue to provide you with a list of the best suppliers for ALL your automotive and motorcycle parts and accessories.   We strive to make your automotive accessory shopping experience a good one.  We monitor feedback on all of our affiliates and ensure that only the best suppliers with the best prices are listed here.  We'll continue to do our homework so you don't have to.  Our list of automotive specialists continues to grow, so be sure to check out our pages for the best bargains in town!

Next month, we are working on a "classifieds" page to allow our readers the ability to list their cars, truck, motorcycles, and related parts for sale to other readers.  Listing your vehicles and parts is free!  Reach thousands of buyers with similar interests to help you sell your items fast.

We hope you like our new format and we'd love to hear your opinions, good or bad, along with any ideas you might have for what you'd like to see here.  We look forward to seeing all of you here again and meeting all our new subscribers too!

Happy Motoring!

-Larry and Dee Blackman

LDJ Auto Body & Mechanical

Gibsonton, FL

More about → Welcome to the NEW & IMPROVED LDJ Auto Body's Car, Truck, & Motorcycle News!

Women Gearheads? Do They Really Exist?

I just finished reading a blog article on Jalopnik.com, one of my favorite blogs, entitled "10 Ways to Inspire Women Gearheads" and I started thinking, there must be more women "gearheads" out there!  But, where are they and why don't we see a lot more of them?


My own experience isn't that different than most, at least I don't think it is.  My appreciation for cars dates all the way back to my very early childhood.  I was the "first born" of the grandchildren and, I suppose, a little bit of a disappointment to my grandfather, who obviously, would have preferred a grandson.... But, being the trooper that he was, and not about to let a little thing like the "Y chromosome" put a damper in his day, grandpa just decided to make the best of it!  He raised his little "tomboy" just like any other grandfather would. Point being, I learned to fish, hunt, and last, but not least, turn a wrench with the best of them!  Yup, grandpa loved his cars, and, by the time I was old enough to get a grip on my Craftsman 1/4" socket, so did I...

I think the stigma that the only people who like to get greasy or who give a damn about the foot lbs. of torque being produced by the rumble under their hoods are men, has always been something that men have been trying to create!  In fact, I'm not so sure that the stigma ever really existed... Somehow, all the hype about cars and motors and horse-power and other automotive cliche have managed to escape the gender war.  Now, admittedly, most mechanical ads and advertisements for auto parts and such will usually show a picture of a "male" working on the car or motor involved,instead of a woman, but, the reason for that is quite different than the fact that women are not really interested in cars!

My thoughts on this are that men are afraid to let women into that elite society of beer drinking and garage socializing because if they let us into that little niche, they won't be able to use the "honey, I'm heading over to soandso's garage to work on his whatever" to escape without the little woman! Right? Seriousy, think about it. If the "little woman" was just as juberant about tweaking someone's "ported head intake to exhaust ratio", she just might want to go with him! Now, that could cause some real problems if hubby was just lookin to get out with the boys and throw down a couple beers while watching the "rear end" of some blonde walkin down the street while making immature gestures and whistling noises.....LOL! :)

I think a lot more women are into their cars more than we think.  Maybe not quite into the nitty, gritty of high performance tuning and things of that nature, but, definitely into the way their cars look AND drive.  I have a couple girlfriends that can change oil with the best of em' and do so on a regular basis!  Probably more from a "saving money" standpoint than a "like to get greasy just for the sake of it", but, still they change their own oil and check the fluids and whatever else one does when taking care of those types of chores.  And, of course, there are lots of women who shop the auto parts and accessory stores for neat little things to "spruce up" ol' Betsy and just make her "look nicer".   Most of these stores actually cater to women for some of these items and you'll find lots of floor mats, seat covers, steering wheel covers and a host of other accessories geared toward women nowadays!  I've even seen complete "make-over" kits for cars with hot pink, flower covered, prints and other "girlie" type designs.

So, don't underestimate the power of your woman, guys!  If you really want us to get out there and get dirty with you, all you have to do is ask!  I'd venture to guess that at least half of the women out there have more automobile knowledge than they let on.  I think many women would be more than happy to join you at your friend's garage and do a little beer drinking while watching your drunken friends try and make their Honda's go faster!

Let's hear from some of our readers out there!  Tell us what you think!  Let's hear from some women gearheads too!  I'll be there's a lot more women around that can appreciate the smell of a good, "high-octane" top fuel nitro mix.  Hmmm, that might even make a good perfume idea!

Happy Motoring!

Larry and Dee

More about → Women Gearheads? Do They Really Exist?

2013 Shelby GT 500 - Mustang Lovers And Ford Fans Gotta Smile At This One!

OK, so I don't usually do car reviews.  I leave that to the real experts like Motor Trend and Car and Driver and the other select few journalists that are way better equipped to bring you all that great stuff.  But, every now and then this little gear-head gal finds something that just gives me goosebumps and I just have to throw in my two-cents! 

Now, for those of you that know me, I'm kind of a Chevy gal.  Camaro gal to narrow it down a bit....So, you can see why Ford's announcement of the 2013 Shelby GT 500 caught my attention, and the attention of muscle car and speed freaks everywhere, for that matter!  Even this Chevy loving, Camaro preaching grease monkey has to admit that this thing is a beast! 

This stunningly beautiful monster has been affectionately labeled "the widow maker" by even the big boys in automobile journalism. The heart of this new Ford stunner is a 5.8-liter, aluminum-block V8, complete with a larger, more efficient supercharger. Nearly the entire powertrain has been upgraded for 2013, including a new cross-drilled block and heads, updated camshaft profiles, a carbon fiber driveshaft and upgraded clutch, transmission and axle. The cooling system has also been upgraded, and the new six-speed manual transmission now has a final drive ratio of 3.31-to-1 – optimized to handle the massive amounts of torque put down by the new engine.  What that boils down to was Ford's claim of 650 hp and somewhere around 190 mph out of the box!

What's even more amazing is that upon further testing, Ford was wrong!  Yup, a little further investigating turned up the fact that Ford was slightly off in it's calculations.  This little puppy was recently certified at 662 hp and 630 lb. ft. of torque that will take you to a speed of around 200 mph!  And, that's just the way it arrives in your driveway!  I've got chills just thinking about the ride in this one!  See Ray Wert's 4/27/12 article in jalopnik.com, 2013 Shelby GT500 Actually Hits 662 HP.

Now that I've slowed my heart down a little, here's the answer to the inevitable question....how much is this gonna set you back?  Ford just recenly released the pricing of this incredible engineering wonder. The base price is $54,200 for the standard model and the $59,995 for the convertible, but if you want to add the SVT Performance Package, it jumps up by another $3,495. This package includes: Torsen limited-slip differential, 19" forged-aluminum front wheels or 20" forged-aluminum rear wheels, Bilstein adjustable dampers, unique rear springs, a unique instrument cluster, and an SVT gear shift knob. A glass roof will add yet another $1,995, while an electronic package adds another $2,340.

OK, so you might have to take your banker out to dinner and break out a seriously good bottle of vino to gain his attention and beg for a slightly larger loan on this one.....but, what an investment! 

My question?  Will Chevrolet come back with a trump for this one?  C'mon guys!  The new  Camaro ZL1’s LSA 6.2L supercharged V-8 engine producing an estimated 550 HP and 550 lb.-ft. of torque is nothing to shake a stick at for sure.....but, alas, we have been "one up'd" yet again.  But, I will keep the faith that our friends at Chevrolet will not let this be the last word in the newly founded "muscle car" wars!  AND, according to my favorite writer's blog, Jalopnik.com and Ray Wert, the Z28 is still comming!  Or, is the new Camaro 1LE actually the Z28 in disguise?

My guess....my love of Chevy and my beloved Camaro will have the last word here!  And so we will wait and see just what comes of this situation.  I'm not taking off my black silk Chevy racing jacket just yet!

I'd really like to hear from our readers on this one.  Chevy and Ford fans alike must have some sort of opinion here....so send me your comments!  I hear tale that GM would love to hear about what you'd like the Z28 to be too!  Send us your ultimate Z28 configuration and what you'd like to see when, and if, one gets unveiled! 

Happy Motoring!

Larry and Dee

More about → 2013 Shelby GT 500 - Mustang Lovers And Ford Fans Gotta Smile At This One!

APRIL IS NATIONAL CAR CARE MONTH! What Does That Mean?

Did I mention to you yet that April is National Car Care Month?  My regular readers are shaking their heads in amazement!  By golly!  I don't think she did!  Well, fear not my fellow preventive maintenance enthusiasts, I did NOT forget, nor, did I plan on letting this month go by without at least bringing this to your attention, at least once!  The logo below is shown on all genuine "CCC" literature.  These guys have taken preventive maintenance to a new level!

So, here it is April 16th, and we're about half way through National Car Care Month.  I was actually waiting because I wanted to put together a fantastic, unbelievably great article that would not only bring this month to your attention, but, also make you want to do something about it!

I thought long and hard and I figured out that what I need to do to really get everyone revved up (yes, pun intended...) was to make it so easy, so unrealistically simplified, so non-thought provoking, that you would just take my advice and trot off to your local shop and have your car, truck, suv, van, or motorcycle serviced.  And, I did just that.  I have put together some things that will have you at your shop by the time you finish reading this.  And here's how.....

Inside a dirty motor, notice the
brown discoloration from "varnish"
from unchanged oil. All of this
can and will cause sticking valves,
bad gas milage and more!

Here's the top of a badly burned piston.  Also
caused by lack of oil and not changing the oil.
As with the "varnish" build up, this can cause
rough running and seriously bad gas milage.

First, I put together some pictures of what actually happens to the inside of your motor when you don't change the oil.  Yup, these are real, live pictures of just what happens to your poor motor when you simply don't take the time to care.  Now, I've also included some pictures of what happens to brakes when we don't change the brake pads regualrly.  Once again, these are pictures of rotors when brake wear down and score the rotors.  These are what's left to actually "stop" your vehicle when you're tooling down the highway at speeds sometimes in excess of 70 mph.  Not a very pretty picture at all!  Especially when you think that changing those brake pads is a very minimal expense compared to what you're going to  have to pay for if you can't "stop" your vehicle and even worse.

Set of seriously worn brake
pads. These worn pads will
cause the damage seen in the
lower photo of worn rotors.

Now, with all this being said, I also came up with a list of suggested preventive maintenance items and some materials that will help even the most mechanically challenged of us determine what needs to be done, when it needs to be done, and why!  It doesn't get any simpler than that.  Clicking here will take you to a nice, general service schedule that has everything you need to have done to your vehicle regularly, in color.....very cool!

Rotors worn down by
bad brake pads.

All of this damage can be avoided by simply maintaining your vehicle.  And, that maintenance is far less expensive than replacing the parts that break and the labor involved in repairing this damage.

I have included a link to National Care Care Association's booklet entitled "The Car Care Guide" written by the Car Care Council. It's a great guide for determining what things need to be maintained on your vehicle and how often they should be done.  It's a great basis for planning out your scheduled maintenance routine and ensuring that nothing slips by.
The booklet not only describes each routine maintenance point, but, also gives a detailed explanation of why the service needs to be done.  It's a great guide for both the average car owner and the do-it-yourself'er to use as a reference.

There are other things to mention here in addition to what needs to be done to properly care for a vehicle, and here are some ideas to help save you money when you do actually have the services rendered.

1. When changing your oil, look for sales that include oil, oil filter and air filter combined into a single package deal.  Most auto parts stores will rotate different manufacturer's products into deals on a regular basis.  It's much more cost effective to "bundle" these items than to pay for each one of them separately.  We recommend Monthly Oil Change Special (OCS) page from Advance Auto Parts.  Advance Auto Parts offers a monthly oil change special each month to save you money on a bundle of everything necessary for your oil change.
2. Purchase "lifetime warranty" brake pads.  Most manufacturer's offer lifetime warranties on their brake pads.  Simply keep the receipt from your purchase and when it's time to change the pads, go back to the auto parts dealer and bring them back the used pads to receive a refund on the purchase price of the pads.  Essentially, you can purchase only one set of pads for the entire time you own the vehicle!  You can click here to go to our 'Online Parts Store' and search right there for the brake pads you'll need! 
3. Buy your maintenance parts while they are on sale and keep a small inventory of the parts you will need to replace.  Hoses, belts, and even small replacement parts are good to have handy, like the idler pulley for your serpentine belt, windshield wipers, and fuses, etc.

Planning out your preventive maintenance will help you keep your vehicle in top running form for the life of your car, truck, suv, or van.  It will help maintain it's value too.  Not enough can be said for the value of these small items which in total add up to great value.

And, of course, there's no better place to save you money than our good friends at Advance Auto Parts.   

Seriously, I wouln't preach if I didn't care.....so, get get your car serviced and feel better about it!  It'll give you the satisfaction of knowing that you're vehicle is running great and you've taken all the little precautions to keep you and your family safe!

Happy Motoring!

More about → APRIL IS NATIONAL CAR CARE MONTH! What Does That Mean?

The Truth About Car Repair Costs, How Much Should You Be Paying?

Repairing your car, truck, suv, or van, is a necessity. And, unfortunately, things break. So, the bottom line is at some point in time, unless you are a mechanic or body man, you are going to have to pay to have your vehicle repaired.


There are some things you can do to keep those costs down. For starters, when it comes to mechanical items, the obvious thing is to keep your vehicle maintained. I can't preach enough about how important it is to keep you car in good mechanical health. Things like changing the oil, maintaining your brakes and keeping the engine tuned up are just no brainers in this economy.


Let's look at brakes for starters. Brake pads wear out. They are manufactured to do this. They are also necessary. Ask anyone who has abruptly met the owner of the vehicle in front of them because they didn't pay attention to the "squeak" that was coming from the brake pads. A change of those pads might very well have saved them the cost of the accident, the cost of the ticket, the cost of a lawyer, if one was necessary, and the list goes on and on. AFTER the accident is too late! Brake pads are not expensive. In fact, if you change them regularly, you can purchase a set of good brake pads from a parts supplier like Advance Auto Parts, that has a "lifetime warranty"! Yup, simply put, you can buy ONE SET OF BRAKE PADS and NEVER PAY FOR ANOTHER SET AGAIN! EVER! Now, you will have to pay for the labor to install them, but, the next thing we're going to talk about here is how to save on that cost too.





Many people wait till their vehicle is down and then start searching the Internet for places to fix it. They make 20 phone calls, tell their story 20 times and come up with the best price and then drive to the "winning" shop and get the repair work done. I suppose this might work for some people, but, why go thru all that work when you can save yourself the phone time AND have your vehicle repaired cost effectively by choosing a shop BEFORE you need the work done.







When you are putting together your preventive maintenance items is the time to choose your shop. NOT when your vehicle is down on the side of the road and you're in a panic to find someone to fix it. Having a car repair shop phone number ready to call is the way to go. Most shops welcome your maintenance business. If you consistently go to the same shop to have your work done, you'll build a relationship with the shop. They cherish your business and will go the extra nine yards to make sure they take care of their "regular" customers. Many shops will even give a discount to those that are regulars. When you're on the side of the road and your car is broken down or in an accident, it's comforting to know that the repair guy knows you and will go out of his way to ensure that you are taken care of right away.


So, let's get back to how to build that relationship. Start by checking out the shops closest to you. Talk to the owner. Find out if they have a preventive maintenance plan that you can purchase. If not, put together a list of the items you want to have completed and see if you can get a "deal" on having all the services provided at the same time. Most shops will work with you on this. Find the best price at a shop you are comfortable with and stay with them. After going there a few times and showing your loyalty, the rest will follow.

Putting together your list of maintenance items really depends on the type of vehicle you're dealing with. Check your owner's manual for manufacturer's suggested time frames on the usual items like changing your oil, tuning up the vehicle, belt replacement, and so on. If your manual doesn't list these items, call a dealer and find out the recommended times.


If your vehicle hasn't been maintained for some time, you'll want to start with the obvious. Change the oil. If you want to save yourself some gas money, add a tune up to the list. Changing the plugs and wires will gain you some added mileage and ensure that your engine is running smoothly and efficiently. Most cars will go a year on a tune up with no problem. The next thing to put on the list is brakes. Have them checked at first. Have the mechanic tell you what kind of mileage he thinks are left on your pads and make a decision as to whether you should change them now or wait. Keeping these items together is important too, so, if the pads are worn at all, it's a good idea to have them done the first time to get everything done at one time and start your maintenance routine properly. Choose a good quality brake pad with a lifetime warranty and keep the receipt. When the pads wear down, go back to your supplier and simply get a new set. It's a one time fee that will save you a ton of money over the course of your vehicle's lifetime.


Have your mechanic check the belts. Belts are one thing that will definitely put your vehicle on the side of the road if they break, so keeping them in good condition is one of the most important aspects of a good preventive maintenance plan. If you have a serpentine belt, and most newer vehicle's do, it is well worth the cost of the belt to replace it. That one belt controls many items in your vehicle including the water pump and power steering pump. To get a good start on your maintenance program, include replacing this belt.


Lastly, have your hoses and any pulleys checked for wear. Replace any worn hoses or noisy bearings and pulleys.


The first time you have your preventive maintenance work done should include everything possible. This way, you can insure that you have covered all of the things that could come up and give you a good starting point to schedule the rest of your maintenance on. All of the items we have mentioned here include items surrounding or included with the systems that they are associated with. For instance, when changing the brake pads, your technician will get a good look at your suspension and alert you to anything you should be aware of there. When changing the serpentine, many of the components associated with that system will be checked at the same time, like the water pump and power steering pump and so on.


Now that you've gotten your vehicle maintained, the key is to keep it that way. You will have accomplished two things here. You can drive your vehicle worry free, knowing that the usual suspects are new and ready to keep your vehicle running. And 2., you have established a relationship with a shop that will serve you well for a long time to come.


Create a maintenance schedule and stick with it. The result will be worry free driving for you and your family and a vehicle that will run well and be worth more when it comes time to sell it. Both of which are well worth the cost of maintaining the second largest investment most of us own, second to our homes.


Happy motoring!


Larry and Dee Blackman
LDJ Auto Body
ldjautobody@yahoo.com
(813) 644-4497

More about → The Truth About Car Repair Costs, How Much Should You Be Paying?

Great Car, Truck, and Motorcycle Sites We Love and Want to Share

I love what I do!  Yup, as a woman in the auto repair industry, I genuinely love writing about cars and trucks and neat stuff to help and inform our readers about stuff that is either interesting, helpful, or, informative about cars, trucks, motorcycles and just about anything else that rocks, rolls, stops or goes!  In doing research, I have my favorite sites to check with and I thought it would be nice to pass along some of those sites to you, my Car and Motorcycle Maintenance readers!

Now, I have a bunch of favorite places on the net that I visit regularly and the list is huge, so I'm not going to try and list them all at one time.  Instead, I thought I'd start a new regular feature here and bring them to you once a week.  They are all great sites and each one has it's own special charm that keeps me comming back.

One such site is www.Jalopnik.com.  The writers at Jalopnik offer great all around content.  You'll never be disappointed here, whether you are looking for reviews of cars, trucks, motorcycles and what have you.  Not only are the articles packed full of great information, but, you will always find funny and interesting things here that you won't find anywhere else.  One of the features I love at Jalopnik.com is the "10 Best" series of articles found here regularly.  A consistent list of the "10 Best" of whatever the flavor of the day might be!  Yesterday's "10 Best" featured "Ten Things Every Non-Gearhead Needs To Know About Their Car".   Here's a perfect example of the great writing you'll find at this site. 

Now, those of you who know me are already laughing and thinking, yup, she would pick something that revolves around here favorite subject.....maintenance!  OK, I know I do tend to preach a lot about my favorite topic, but, for the most part, I try and bring your attention to those things that might not be as much fun as you'd like, but, somebody has to do it, and, I've always been kind of the "motherly" type!  This sites "10 Best", however, will not only keep you laughing, but, also has some realistic concepts and info that will teach you something too. 

See the little arrow???

For instance, No. 10 on the list taught me that that little arrow on your fuel gauge points to the side that your fuel door is on!  Now how handy is that little tidbit!?  Something that, as a professional in this industry, I should have already known....but, learned here today. 

There is also the lesson to be learned in No. 8.  Knowing whether your vehicle is front-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive, or, all-wheel-drive is key!  How embarrasing would it be to be caught on video putting your snow chains on the wrong set of wheels?  Of course, here in sunny Florida, we don't worry about things like that, and, when we do, we simply put one on the front and one on the rear to make sure.....(Yup, you might be a red-neck!)  But, check out the video anyway, it's good for a chuckle or two!  And, for all our "towing company" owner readers, that video was shot in Seattle, WA, where you just might want to open the new branch of your towing company!

If it weren't for the signage, I'd suspect this was done right here in Gibosnton!

No. 7 is a perfect example of why I preach over and over again about making sure you know exactly where your spare tire and jack are located.....  Now, what I really want to know is how one of our good ol' southern boys made it all the way to Japan, (take note of the signage), to help this guy get that truck up on those "homemade, red-neck style" jack stands?  Someone needs to let Jeff Foxworthy know about this one and I'll let him do the honors!

More than just a pretty cluster!

No. 6 is just good sense.  Knowing what all the lights and doo-dads on your dash are for is necessary!  They are there for a reason.  But, as the writers at Jalopnik have dually noted, they can be confusing!  So follow those great suggestions and get out the manual for your vehicle and learn what they mean.  There will be a "pop-quiz" on Friday!

No. 5 makes me feel better about all my preaching about preventative maintenance and how important stuff like that is!  Although I might have put it a little higher up on my list, jumper cables and how to use them is definitely something that we should be teaching our kids, right after we get done reading the "how to" instructions located....here!  (Always a good idea to brush up on something before we go teaching someone else how to do it, right?)

No. 4 has me loving the great writers at Jalopnik even more!  Here they go again with making me feel proud about my obsession with maintenance and learning things about keeping your car safe!  See, I'm not the only one who knows that this stuff is important and will come in handy one day!  We, as vehicle owners, need to know this stuff!  So read this one and use the info to keep you and your family safe.  By the way, this really is a good way to check the tread on your tires.  Let's just thank our lucky starts that good 'ol Abe had a full head of hair when they decided to snap that picture that's made him so famous!

No. 3 here is related to No. 4 as it has to do with tires.  And, yet again, I get to have that warm fuzzy feeling knowing that my PM info is thought to be useful by yet another author of vehicular knowledge! Making sure your tire pressure is accurate can save you money! And, now that I've got your attention by lighting up your sense of financial security....it's also necessary to keep you safe!  Tire pressure has everything to do with keeping as much of the tire surface connected to the road which is what keeps you in control.  So, take note of the info here and use it!  You'll save money at the pump and ensure your vehicle has every bit of needed traction when you need it!

No. 2. is pretty self explanatory.  But, remember the name of the article?  Not everyone knows about this key to keeping your car running smoothly!  So, follow the information here to check your oil regularly.  You can thank me later for my preaching! 

Schedule that maintenance appointment now!  We miss ya!

No. 1!  So, by this time, most of you have figured out that I've taken the time here to drive home, once again, the importance of keeping your car, truck, or motorcycle healthy!  Yes, I snuck it in by disguising this as a fun, humor filled article to give you a couple laughs, and, drive home the point, once again, that a well maintained car is a healthy car!  Follow these instructions and we probably won't be seeing much of each other!  But, it's not that we don't want to see you, we love talking with our customers. It's just that we really do care and want to see you have fun with your vehicles and not be spending money for no reason!  Parts need to be changed at one time or another just because they wear out!  So, we'll be seeing each other regardless!  I just like seeing our customers save money where possible.....take this last point to heart then.  Schedule your maintenance when it's recommended.  Those guys at the manufacturer's don't just write those manuals for fun, ike I do!  There is a reason for them.

Well, here's a big THANK YOU to the writers at www.Jalopnik.com!  To all our regualr readers, you need to subscribe to this great site!  You'll love the articles, news, reviews and much more.  It's one of my personal, regular reads and I want to share it with you.  So sign up now, you won't be disappointed.

Now, whether you do your maintenance yourself, or, you come and see us, I want you to save as much money as possible while maintaining your car.  Use the link here to find the absolute best prices on everything you'll need to keep your vehicle healthy!  I've told you time and time again, I'll do the homework for you when it comes to finding the best prices on parts!  Advance Auto Parts always has great deals to save you money when repairing or maintaining your car, truck, suv, van, or motorcycle!  By going to our online parts directory, you'll fnd coupons, deals and more to help you get everything you need.  Use the search box on our page to look up exactly what you need.




Don't forget, our local customers here at LDJ Auto can use our "labor only" specials and supply the parts yourself to save money on your maintenance and repairs.  We love giving our customers the best deals we can and cutting out the middle man in the parts category is a great way to start saving.

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Proof That Vehicle Maintenance Provides Longevity to ANY Vehicle.

Well, here it is!  The proof I've been waiting for.  I really hate using the words, "I told you so", but, sometimes, even I have to make exceptions.  And, this morning, while going through my mail, I came across an article that I just had to share with you. 

(photo credit, Rachel Veitch)

You all know I preach about vehicle maintenance all the time.  I know I sometimes sound like a "mother hen" and I bet a lot of you feel sympathy for my kids because you know that owning a vehicle in my presence would be a constant nagging voice asking over and over again, "have you checked your oil recently" or the "by the way, when was the last time you had your brake pads changed"?  AND, you're probably right.  Having a mom and dad who fix cars for a living is a constant barage of maintenance goodies that is never ending.  But, all this "hype" about taking care of your vehicle does pay off!  Take Rachel Veitch, for example.  This 93-year old woman from Florida, just retired her 1964 Mercury Comet Caliente with 576,000 mile on it!  Yup, you read it right and there's no "typo" in that last sentence.  576,000 miles is a lot of miles!  And, she credits the incredible longevity of her car to, you guessed it, preventative maintenance.

According to Veitch, she purchased her car in 1964, for a total of $3,289 dollars.  And, now, 58 years later, she has retired her "chariot", as she put it.  You can read the full article, "93-year-old Florida Woman Retires Her ’64 Mercury after 576,000 Miles on the Road",  which was posted by "FoxNews.com", and written by Eric Pfeiffer.  Now, the only reason Veitch is retiring the vehicle is because she is now legally blind and she feels that it is time for her to stop driving. 

"I am legally blind, so I can no longer drive my lovely Chariot," Veitch told FoxNews.com. "They don't have to take it away, I would not dream of driving that car again." The car itself is fine, but Veitch has macular degeneration in both her eyes, making her legally blind. After running a red light in March, she decided to voluntarily give up the vehicle she's been driving since Lyndon Johnson occupied the White House.

"I have taken it in stride," she said. "I don't have cancer, I don't have Lou Gehrig's disease. I am lucky."

She ran a red light and the 93-year old, who obviously has all her faculties in tact, made the wise decision to hang up her car keys.  We all get old, it's a fact we all have to deal with, and Rachel, I commend you for your decision. 

But, getting back to my "I told you so" comment, "She credits the longevity to a "near-obsessive" approach to the car's maintenance. "I've never been a destructive person and I've just taken care of everything, except my husbands," she told FoxNews."  So, there it is, plain and simple and comming from the mouth of a woman who just appeared on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" for racking up over a half a million miles on her car!  And, the 93-year old Veitch is now offering her car for sale to Jay Leno!  Kudos to you, Rachel, you are not only smart in my eyes for taking care of your car, but you are also a "financial wizard"!  There was no mention of how much Mr. Leno, a huge car afficianado, was willing to pay for the vehicle, but, my guess is, it's more than $3,289 dollars! 

So, here you have it, ladies and gentlemen.  Take care of your car and it will take care of you!  Not only did Rachel Veitch make sure she did her maintenance, but, she also kept record of it.  According to the article, "Even without the world record, Vietch is fond of noting that the car has outlasted three marriages. Mechanically, it's worn through three sets of shocks, 18 batteries and eight mufflers."  Now, that really is commendable!  How many times have I told you that keeping track of your vehicle's maintenace and service will get you top dollar when you go to sell it!  See, "I told you so.....AGAIN!" LOL

So, the moral of this story is....preventative maintenance is important.  Making sure the little things your car needs are taken care of insures that you will get much enjoyment our of your vehicle, and it will give you lot's more years of safe and enjoyable service!  It's just that simple.

Preventative maintenance is not that expensive.  And the money you spend on maintaining your vehicle is definitely less than the money you'd spend repairing major problems that could have been avoided.  So, listen to this "mother hen" and....get out there and change the oil, check your brakes, check the fluids, lube your car, check the tire inflation, and maybe even tune it up!  Ask Rachel Veitch when she gets back from depositing that check from Jay Leno, about what she thinks of preventative maintenance?  I bet she'll agree with me!

And now, to get you started....check out these great deals from Advance Auto Parts.  You'll find some great savings to get you started on all your preventative maintenanace needs.  They have great prices on all your auto parts and accessories.  You can also go to our ONLINE PARTS STORE, to look up all the parts you'll need.  You'll find more great savings and coupons there too!  Remember, April is National Car Care Month!  There's no better time than now to start getting your car ready for the Summer Season.

Happy Motoring (or maintenancing?) Ok, I know, that was really bad! LOL

More about → Proof That Vehicle Maintenance Provides Longevity to ANY Vehicle.

Advance Auto Parts Still Has Lowest Prices On Auto Parts and Accessories!

Advance Auto Parts

The One Day Sale is over, but, you can still take advantage of Advance Auto Parts low, low prices!

April is National Car Care Month! 

To help you find everything you need to get your vehicles ready for Summer, LDJ's Online Store has put everthing you need in one convenient space, to make it easier than ever to do your vehicle parts, maintenance and accessory shopping.
 

Buy direct from Advance Auto Parts and save big money!  As always, LDJ's Online Auto Parts Store offers you "direct to the supplier savings"!  No mark-ups, no middle man.  You get the great prices you deserve and we put it all right here, so you can shop in the comfort of knowing that LDJ Auto has found the absolute, lowest prices and the very best deals out there, to make sure you get the lowest prices on the Internet.

Click on a link to go directly to the Advance Auto Parts Store, or, we've even listed the entire store inventory right here, so you don't even have to leave the page!  Use the promo codes listed and get the most unbelievalbe savings on everything automotive.  Use the search box below to find your parts by name, brand, or category!  It doesn't get any easier than this!  AND, you can order your parts online, and, have them ready for pick-up at your local Advance Auto Parts, so you don't have to wait for them to ship!  That's right!  Order today! Pick up today!  Install today!

Have questions about your parts or accessories? Mobile phone users, simply click on the link here to call and speak directly to one of Advance Auto's friendly AND knowledgeable staff to ensure you get exactly what you need!  Then simply have them get it ready for you to pick up at one of Advance Auto's 3,400 convenient local stores!

So, what are you waiting for?  Start shopping and start saving NOW! 

More about → Advance Auto Parts Still Has Lowest Prices On Auto Parts and Accessories!

Advance Auto Parts Still Has Lowest Prices On Auto Parts and Accessories!

Advance Auto Parts

The One Day Sale is over, but, you can still take advantage of Advance Auto Parts low, low prices!

April is National Car Care Month! 

To help you find everything you need to get your vehicles ready for Summer, LDJ's Online Store has put everthing you need in one convenient space, to make it easier than ever to do your vehicle parts, maintenance and accessory shopping.
 

Buy direct from Advance Auto Parts and save big money!  As always, LDJ's Online Auto Parts Store offers you "direct to the supplier savings"!  No mark-ups, no middle man.  You get the great prices you deserve and we put it all right here, so you can shop in the comfort of knowing that LDJ Auto has found the absolute, lowest prices and the very best deals out there, to make sure you get the lowest prices on the Internet.

Click on a link to go directly to the Advance Auto Parts Store, or, we've even listed the entire store inventory right here, so you don't even have to leave the page!  Use the promo codes listed and get the most unbelievalbe savings on everything automotive.  Use the search box below to find your parts by name, brand, or category!  It doesn't get any easier than this!  AND, you can order your parts online, and, have them ready for pick-up at your local Advance Auto Parts, so you don't have to wait for them to ship!  That's right!  Order today! Pick up today!  Install today!

Have questions about your parts or accessories? Mobile phone users, simply click on the link here to call and speak directly to one of Advance Auto's friendly AND knowledgeable staff to ensure you get exactly what you need!  Then simply have them get it ready for you to pick up at one of Advance Auto's 3,400 convenient local stores!

So, what are you waiting for?  Start shopping and start saving NOW! 

More about → Advance Auto Parts Still Has Lowest Prices On Auto Parts and Accessories!

Exciting News from Advance Auto Parts! Find Unbelievable Offers Here!

LDJ Auto Body's Car, Truck and Motorcycle News ALWAYS works hard to bring you the BEST, unbeatlable offers anywhere and when I saw this one, I had to stop what I was doing and get it up here RIGHT NOW!

Advance Auto Parts is now offering the following!  And, trust me, you won't beat this one ANYWHERE!

From now until March 28th.....   Save $15 off orders of $40 or more with code BIG1540 at AdvanceAutoParts.com!! Offer ends 3/28!  Get that undone maintenance out of the way NOW and SAVE BIG DOLLARS!

Also, check this one out!  Offer only on till March 31st!  So what are you waiting for???

Save 15% Off Your AdvanceAutoParts.com purchase with code AAP15OFF (exp. 3/31/12)

And for the GRAND FINALE!  Just when you thought it couldn't get any better, here's one that'll knock your socks off!

Take $10 off $30, $20 off $50 and $30 off $100 orders at AdvanceAutoParts.com with code A123 (exp. 3/31/12)

This last one is only good till March 31st also, but, WOW $30 off of a $100 dollar order???  That's a deal no one in their right mind wouldn't consider in today's economy!  These offers are only available on line and only available to Advance Auto affiliates! 

Don't spend more money than you have to!  These prices won't last, so make sure you check to see WHAT YOU NEED, WHEN YOU NEED IT, and for goodness sake, don't wait till its over!  These prices CAN'T last!  We couldn't believe our eyes when WE saw them.  They are actually better than the wholesale prices we buy OUR parts for!

Thanks for checking out LDJ Auto Body's Car, Truck, and Motorcycle News!  And remember, these prices are ONLY AVAILABLE HERE!  You won't find them at the store or on any other sites!

Good wrenching to all our do-it-yourselfer's out there!  And remember, LDJ Auto Body and Custom Shop now offers "labor only" estimates for our customers!  So, not only are we "open late", we also "open early", we have early bird drop off service AND late pick ups AND we're OPEN WEEKENDS!

YUP, you read that right!  LDJ Auto is now open from 8:00 AM till 5:00 PM on Saturdays AND we're OPEN SUNDAYS!  Our Sunday schedule is from 8:30 AM till 3:00 PM and we'll stay a little late to help our loyal customers get their work done on the weekend so you don't have to take time off during the week!

ADVANCE AUTO PARTS and LDJ AUTO BODY AND MECHANICAL SHOP!  The answer to your vehicle maintenance and repair problems NOW 7 DAYS a week!  We ARE your "ONE STOP SHOP FOR EVERYTHING AUTOMOTIVE" now everyday of the week!

Happy shopping!

Larry and Dee Blackman
LDJ AUTO BODY AND MECHANICAL
ldjautobody@yahoo.com
(813) 644-4497 to speak with a technician 24/7....even if you just have a question....we've got the answer!

More about → Exciting News from Advance Auto Parts! Find Unbelievable Offers Here!