Not 2 cigarettes (although that would be impressive) 1 is a smoke, the other is a large toothpick. This man truly is the "Swiss Army Knife" of roadside mechanics!
On my way home from high school on the side of the road, I see this 57 Chevy jack up with some old guy under it. Well since I had a 57 and he had a 57, I figure that I might be of some help (yea right). He was under the car pretty much like the guy in the picture removing the oil pan. I asked him what was wrong, he replied that one of the rods was knocking and that he was on a long trip to the West coast (this all happen in NH). I looked at the license plate and sure enough it was a black CA plate. So I watch him for awhile as he pulled the pan, saving the oil in some old cooking pot that he had and pulled off one of the rod caps. I asked him if he wanted me to get him a new rod bearing and he said that he would make a shim out of the tin foil from a stick of gum, it was almost the right width. I watch him as he put together, added the oil from the pot, started it up, thank me for offering to help, and took off. He didn't give my 57 hardtop a second look.
The Jalopy Journal
