Help me argue with these people!!!

[stevenf]

My dad has never been into vehicle repair. Changing brake pads pissess him off. My brother like to pretend he knows everything and when I physically prove him wrong, he still disagrees.
Ever since my dad saw the 8.8 in the driveway, he has been on me about "ruining a perfectly fine bronco". His theory is that it is going to ruin the transmission. He originally ask me what the axle was for and I told him to upgrade the Bronco with stonger parts to get ready for a V8 and bigger tires. He claims that the axle alone will ruin the transmission. I told him that the axle will actually be easier on the transmission and engine because of the better gear ratio. he returns with "Its a heavy duty axle and the transmission wont last 15 minutes".
Now, I am very new to all of this. I dont know a whole lot. My dad always turned down project opportunities. Now that I am old enough, I started tinkering with my old Bronco. How can you argue with stubborn people like this?

 

[mjonesjr]

show him my build thread; I bet he has a cow.

I have been running a 8.8 in my BII for almost 6 months without anything in my transmission being "ruined".

 

[stevenf]

Do I even have a point about the better gear ratio being less stress on the trans? After they see it coming together they will shut there mouth. Especially since its not my daily driver so it can be parked for long periods of time.

 

[mjonesjr]

yea. The lower axle ratio will allow for easier take off putting less stress on the transmission.

 

[Shran]

Don't get discouraged man. First off I'd let him know that the 8.8s came stock under the explorers and some rangers, so you're essentially just swapping in something stronger (more reliable too)

You are right about the gears too, all they could hurt is your gas mileage if the tires are too small for the gear ratio.

I had the same problems years ago with my parents. My dad was never really into cars so it was like pulling teeth to get him to let me modify MY cars. I always got the "oh, you'll ruin _____ if you do that." So eventually I just went with the **** it approach and just started doing stuff. He ended up liking all the mods I did. Now he enjoys the compliments he gets driving my old cars around.

 

[stevenf]

The thread was more of a vent. It just drives me nuts sometimes!
I put a 2" body lift on my 97 Jimmy. It started to have electrical problems and my dad would tell me everyday " You F'ed up something from that lift kit you put on". Then my brother would chime in " You dont know what the hell your doing with that stuff". Turns out it was a bad ignition switch and my alternator was only giving out 10amps. I knew this from the beginning because I have book knowledge of how everything work. I just dont have alot of hands on experience yet. This makes it the most frustrating because I dont know what to argue back.
Its definatly alot harder to have people like that while your living at home. I know he means well, but the earth could manage without his negative attitude toward EVERYTHING!

 

[Jimmeh]

That's why I love my dad. He never says anything about the mods I do to MY truck, and he actually knows his shit. He's worked on everything from a weed eater to a Skidsteer. He's always there to lend me a hand when I gotta work on my truck, too.

Also another nice thing about having sisters who don't know anything about cars. My oldest sister thought her transmission was going out in her old 4Runner because it wouldn't shift into OD, and it was revving really high. Turns out it's because she always drove it in 2 instead of D. The transmission DID end up going out. LOL!

 

[stevenf]

Your one of the lucky ones!

 

[rangerbum]

That's why I love my dad. He never says anything about the mods I do to MY truck, and he actually knows his shit. He's worked on everything from a weed eater to a Skidsteer. He's always there to lend me a hand when I gotta work on my truck, too.

Also another nice thing about having sisters who don't know anything about cars. My oldest sister thought her transmission was going out in her old 4Runner because it wouldn't shift into OD, and it was revving really high. Turns out it's because she always drove it in 2 instead of D. The transmission DID end up going out. LOL!

Jimmeh, i think our dads are different from non-montanan dads. Most of the adult guys here have had their share of builds and have learned, and can't take that from us. They know what an experience tinkering is first-hand, and wont deprive us of that.