So, I was installing a new distributor in one of my cars yesterday. Makes me feel better to roll the motor over to TDC, just in case something happens, I know where the motor is at. I stab the distributor in and turn it over. I hear a small noise but, nothing too concerning. I get out and put a little more advance in it and fire it up. Let it run for about 20 seconds, get out of the car and put a timing light on it to check quickly while letting it warm up. I look down and notice that my fan and clutch isn't turning, so; I quickly shut the car off.

Oh, gosh, I forgot to take the half inch ratchet and socket off the crank bolt before firing the car. The ratchet was stuck between two of my fan blades. I reach down and there is no bolt head where the crank bolt goes. At first, I'm thinking something snapped; I hope I didn't booger the crank up. I get down on the floor and find that the crank bolt simply backed out and is still in the socket, which is laying on the k member. No threads are messed up and there are no marks on any of the tools or really anything on the car. One fan blade is slightly bent and that's it. That could have been really bad.

Put the crank bolt back in, set the timing, and took the car out for a long drive; all is good.

This made me think, there has to be some good stories out there of bone headed moves.

I have a few more I can think of, when I worked for some shops. Guy lets original paint mid 80's Mustang down off the jack with the door open, and jack stand right under the door. It crunched the door pretty good. Another guy had a trunk lid open, when closing it, he forgot to remove the butane torch from the trunk gutter and the back window shattered. Prep guy in the paint shop backs a freshly painted van out of the building and backs into another freshly painted car. Guy reinstalling under hood mat on freshly painted, brand new hood; clips are too long and put out-ee dents in the hood.

Anyone care to share some of their not so bright moments or those of others you know?