Re: Probably My Dumbest Car Related Move
[Re: Mr PotatoHead]
#3171499
08/29/23 09:47 PM
08/29/23 09:47 PM
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,463 Michigan
MarkZ
Worthy
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Worthy
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,463
Michigan
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Was putting on a new intake manifold and solid valley tray on my car and the paper towel that I had blocking off the number 2 intake port came out. Said screw it and promptly dropped a 3/8" washer on the pan that bounced right into the port and sure enough the valve was open. Heard it plunk in the bottom of the cylinder. A Friday night job turned into a weekend job.
1987 Fifth Avenue - 512/518/D60
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Re: Probably My Dumbest Car Related Move
[Re: MarkZ]
#3171534
08/30/23 12:34 AM
08/30/23 12:34 AM
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Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 43,364 Bend,OR USA
Cab_Burge
I Win
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I Win
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 43,364
Bend,OR USA
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The first motor I built for a customer was a early (pre 1962) 383 motor in a 1963 dart that he had installed and made the motor run before I met him. It had the early cast iron 3 speed tranny with the ball and trunnion rear U joint, I sold him a later1964 model 727 and crankshaft out of a 1964 361 motor and was changing the crankshaft to make the later tranny work in his car, he wanted to watch me and I let him, he smoked and had drop ashes into the motor several times: rant: It was in Hesperia, CA in the winter when I was working on it at night after work in either late November or maybe early December in 1971, it was cold, in the low 40S F and he wanted to go inside my home and have a cup of coffee to warm up, I was done torquing with the first six rods when he started whining about going inside. When we came back out, he said we were done so he was going home, I screwed up and didn't retorque any of the rods after he left, let along finish torquing #7 and 8 rods We started the motor up and it ran about four minutes before one of the rod nuts unwound and allow that rod to separate from the crank and hit the block cracking it That was the last time I have allow anyone to watch me work on motors, tranny, rear ends or any other part of a car project other than at the tracks That is the worst thing I can remember screwing up on car projects, motors and so on at this time
Last edited by Cab_Burge; 08/30/23 12:36 AM.
Mr.Cab Racing and winning with Mopars since 1964. (Old F--t, Huh)
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Re: Probably My Dumbest Car Related Move
[Re: W.I.N. Racing]
#3171580
08/30/23 09:53 AM
08/30/23 09:53 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,769 Moved to N.E. Tennessee
GomangoCuda
master
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master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,769
Moved to N.E. Tennessee
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Using a screw driver to test for spark with an MSD ignition...My helper finally let go of the start switch cause her finger got tired....never since or again! Almost the same. I was checking for loose connections on an MSD 404 in a Hemi Super Stocker when the helper thought he should help and turned on the ignition switch. I straightened right up hitting my head hard on the hood. I fell to the floor twisting my knee, skinning my elbow, and hitting my head again on the concrete. The helpful assistant jumped out and ran around thinking he might have killed me. I was ok but I couldn't stand up for a while and my arm shook for at least 15 minutes. Capacitors can be very dangerous. I remember reading that those race Msd boxes could through a spark 7 inches through the air. I'm a believer.
In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice. In practice, there is.
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Re: Probably My Dumbest Car Related Move
[Re: GY3]
#3171625
08/30/23 12:54 PM
08/30/23 12:54 PM
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Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 345 Red Deer, Alberta
Greenwood
enthusiast
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enthusiast
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 345
Red Deer, Alberta
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Thinking I could get an 8 3/4 rearend to live behind a stroker bigblock with sticky tires. Hmmm...I tried to find the weak link in a 9" w/mini-spool, a good starting line, and fresh slicks. Turns out it's the mini-spool. Not a total loss. Between the slicks and the rear u-joint, I saved the housing, the brake rotors, and the u-joint yoke.
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Re: Probably My Dumbest Car Related Move
[Re: Greenwood]
#3171639
08/30/23 01:22 PM
08/30/23 01:22 PM
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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 19,699 north of coder
moparx
"Butt Crack Bob"
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"Butt Crack Bob"
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 19,699
north of coder
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probably my MOST dumbest of the dumbest moves involves looking at something under the hood of my old man's car. i wear glasses, and of course, i can't see with 'em, and i can't see without 'em.............. after only a couple of minutes, all was well with his car. shutting the hood, i start looking around for my specs. look and look, can't find 'em.......... finally, opening the hood, there they are.........mashed flat on top of the intake plenum. of course the old man busts out laughing ! it took me almost two hours to straighten them out enough to wear again. not bad for a couple minute under hood check out..................
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Re: Probably My Dumbest Car Related Move
[Re: parksr5]
#3171830
08/31/23 09:54 AM
08/31/23 09:54 AM
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Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 315 Northeast Indiana
73DAD
enthusiast
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enthusiast
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 315
Northeast Indiana
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I had just finished putting together a Gen 2 Hemi, first engine I'd built from a bare block by myself, and more money than I'd ever put into anything in my life. Everything had to be right the first time, as I couldn't afford to screw anything up. I got it in the car, put a little fuel in the carbs' throats, and tried to fire it up. It started... but was only running on two cylinders, like a shaking like a friggin Harley Davidson. Horrified, I shut it off, check things over, verify the distributor is in correct, and try again. Same result, over and over, until I foul out the plugs. Off I go to the parts store for a new set. Same results. Frustrated and discouraged, I quit for the day. The next day I have my brother look at it with a fresh set of eyes. He quickly points out that the spark plug wires are on the cap in the correct order... but reversed, so only two cylinders were firing in correct time.
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