The most stupid thing you've done while working on your car?
11-02-2007, 06:57 PM
#31
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Pulled the windshield wiper arm up to remove/replace the wiper blade - the blade was not completely seated in the hook and when I pulled it the wiper arm slipped free and in a spring-loaded split second, swung back down and cracked the windshield. Ouch...
11-02-2007, 07:16 PM
#32
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I don't have any of these stories for myself as my work is flawless, as most of you know. But I do remember....
From the manual:
M a i n B e a r i n g s No. 2 , 4 a n d 5
The bottom halves of the bearings are
designed without lubricating grooves. When
installing it is important, that bearing shells
w i t h lubricating grooves are placed in the
upper crankcase section and bearing shell
without lubricating grooves in the lower
crankcase section.
From the manual:
M a i n B e a r i n g s No. 2 , 4 a n d 5
The bottom halves of the bearings are
designed without lubricating grooves. When
installing it is important, that bearing shells
w i t h lubricating grooves are placed in the
upper crankcase section and bearing shell
without lubricating grooves in the lower
crankcase section.
Last edited by DDP; 11-03-2007 at 01:33 PM.
11-02-2007, 07:17 PM
#33
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I decided to change the trans fluid. I was not sure if I could get the bottle of new fluid high enough to have it pour in so i left the cap on the bottle stuck it in the fill hole and lifted up the bottle. It worked so I pulled out the bottle and off came the cap and into the tranny.
11-02-2007, 07:39 PM
#35
11-02-2007, 07:50 PM
#36
Rennlist Member
18 years old, first dumb thing, driving my 71 Audi 100 LS thru the sand and surf at the beach.
Second dumb thing followed shortly, I used my dad's torque wrench rebuilding above motor after it spun the crank bearings a couple of weeks after the trip to the beach. Found sand and salt in the oil pan. 250 miles after the rebuild it threw a rod thru the block where the fuel pump was mounted. Dial was worn on the torque wrench where it said inch-lbs instead of ft-lbs. Well, it was my first rebuild.
A few years later I swapped out the anemic 305 for a really nicely built up big valve 400 in my full size Chevy Blazer. My 17 year old nephew helped and we did the swap over a 4 day weekend. We threw old blankets over the fenders, etc. My nephew sat on the blanket covered battery most of the time he was helping under the hood. We found a battery out gasses all the time and those gasses go right thru blankets and pants. By the end of the day he had dime size holes in the seat of his pants and a itchy burning feeling where he sits. After he showered my mom buttered his butt to help with the chemical burn. He was Okay the next day, butt, it sure was funny.
Second dumb thing followed shortly, I used my dad's torque wrench rebuilding above motor after it spun the crank bearings a couple of weeks after the trip to the beach. Found sand and salt in the oil pan. 250 miles after the rebuild it threw a rod thru the block where the fuel pump was mounted. Dial was worn on the torque wrench where it said inch-lbs instead of ft-lbs. Well, it was my first rebuild.
A few years later I swapped out the anemic 305 for a really nicely built up big valve 400 in my full size Chevy Blazer. My 17 year old nephew helped and we did the swap over a 4 day weekend. We threw old blankets over the fenders, etc. My nephew sat on the blanket covered battery most of the time he was helping under the hood. We found a battery out gasses all the time and those gasses go right thru blankets and pants. By the end of the day he had dime size holes in the seat of his pants and a itchy burning feeling where he sits. After he showered my mom buttered his butt to help with the chemical burn. He was Okay the next day, butt, it sure was funny.
11-02-2007, 10:03 PM
#37
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well.. I have a set of those automatic ratcheting wrenches and I was taking a bolt off somewhere underneath the intake manifold.. Well I got the bolt half way out just to realize it was hitting another part of the engine and is too long, well thats all fine and dandy except the wrench does not go backwards.... 4 hours later and a dremel. I got the bolt off and the wrench back 
I also have closed my hood with tools under it many many times... in fact I have prob drivin around with tools under the hood
I also have closed my hood with tools under it many many times... in fact I have prob drivin around with tools under the hood
11-02-2007, 11:05 PM
#39
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I still have a 13mm wrench stuck under the windshield washer tank, i have not got around to removing it as it seems like a pain just to get the wrench.
on the plus side i found a 17mm snap on Allen head socket jammed up somewhere around the battery must of been from a PO
on the plus side i found a 17mm snap on Allen head socket jammed up somewhere around the battery must of been from a PO
11-03-2007, 12:48 AM
#41
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I don't have any of these stories for myself as my work is flawless, as most of you know. But I do remember....
From the manual:
M a i n B e a r i n g s No. 2 , 4 a n d 5
The bottom halves of the bearings are
designed without lubricating grooves. When
installing it is important, that bearing shells
w i t h lubricating grooves are placed in the
upper crankcase section and bearing shell
without lubricating grooves in the lower
crankcase section.
From the manual:
M a i n B e a r i n g s No. 2 , 4 a n d 5
The bottom halves of the bearings are
designed without lubricating grooves. When
installing it is important, that bearing shells
w i t h lubricating grooves are placed in the
upper crankcase section and bearing shell
without lubricating grooves in the lower
crankcase section.
11-03-2007, 01:02 AM
#42
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I'd say take a full shot of coolant in the face. I was underneath the car while it was on stands. I forgot what we were doing but, I decided to drain the coolant and flush the system. Un plugged it and got carried away with not keeping the tab on. It shot out about 3 feet and hit me square in the face.
Coolant don't taste good. Trust me.
Coolant don't taste good. Trust me.
11-03-2007, 08:18 AM
#43
Rennlist Member
I'd say take a full shot of coolant in the face. I was underneath the car while it was on stands. I forgot what we were doing but, I decided to drain the coolant and flush the system. Un plugged it and got carried away with not keeping the tab on. It shot out about 3 feet and hit me square in the face.
Coolant don't taste good. Trust me.
Coolant don't taste good. Trust me.
11-03-2007, 10:23 AM
#44
Banned
Hmmm... Interesting thread....
There is "one guy" I know - pretty well, in fact....
1) Welding in a floor pan, on his back. Any idea how fast denim in the crotch area ignites with those sparks? Any idea how difficult it is to see "flames" through a welding mask? Apparently - you smell the flames and wonder "WTH IS THAT????!!". His wife still laughs at him for that - and probably has kept his burned dungrees as a reminder....
2) Never start a car after putting the engine back together - UNTIL you check everything - twice. And always put the entire exhaust system back on.. Same guy - working in his "younger years" rebuilds a Triumph TR-6. Side draft carbs. Engine manifold right under side draft carbs. "Wonder if it will actually "turn over"? Gets in (fuel lines are not tightly clamped to carbs yet), engine turns over (YIPEE!!!!) - fuel line spurts off carb inlet, engine backfires (remember only the exhaust manifold is attached - NOT the exhaust pipes...). Some kind of flames erupt - and begin to spread as fuel is spurting... Turns off car - rolls that danged TR-6 out of the garage (to save the garage). It took the fire department about 5 minutes to arrive (we lived near the fire station - I mean "he" lived near the fire station....)
3) Starter problem on a VW bug.. Want to check and see if it's the solenoid or the cable? Great - do NOT do this... Take a screwdriver, leave car in gear - and turn key to the "on" position. Next crawl under car - in FRONT of left rear tire, with said screwdriver to cross the solenoid and see if it will crank... Don't look up as VW starts and rear tire runs over you - as car drives away without a driver. Fortunately - there were some hedges to slow it's progress, so after getting run over, you have a chance to catch it....
Or - these were the stories I was told....
JD
There is "one guy" I know - pretty well, in fact....
1) Welding in a floor pan, on his back. Any idea how fast denim in the crotch area ignites with those sparks? Any idea how difficult it is to see "flames" through a welding mask? Apparently - you smell the flames and wonder "WTH IS THAT????!!". His wife still laughs at him for that - and probably has kept his burned dungrees as a reminder....
2) Never start a car after putting the engine back together - UNTIL you check everything - twice. And always put the entire exhaust system back on.. Same guy - working in his "younger years" rebuilds a Triumph TR-6. Side draft carbs. Engine manifold right under side draft carbs. "Wonder if it will actually "turn over"? Gets in (fuel lines are not tightly clamped to carbs yet), engine turns over (YIPEE!!!!) - fuel line spurts off carb inlet, engine backfires (remember only the exhaust manifold is attached - NOT the exhaust pipes...). Some kind of flames erupt - and begin to spread as fuel is spurting... Turns off car - rolls that danged TR-6 out of the garage (to save the garage). It took the fire department about 5 minutes to arrive (we lived near the fire station - I mean "he" lived near the fire station....)
3) Starter problem on a VW bug.. Want to check and see if it's the solenoid or the cable? Great - do NOT do this... Take a screwdriver, leave car in gear - and turn key to the "on" position. Next crawl under car - in FRONT of left rear tire, with said screwdriver to cross the solenoid and see if it will crank... Don't look up as VW starts and rear tire runs over you - as car drives away without a driver. Fortunately - there were some hedges to slow it's progress, so after getting run over, you have a chance to catch it....
Or - these were the stories I was told....
JD
11-03-2007, 10:50 AM
#45
Rennlist Member
3) Starter problem on a VW bug.. Want to check and see if it's the solenoid or the cable? Great - do NOT do this... Take a screwdriver, leave car in gear - and turn key to the "on" position. Next crawl under car - in FRONT of left rear tire, with said screwdriver to cross the solenoid and see if it will crank... Don't look up as VW starts and rear tire runs over you - as car drives away without a driver. Fortunately - there were some hedges to slow it's progress, so after getting run over, you have a chance to catch it....
Or - these were the stories I was told....
JD
Or - these were the stories I was told....
JD