Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community - View Single Post - What the dumbest car repair mistake you've made?

ssander9 · 08-31-2003, 07:44 AM

I have been building engines and drag racing since 1973. I have done alot of very stupid things that have cost me alot money.

The worst mistake out of all these things was having an auto accident and letting my wife change the oil on her new car. She tightened the drain plug instead of loosening, stripped it out and instead of fessing up she mixed some of my JB Weld, put it on the drain plug and shoved it back in. Never told me about it and somehow it never leaked. The next time I went to change the oil I looked at the plug and said WTF!! I ended up having to replace the oil pan since the car was still in warranty and I didn't want to take it to the dealer someday and have to explain what happened.

Built a 426 cubic inch smallblock with all the good parts, Brodix heads, roller, 1050 Dominator, alum rods, steal crank. Was intending to put it in my Super Gas Vega. There was a Super Chevy Show coming up in a couple of weeks and I wanted to race the Vega in Pro and the take my 1972 Nova Show Car to race in street class. Since the Vega didn't have any engine problems I decided to take the almost stock 406 out of the Nova and put the 426 in. It was the most awesome sounding street car you ever heard (forget to say during the engine swap I put a new TCI 4000 rpm stall behind the engine). I eased it on the trailor after a short test drive around the block to check for leaks.

Got to the track, passed tech with both cars and took the nova to the staging lanes for a pass. Car had entirely too much power for street tires but still tripped the lights at 11.21 just pushing it hard enough to keep the tires under it.
Borrowed some 8" slicks from a buddy at the track, went back up and did a good burnout.
When I hammered it this time it stood straight up on the bumper and started easing it's way over to the wall with the wheels in the air...I thought hell, it will never make it to the wall before the front end comes down so I stayed in it. Grazed the wall about 110 feet out with the car still standing straight up. When I got off the gas it hit the ground so hard it broke the left front tie rod end. smashed a brand new set of custom made headers and the tach hit the windshield so hard it broke it. From hitting the wall I smashed the left rear quarter panel in above the rear wheel and bent the left side of the rear bumper. It's like anything else, when you're not scared anymore you can get hurt...but I was okay.

Note: After alot of suspension mods I did get the car to make some good passes at WOT to a best ET of 9.88 at 139 mph in a 3100 pound Nova without nitrous. This same engine in my Vega (2400 lbs at the time) went 9.30's at 144 mph.

If you want to hear some more of my stupid things let me know.

08-31-2003, 07:44 AM	#50 (permalink)
ssander9 Amplitude Modulator Location: US	I have been building engines and drag racing since 1973. I have done alot of very stupid things that have cost me alot money. The worst mistake out of all these things was having an auto accident and letting my wife change the oil on her new car. She tightened the drain plug instead of loosening, stripped it out and instead of fessing up she mixed some of my JB Weld, put it on the drain plug and shoved it back in. Never told me about it and somehow it never leaked. The next time I went to change the oil I looked at the plug and said WTF!! I ended up having to replace the oil pan since the car was still in warranty and I didn't want to take it to the dealer someday and have to explain what happened. Built a 426 cubic inch smallblock with all the good parts, Brodix heads, roller, 1050 Dominator, alum rods, steal crank. Was intending to put it in my Super Gas Vega. There was a Super Chevy Show coming up in a couple of weeks and I wanted to race the Vega in Pro and the take my 1972 Nova Show Car to race in street class. Since the Vega didn't have any engine problems I decided to take the almost stock 406 out of the Nova and put the 426 in. It was the most awesome sounding street car you ever heard (forget to say during the engine swap I put a new TCI 4000 rpm stall behind the engine). I eased it on the trailor after a short test drive around the block to check for leaks. Got to the track, passed tech with both cars and took the nova to the staging lanes for a pass. Car had entirely too much power for street tires but still tripped the lights at 11.21 just pushing it hard enough to keep the tires under it. Borrowed some 8" slicks from a buddy at the track, went back up and did a good burnout. When I hammered it this time it stood straight up on the bumper and started easing it's way over to the wall with the wheels in the air...I thought hell, it will never make it to the wall before the front end comes down so I stayed in it. Grazed the wall about 110 feet out with the car still standing straight up. When I got off the gas it hit the ground so hard it broke the left front tie rod end. smashed a brand new set of custom made headers and the tach hit the windshield so hard it broke it. From hitting the wall I smashed the left rear quarter panel in above the rear wheel and bent the left side of the rear bumper. It's like anything else, when you're not scared anymore you can get hurt...but I was okay. Note: After alot of suspension mods I did get the car to make some good passes at WOT to a best ET of 9.88 at 139 mph in a 3100 pound Nova without nitrous. This same engine in my Vega (2400 lbs at the time) went 9.30's at 144 mph. If you want to hear some more of my stupid things let me know. __________________ I never said you had to. Last edited by ssander9; 08-31-2003 at 07:47 AM..