What the dumbest car repair mistake you've made? - Page 2 - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

djflish · 08-28-2003, 10:48 AM

My back box fell off going down the motorway, so i took off my shoe laces and used them to tie it back on! i left like that for 7 months

messy · 08-28-2003, 05:04 PM

When I was a dumb-ass kid I bought one of those neon shift knobs for my car. I wired it up directly to the fuse that tied into the headlights. Long story short, I'm driving down the interstate doing about 75 when black smoke starts rising from below.

WarWagon · 08-28-2003, 07:14 PM

Found out in the dark that a plug wire had gotten knocked off a magneto by pushing down on top of it with an oil-soaked hand.

Welded a wrench/electrocuted myself by tightening the battery cable and grounding out the wrench to the radiator support.

The worst one though ruined a car. Had a 4 door malibu with the rear out to do a gear swap. Had the control arms off so I could box them in. Well, in a rush and tired (about 3 am) I had forgotten to replace the nuts on the front lower control arm mounts. Went in the street the next afternoon to "test" the 3.73's, control arms pulled out, driveshaft goes through the floor pans, control arms hit ground, rest of car leaps over rear end, rear end and tires end up underneath the trunk.

KeyserSoze · 08-28-2003, 10:43 PM

Had a $4500.00 small block 400 custom built for my 69 Firebird back in high school, Well I decide to get a chromed radiator...bought it...installed it...started the car.....went cruising........and Oh..........I forgot to add coolant and water

Sion · 08-29-2003, 06:20 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by KeyserSoze
Had a $4500.00 small block 400 custom built for my 69 Firebird back in high school, Well I decide to get a chromed radiator...bought it...installed it...started the car.....went cruising........and Oh..........I forgot to add coolant and water

ouch. total loss?

Moonduck · 08-29-2003, 07:35 AM

Ouch. Reading these, especially War Wagon's rear end story and the Chrome Radiator post, I don't feel so bad about my own screw-ups.

impreza56 · 08-30-2003, 01:38 AM

i had a mate that to top up his coolant. Where did he put it? Took the oil cap off and poured straight in of course!! He's still living that one down.....

KeyserSoze · 08-30-2003, 08:40 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Sion
ouch. total loss?

Give you three guesses and the first three don't count

Now heres a funnier one I forgot....you'll love this one.

After I had another engine dropped in my buddy added nitrous as a small gift.

Well there was this rich little fuck in high school who had to have the best of everything and NOBODY could have something better then him.....I mean NOBODY.

Well he had a Camaro that he thought was hot shit....until I blew his fuking doors off.

Well he found out I had a nitrous system in my car so of course he goes out and has one put in his.

Soooo...here we are at the Carls Junior after school one day hanging out bullshitting and here comes Billy badd ass and his new and improved Camaro talking shit.

So he keeps taunting me to race him again....lil fucker would not stop, so I said "ok bitch for pink slips" he agreed.

Well we all head down to an industrial area that night and EVERYONE came out for this one......the whole school showed up(nobody like his ass)

So we are sitting there waiting for the start and he yells to me"I have nitous now asshole...you're ass is mine"

Now let me stop the story here for a minute and explain something. He and his family were rich.....FILTHY RICH......but money does not always mean your smart(you'll see what I'm getting to) when he had the nitrous installed by Dave(my buddy) and Dave tried to explain how nitrous works his exact words to Dave "hey I paid you to install it...If I need lessons I would have asked" Seriously...I know this because Dave told me the day he did the install (he was a close friend) to warn me that this guys gunnin for me.

So here we are at the line and I hear this "I have nitrous too asshole" statement and I just smiled at him.

Well It was GO TIME.........I slapped that tranny into gear and punched it....tires screeching and as I am salpping it into second I hear a loud explosion.......I mean LOUD!! I look into my rear view mirror and all I see is smoke, fire and parts flying in the air.....oh and a Camaro on fire.

I made it to the finish line, turned around and headed back to see everyone laughing their asses off at Billy Baddass.

You see...right when they dropped the flag this dumbshit punched the gas, then hit the nitrous button........BIG MISTAKE.....KA-BOOOOOOOM....bye bye Camaro.

Sitting here remembering I can't help but LMFAO and I wonder where this dipshit is today.

I know this thread was about dumb mistakes in repair, but maybe this will be a lesson to those of you who may want to install nitrous

ssander9 · 08-31-2003, 07:04 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Moonduck
So I've worked on cars since I was old enough to tell the difference between a flat-tip and a Phillips-head (literally). I'm changing the oil in my Trooper, something I've done dozens of times, takes only a few minutes, can do it blind drunk, right?

I unscrew the oil filter and toss it in the pan to drain, and screw the new oil filter, with the proper amount of oil inside and a smear on the gasket for a good seal, on. Finish up everything else and toss the rest of the oil in the engine. I hop in the Trooper to starter her up and see an amazing look on my Pop's face as oil just pours out everywhere. Yeah, my Dad was there, the guy that taught me about maintainence, been working on cars since way before I was born, runs a body shop, etc.

When I pulled the old filter, the gasket'd stayed in place against the engine. I couldn't see it because the oil was dark and I didn't take the time to check. Two gaskets in the same place means no seal against the engine, and a lot of oil on the ground.

So I dumped almost five quarts of oil in my driveway and felt like an utter idiot. My Pop looks at me and says, "Don't worry, it's an easy mistake to make. Everybody's done it." "You ever do it, Pop?", I ask. "Well, now that I think about it, no." Yep, made me feel good about my mechanical skills.

Been there, done that. First oil change on my brand new 82 Z28

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.

mvassek · 08-31-2003, 06:49 PM

March, 2a.m. snowing and cold lots of slush and ice on the road. 1992 Jeep wrangler pulling a 4' X 5' utility trailer. Daughter asleep in front seat wife asleep in back seat with dog (big German Shepherd). I used all of my washer fluid keeping the windows clear. Quick (too quick) stop at gas station added washer fluid closed hood didn't latch side latches, I've forgot them before no problem. Back on the interstate hit 70 mph, yes probably way to fast for existing conditions. The center hood latch doesn't hold this time. Hood flies up bending itself over the windshield frame. now it is time to stop, daughter and wife screaming (not the way to wake them up) Dog barking right behind me. Visibility a small triangle to the edge of the front window between the frame and the hood. Hit the brakes trailer starts to pass, let off brakes trailer goes back where it belongs, ease on the brakes here comes the trailer trying to pass again (bad versions of poop and fornicate said repeatedly). Stiil can't see anything but white dotted line down center of road at 55-60mph. Cuss, brake, cuss, brake, cuss trailer, brake and on and on. finally stopped in middle of road lay hood down.
Wife: Holy Sh#t the window is shattered.
Daughter: It is all f#$ked up (Where did she learn that word way to young to be saying it)
Dog: BARKBARKBARKBARKBARK

I get in and get off side of road had better vision with hood up than I do now lights from oncoming cars really reflect weird through destroyed windshield.

Bent hood so I could get side hooks hooked and limp to next gas station. Lots of beating and bending so hood doesn't rub through radiator hose, man it is colder then #@!# out here. Dog still barking.

Daughter: Hey when you touch the window it moves back and forth.

Clear packing tape on inside and out of window (just in case). 3 a.m. back on the road get to moms house for vacation at 930 a.m. no more incidence wife and daughter tried to sleep but everytime I used wipers they made noise and startled dog awake (yes he slept some) when he is startled awake he tends to wake up barking until whatever woke him up is deaf. wife and daughter thinking of wrapping him in tinfoil and putting him on headers. My rejection of that idea almost causes mutiny. Luckily for dog I am only one brave (stupid) enough to drive., so the dog lives.

2 Chrome Latches: 22.00
Not hooking those latches: New hood, Windshield Frame, 2 windows (one replaced in CO broke it trying to get it out for replacement of bent window frame when I got back home to CA)

The thrill of a lifetime : Priceless

ssander9 · 09-01-2003, 02:19 AM

mvassek, Great story dude, glad the hear you made it through that ordeal safely.

Ashton · 09-01-2003, 03:11 AM

Here's a good one......

Back in high school I had a 1970 Ford XL convertible, I had it all done up nice.... pumped up engine, shift kit, headers..... Anyway one night my girlfriend and I were crusing with the top down and up ahead I spot this really nice 69 Camaro, so I speed up to check it out...... as I get alongside the guy looks over at me and laughs then drops down into first gear and punches it, now mind I didn't want to race.... I just wanted to look at his car, but when he laughed at me I got pissed and dropped ole blue into first as well...... so of we go winding out first, he pops into second and starts to leave me.... I pop into second and start to catch up, so there we are hauling ass and as second tops out I go to hit third and so does he..... KABOOM! I hit third and pulled away while he sputtered to a stop...... I drove up few blocks then turned around and went back to see him standing there with the hood up, antifreeze pouring out.... steam everywhere. It turns out that the Camaro belonged to his brother who was in the Army somewhere, and it had "Lightning Rod" shifters..... one shifter handle for each gear, he had yanked first instead of third after winding out second the harmonic balancer had spun off the crank and bounced around in the flex fan, bending the blades out and ripping a big hole in the radiator then smashing down onto the lower radiator hose and ripping that off too..... probally did more damage but it was too dark to see.

james t kirk · 09-01-2003, 09:02 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Pain Train
I forgot to put 2 spark plugs back in...wow the noise scared the shit out of me.

oh yeah, been there done that.

Didn't tighten one plug up one time.......

Started the engine, ran it for a bit.

Ka fucking boom, the plug shot right across the garage like a bullet.

Won't make that mistake again...

etla · 09-01-2003, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by irseg
I still have absolutely no idea how that did not start a fire, but I consider myself damn lucky.

Gasoline is actaully an amazingly hard substance to burn. You need Vapour (not liquid) gas mixed ith air in ~5% gas/95% air mixture. It's why carbs were such a pain in the ass in winter, hard to get the gas to vapourize at -40.

neddy65 · 09-01-2003, 02:05 PM

the first time i change the plugs on a car i took all the wires off first and couldn't remember which went where.
worst repair i ever saw was a guy who repaired a hole in his tire with two crossed band-aids( i kid you not)

ssander9 · 09-01-2003, 04:10 PM

Didn't happen to me, at a street race one night my friends 69 Camaro had a 60 over 350 with nitrous. The nitrous solenoid got stuck open after a race. We heard the engine running at about 5000 rpm when he pulled up and he almost couldn't hold the brakes hard enough to stop it so he shut it off. We shut the bottle off and let it sit for about an hour hoping the nitrous had cleared out of the intake and engine. When he turned the ignition on it blew the intake manifod right off of the engine. Awesome fireball shot out of both sides of the hood and a loud explosion. Destroyed the hood, 850 dp Holley and a new Victor intake. Bent the distributor, too.

WarWagon · 09-02-2003, 08:08 AM

ssander69: WOW! I wish my girlfriend knew what JB Weld was yet alone actually use it!

MSD · 09-02-2003, 09:11 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by etla
] It's why carbs were such a pain in the ass in winter, hard to get the gas to vapourize at -40.

That's because gasoline produces vapor at and above -37°F

madmann · 09-02-2003, 09:35 AM

Many stupid things. The stupidest was pouring 5qts of oil straight thru to the ground.

ssander9 · 09-02-2003, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by WarWagon
ssander69: WOW! I wish my girlfriend knew what JB Weld was yet alone actually use it!

Are you sure you want her to use it lol?

She had been around racing and helping me build engines long enough to know how to mix and use it.....not good idea though.

Dano069 · 09-02-2003, 12:16 PM

I had a '73 Dodge Charger that was in need of a new oil sensor. Picked up the part, removed the old one, put in new oil, closed the hood and started the engine. Hmm, something's missing in that sequence. Yup, I forgot to put in the new oil sensor. This was pointed out to me by a passerby, who pointed to the increasingly large puddle of oil underneath the car. Luckily, I didn't hurt anything but my pride. (These things look like old German WW 2 hand grenades.)

Lestat · 09-02-2003, 01:18 PM

Crossed battery conections (in the dark). Fried the electrical system.

merkerguitars · 09-05-2003, 10:50 PM

Lets see stupid stuff i have done....
About 3 years ago I bought a 83 T bird coupe for about $100 well the clutch safety switch was bad in it so the way I always started it was with a screwdriver on the solenoid. Well I was wrenching under the hood tidying up some wires and my friend was sitting in the car.....well I decided to give the a try at running....but little did i know my friend was playing race car driver and shifting through the gears.. So I jumped the solenoid and the car took off forward and right into the wall in my dads shop.....tilted the wall back a couple of feet and ripped a door right off of its hinges...well after banging the wall back with a sledge hammer and remounting the door with longer screws, it was as good as new.

Another time my friend had a old 83' olds firenza...well it was time for a plug change....well I ran down to a mechanics shop that sold spark plugs and I told him the make, model, year etc....and they gave me 4 new plugs....assuming they where the correct plugs we put them in...all of a sudden about 5 miles down the road we where thinking..."this car is running like shit now". Well we plugged out the spark plugs and the became bashed in by the pistons...thank god it didn't damage the engine. Then we preceded to go down to where we bought the plugs and asked for our money back.

Then one of my friends wanted his brakes changes...it was just the front pads no big deal so I said sure why not....well got the job done and backed the car up and ooohhhhhhfuck! no brakes!....I forgot to pump up the brakes....scared the shit outta me.....

Stupid stuff my friends have done..
One of my friends was drilling a hole in one of his friends honda civic for a power wire for a amp....right into the ac core he drilled into...nice stream of freon that came out of that.....

Helping one of my friends wifes change her oil....got it all ready and told her to start it.....she started the damn thing in reverse......almost drove right into the pit.......

One time I was helping my friend change the oil in his 1984 Monte Carlo....the dumbass thought to drain the oil you had to take the filler plug out of the differential.

Sion · 09-06-2003, 05:59 AM

note to self: dont let merker or any of his friends work on any of my vehicles.

j/k mg.

etla · 09-11-2003, 03:53 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ssander9
Are you sure you want her to use it lol?

She had been around racing and helping me build engines long enough to know how to mix and use it.....not good idea though.

Sounds like a almost perfect wife. I mean right off the bat she was changing her own oil instead of mentioning one day after 40,000km that the "oil seems a bit thick when I checked it this morning". And then she knew how to fix it for 3000 miles anyways.

Lyaec123 · 09-11-2003, 07:06 PM

We did the pads on my friends Blazer, and he goes to park it in the garage and guns it (100hp 2.8 v6 blazer basically have to floor it to get anywhere) so he goes rolling into garage, realizes he has no brakes, and everyone is like OH S#%$ as he rolls towards the wall and shelves FULL of stuff. Luckily one of my friends jumped onto the door and dragged it to a stop inches from the shelves... haha

laconic1 · 09-11-2003, 07:22 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by merkerguitars

Then one of my friends wanted his brakes changes...it was just the front pads no big deal so I said sure why not....well got the job done and backed the car up and ooohhhhhhfuck! no brakes!....I forgot to pump up the brakes....scared the shit outta me.....

At this shop I worked at a guy did that and hit a truck parked in the bay across the aisle. The truck was in neutral and it rolled into another guys brand new $5,000 Snap-on tool box and dented the shit out of it.

ssander9 · 09-14-2003, 08:26 AM

Always remember to pump those brakes back up lol!

My wife has a habit of bumping in to things with the front of her car when she parks. She has hit other cars, the wall between two car stalls and an 18 wheeler.

jimk · 09-18-2003, 08:53 AM

two summers ago i bought a '68 impala convertible. i was so excited to have my new toy, i just HAD to do something to it......it had been so long since i had a car that was fun to work on (that is - anything pre '80s). so i decided to do an oil change. simple, good for the car, messy.....it had everything i wanted.

pulled the plug on the pan & red fluid started coming out. uhhhh.........what the fuck kind of oil did they use on this thing??!!
transmission. wrong pan.

no mechanic is in danger of losing his job to me.

JusticeForPhat · 09-18-2003, 02:09 PM

1.) Did a spark plug change on an F3. Torqued them down right, set everything up right. Its a racing engine so the the plugs get changed pretty often. Well I forgot to coat the threads with anti-seize. 1 in the morning and im trying to remove a broken spark plug with an easy-out so we could race the next day.

2.) Same F3, about 3 months prior I was assembling the head, late at night. It was being re-shimmed and re-sprung to handle the new turbo for it. I assembled the entire exhaust side before i realized i forgot to install the oil seals. That job took a bit longer than expected.

bassesmass · 09-23-2003, 07:26 AM

I PUT THE FUEL CELL IN WRONG IN MY RACE CAR

ssander9 · 09-23-2003, 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bassesmass
I PUT THE FUEL CELL IN WRONG IN MY RACE CAR

You mean as the fuel line hookups facing the front?

MSD · 06-17-2004, 10:18 PM

Ooh, this thread needs some resurrection!

Two good ones for you.

One: Cylinder misfiring. Hmm, wonder if It's getting spark. Pulled the wire, inteneding to see if it would arc to the block, neglecting to notice that the shortest path to ground was through my right hand (holding the wire) and back down thorough my left hand, which was resting on the intake manifold.

Two: Repainting the dashboard on my car with the assistance of my brother, put everything back together. Two weeks later, I popped the airbag cover off for some reason, and found a pair of 8" pliers sitting right on top of the airbag. My brother isn't allowed to take my car apart anymore. There was also a chocolate bar sitting in the gap between the dash and the airbag. I got home, then threw it at him (the chocolate, not the pliers)

laconic1 · 06-18-2004, 09:44 AM

I screwed up pretty bad a couple of months ago on my mom's Grand Cherokee. She said the right window wouldn't roll up or down from the right window switch, but worked from the left window switch. I checked it out and thought it just needed the right switch replaced. I bought the switch, installed it and the window still didn't work from that switch. I then figured out that she had accidentally hit the lockout button on the driver door. I hit the button again and everything worked, except I had to pay for the $75.00, nonrefundable switch that I bought needlessly.

Scorps · 06-18-2004, 02:13 PM

Latest mistake would be my van wasn't running at its best so I....Changed Plugs, Cap, Rotor and Wires and van ran worse....turns out the problem in the first place is the intake is clogged with shit, so I spent 130 on parts that where still good and now I need about 3000 for a new engine. Found out a week after just don't need a new Carb and Intake, the cam is fried, so why not get a long block 350 or 400(chevy)

nash · 06-19-2004, 06:33 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Curving_Edge
My friend was trying to change his oil, but instead of draining his oil and replacing it, he drained his auto tranny fluid and put more oil into the car.

The joy of replacing a blown tranny.....

I've done this before, but caught it when the oil coming out was red. The orientation of the engine was different than what I thought it was; I guess I should've checked.

IJH · 06-20-2004, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by crazybill5280
I just remembered another one. I was changing wiper blades on a car, and one of the blades was being real stubborn coming off the arm. I had the arm pulled all the way up, and when the blade finally came off I wasn't holding the arm, and the spring tension on the wiper arm snapped the arm back down onto the windshield and broke the windshield.

Better a windshield than your finger. My dad was changing wiper blades on his Ford Ranger, and one of the blades shot out and lodged itself in the joint of his finger.

saltfish · 06-20-2004, 08:44 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ashton
What are the odds of someone that didn't know how to change oil having a tranny with a drain plug?

Saturn?

You decide.

-SF

denim · 06-21-2004, 11:28 AM

link

Quote:

Dead man lay in driveway for 4 days

Monday, June 21, 2004 Posted: 2:12 PM EDT (1812 GMT)

SHEPHERDSTOWN, West Virginia (AP) -- A man who apparently was pinned by a van he was working on lay dead in his driveway for up to four days before a neighbor noticed him, police said.

Allan P. Burfoot, 57, of Shepherdstown, was found Sunday morning, State Police Trooper H.D. Heil said.

"The parking brake wasn't on and the vehicle wasn't in gear, and it apparently rolled onto him" as he worked on the vehicle, Heil said. He was pinned under the front passenger side tire, he said.

Checking messages on Burfoot's answering machine, investigators believe he was pinned as early as Wednesday, Heil said. Burfoot's closest relative, a sister, lives out of state.

Apparently, it's a Bad Idea to not chock your car, or use the emergency brake or have it in gear, or SOMEthing.

08-28-2003, 10:48 AM	#41 (permalink)
djflish The Mighty Boosh Location: I mostly come out at night, mostly...	My back box fell off going down the motorway, so i took off my shoe laces and used them to tie it back on! i left like that for 7 months __________________ Europes two great narcotics, Alcohol and Christianity. I know which one I prefer.

08-28-2003, 05:04 PM	#42 (permalink)
messy Insane	When I was a dumb-ass kid I bought one of those neon shift knobs for my car. I wired it up directly to the fuse that tied into the headlights. Long story short, I'm driving down the interstate doing about 75 when black smoke starts rising from below. __________________ If I say a chicken can pull a boxcar, hitch it up.

08-28-2003, 10:43 PM	#44 (permalink)
KeyserSoze Psycho Location: Lost Angeles	Had a $4500.00 small block 400 custom built for my 69 Firebird back in high school, Well I decide to get a chromed radiator...bought it...installed it...started the car.....went cruising........and Oh..........I forgot to add coolant and water __________________ THERE IS NO KEYSER SOZE!!

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..

08-31-2003, 06:49 PM	#51 (permalink)
mvassek Crazy Location: East Tennessee	March, 2a.m. snowing and cold lots of slush and ice on the road. 1992 Jeep wrangler pulling a 4' X 5' utility trailer. Daughter asleep in front seat wife asleep in back seat with dog (big German Shepherd). I used all of my washer fluid keeping the windows clear. Quick (too quick) stop at gas station added washer fluid closed hood didn't latch side latches, I've forgot them before no problem. Back on the interstate hit 70 mph, yes probably way to fast for existing conditions. The center hood latch doesn't hold this time. Hood flies up bending itself over the windshield frame. now it is time to stop, daughter and wife screaming (not the way to wake them up) Dog barking right behind me. Visibility a small triangle to the edge of the front window between the frame and the hood. Hit the brakes trailer starts to pass, let off brakes trailer goes back where it belongs, ease on the brakes here comes the trailer trying to pass again (bad versions of poop and fornicate said repeatedly). Stiil can't see anything but white dotted line down center of road at 55-60mph. Cuss, brake, cuss, brake, cuss trailer, brake and on and on. finally stopped in middle of road lay hood down. Wife: Holy Sh#t the window is shattered. Daughter: It is all f#$ked up (Where did she learn that word way to young to be saying it) Dog: BARKBARKBARKBARKBARK I get in and get off side of road had better vision with hood up than I do now lights from oncoming cars really reflect weird through destroyed windshield. Bent hood so I could get side hooks hooked and limp to next gas station. Lots of beating and bending so hood doesn't rub through radiator hose, man it is colder then #@!# out here. Dog still barking. Daughter: Hey when you touch the window it moves back and forth. Clear packing tape on inside and out of window (just in case). 3 a.m. back on the road get to moms house for vacation at 930 a.m. no more incidence wife and daughter tried to sleep but everytime I used wipers they made noise and startled dog awake (yes he slept some) when he is startled awake he tends to wake up barking until whatever woke him up is deaf. wife and daughter thinking of wrapping him in tinfoil and putting him on headers. My rejection of that idea almost causes mutiny. Luckily for dog I am only one brave (stupid) enough to drive., so the dog lives. 2 Chrome Latches: 22.00 Not hooking those latches: New hood, Windshield Frame, 2 windows (one replaced in CO broke it trying to get it out for replacement of bent window frame when I got back home to CA) The thrill of a lifetime : Priceless Last edited by mvassek; 08-31-2003 at 06:52 PM..

08-28-2003, 07:14 PM	#43 (permalink)
WarWagon Loser	Found out in the dark that a plug wire had gotten knocked off a magneto by pushing down on top of it with an oil-soaked hand. Welded a wrench/electrocuted myself by tightening the battery cable and grounding out the wrench to the radiator support. The worst one though ruined a car. Had a 4 door malibu with the rear out to do a gear swap. Had the control arms off so I could box them in. Well, in a rush and tired (about 3 am) I had forgotten to replace the nuts on the front lower control arm mounts. Went in the street the next afternoon to "test" the 3.73's, control arms pulled out, driveshaft goes through the floor pans, control arms hit ground, rest of car leaps over rear end, rear end and tires end up underneath the trunk.

08-29-2003, 07:35 AM	#46 (permalink)
Moonduck Junkie Location: SE USA	Ouch. Reading these, especially War Wagon's rear end story and the Chrome Radiator post, I don't feel so bad about my own screw-ups.

08-30-2003, 01:38 AM	#47 (permalink)
impreza56 Upright	i had a mate that to top up his coolant. Where did he put it? Took the oil cap off and poured straight in of course!! He's still living that one down.....

09-01-2003, 02:19 AM	#52 (permalink)
ssander9 Amplitude Modulator Location: US	mvassek, Great story dude, glad the hear you made it through that ordeal safely. __________________ I never said you had to.

09-01-2003, 03:11 AM	#53 (permalink)
Ashton PORNHOUND Location: California	Here's a good one...... Back in high school I had a 1970 Ford XL convertible, I had it all done up nice.... pumped up engine, shift kit, headers..... Anyway one night my girlfriend and I were crusing with the top down and up ahead I spot this really nice 69 Camaro, so I speed up to check it out...... as I get alongside the guy looks over at me and laughs then drops down into first gear and punches it, now mind I didn't want to race.... I just wanted to look at his car, but when he laughed at me I got pissed and dropped ole blue into first as well...... so of we go winding out first, he pops into second and starts to leave me.... I pop into second and start to catch up, so there we are hauling ass and as second tops out I go to hit third and so does he..... KABOOM! I hit third and pulled away while he sputtered to a stop...... I drove up few blocks then turned around and went back to see him standing there with the hood up, antifreeze pouring out.... steam everywhere. It turns out that the Camaro belonged to his brother who was in the Army somewhere, and it had "Lightning Rod" shifters..... one shifter handle for each gear, he had yanked first instead of third after winding out second the harmonic balancer had spun off the crank and bounced around in the flex fan, bending the blades out and ripping a big hole in the radiator then smashing down onto the lower radiator hose and ripping that off too..... probally did more damage but it was too dark to see.

09-01-2003, 02:05 PM	#56 (permalink)
neddy65 Loves green eggs and ham Location: I'm just sittin' here watching the world go round and round	the first time i change the plugs on a car i took all the wires off first and couldn't remember which went where. worst repair i ever saw was a guy who repaired a hole in his tire with two crossed band-aids( i kid you not) __________________ If you're travelling at the speed of light, and you turn the headlights on, do they do anything? My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father, prepare to die! Drink Dickens' Hard Cider because nothing makes a girl smile like a Hard DIckens' Cider!

09-01-2003, 04:10 PM	#57 (permalink)
ssander9 Amplitude Modulator Location: US	Didn't happen to me, at a street race one night my friends 69 Camaro had a 60 over 350 with nitrous. The nitrous solenoid got stuck open after a race. We heard the engine running at about 5000 rpm when he pulled up and he almost couldn't hold the brakes hard enough to stop it so he shut it off. We shut the bottle off and let it sit for about an hour hoping the nitrous had cleared out of the intake and engine. When he turned the ignition on it blew the intake manifod right off of the engine. Awesome fireball shot out of both sides of the hood and a loud explosion. Destroyed the hood, 850 dp Holley and a new Victor intake. Bent the distributor, too. __________________ I never said you had to.

09-02-2003, 08:08 AM	#58 (permalink)
WarWagon Loser	ssander69: WOW! I wish my girlfriend knew what JB Weld was yet alone actually use it!

09-02-2003, 09:35 AM	#60 (permalink)
madmann Upright	Many stupid things. The stupidest was pouring 5qts of oil straight thru to the ground.

09-02-2003, 12:16 PM	#62 (permalink)
Dano069 is Nucking Futs! Location: On the edge of sanity	I had a '73 Dodge Charger that was in need of a new oil sensor. Picked up the part, removed the old one, put in new oil, closed the hood and started the engine. Hmm, something's missing in that sequence. Yup, I forgot to put in the new oil sensor. This was pointed out to me by a passerby, who pointed to the increasingly large puddle of oil underneath the car. Luckily, I didn't hurt anything but my pride. (These things look like old German WW 2 hand grenades.) __________________ I may look attentive, but I'm taking peeks down your blouse faster than the human eye can follow.

09-02-2003, 01:18 PM	#63 (permalink)
Lestat Psycho Location: Riverside, CA	Crossed battery conections (in the dark). Fried the electrical system. __________________ I hope life isn't a big joke, because I don't get it. - Jack Handy

09-05-2003, 10:50 PM	#64 (permalink)
merkerguitars Buffering......... Location: Wisconsin...	Lets see stupid stuff i have done.... About 3 years ago I bought a 83 T bird coupe for about $100 well the clutch safety switch was bad in it so the way I always started it was with a screwdriver on the solenoid. Well I was wrenching under the hood tidying up some wires and my friend was sitting in the car.....well I decided to give the a try at running....but little did i know my friend was playing race car driver and shifting through the gears.. So I jumped the solenoid and the car took off forward and right into the wall in my dads shop.....tilted the wall back a couple of feet and ripped a door right off of its hinges...well after banging the wall back with a sledge hammer and remounting the door with longer screws, it was as good as new. Another time my friend had a old 83' olds firenza...well it was time for a plug change....well I ran down to a mechanics shop that sold spark plugs and I told him the make, model, year etc....and they gave me 4 new plugs....assuming they where the correct plugs we put them in...all of a sudden about 5 miles down the road we where thinking..."this car is running like shit now". Well we plugged out the spark plugs and the became bashed in by the pistons...thank god it didn't damage the engine. Then we preceded to go down to where we bought the plugs and asked for our money back. Then one of my friends wanted his brakes changes...it was just the front pads no big deal so I said sure why not....well got the job done and backed the car up and ooohhhhhhfuck! no brakes!....I forgot to pump up the brakes....scared the shit outta me..... Stupid stuff my friends have done.. One of my friends was drilling a hole in one of his friends honda civic for a power wire for a amp....right into the ac core he drilled into...nice stream of freon that came out of that..... Helping one of my friends wifes change her oil....got it all ready and told her to start it.....she started the damn thing in reverse......almost drove right into the pit....... One time I was helping my friend change the oil in his 1984 Monte Carlo....the dumbass thought to drain the oil you had to take the filler plug out of the differential. __________________ Donate now! Ask me How! Please use the search function it is your friend. Look at my mustang please feel free to comment! http://www.tfproject.org/tfp/showthread.php?t=26985

09-06-2003, 05:59 AM	#65 (permalink)
Sion Dumb all over...a little ugly on the side Location: In the room where the giant fire puffer works, and the torture never stops.	note to self: dont let merker or any of his friends work on any of my vehicles. j/k mg. __________________ He's the best, of course, of all the worst. Some wrong been done, he done it first. -fz I jus' want ta thank you...falettinme...be mice elf...agin...

09-11-2003, 07:06 PM	#67 (permalink)
Lyaec123 Crazy	We did the pads on my friends Blazer, and he goes to park it in the garage and guns it (100hp 2.8 v6 blazer basically have to floor it to get anywhere) so he goes rolling into garage, realizes he has no brakes, and everyone is like OH S#%$ as he rolls towards the wall and shelves FULL of stuff. Luckily one of my friends jumped onto the door and dragged it to a stop inches from the shelves... haha

09-14-2003, 08:26 AM	#69 (permalink)
ssander9 Amplitude Modulator Location: US	Always remember to pump those brakes back up lol! My wife has a habit of bumping in to things with the front of her car when she parks. She has hit other cars, the wall between two car stalls and an 18 wheeler. __________________ I never said you had to.

09-18-2003, 08:53 AM	#70 (permalink)
jimk Addict Location: Chicago	two summers ago i bought a '68 impala convertible. i was so excited to have my new toy, i just HAD to do something to it......it had been so long since i had a car that was fun to work on (that is - anything pre '80s). so i decided to do an oil change. simple, good for the car, messy.....it had everything i wanted. pulled the plug on the pan & red fluid started coming out. uhhhh.........what the fuck kind of oil did they use on this thing??!! transmission. wrong pan. no mechanic is in danger of losing his job to me. __________________ raw power is a guaranteed o.d. raw power is a laughin' at you & me -iggy

09-18-2003, 02:09 PM	#71 (permalink)
JusticeForPhat Crazy Location: Philly	1.) Did a spark plug change on an F3. Torqued them down right, set everything up right. Its a racing engine so the the plugs get changed pretty often. Well I forgot to coat the threads with anti-seize. 1 in the morning and im trying to remove a broken spark plug with an easy-out so we could race the next day. 2.) Same F3, about 3 months prior I was assembling the head, late at night. It was being re-shimmed and re-sprung to handle the new turbo for it. I assembled the entire exhaust side before i realized i forgot to install the oil seals. That job took a bit longer than expected.

09-23-2003, 07:26 AM	#72 (permalink)
bassesmass Upright Location: Lakeland Florida	I PUT THE FUEL CELL IN WRONG IN MY RACE CAR

06-17-2004, 10:18 PM	#74 (permalink)
MSD The sky calls to us ... Super Moderator Location: CT	Ooh, this thread needs some resurrection! Two good ones for you. One: Cylinder misfiring. Hmm, wonder if It's getting spark. Pulled the wire, inteneding to see if it would arc to the block, neglecting to notice that the shortest path to ground was through my right hand (holding the wire) and back down thorough my left hand, which was resting on the intake manifold. Two: Repainting the dashboard on my car with the assistance of my brother, put everything back together. Two weeks later, I popped the airbag cover off for some reason, and found a pair of 8" pliers sitting right on top of the airbag. My brother isn't allowed to take my car apart anymore. There was also a chocolate bar sitting in the gap between the dash and the airbag. I got home, then threw it at him (the chocolate, not the pliers)

06-18-2004, 09:44 AM	#75 (permalink)
laconic1 Junkie	I screwed up pretty bad a couple of months ago on my mom's Grand Cherokee. She said the right window wouldn't roll up or down from the right window switch, but worked from the left window switch. I checked it out and thought it just needed the right switch replaced. I bought the switch, installed it and the window still didn't work from that switch. I then figured out that she had accidentally hit the lockout button on the driver door. I hit the button again and everything worked, except I had to pay for the $75.00, nonrefundable switch that I bought needlessly.

06-18-2004, 02:13 PM	#76 (permalink)
Scorps Lost!! Location: Kingston, Ontario	Latest mistake would be my van wasn't running at its best so I....Changed Plugs, Cap, Rotor and Wires and van ran worse....turns out the problem in the first place is the intake is clogged with shit, so I spent 130 on parts that where still good and now I need about 3000 for a new engine. Found out a week after just don't need a new Carb and Intake, the cam is fried, so why not get a long block 350 or 400(chevy) __________________ A.K.A. PainTrain