Bad experience on the highway this morning

[69_Dream]

After approx. 1 month sitting in the garage while I worked on various fiberglass repairs, minor fixes, painting, etc I finally got the car compounded, buffed and polished.

This morning after getting up VERY early in order to wash and detail the car I was off to work, where I have yet to show it to anyone. I've been raving about this car, but no one has seen it. So off to work I go, about 25-30 miles each way. But of course I'm thinking, "Damn, this is SO worth it". I had a smile from ear to ear!

Enough of the buildup.

Halfway through my drive, POP. I mean, wow, a monstrously loud pop and a splash to my windshield. I had the top off so it even splash a little on me. At first I had no idea. I'm thinking, the truck in front of me? Some water left somewhere from this morning's wash? Then the smell kicks in and the smoke starts pouring out from everywhere. You know that wonderful prestone smell? I still wasn't sure what had just happened, but I knew enough to ruin my day.

So after pulling over and popping my hood, turns out one of my fan blades had broke off ripping through something. I have yet to know if it did damage to the rad or it's strictly a hose issue. It's sitting in a garage right now where it was towed.

The kicker? The fan blade broke so violently it tore a hole through my hood and now as soon as I get the car back, I have more fiberglass, sanding, priming, sealing, painting and polishing. Yippee! :cry

Sorry all, just had to vent.

Sly

 

[warren s]

Sorry for your hard luck...

But atleast you or a co-worked were not admiring your ride with the motor running when this happened.

No one was hurt but some fiberglass...

Good luck making the repair.

 

[Yoda]

Sorry to hear about your bad/good luck. As Warren said it could have been worse

I'm curious.. what kind of fan did you have? Stock or aftermarket?

Good luck with the repairs and many "Happy" days in the future

Bud

 

[69_Dream]

I hear you on that worse thing. I remember thinking, "At least it wasn't my engine."

The fan was the stock 5 blade... 17 1/2 inch if I remember correctly. Guess now I need to go out and find me another one

Sly

 

[TWINRAY]

That's Murphy for yaad

 

[Thumper]

WOW, man what a bummer :eek :cry

That's so weird. I've never had a stock fan break like that. Must've had a crack in it that you didn't see. Big time bummer on the damage to your hood. I'll bet your radiator is ok, but you probably need a hose or two.

Sorry to hear of your bad luck.

 

[SwaveDave]

Thought you were going to say that your top radiator hose came off. That happened to me last summer. Anyway...what an aweful experience that was for you. I hope your radiato is ok.

After hearing of your plight, im sort of glad i have twin electric fans with plastic blades in a common housing ; if a blade broke off,it 'should' just hit the housing or hit the water pump .

By the way...i love that color of your car. Shines up nice.

Dave

 

[Scott Winebarger]

i hate that for you ,

"if it wasn't for bad luck"

never heard of that happening either , think i will go check mine now ...good luck with the repairs and let us know what damage it did.

 

[69_Dream]

Damage report:

One rad, sliced just enough to justify a rebuild
One belt, nearly sliced in 2
One upper rad hose, hairline slice
One fan, one blade short of a "real" fan
Two inches of hood where the fan hit, got me some more bodywork today

Got the radiator in there now, hose and belt fixed, everything looks good. The fan will be coming in a couple days.

...and the silver lining? I wanted to get my cooling system flushed this year!

Sly

 

[81 Corvette]

That tottally blows.

Sounds like its time for an electric set up.

 

[tluv327]

Bad weekend

This must be a bad weekend for C3's !!!!

I was on the expressway Friday night...shifted into fourth gear...and then the vette died.....flatbed towed home....checked the next morning.....TIMING CHAIN BROKE!

I think I got lucky with no internal damage but I won't know until I get the new chain on...Matching # engine....

So there it is......COULD'VE BEEN WORSE!

 

[TWINRAY]

Hi buddy,
Curious as to how many miles was on the chain:confused

 

[76corvette]

Sorry to hear about the damage...

I did a 360 down a 4 lane road with a median and started out in the far right lane... and hit some sand ... whipped it around, went over the median backwards and then spun it back around to be facing the wrong way in the oncoming traffic side .. the engine died but luckily it started back up.. I was lucky enough to miss the left turn lane sign that was about a foot away from where the tire marks where on the median.. :eek

I cant even imagine what you went through :crazy
Like somone else had mentioned, it could have been worse and someone could have gotten hurt :gap

The White 76 L82 has a rebuilt (matching #) engine and it has one of those plastic(?)/bendable fan blades that isnt suppose to break... not sure what it was really called.. but he mentioned it when he was saying what he put in the engine

 

[hotrodd]

Fan belt gaurds on my 82 probably saved a headache,that little gaurd that is usually missing,I had a alternator go south and threw the belt very hard! That guard probably saved me some money! Just my .02