Bonehead Award

[Kritter]

If anyone deserves a bonehead award that would be me. Recently finished work creating a daily driver of a 73 coupe that was abandoned in 89. During its downtime it must have been flooded at some point because during the body on restoration I found piles of dirt and grass piled in the wierdest places (inside and out).

On to the nomination: A friend and I were driving it to check the throttle response after setting the timing and carb. It was dialed in good, responding well without clatter or backfire. As we are riding back to the shop, feeling good we hear this clunk, ping followed by bolts washer, and of all things the main crank pully zinging down the road behind us. Since I was only a couple hundred yards from the shop we noted the location of the parts and pulled the 73 back into the shop.

We were able to retrieve all the parts from the side of the road, and put everything back together in a short time. No harm.

Thinking back, I didn't tighten down the bolts on the main pulley when I replaced the original pulley.

Man I feel really stupid, luckily it didn't do any harm and didn't lose any parts.

It's a good thing I didn't lose any parts or harm anything because I had already scheduled time off work to go to the DMV to get tags the next day. The next day when I went to the DMV the car was running great. Gliding down the road on 15+ year old BF Goodrich TA's. They didn't hold up too long, because when I got to the DMV I had a terrible shake in the front end. On the way home the shake turned into more of a bounce. I made it back to the shop only to discover that all four tires had separated belts and humps on each one between 4" and 6". Interesting ride.

Tires on thier way to the local shop. I priced 235/60/15, 245/60/15 and 255/60/15. I know 255/60/15 came on one of the pace cars as optional. Has anyone gone with a 235/60/15 or would this look too small?

Kritter (aka: bonehead)

 

[MaineShark]

Tires on thier way to the local shop. I priced 235/60/15, 245/60/15 and 255/60/15. I know 255/60/15 came on one of the pace cars as optional. Has anyone gone with a 235/60/15 or would this look too small?

Kritter (aka: bonehead)

My car came with 235/60R15, courtesy of the previous owner. They don't fit well, and the speedo won't read correctly (we're talking like 5mph off at 65).

I went with 255/60R15 Goodyear GTII's, and I'm quite happy with them.

That brings us back to bonehead awards, though. See, when I first got the car, it had those incorrect tires on. I could back it right out of the garage with the hood up, no problem.

Well, a few months later, after putting the correct (taller) tires on, I tried to do the same thing, and was greeted by a heart-wrenching crunch, as the rear tips of the hood caught the bottom of the garage door, cracking one tip off and doing major damage to the hood at both hinge mounts. Fixing it turned out to be more expensive than buying a new hood, so that's what I ended up doing. Actually, it's sitting at the body shop, right now, being prepped and painted. Should have it back, middle of next week...

Joe

 

[TWINRAY]

I think I should be a contender - Refilling my Jeep Cherokee which has a 6 qt oil pan, all 6 qts of Castrol Syntec @ $4/qt. went down the driveway. I forgot to put the drain plug back on:bash

 

[Kritter]

Well, went shopping for tires again today, and based on the reply to my post on tires ordered the 255/60/15's. Found BFG T/A Radials for $71 each.

Sorry to hear about the hood boner, expensive lesson, thanks for the info on the 235's, I almost went with those. Actually got a better price on the 255's.

And quite the cleanup on the jeep oil plug, slosh (oops).

 

[KOPBET]

Re: Re: Bonehead Award

Well, a few months later, after putting the correct (taller) tires on, I tried to do the same thing, and was greeted by a heart-wrenching crunch, as the rear tips of the hood caught the bottom of the garage door, cracking one tip off and doing major damage to the hood at both hinge mounts. Fixing it turned out to be more expensive than buying a new hood, so that's what I ended up doing. Actually, it's sitting at the body shop, right now, being prepped and painted. Should have it back, middle of next week...

Joe

Oh what a difference a silly little INCH makes!

 

[bossvette]

here is another bonehead act:
while backing out of the garage I noticed my sun-visor was down and put it up not realizing I had hit the button on the garage door remote. the garage door came down as I was backing out and scraped some the paint from the rear angle on my top.:bash
Fortunately my car could use a paint job anyway and is not as pristine as most on this site.:L

 

[Fishman]

I let my girlfriend drive my '84 once. I saw her coming back and the garage door opening (I didn't think she even knew where the remote opener was). I had the garage door opener clamped to the parking brake (between the door and the seat in 1984). As she was pulling in, the door started to close... as a 'good soldier' I placed my body between the car and the bottom of the door right before contact. It really hurt, but saved the paint. Root-cause: the way she was sitting in the seat placed pressure on the garage door opener located on the parking brake... basically the door opener was 'on' the whole trip.

:duh

 

[MaineShark]

Oh what a difference a silly little INCH makes!

Actually, it only took half an inch. I measured the point of impact on the door (despite being fiberglass, the hood put a couple of pretty good dents in the door before it gave way), and it really was only half an inch difference. Ah, well... at least I have a shiny new hood going on (and a thousand-dollar lesson to remember - don't wrench while tired).

As she was pulling in, the door started to close... as a 'good soldier' I placed my body between the car and the bottom of the door right before contact. It really hurt, but saved the paint.

Sounds like someone needs to adjust that little safety screw on the opener - they should reverse without enough resistance that it would hurt.

I'm a little suprised at all the "door opener on the parking brake" ones. I put a piece of velcro on the back of my remote, and leave it in the little pocket on the door, stuck to one of the velcro patches that should hold the pocket closed. Nice and secure, and since the button faces the door, it is both aligned for easy finger access, and protected from accidental bumps

I guess you could actually do the same with a clip-on opener, as long as you were careful not to scratch up the interior.

Joe

 

[Fishman]

Sounds like someone needs to adjust that little safety screw on the opener - they should reverse without enough resistance that it would hurt.

It was the 80's! The door weighed @2 tons and there was no safety mechanism.

I guess you could actually do the same with a clip-on opener, as long as you were careful not to scratch up the interior.

Both the car and the girl are long gone! My current Vette has the opener in the glove box... pretty hard to mess that one up.

 

[KOPBET]

Actually, it only took half an inch. I measured the point of impact on the door (despite being fiberglass, the hood put a couple of pretty good dents in the door before it gave way), and it really was only half an inch difference. Ah, well... at least I have a shiny new hood going on (and a thousand-dollar lesson to remember - don't wrench while tired).

Joe

I see what you are saying. I was referring to the size of the tires alone being 1 inch taller when increasing from 235 to 255. Glad you are able to get it fixed.

Post pics when you can.

 

[C3forME]

My car also came with 235/60/15's from the previouvs owner. I don't like them either, I'm going to replace them with 255/60/15's as well, probably BFG Radial T/A's.

 

[Kritter]

Thats why I love this forum so much, you put your heart and soul on display and everyone opens up. Not too many places left where you can be candid and survive without wounds.

Should have 255/60's mounted Friday, then its off to the Kansas Speedway for the Good Guys Car Show. There will be over 3000 classic cars up to 72 (darn missed it by 1 year).

It should be three days of fun and festivities.

Kritter