Learning the hard way (horror stories)
07-31-12, 06:10 PM
#1
Learning the hard way (horror stories)
So, I wanted to share with you guys a rather funny story about my very first car. Thank God it was not a Lexus as it would have really cost me a pretty penny.
I was 17 and knew really nothing about mechanics and how to properly take care of a car, outside of oil changes. I found a grandma who was selling a 1980 Oldsmobile Cutlas Supreme 4.3L V8 with a computer controlled 2 barrel carburetor. It only had about 90,000 miles and it was in good shape, everything worked, and I got a good deal on it.
The elderly lady told that she never really went anywhere with it except to the grocery store and back. I wanted to clean out some of the deposits that had built up in the engine. So, I went and purchased the best fuel system cleaner I could find and asked the guy at the auto parts store for advice. He told me to take it out on the highway and open it up and then pull over somewhere and put in neutral and give a good hard rev.
Well, I had no clue. You know young and stupid. So, I took it out and opened it up for a while, pulled over on a fairly deserted road, put it in neutral and pressed that gas pedal all the way to the floor and released it immediately. I laugh to think to myself now because I probably hit 7,000 RPM's. The engine screamed and then wound down and died.
I had only had the car for a day and a half at this point. I tried to start her but to no avail. I found out later I had seized the main bearings to the crank shaft. As I just spent nearly everything I had on the car I could not afford to do anything but try to fix it myself. So, I went out and purchased the Haynes and Chilton's manual and rented the engine hoist.
It took me 3 months working on it for hours and hours after work everyday but I rebuilt the whole lower half of the engine. Had the crank turned down and over-seized bearings, block honed out and new rings for the pistons, took the head and block to a machine shop to have it shaved and tested. When I took the valve cover off there was about an inch thick of sludge in the head.
Amazingly, I was able to get the engine back together and working good. She never had much power but the car lasted another 4 years before a friend who I sold it to crashed it. I sure learned a lot about cars the hard way but it really was a great experience. The worst part was trying to figure out the vacuum hoses when I put her back together. I had never in my life seen so many vacuum hoses. Here is a pic of what that pretty ugly car used to look like. I really don't miss it at all... lol
Do you have any stories or nightmares of learning the hard way on cars you have owned?
I was 17 and knew really nothing about mechanics and how to properly take care of a car, outside of oil changes. I found a grandma who was selling a 1980 Oldsmobile Cutlas Supreme 4.3L V8 with a computer controlled 2 barrel carburetor. It only had about 90,000 miles and it was in good shape, everything worked, and I got a good deal on it.
The elderly lady told that she never really went anywhere with it except to the grocery store and back. I wanted to clean out some of the deposits that had built up in the engine. So, I went and purchased the best fuel system cleaner I could find and asked the guy at the auto parts store for advice. He told me to take it out on the highway and open it up and then pull over somewhere and put in neutral and give a good hard rev.
Well, I had no clue. You know young and stupid. So, I took it out and opened it up for a while, pulled over on a fairly deserted road, put it in neutral and pressed that gas pedal all the way to the floor and released it immediately. I laugh to think to myself now because I probably hit 7,000 RPM's. The engine screamed and then wound down and died.
I had only had the car for a day and a half at this point. I tried to start her but to no avail. I found out later I had seized the main bearings to the crank shaft. As I just spent nearly everything I had on the car I could not afford to do anything but try to fix it myself. So, I went out and purchased the Haynes and Chilton's manual and rented the engine hoist.
It took me 3 months working on it for hours and hours after work everyday but I rebuilt the whole lower half of the engine. Had the crank turned down and over-seized bearings, block honed out and new rings for the pistons, took the head and block to a machine shop to have it shaved and tested. When I took the valve cover off there was about an inch thick of sludge in the head.
Amazingly, I was able to get the engine back together and working good. She never had much power but the car lasted another 4 years before a friend who I sold it to crashed it. I sure learned a lot about cars the hard way but it really was a great experience. The worst part was trying to figure out the vacuum hoses when I put her back together. I had never in my life seen so many vacuum hoses. Here is a pic of what that pretty ugly car used to look like. I really don't miss it at all... lol
Do you have any stories or nightmares of learning the hard way on cars you have owned?
Last edited by RA40; 07-31-12 at 07:42 PM. Reason: Typo/spelling
07-31-12, 06:22 PM
#2
Pole Position
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Had an 82'(I think) like that. Was a cutlass calias that was all crime trimmed with 442 rims. Black as black can be paint job and the standard 307. Friends called it the "thug angel" lol. Had like 40k on it in 03'.
07-31-12, 06:32 PM
#4
Nothing like a 3 speed transmission to boot. It would not shift to 2nd till about 47 MPH... 
Not that you got to 47 MPH very fast....
1980 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme 0-60 mph 14.0 Quarter mile 19.3 LOL
Not that you got to 47 MPH very fast....1980 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme 0-60 mph 14.0 Quarter mile 19.3 LOL
Last edited by Lavrishevo; 07-31-12 at 06:41 PM.
07-31-12, 07:42 PM
#5
That is the process in youth, I had my share of attempts which were learning experiences and fortunately not overly costly. 
Like this last one breaking the plastic nipple. I relayed this to one of my car guys and his buddy said to simply cut the line as hoses are far cheaper to replace than plastic components. The first attempt that was a no-go, I should have simply cut the line and I'd have saved myself some agony. BTW, the replacement hose was $16 and some gas.
Like this last one breaking the plastic nipple. I relayed this to one of my car guys and his buddy said to simply cut the line as hoses are far cheaper to replace than plastic components. The first attempt that was a no-go, I should have simply cut the line and I'd have saved myself some agony. BTW, the replacement hose was $16 and some gas.
07-31-12, 08:27 PM
#6
moved to Car Chat since this isn't really LS specific. I've done a few things, but thankfully nothing really out there. I did rebuild a known BHG 7M supra a couple years back by just cleaning the head/shaving the head the minimum required, and then flushing the oil out of it once it was running. Worked great!
For 6 months until the bottom end blew from oil contaminated bearings from the BHG.... I still need to swap that car
For 6 months until the bottom end blew from oil contaminated bearings from the BHG.... I still need to swap that car
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08-03-12, 02:35 PM
#8
Well I guess I came up another way, my dad SHOWED me how to fix things, and how to take things apart and put them back together and make them run..... then I worked for two chevrolet dealers here in Dallas before opening my own shop. In 30 years we only messed up about 6 cars/trucks, but they taught us some lessons.... and no one ever got hurt bad, just scrapes & cuts. our big problem was backing into another car, or leaving it in neutral and it rolled away.... goofy stuff...
08-03-12, 03:28 PM
#9
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My first car after I got my license was a '66 VW Bug. Previous owner had converted it to a 12V ('66 and earlier were 6V.) Wiper motors were still 6V so wipers went a mile a minute.
My first real trip with it was to take 3 buddies up to the mountains for a hike (about 3 weeks after buying it.) About half way up the mountain I started losing power and had to downshift. Further power loss and downshifted into second. I look out the back window and see a smokescreen so thick I couldn't see anything behind my car. I pull over and open the engine compartment and it is COMPLETELY covered in oil - I'd obviously cracked a head. I turned it back around and coasted as much as possible. Every time i gave it any throttle it was like Spy Hunter smokescreen - so embarrassing! I coasted into my neighbor and began a two week engine overhaul.
Learned everything I ever needed to know working on that car. By the time it got stolen two years later, I'd replaced just about every mechanical component on the car and could take the engine out in 30 minutes flat. One of these days I'll get me another project VW and pimp it out.
My first real trip with it was to take 3 buddies up to the mountains for a hike (about 3 weeks after buying it.) About half way up the mountain I started losing power and had to downshift. Further power loss and downshifted into second. I look out the back window and see a smokescreen so thick I couldn't see anything behind my car. I pull over and open the engine compartment and it is COMPLETELY covered in oil - I'd obviously cracked a head. I turned it back around and coasted as much as possible. Every time i gave it any throttle it was like Spy Hunter smokescreen - so embarrassing! I coasted into my neighbor and began a two week engine overhaul.
Learned everything I ever needed to know working on that car. By the time it got stolen two years later, I'd replaced just about every mechanical component on the car and could take the engine out in 30 minutes flat. One of these days I'll get me another project VW and pimp it out.
08-05-12, 05:26 PM
#10
My first car was a '93 Ford Escort. After having it for a while I noticed that it would run very hot. I was told that it was probably a bad thermostat... easy fix. Well it was until I over tightened one off the bolts that held the thermostat attached to the engine block. I sheared off the bolt. I tried one of those stuck bolt removal kits but that thing was in there good. I ended up having to have the car towed to a shop and they had to drill the bolt and tap a new thread. It cost me a good deal of money but I learned to use a torque wrench.
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