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08-06-2007, 10:49 PM | #1 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: New Madison, Ohio
Posts: 21,372
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When it comes to TRUCKS…what has been the dumbest thing you have ever done??
OK...I'll go first. 30 years ago my Dad gave me his truck. It was a 54 Chevy 1/2 ton. Then about 6 months later I sold it for $125.00 .
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A husband can be right...or...A husband can be happy. 67-72 Chevy and GMC Trucks...The Classic Truck for the Classic Folk. 1970 CST Two tone green, 402BB, 400 Automatic, Tach, Buckets, AC, AM-FM, Tilt, GM CB, GM 8 Tract, LWB, etc JOHN 17:3...The better side of "LIFE" Remember: Everyday is a good day...Some are just gooder! |
08-06-2007, 11:14 PM | #2 |
"1972 C5"
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: SoCal
Posts: 729
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Re: When it comes to TRUCKS…what has been the dumbest thing you have ever done??
Sold my 85 silverado that was my DD to a guy down the street. Wouldn't have been as bad if he lived farther away, but I have to see and regret every morning on my way to work. Bummer man.
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08-07-2007, 12:01 AM | #3 |
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Smith Mountain Lake Virginia
Posts: 1,537
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Re: When it comes to TRUCKS…what has been the dumbest thing you have ever done??
Home alone, got ready to look at rear brakes - put jack under pumpkin, collected blocks to block the wheels. I was under the carport hooked along the side the house (smooth concrete sloped downhill to my shop). Was just getting staged, only wearing a pair of shorts... went in house, came out, put jack under rear end and started raising jack - both wheels in the air, realized I left out the blocks! The whole rig started rolling backwards towards shop - I was able to jump in and hit the brakes. Ebrake couldn't do anything, it was in gear but rear was in the air so that didn't do anything for me either. I sat there for 20 minutes trying to figure out what to do - there was no way to get out, get to the blocks and get back, lower the jack or anything. My cell phone was 10 feet away. I sat there swithing legs on the brake until they started to ache.... I realized the jack was rolling on the little 1 1/2 inch wheels and staying balanced. I also realised that 20 feet farther back, the driveway had a seam across it. I slowly creaped it the 20 feet until the rear set of jack wheels came to rest in the seam.... I slowly slipped out, ran to the blocks and got 'em behind the front wheels. Then I threw myself around for being careless. The truck was my brand new 2500 Ram TD and there was no way the truck or carport would have faired too well.
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"A cat will almost always blink when hit between the eyes with a ball peen hammer" (you don't always have to state the obvious) Wear your PPE! You can eat with false teeth but you can't see with a false eye. 1959 Studebaker Silverhawk 350/400 1972 C10 L6 3OTT 2005 F350 - Built - whew! |
08-07-2007, 11:59 PM | #4 | |
Well, Whoop-dee-do!
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Easton, Mo. pop.- me & scarcely a few others
Posts: 2,302
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Re: When it comes to TRUCKS…what has been the dumbest thing you have ever done??
Quote:
If it was brand new, why did you need to check the brakes? Maybe it's a Dodge thing. While in the cab,couldn't you have put it in 4x4, so the FRONT wheels would have held it from rolling
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'68 GMC shortbox 4x4 350/SM465/T221- bought it in '83 SOLD '72 K20 500 Cad/TH400/NP205 SOLD '92 Chevy 2500 6.5 mech TD 4L80E crusty daily driver '72 Monte Carlo... sweet low mile toy '11 Dodge Challenger IE 392 6spd... midlife car |
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08-08-2007, 12:29 AM | #5 |
Well, Whoop-dee-do!
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Easton, Mo. pop.- me & scarcely a few others
Posts: 2,302
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Re: When it comes to TRUCKS…what has been the dumbest thing you have ever done??
I guess I should add one of my own stories. When I bought the '68 in '83 when I was 15, I found that in 4x4 it would bang BAD going down the road. It was so severe, I worried that something was going to lock up & send my face into the steering wheel. I didn't know much yet, so I took it to the local 4x4 "experts". They said it was in the transfer case, so they rebuilt it. No change. Next was that the front driveshaft splines were skipping. So they did a new slip & stub. No change. Next, they said they pulled the diff covers to check ratios & found that they were different. So I swapped in a used rear end myself that was the ratio they told me it needed. That made it worse. Turns out their guy couldn't read or was lousy at math- I pulled the front cover to find out they were WRONG! Ratios were not different before the swap! At this point, I was out of money. So a couple of years later, I put in new correct gears in the front. That made it bang less severe like it used to. So I pulled the rear driveshaft & drove it around as a FWD. It would bang, then buzz and quit pulling untill I pushed in the clutch & then it would go again. So I did something dumb- got it to do the bang/ buzz/ lose motion thing, and got out while it was running in gear to see what was going on. Luckily it didn't take off, but I found out what was wrong. The front driveshaft was spinning and the buzz was coming from the right side hub- the OE Spicer lockout wasn't holding!
I don't know what's crazier, that the truck didn't take off, that I had spent as much as I had paid for the truck for "experts" to fix it and all it needed was a lockout, or that I went to work for them 1 week out of high school. It's definately what started my gearhead lifestyle
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'68 GMC shortbox 4x4 350/SM465/T221- bought it in '83 SOLD '72 K20 500 Cad/TH400/NP205 SOLD '92 Chevy 2500 6.5 mech TD 4L80E crusty daily driver '72 Monte Carlo... sweet low mile toy '11 Dodge Challenger IE 392 6spd... midlife car |
08-08-2007, 08:05 AM | #6 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Smith Mountain Lake Virginia
Posts: 1,537
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Re: When it comes to TRUCKS…what has been the dumbest thing you have ever done??
Quote:
I just remembered, I was actually rotating the tires... couldn't think of that when I was typing it up... (more crs syndrome) I didn't have the keys in the truck with me so I couldn't shift it out of park (to neutral) to engage the 4x4 - then again, I didn't try it so I'm not sure if that would of worked or not.... hmmmm.... nope, not going to try to find out either! hahahahahah I guess I could just sitting on all 4s.....
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"A cat will almost always blink when hit between the eyes with a ball peen hammer" (you don't always have to state the obvious) Wear your PPE! You can eat with false teeth but you can't see with a false eye. 1959 Studebaker Silverhawk 350/400 1972 C10 L6 3OTT 2005 F350 - Built - whew! |
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08-08-2007, 09:32 AM | #7 |
Registered User
Join Date: May 2004
Location: North Little Rock, AR
Posts: 63
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Re: When it comes to TRUCKS…what has been the dumbest thing you have ever done??
Bought a "rust free" (rear floor rusted from inside under mat) AZ 1972 GMC Sub. on E-bay that I was promised would make it "no problem" (fuel system nightmare) across the country. Flew to Phoenix to pick it up two days after my son was born... made it to Flagstaff, broke down, had to rent a car to drive back (flagstaff to Little Rock in 12hrs) and have the Sub. shipped the rest of the way....
wait it gets better... I get back to work and my boss says "My granddad has a 72 sub he'll give you!" It would have been great to know THAT before I spent a bunch of money and tried to drive a 35 year old vehicle across the country. I try to think of the time and money as .... tuition
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1972 GMC 4x4 Suburban F&R A/C 1978 Pontiac Trans Am 400(Z) all stock |
08-07-2007, 12:08 AM | #8 |
Registered User
Join Date: May 2006
Location: at work
Posts: 2,552
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Re: When it comes to TRUCKS…what has been the dumbest thing you have ever done??
you and I must be brothers cuz that sounds exactly like a situation i would get myself into.
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R.I.P. Killer 71 10/26/07 |
08-07-2007, 12:13 AM | #9 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Nebraska
Posts: 583
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Re: When it comes to TRUCKS…what has been the dumbest thing you have ever done??
man now thats funny to funny. least no one got hurt..
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08-07-2007, 12:20 AM | #10 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: PHOENIX
Posts: 35
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Re: When it comes to TRUCKS…what has been the dumbest thing you have ever done??
Traded in my Dad's '68 Camino in as a down payment on a 91 Nissan Sentra....You know....I still hate my ex wife for that one....
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08-07-2007, 12:28 AM | #11 |
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Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Bakersfield,CA
Posts: 7,893
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Re: When it comes to TRUCKS…what has been the dumbest thing you have ever done??
cant really think of anything at the moment but im looking forward to the stories thats for sure
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-steven Alte Seele S.S. "Allison" '72 C/10 LWB 350SB/TH350 - DD PITBULL IS NOT A CRIME |
04-23-2014, 08:40 PM | #12 |
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Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Grand Terrace, Ca.
Posts: 1,607
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Re: When it comes to TRUCKS…what has been the dumbest thing you have ever done??
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08-07-2007, 12:31 AM | #13 |
Nothings as cool as my 72
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Edmonton, AB, Kanuckastan
Posts: 181
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Re: When it comes to TRUCKS…what has been the dumbest thing you have ever done??
Too many to think of. I had one situation similar to luvlegs but my truck fell off the jack. Since im working on my truck in my backyard i dont have level ground to work on. Well one day I had my wheels off to get the new tires for put on the rims I had the front supported by two jack stands and the rear supported by one jack in the middle of the rear axle. Well while I was in the cab do some wiring work the truck just fell off its jack stands. I guess since in working on top of soft dirt and getting in and out of the cab while I was doing my wiring made the jack fall over. Im just glad I wasnt under the truck when it happened. I guess another dumb thing Ive done with my truck is let my cousin get involved because it was his idea to do a whole frame-off resto when I didnt want to at the time. Came home one day from school too find my truck half torn a part. Well two and half years later and over ten grand spent and shes almost done except for the less then perfect body work. Didnt think it would take this long and cost this much.
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1972 C10 Longbox In the middle of body off restoration Rebuilt 355, turbo 400, 3.42 12-bolt Rolling chassis finally done and cab mounted. Now onto sanding, bondo and more sanding. |
08-07-2007, 12:35 AM | #14 |
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: US
Posts: 184
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Re: When it comes to TRUCKS…what has been the dumbest thing you have ever done??
Well, I shouldn't even admit this, but now looking back, I find my stupidity kind of funny. And it was REALLY stupid.
A few years ago I had decided to run some Seafoam through my `03 Sierra. No biggie. I had done it before on my Expedition without issue. So, I pulled the brake booster line and w/ truck running started running some SeaFoam down it. My technique was, of course, the origin of my problems. I did a little at a time letting it recover. Did about half the can, then killed it and dumped in the rest. That was the problem. I didn't shut it off with the key. I let the seafoam kill it and then kept pooring and finished the can. Well, we all know liquid doesn't compress like air. So, guess what...Hyrdro lock. Problem was, I didn't know what it was at the time. I got in to crank the truck up after letting it sit for a while, and of course, it felt like the engine was locked up. Well, it was. With liquid. But wait, it gets better. After figuring that I was hyrdolocked, I pulled all the plugs. It was obvious which one was the issue because when I pulled the plug, the Seafoam poured out. So, here's where in my continued state, of "Oh, my gawd I've screwed up my truck" and not thinking well enough, I "thought" I disabled the ignition. Pulled the plug right up against the side of the throttle body. Must not have been it, because when I cranked the truck...now don't laugh, I sparked and ignited the still wet Seafoam. Fortunately, I had a fire extinguisher about 6 feet away. One squeeze (dry extinguisher) and it was out. No damage. Was just the Seafoam burning. Stop laughing. Anyway, I put all the plugs back. Plugged everything in, then hosed down the engine to remove any remaining Seafoam and all extinguisher soot. When I was sure everything was ok, I fired it up. It ran fine. Rough at first from the Seafoam, but the rest blew out after a while as expected. The look of horror on my face and how quickly I ran for the fire extinguisher was probably much more entertaining than the little flame up. Nothing on the truck was damaged. Just my ego was seriously fractured. Fire extinguisher made more mess than anything. What also sucked was my engine compartment was spotless before. I try not to be that stupid anymore when working on my vehicles. LMAO |
08-07-2007, 12:55 AM | #15 |
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Tyler, Texas
Posts: 559
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Re: When it comes to TRUCKS…what has been the dumbest thing you have ever done??
let my dad trade my first truck -> '66 350 4-spd 3/4 ton for some CRAPPY carpentry work in the kitchen
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08-07-2007, 01:00 AM | #16 |
Registered User
Join Date: May 2006
Location: at work
Posts: 2,552
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Re: When it comes to TRUCKS…what has been the dumbest thing you have ever done??
Man we could sell these stories!
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R.I.P. Killer 71 10/26/07 |
08-07-2007, 01:15 AM | #17 |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Kelso, WA
Posts: 363
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Re: When it comes to TRUCKS…what has been the dumbest thing you have ever done??
To be old and wise you must first be young and stupid... I'm young so what is this Seafoam? Octane booster; Engine cleaning stuff?
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1972 K10 4" lift, 35’s, 383 stroker, 700r4, current project. 1971 C10 3"/5" static drop, 355/350. "La Bamba.” The current daily driver. |
08-07-2007, 10:36 AM | #18 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: US
Posts: 184
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Re: When it comes to TRUCKS…what has been the dumbest thing you have ever done??
Quote:
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08-08-2007, 09:54 AM | #19 |
Account Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Monroe, WA
Posts: 3,815
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Re: When it comes to TRUCKS…what has been the dumbest thing you have ever done??
I put a new cam (Crane "Fireball", if anyone remembers that one ) in the '69 I had in high school. At the same time, I had this set of mint, factory original LT-1 aluminum valve covers. I thought they'd look really cool so I bolted 'em up. Truck started fine and I got through the break-in...but I had oil leaks on the intake manifold. I figured I just had valve cover gaskets leaking, so I did everything in the book to "fix" it without really looking for the problem.
I finally decided to just get my head in there and look when the engine was running, becuase the leaks were getting worse and worse...and saw that the rockers had carved away the aluminum in the valve covers and there were little spider cracks leaking oil by every rocker. One set of valve covers toast, one oil filter full of aluminum. Plenty of other dumb things...this one just comes to mind |
08-07-2007, 01:10 AM | #20 |
Keep Your Nose Clean
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: California
Posts: 496
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Re: When it comes to TRUCKS…what has been the dumbest thing you have ever done??
I regret selling my 1985 Chevy Silverado. It had a candy midnight blue paint, Zapco system, lowered 5/7, and rolling on 17" Boyds. I sold it so I could get my wife a wedding ring back in 98. An architect bought it for his 17 year old son. I seen the truck at a Home Depot about a year later all banged up. I almost cried. As bad as that sounds, back in 84, my uncle traded his 1970 AAR cuda for a 1978 cutlass supreme. He regrets that all the way to the bank.
Last edited by MisterE72; 08-07-2007 at 01:13 AM. |
08-07-2007, 01:40 AM | #21 |
72 chevy
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Central Il
Posts: 725
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Re: When it comes to TRUCKS…what has been the dumbest thing you have ever done??
Had a guy buying a tc grade trap Remington shotgun from me and didn't have anuff money but wanted it real bad. Well he traded a 72 ford 1/2 ton truck for the rest of the money if it would of been a chevy i would of been thrilled to death. well it took all of 3 day to destroy that ford. Wait you said dumbest i was thinking funnest. LOL!!
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08-07-2007, 02:57 AM | #22 |
Freeeeee Mason...
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: McAlester, Oklahoma
Posts: 320
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Re: When it comes to TRUCKS…what has been the dumbest thing you have ever done??
Filled up my 05 chevy duramax with gas... :-/
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08-07-2007, 05:33 AM | #23 |
KEEP ON TRUCKIN'
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Sterling, Va.
Posts: 5,731
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Re: When it comes to TRUCKS…what has been the dumbest thing you have ever done??
I gave my oldest son, (when he was 15, now 25) my '58 Apache stepside right before I moved to England. I found out a year later that he traded it for a POS four wheeler that stayed broke. The truck had a '78 Corvette 350 w/saginaw 4-speed and 3:73 posi rear. All he had to do was finish running the brake lines. I haven't given him anything since.
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JIM '97 GMC Sierra K1500 '95 Chevy Silverado C1500 '71 Cheyenne Z71 / LT1 & 4-Speed SWB K/10 Father/Son Project http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4l689JKXPnA http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/payments.php "LIVIN' FREE FOREVER" |
08-07-2007, 07:00 AM | #24 |
Damn Yankee
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Lynchburg, VA
Posts: 2,261
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Re: When it comes to TRUCKS…what has been the dumbest thing you have ever done??
Spent a bunch of money on a DODGE!
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08-07-2007, 07:07 AM | #25 |
Rottenwood Garage Member
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Marietta, Georgia
Posts: 4,321
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Re: When it comes to TRUCKS…what has been the dumbest thing you have ever done??
Buying a Vortec and then buying another one!!!
Last edited by 72freak; 08-07-2007 at 07:09 AM. |
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