Sometimes you just have to shake your head

[DBK81]

So this winter, I aquired my '72 and since getting it from storage three weeks ago, I have been going through it and tending to certain things, some small, some not so small. One of the things the PO mentioned was when he had the ZZ4 crate motor put in that he didn't have a rad overflow, and that getting one installed would be a good idea, but what he really meant to say was that instead of buying a $15 rad overflow jug and mounting it, he took a powerade bottle drilled a hole in the lid, duct taped the hell out of it, stuffed a hose into it and zip tied it a few inches away from the fan. this for me wasn't going to fly...... $15 later, and 5 min to mark and drill a spot to mount a rad overflow it's installed, and my motor isn't relying on a zip tied sports drink bottle, I'm almost positive it would have taken more time to dr that stupid powerade bottle than to mount the real thing. Like I said, sometimes you just have to shake your head and smile,

[1972BlueC20]

LOL, yeah I saw a similar design at a local car show recently, makes you wonder!!

[DBK81]

Some visual evidence of the gaff.

Click for larger images.

[Ringo934]

I also had to replace my radiator cap when I installed mine. I went with a radiator cap from a 1985 GMC C/1500. I just needed a closed system cap so it would return the coolant back into the radiator.

[Jrainman]

LOL you have to enjoy it I find very interesting I just picked up a 68 SWB and I would bet the PO of my 68 went to the same certified Auto mechanic School as yours... Enjoy Making it correct again

[special-K]

All the trucks I've had and I've never had an overflow bottle or worried over one

[MikeB]

It's simply amazing what some, if not most, people do to their vehicles to "repair" them.

Things I found on my 82 pickup:

EGR valve removed and an ill-fitting home-made block-off plate installed using a paper gasket. Result = massive vacuum leak.

Original rubber/vinyl floor mat replaced with a sheet of black felt wrinkled around the trans hump and glued to the metal floor.

CAT converter removed and replaced with a way too small pipe that looked like it was welded by a 6th grader. I'd guess that the welds sealed maybe 50% of the gaps!

Muffler held up by bailing wire.

Silicon sealant gooped up around windshield and driver's vent window

Unfortunately, most folks would rather patch things that repair them properly.

[The Chainsaw]

That's nothing. Had a buddy putting a bunch of boost on a stock 5.0 fox mustang that blew a LEAST a quart of oil out the breathers. He had a nice breather with a canister installed, but it would overflow the half-quart canister a couple hundred feet down the 1/4 mile.

He took the filter off, added a hose to a 2 liter 7-up bottle, and hose-clamped the filter to the top of the bottle. He could make it a whole 1/4 mile pass then he would just empty it back into the motor. It was great to watch

[hugger6933]

Funny how the guy would spend to get a ZZ4 then cheap out on the cooling system. Just one of those things that make you go HMM. Now I build wrecks and I hat rewrecks but I got a Ranger once that had a clip cab replaced and the A pillars were tacked with a Brazing rod. That same truck had the windshield held in with black silicone and sheet metal screws with large flat washers in the corners to hold it in place. By the way when the truck got bumped in the front before I bought it the cab broke loose and the A-pillars were like straight up and down. I had to redo all of that before even starting on the rest of the truck. The thing is I saw the truck then turned it down and then went on a vaca and my dad went back and got it and it was sitting waiting on me when I got home. I think it was punishment for going away. Jim

[46stude]

Huh. I had an old plastic water bottle secured w electrical tape as an overflow tank under the hood of my car forever. Good to know people take time to whine about such things on the ol' interweb instead of doing something constructive. Lol

[DBK81]

Originally Posted by 46stude

Huh. I had an old plastic water bottle secured w electrical tape as an overflow tank under the hood of my car forever. Good to know people take time to whine about such things on the ol' interweb instead of doing something constructive. Lol

Seems like a real half ass thing to do, guess there has to be people out there that do things half ass. I stick to doing things properly. Enjoy.

[GASoline71]

Originally Posted by special-K

All the trucks I've had and I've never had an overflow bottle or worried over one

Yup...

Gary

[46stude]

So, did you tell the previous owner he did something real half-assed, or was it always your intention to make fun of him on the internet?

I had a water bottle under my hood for a couple months. It was a side of the road fix, & we all do quick fixes that get left, well... quick fixed for longer than we usually anticipate. I just don't see the point of purchasing a truck, knowing there was a fix I didn't approve of, then posting on a website to tell everyone how much better I am than the PO when I've fixed it. The ability to turn otherwise intelligent adults into adolescent smart alek's is one power of the internet that's always bewildered me. But hey, it's just the internet. We'd all be better off if it wasn't taken so seriously.

[special-K]

The previous owner pointed out that it needed an overflow, so he didn't consider the bottle good either. It's an old truck he was selling and done working on. It's an old truck you bought and are working on.

[Myoldtruck]

Week after getting my 70 c/10 home rear wheels locked up not to far from home and on a side street. Got towed home and start looking at the rear rubber brake line. Someone installed the rear shocks and got the rubber line on the wrong side of the shock. Shock is now rubbing against rubber line, PO wrapped line in duct tape and used bailing wire around the line to pull away from the shock. I replaced the line correctly. One of many problems fixed since ive had the truck the last 6 months.

[doo142]

If we can get past the whining on both sides!! The cool thing about these "rigged fixes" is that next time your on the side of the road one of these will pop up In your head and may get you home , to a parts place or down the road for years!!! Enjoy the story don't take it personal

[DBK81]

A road side fix is one thing, I'm a perfectionist when it comes to my vehicles, new or old, I'm not going to be ok with it being held together with bubble gum and wishes. As was said to each there own, I was just sharing my surprises when it comes to dealing with vintage vehicles.

[Possmguts]

If I spent the time to shake my head at all the things I've redone on mine I would still be shaking my head 3 years into to rebuild... Its just part of buying any old vehicle that has not been restored.

[hugger6933]

Rereading this made me remember the drug head[I think he since has done a successful rehab] came by my shop once needing something for his truck and he had a 5 gal gas jug [you know the red plastic kind for lawnmower gas]sitting in the rf corner of the engine compartment. He said he used to have a tarp strap pulling it away from the manifold but had since lost it.It had a rubber hose stuck over in it taped in by duct tape.
I just remembered it knowing how some guys hate rubber gas linesAs far as I know he drove like that for several months.
I couldn't make it across the driveway without a huge explosion!

[DBK81]

Hahaha wow, that has can story makes me feel better about the things I've seen.

[Grumpy old man]

I just removed the orange shag carpet that was screwed to the dash and door panels of a '67 parts truck , it had box speaker mounted to the interior wall right behind the driver and passengers head ???
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