![]() |
Register or Log In To remove these advertisements. |
|
|
![]() |
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
![]() |
#26 |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Cale, Arkansas
Posts: 29
|
Re: Craziest thing you've done to "just get home"
I was driving my family out to dinner in an 85 chevy with an elderbrock carb when the fuel pump went out. Family instantly mad. My wife and daughter took off walking to the nearest store, about a mile and a half away, to call a friend of mine to pick us up. I got he bright idea to take the wiper fluid jug off, pour out the windshield wiper fluid, disconect the fuel line at the pump and let gravity fill the washer jug then bolt it back up. I disconnected the washer hose at the windshield and shoved the end in the carb bowl inlet, electrical taped it in and hit the windshield squirter. The truck fired up right away. I could get about a half mile per squirt. Picture this; engine bogs, squirt squirt, wipe wipe, RPM comes back up: Repeat all the way home. I caught up to my wife at the store's driveway with the A/C on high. Wife still mad.
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#27 |
I am a Referee of life.
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Greensboro N.C.
Posts: 13,993
|
Re: Craziest thing you've done to "just get home"
I bought a low milage 74 Monte Carlo,It only had 60K but had a dent in every body panel but the trunk lid and top.The lights worked but wouldn't adjust to spec.The drivers door was so bad,that I just opened the sunroof and walked up the back of it and across theroof to get in.I drove it about 3 months that way until I had enough "Fun Tickets" to swap the engine into my 67 Panel.I paid $600 for it,found $200 worth of old coins under the seat,sold the tranny for $75 after the motor was out and got$200 scrap for it.It's not a getting home story,this was my DD.I'm older wiser and know where to get a bus pass now.
__________________
The 47-present Chevrolet and GMC Truck Message Board Network,it's owners,moderators,members,and associates of any type should not be held responsible for my opinion. You can't fix stupid,not even with duct tape. "My appearance is due to the fact that "GOD" does punish you for having too much fun!" Barrett-Jackson has perfected alchemy,they make rust into gold! "You can lead a horse to water but you can't saddle a duck" "Cleverly disguised as a 'Responsible Adult' "Sometimes your Knight in shining armor is just a retard in tinfoil" |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#28 |
1962 C-10
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Las Vegas, New Mexico
Posts: 4,978
|
Re: Craziest thing you've done to "just get home"
Some crazy stories on here. Mine's not as crazy the one's I'm reading on here, but I've also had to pull some tricks out of my sleeve to get home in the past. More than once, but the one that's coming to mind is:
I had one of those cheap chome altenator brackets on my truck... the lower one broke on me, belt went loose and pulleys stopped turning. Didn't have any tools but luckily I was right across the street from Homes Depot. I went in and bought a roll of wire (I was running low on that anyway) and a cheap tool set (wrenches and pliers). I just had to pull the lower part of the altenator tight enough so the belt would turn the water pump. I found two holes on the inner fender, wrapped the wire around and strung it the lower part of the alt. Fired in up, pump was turning... Limped in home and went to the junkyard for some genuine GM brackets. ![]()
__________________
Joseph Chavez ![]() "See the USA in a Chevrolet!!" ......................_____ .........________//__{\_____ ,,,,,,,/__(O)___//___/__(O)_/ 1962 C10 Shortbed Fleetside 327/th350 GV overdrive 1974 C10 Longbed Fleetside 350/th350 "The Trash Truck" 1999 Chevy 2500 OBS, Longbed 5.7/4L80E 4x4 2015 GMC Sierra SLE 1500 4x4 |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#29 |
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Hoytsville, Utah
Posts: 3,365
|
Re: Craziest thing you've done to "just get home"
When I bought my Panel, it was in Phoenix. I drove all night from Salt Lake with a trailer to pick it up. On the way back, literally on top of Hoover Dam the fuel pump went out on my tow vehicle. This was a Ford F-250, and I've had this happen on 2 different Fords, when the fuel pump goes out, you can still make about 10 MPH. So I limped up out of the canyon and down into Vegas. I hoped against hope that it was just a clogged fuel filter, so I changed that in the parking lot of the local Checkers and got a room for the night. Next morning, it started up and ran great, so off I went. I don't know why it worked again that morning, but I made about 150 miles before it went out again and I was back to 10 MPH, with 200 miles left to go. I called a buddy of mine to come get me, and I got off the freeway in Beaver, Utah and waited about 4 or 5 hours for him to get there. We put the F-250 on the trailer and I drove the Panel. I had no idea how it would run or if anything even worked on it, but it did fine.
__________________
'68 Panel Project Boogie Chillin' '68 C-10 Ol' Green |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#30 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Albuquerque NM
Posts: 7,848
|
Re: Craziest thing you've done to "just get home"
The things ive done are, shameful......just awful.... I cant......
__________________
1967custom |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#31 |
Equal opportunity joke ofender
![]() Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Eastern Shore of MD
Posts: 10,043
|
Re: Craziest thing you've done to "just get home"
Years back my buddy talked me into getting a beach pass for my 79' toyota 4x4. We go into the guard shack I pay the fifty bucks and get the sticker. He puts his on his Bronco II and I put mine on the yoda. Jump in truck and key wont go in ignition. Messed with it for 20 minutes. Had some tools and a bfh. Used BFH to bust column apart so I could remove key side of ignition. Then took switch side of ignition out and used flat blade screwdriver to start truck. Looks real nasty, I am mad but truck starts so we go on to the beach. Go several miles down the beach ( almost to VA line)and park both trucks. Get out and spend day enjoying the beach. Later in the afternoon we decide to leave, I break out trusty screwdriver to start truck and NOTHING. No electrical just NOTHING. I get out of truck look under hood, don't see anything obvious at first, then notice that the starter is hanging under the truck by the cables. walk several hundred feet tracing tracks and find one nut and one bolt. Realize threads are stripped in aluminum bell housing so bolt wont go back in. Stud for the nut has crushed threads from starter rubbing back and forth so nut wont go back on. Find pair of vice grips and clamp starter to bell housing. Truck fires up and away we go. couple hundred yards later truck shuts down. Vice grips apparently not tight enough. Cant find vice grips. Search for 20 minutes told my buddy to stop laughing and back his truck up. Vice grips were under his tire. Get vice grips back on and use several wire ties to secure them to the firewall so I dont have buddy running over them again. Vice grips don't seem to like the curvature of bell housing, a mile later they fall off again. I figure no big deal at least I know where they are
![]() ![]() ![]()
__________________
Members I have met. Dually Jams, OlBlue60, ScottH, Tommyboy24, Dujobo, Warbucket, 2003 Silverado, Notsolo, my90k5, 6t727t2, Special-K ,Jack_71C10, tabarcus,72blazer_mud_bogger,pwdcougar,RSavage,EricSean,1Rippen6,invicta455,tennaragtop71,arks, Kendal,Bennett68C10, Perpendicular, Chainsawman, McGeesCustomMinis,ShortbedClayton,longblue72,6768chevylover,Tim71,Travisarmenta,Ol' Drippy,fleetmitch,georgieb51,Dave,bcnya2,Dadsburb https://paypal.me/6772GMtruckparts Most women like the strong, silent type… Fortunately for me, my wife prefers the out-of-shape, mouthy type. |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#32 |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Marianna Arkansas
Posts: 7,270
|
Re: Craziest thing you've done to "just get home"
I put in a breif rundown of what I did to get my wife and myself home from the other side of the state several years ago. I know how ya'll love pic so I dug one out . This is what we ended up with this was taken at my shop right after we took the straps off that held the doors shut ,if you look you can see one hanging by the drivers door. By the way the man that got this sub from me still drives it every day , he live about 4 blocks down the street from me
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#33 |
Family Man
![]() Join Date: May 2010
Location: Western Kentucky
Posts: 80
|
Re: Craziest thing you've done to "just get home"
Lost the brakes in my old 81 K10 and was 30 miles from home. I was able to take backroads most of the way home, slow speeds and using the e-brake to stop when needed got me back.
__________________
70 SWB....in peices waiting for the new shop to be built! |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#34 |
Sheetmetal Psycho
Join Date: May 2005
Location: athens PA
Posts: 515
|
Re: Craziest thing you've done to "just get home"
I had an 85 chevy spectrum. This pos was what I drove in high school while I was fixing up my 72 C10. Now picture a car with a couple tubs of bondo in the hood and fenders because wind would catch the hood after hitting a few deer. Headlights screwed to straps. no door handles. Hit a bump and the trunk would open. This thing looked like someone put plates on an abandoned car. Anyways, I spent a fair length of time using the parking brake because the regular lines rotted out. After a few weeks, the clutch cable snaps in the parking lot. My friends say that pos is toast. You'll never drive it home. I hopped in and said I'll see ya tomorrow. Started it in gear and speed shifted it home. As soon as I could afford to, it got recycled to put my truck on the road.
__________________
I didn't say you were stupid, but I was thinking it... I need a check up from the neck up! Project "Rigginstine's Monster" 1971 C-10 longbed 355/4spd Future mods: 67 front clip Webby's Rigginations - where everything has potential! |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#35 |
Second Chance Program
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 2,642
|
Re: Craziest thing you've done to "just get home"
Good storys!
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#36 |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Anchorage Alaska
Posts: 412
|
Re: Craziest thing you've done to "just get home"
this is not about me... but its one of the crazys that live around here ..while driving sitting at a stop light i pulled up next to a guy and noticed that he had a generator running, in the bed, plugged in to a battery charger, and hooked to the battery with the hood slightly ajar....obviously he had a bad alternator...priceless ......i still tell that story to this day...i laughed for days after that
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#37 |
Registered User
Join Date: May 2008
Location: S.W. Chicago, IL.
Posts: 317
|
Re: Craziest thing you've done to "just get home"
Another one in the 74 Malibu -
About 25 years ago, I leave a friends' house way out in the country at 4am. A few miles down the road the alt/gen light comes on. A few more miles, the temp light comes on. I figure I lost the belt. It's late, the middle of nowhere, in winter, screw it I'm pushing on! Make another 20 miles and get pulled over by the cops. I get out pleading to let me go, my car is dying and I'm only 5 miles from home. No dice, so I shut the car off. I find the belt intact hanging on the water pump. So I start wrenching while the cop is writing. He hands me a speeding ticket, and I say I might need a jump. He says tough, and leaves me! I tightened up the belt and it fired right up and drove it home. |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#38 |
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Lake Stevens, WA
Posts: 623
|
Re: Craziest thing you've done to "just get home"
When i was a kid, the family decided to move across the country. 3,000 miles, and during that time two valve springs broke on the old 292 in the '65 chevy truck we where driving. we had a box of simple tools, so we pulled into a theater parking lot and parked under an overhang in the pouring rain while my dad changed out the spring.
he couldn't figure out a way to keep the valve from dropping into the cylinder while changing the spring out until my mom give him one of her knitting needles to bend into this wierd contorted form so it would fit through the spark plug hole and my mom could hold up the valve while my dad tried to compress the spring enough to get the new one on. we did that twice on that trip. he kept valve springs in his toolbox for many years after that, long after we got rid of that truck. a couple years back, we had a really hot day (103F) here and the truck overheated on the way into seattle 30 some miles away. Pretty soon coolant and trans fluid was pouring onto the ground and i parked the truck a couple miles from where i needed to be, told the wife to guard the truck and i would be back. i sweated several miles to my destination, then several miles back, hopped in the truck hoping it was cooled down enough and headed home. 5 miles down the road, steam starting coming from under the hood and sure enough, trans fluid starting pouring onto the ground. so we whipped into a 7 eleven, got 10 quarts of trans fluid, filled up the radiator with a hose and jetted out of there. we made it the remaining 25 miles home, stopping every couple of miles to put another quart in the trans. There was a very nice trail of trans fluid and antifreeze behind us the entire way. by the time we got home, the trans wasn't shifting right and i had pretty much resigned myself to it being destroyed. I wasn't worried about the motor, it had seen worse. The next day i went out, fixed the overheat issue, fired it up and still drive the truck to this day. Never a problem with either engine or trans since then. |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#39 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: South Dakota
Posts: 4,093
|
Re: Craziest thing you've done to "just get home"
Well I didn't know it at the time but I drove close to 400 miles home going on average over 80mph with only one bolted in motor mount and no seat belts. Had a radio though so its all good
![]()
__________________
1969 Chevy c20(Miss Hackjob) |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#40 |
Newbee
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Phoenix, Arizona
Posts: 1,406
|
Re: Craziest thing you've done to "just get home"
My list of "fixes" is very long...
40 years of four wheeling in Arizona breaks ALOT of parts! My most proud "fix" was on my CJ5. I broke a rear spring about 30 miles off of the highway. Most of the trail was 4 low, and very rocky. I chopped a nice sized tree into a 2' long log, with a small hatchet. I then " borrowed" about 20' of barbed wire from the top of a fence. Strapped the log to the frame with the wire, so that the axle would rest on it ( doing this will result in looking like you were in a fight with a badger). Wheeled the 30 miles back to the highway, and drove the 120 miles home with no issues. The next day, the log was worn about 1/2 way through, and so was the U bolts that hold the axle on. |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#41 | |
Chemist under the hood...
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Fort Erie,ON, Canada
Posts: 617
|
Re: Craziest thing you've done to "just get home"
Quote:
__________________
Current fleet: 2013 GMC Sierra, 5.3L, 4x4 1988 GMC Sierra, 305, Auto 1984 Jeep Grand Wagoneer, 360 V8 1997 VW Cabrio, 2.0L 2017 Toyota Rav4, 2.5L Stuff I wish I still had: 2013 Toyota Matrix [RIP] 1967 GMC 910 Fleetside, 283 V8 [1st Love-SOLD] 1987 Jeep Cherokee Laredo 4X4, 4.0 I-6 [SOLD} 1994 Chevrolet Caprice Classic, 5.7LV8 [SOLD] 1995 Chevrolet Astro AWD, 4.3L V6 (RIP) 1998 Chevrolet Suburban 4x4, 5.7L V8 [SOLD] |
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#42 |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Foster Rhode Island
Posts: 1,176
|
Re: Craziest thing you've done to "just get home"
Since I first saw this post I knew I had to write something in but cant figure out which adventure to write about,believe me when I tell you theres been a few in 32 years of driving. I should also mention that I can only think of one vehicle Ive had that I paid over $1000 dollars for on the initial purchase and many were $500 and down.
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#43 |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Lockport, IL
Posts: 27
|
Re: Craziest thing you've done to "just get home"
Here's a different take...
Snapped my Achilles in a Rec league basketball game. Wasn't going to pay for an E-room visit so I had my teammates toss me in the truck and drove home with just my left foot. Wouldn't be such a big deal if the truck wasn't a 4 speed. Which in turn wouldn't have been that bad if I80 wasn't jacked up with a Car Accident and it was bumper to bumper at 10-15 mph. Finally just pulled it into 4 low and crawled at an idle in second gear until I got passed the accident. |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#44 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Inwood, WV
Posts: 41
|
Re: Craziest thing you've done to "just get home"
Drove 2 hours away to look at a 57 GMC that I was interested in.
It ran and drove, but barely. There was a lot of chewing gum and coat hangars holding this truck together, but for the most part she was all original and the important parts were there. Knowing we were asking for trouble we flipped a coin to either attempt to drive it home or go find a U-Haul trailer. So I'm driving this beast down the highway and it started to rain. Windshield wipers were a couple of those "less than important" parts that were missing. After a quick stop at the next gas station, some Rain X, and a hand held squeegee like they have at the gas pumps to use while you're filling up, we were on our way again. I'm driving and my buddy is hanging out the passenger window scraping the windshield with that squeegee. We made it most of the way home, but she over heated and we ended up with the U-Haul trailer anyway. |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#45 |
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: ringgold, ga
Posts: 164
|
Re: Craziest thing you've done to "just get home"
Used a pen cap for a carter pin on the carb linkage, ran better than it ever had. haha
__________________
70 Chevy C10, LT1, T5, "Blue Beast" |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#46 |
I dun gradjiated collij!!!
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: St. Helens Oregon
Posts: 1,751
|
Re: Craziest thing you've done to "just get home"
"Borrowed" my mom's '75 Monte Carlo and a bunch of us decided to play hooky up at Lake Berryessa one spring day 25 years ago. Well we loaded 6 of us in the beasty and away we went haulin a$$ through the mountain pass up to the lake. All the spirited driving and occasional donuts in gravel turnouts along the way took its toll on the radiator and we sprung a leak just as we got to our destination. Being young and way dumb we let the car cool down while we hung out with friends. My buddies put away a 12 pack, while I downed my fair share of Mountain Dews. Even that young and dumb I knew better than to drink and drive.
Once we left I noticed the temp climbing again and realized we needed coolant and a way to patch the leak (tube had cracked). Luckily we had some needle nose pliers in the trunk and I rolled up the tube, crimped nice and tight fixing the leak. Coolant was nowhere to be found.. well kinda. We pondered the situation for a while when my buddy tells me he needs to go take a whiz in the bushes... BINGO!... yup, we all took turns "fillin" the radiator as much as we could topped it off with a beer and 2 Mountain Dews from the cooler and off to town we went. Being a teenaged boy my mind had two things on it most of the time... girls and their anatomy, so I totally forgot about the "repair" until the heater core went out about 4 months later... Man that car stunk to high heaven for weeks. I only wish I had seen the looks on the mechanics faces as they pulled the core and flushed the system... ![]()
__________________
Built NOT Bought. Viper Red 1971 LWB C10 355 Vortec W/700R4 4/5 drop AKA Screamin' You are missed!
2006 F150 XLT 5.4L Triton Rollin' on 22s the "F1" 67 C20 PS/AC/327/TH400 we call 'er "Bessie" 67 Malibu PS/ZR1-LS1 Brakes/350 Vortec/700R4 2/2 drop on 18" 338s - Tracy's "Boo" Boosted '67 Cougar EFI 5.0 HO roller motor/T5/8.8 Tracloc/ 4 wheel disks - "Project Panther" 79 Honda Z50 - stretched, cafe'd and hotrodded 125CC Lifan/5spd FEAR THE MONKEY! |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#47 |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Ozark, MO
Posts: 4,887
|
Re: Craziest thing you've done to "just get home"
A couple miles home in reverse. It was pretty smooth sailing except the 4 way stops, that really blew people's minds...
Another time, the windshield on my Festiva (haha I know) was iced and fogged over and the defroster wouldn't work. So the passenger "navigated" for me with his head out the window. Since that was so much fun, I had one of the guys in the back seat shift gears and another one do the steering wheel. SO, let me recap...I'm working the pedals and taking direction from the navigator who had his head out the window, another guy is shifting and yet another is steering and nobody can see a thing out the windshield. We made it all the way into town for some food and back home. Might have been some beer involved : (
__________________
'20 Silverado Trail Boss ~ '17 Tahoe ~ '79 K15 Sierra Grande ~ '76 Blazer 2wd ~ '71 Cheyenne swb ~ '55 Pontiac Safari ~'50 3100 bagged ~ '80 Wife ~ Late model kids
Last edited by LEEVON; 04-01-2012 at 06:44 PM. |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#48 |
"brand new second-hand"
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: White House, Tennessee
Posts: 526
|
Re: Craziest thing you've done to "just get home"
One of the many stories I have had was just a few years ago. My Dad called me and explianed that he was going to replace the old 69 truck for a new ranch truck. He asked me if I wanted it and a gladly accepted. When I got to his place, which was 525 miles from my house, he asked me how I planned on getting it home. I told him that I had rebuilt the truck about 17 years ago and I would just drive it home. I checked all the basics before I left, oil, water lights etc. and with my wife following me, headed for home. Got to a gas station about 100 miles away and after filling up the truck would not start. It had a new battery but just click so after about 1/2 hour I got a BFH and tapped the starter and then she started. Drove about 45 miles past Phonienix and just then the engine spewed all the radiator water just as I was coming to a rest stop, so I coasted in and tried to figure out how to get home since I had so much trust in my workmanship, I didn't carry any tools!
![]() ![]() ![]()
__________________
Steve 69 3/4t custom camper tilt,am/fm,speed warning,air gauge,buddy buckets,aux battery, big block,p/s,p/b,a/c 67 Camaro 96 Impala ss-sold 04 hybrid Honda-saving gas for the blue truck!:b69: |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#49 |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: everett washington
Posts: 382
|
Re: Craziest thing you've done to "just get home"
one that comes to mind for me was when I bought a 68 Thunderbird 4-door (it had suicide rear doors like the lincolns of the day)in Seattle. owner told it just needed a fuel tank and it'd run and drive.
I thought "it's only 35 miles" so me and a buddy drive down with a 10 gallon pony tank for a boat and some fuel line. I routed the temp fuel line onto the pass floorboard hooked-up the pony tank, checked all fluids, started the car and away we go. me in the T-bird and my buddy running chase in my 66 Econoline. Made it about 1 mile and car started overheating, let it cool and as we were gonna be driving interstate speeds for most of the rest way home I pulled the thermostat, refilled the rad with water and rachet straped the drivers door and passanger rear door shut as the latch wouldn't catch and we started off again. Getting up to 65 took a bit so I pulled off again and after a quick inspection discovered the carb was flooding out after it warmed up, so I took a headlight conector for a 9006 headlight bulb that I had in my tool kit and cliped it to the carb housing to hold the butterfly open and drove the car the rest of the way home like that. That was a adventure. I restored the bird and sold it about a year later
__________________
a wise man once said "There are only two real rules to life... 1 - Don't sweat the small stuff 2 - Everything is small stuff |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#50 |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: newbury park california
Posts: 1,038
|
Re: Craziest thing you've done to "just get home"
This happened to me back in my VW daze! I had a 72 beetle 2240cc close ratio trans all the good stuff, porsche alloys disc brakes, basic drag car on the street! I could pull the front wheels off the ground from 1st to 2nd gear. any how,broke a throttle cable on the 101 at cold water canyon and pulled into the center divider( no emergency lane ) cars were just blowing bye! I had to get out of there or be hit so I took of one of my chicks shoe laces and tied the dual 48 IDA webers open and started it up and made a speed run off the freeway! Sounds funny, but to control the gas I turned the key off& on! Never was I more happy to have a 11 second street car (4 mpg) cheers, Pat
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
Bookmarks |
|
|