Stage Fright

[Bonehead]

Today I went to the Bo Huff Car Show ( and Party). The Bonehead truck has a 1963 engine that was rebuilt several years ago. At the time it was re-cammed. I put the two fours on it, and it has alway run like a top. Today as I pulled it down into the park in front of hundreds of onlookers, it started missing a little and tried to die. I pumped a little gas and it came to life, then farted a little and quit. I could smell the gas, and figgured I flooded it. I reached for the key and it fired up again, only to die. I thought I had better let it set for a time and dry out. Went back to it, and it fired off and ran really good for about 30 seconds. And gave up again. Some buddies helped me push it out of the way. I suspected the coil. A friend of mine happened to have an extra one. Later in the day, we put the new coil on and it was back to the same old Bonehead Truck.
The coil was old, 20 years or more, why do you suppose it quit in front of a crowd instead of at home? Dang old Murphy anyway.

 

[cycledog]

Yep thats ol' Murph, if it can go wrong it will or if it has tires or **** it will give you problems not to mention the embarrassment. Glad to hear its back to normal.

 

[BruceR&C]

They always pick the worst times to give you fits. Have had similar experiences with The Beast (Momma's truck) & my P15.

 

[Gastrick]

I hate it when that happens. I know on occasion I find myself saying "Whay couldn't that have happened (insert more appropriate time here)". Well at least it was just the coil and all ended well and you weren't stranded in the boonies without a spare.

 

[gassersgarage]

It only happens to me when I go to sell my car. I know longer take "last rides".

 

[tiny1]

Sound like something that would happen to me. Glad you got her going again

 

[donsrods]

It only happens to me when I go to sell my car. I know longer take "last rides".

Yep.........ALWAYS happens. Car can run like a champ for 30 years, but when someone is interested in buying it the thing will refuse to start or miss like mad.

I had a cabin cruiser that I was selling one time, this boat was perfect in all respects and ran like the proverbial clock. One tap on the key and it would fire up. A family came to see it and we sat in the cabin talking about it, they loved the boat. I said "and here is the best part, look how it runs." You guessed it, I turned the key and NOTHING. They got up and left. Turned out to be a $ 10 safety switch that decided to take that opportunity to take a dump.

That Murphy is a cruel dude.

Don

 

[gassersgarage]

Yep.........ALWAYS happens. Car can run like a champ for 30 years, but when someone is interested in buying it the thing will refuse to start or miss like mad.

I had a cabin cruiser that I was selling one time, this boat was perfect in all respects and ran like the proverbial clock. One tap on the key and it would fire up. A family came to see it and we sat in the cabin talking about it, they loved the boat. I said "and here is the best part, look how it runs." You guessed it, I turned the key and NOTHING. They got up and left. Turned out to be a $ 10 safety switch that decided to take that opportunity to take a dump.

That Murphy is a cruel dude.

Don

I sold my '65 Biscayne and decided "one last ride". Driving to a popular cruise spot at 5 in the morning, the dash lights start to flicker. I had just installed a new stereo and figured it was shorting out, so I killed the stereo. Kept happening so I started to look for an off ramp. As I pulled off, my foot began to burn. I figured the oil line to the pressure gauge broke so I killed the engine. I parked and noticed a glow under the dash. My God, it's on fire. Jumped out of the car and thought, it's insured, for a moment. Grab a rag, jumped back in and beat the flames out. Called AAA and towed the car home. Turns out, the hazard flasher wire was rubbing on the braided oil line. When it wore through, it flashed right through the line, sprayed oil everywhere and ignited.

Called the buyer that morning and told him I couldn't sell the car. He still wanted it and offered a deposit. He also wanted an electric gauge and the speedo fixed. After replacing the carpet, rewired the dash, new electric oil pressure gauge and fixed the speedo, the buyer backed out.

Sold the car the following week for $2K extra. NO LAST RIDES!!!

 

[theracedude]

It only happens to me when I go to sell my car. I know longer take "last rides".

me too. i had a truck pick up a rod knock and a nutter jump timing. but i have bought cars that have done things to the current owners and i got a sweet deal.