DumBAsS move of the week.......

[HOrnbrod]

Or maybe the month. Today I was installing a mounting bracket behind the radiator for a new electric fan, the drill slips, and knocks a hole in my aluminum radiator. Local shop says they probably can fix it with an epoxy patch, chances are 50/50. :nuts: So I left it with them, and ordered a new one. So I'll have a 50/50 spare rad. Dayem, I hate it when these things happen.........

[maddzz1]

I thought those things only happened to me.

[mjeff87]

oooops.... :oops:

 

We all have our moments Don....it's just when the moments become more frequent that you have to start worrying ;)

 

Jeff

[mvusse]

Whooops....

[SuperWade2]

I don't fix anything on either one of my trucks without breaking at least 3 others... That's just the rules of my garage...

 

Sw2

[HOrnbrod]

Thanks guys - I feel a bit better. Still feel like a dumbass, but better. And I should know better. I better start taking my time. Better be more careful. Better shut up. :cry:

[comanche87]

i know how ya feel. the day before i started work again my track bar snaped. i ended up replacing the bracket too. luckly maddzz1. was there to help me out. its great that people on here help others out.

[pingpong]

Man I have had so many D/A moves... Like drilling a hole in my gas tank :eek: or cutting my brake line with the plasma cutter :mad: You are not the only one cursed by the 4 letter J word

[jeepdoggydogB]

Thanks guys - I feel a bit better. Still feel like a dumbass, but better. And I should know better. I better start taking my time. Better be more careful. Better shut up. :cry:

I had the same thing happen to me when I was drilling through the frame in my old TJ to install rear towhooks. Drilled a hole in the plastic fuel tank and used the epoxy to reseal it. By the way what kind of aluminum radiator are you using? My radiator is starting to fail (I overheat only in really hot weather) and the one in Quadratec is $499.

[HOrnbrod]

Thanks guys - I feel a bit better. Still feel like a dumbass, but better. And I should know better. I better start taking my time. Better be more careful. Better shut up. :cry:

I had the same thing happen to me when I was drilling through the frame in my old TJ to install rear towhooks. Drilled a hole in the plastic fuel tank and used the epoxy to reseal it. By the way what kind of aluminum radiator are you using? My radiator is starting to fail (I overheat only in really hot weather) and the one in Quadratec is $499.

 

I'm using the one in the link below, the Jeep Cherokee #9168. $200 shipped. This is the only rad that would cool my new stroker during the break-in period. They work great and are well made. BTW, I'm modifying my electric fan conversion and did a writeup in the DIY project writeups section.

 

http://www.alumrad.com/dblpass.html

[jeepdoggydogB]

Thanks guys - I feel a bit better. Still feel like a dumbass, but better. And I should know better. I better start taking my time. Better be more careful. Better shut up. :cry:

I had the same thing happen to me when I was drilling through the frame in my old TJ to install rear towhooks. Drilled a hole in the plastic fuel tank and used the epoxy to reseal it. By the way what kind of aluminum radiator are you using? My radiator is starting to fail (I overheat only in really hot weather) and the one in Quadratec is $499.

 

I'm using the one in the link below, the Jeep Cherokee #9168. $200 shipped. This is the only rad that would cool my new stroker during the break-in period. They work great and are well made. BTW, I'm modifying my electric fan conversion and did a writeup in the DIY project writeups section.

 

http://www.alumrad.com/dblpass.html

 

Sure beats $500, nice DIY writeup. :cheers:

[gixxerman600]

:dunce: <--- I thank we have all worne this and had to stand in the corner for 10 min some time or anouther.LOL

[Eagle]

Oh, yeah. We've all been there. At least a radiator is external.

 

In my racing days I had just finished a new engine for my hillclimb and autocrosser. AMC V8. Buttoned everything up, had it all in the car, fired it up for the first time ... and heard about the most God-awful sreeching I think I've ever heard. Followed in short order by coolant peeing all over the garage floor.

 

Took me awhile to figure out what I had done (or NOT done). I forgot to torque down the bolt in the end of the cam that holds the drive gear on. So when I installed the front cover (which in an AMC V8 houses the oil pump and is also the back of the water pump), the bolt head was out far enough that it cracked the aluminum housing and drove it forward so it was an interference fit with the water pump impeller.

 

That one was both costly AND embarrassing.

 

The episode with the Cherokee was only embarrassing. I was fixing up an '88 XJ for my ex-girlfriend. Goy one cheap because the previous owner's father was certain it had a blown engine. What it actually had was a cracked flex plate. Simple fix -- if you're not a bonehead. My Jeep pal Erich was up helping me the night I was putting everything back together. We got it all buttoned up. It was up in the air on four jackstands, so I fired it up and the engine started right away. That's always a good sign. I blipped the throttle a couple of times and it felt REALLY peppy. Super throttle response, which I didn't expect from a Renix engine with 165,000 miles on it. Then I put it in gear to see if the 4-wheel drive worked.

 

Hmmm ... no wheels turning. Tried again, figured maybe we didn't get the tranny linkage quite right. No joy. Much muttering and scratching of heads. Finally, a small light bulb lit in the dim recesses of my reptilean brain:

 

"Hey, Erich -- you bolted the torque converter to the flex plate before we mounted the bellhousing to the block, right?"

 

"No, I thought you did that."

 

Oops.

[wooky48]

I don't fix anything on either one of my trucks without breaking at least 3 others... That's just the rules of my garage...

 

Sw2

 

That sounds JUST like my garage :cheers: which happens to be under and OLD oak tree . . . yup shadetree parts changer here

[HOrnbrod]

Oh, yeah. We've all been there. At least a radiator is external.

 

In my racing days I had just finished a new engine for my hillclimb and autocrosser. AMC V8. Buttoned everything up, had it all in the car, fired it up for the first time ... and heard about the most God-awful sreeching I think I've ever heard. Followed in short order by coolant peeing all over the garage floor.

 

Took me awhile to figure out what I had done (or NOT done). I forgot to torque down the bolt in the end of the cam that holds the drive gear on. So when I installed the front cover (which in an AMC V8 houses the oil pump and is also the back of the water pump), the bolt head was out far enough that it cracked the aluminum housing and drove it forward so it was an interference fit with the water pump impeller.

 

That one was both costly AND embarrassing.

 

The episode with the Cherokee was only embarrassing. I was fixing up an '88 XJ for my ex-girlfriend. Goy one cheap because the previous owner's father was certain it had a blown engine. What it actually had was a cracked flex plate. Simple fix -- if you're not a bonehead. My Jeep pal Erich was up helping me the night I was putting everything back together. We got it all buttoned up. It was up in the air on four jackstands, so I fired it up and the engine started right away. That's always a good sign. I blipped the throttle a couple of times and it felt REALLY peppy. Super throttle response, which I didn't expect from a Renix engine with 165,000 miles on it. Then I put it in gear to see if the 4-wheel drive worked.

 

Hmmm ... no wheels turning. Tried again, figured maybe we didn't get the tranny linkage quite right. No joy. Much muttering and scratching of heads. Finally, a small light bulb lit in the dim recesses of my reptilean brain:

 

"Hey, Erich -- you bolted the torque converter to the flex plate before we mounted the bellhousing to the block, right?"

 

"No, I thought you did that." Oops.

 

All this is soooooooo GOOD to hear. :D Y'all have made me feel so much better for my $200+ mistake - many thanks. I think it might be a good idea to start a sticky in the PUB for the "Bonehead of the Month Award". I can see the competition will be intense with the cast of characters on this forum. :eek: I don't know how we'd work it; but Pete always knows how to do these things. Self deprecation is sometimes good for the soul. And if you've committed a major bonehead mistake, there's always someone who can top it.

 

The prize for the "Bonehead of the Month" selectee could be the never-ending ridicule and mockery of the runners up, until the next bonehead claims the award the following month. Could be fun. :cheers:

[jtdesigns]

I've never told anyone this.......

 

I dropped a 7/16 nut in one of my uncles v8s carbs.. It bent a valve and cracked a performer head.. :oops: I have never admitted it until now.. lol... that has to have been around 15 years ago..

 

 

and just last weekend I blew a hole in my lawnmowers engine.. I removed the gov :brows: and bumped the rpm's up a bit.. Was wanting to see how much she'd take.. didnt take much.. hehe.....

Its ok though someone gave it to me, deck was rusted through, and I just got my dads old mower..

 

 

THE CARNAGE:

 

 

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[HOrnbrod]

That's pretty good JT. Here's a neat bonehead move I made a few years ago:

 

I bought an nearly finished 36 Ford 5-window coupe hot rod with a small block 327 during my last year of HS. Got it running pretty well, thought I knew it all, but it stumbled a bit going around corners. No brainer: the float level adj. had to be off. It had a Holley 650 dual feed 4-barrel (the old style w. the external float level adjustment). You can see where this is leading. Pulled the plug on the float bowl, engine was hotter than I thought, POOF! Flames everywhere. :eek: What a dumbass. Luckily there was a garden hose close by, I shut the engine off, put the fire out, and surveyed the carnage. Had to do some major rewiring, repaint the hood & fenders, and replace the windshield because it shattered when the cold water hit it. Ah, memories.

[wooky48]

Not really a bonehead but true, I was changing the oil in a Chevette I had years ago. My daughter (5 years old at that time) was asking all kinds of questions and I explained to her that the oil was kind of like our blood. A few minutes later I asked her to go in the house and get me some paper towels to wipe my hands with. A minute later my Dad came crashing out the door ran up to where I was wondering if I was ok. My daughter went in and told him I needed to wipe some blood off of my hands. All three of us still laugh about that.