Background: '57 needed new a-arm bushings. I ordered polys from Summit, but didn't have time to get them in myself before driving it back to Nebraska for my highschool reuninon Memorial Day weekend.

Called around, made appointment for shop to replace and align on Monday before. They didn't get to it that day, asked to keep it until Tuesday. Called again Tuesday; taking more time than they expected, had to lift engine off mounts to get the arms out, wouldn't have it finished & aligned until Wednesday. Picked it up Wednesday, drove fine (great, in fact). Left Friday morning for reunion.

On the trip, heard a buzzing noise under the hood, radio was full of static, figured alternator was going. But, nothing got any worse, so continued to drive it and got back home fine. The next weekend, took it out to the track (1st race this year where I had to run through the mufflers), it wouldn't rev to redline, worst times of the year. Rejetted, started it up to check for leaks, realized (finally) that the buzzing was coming from the distributor. Took off cap, checked for loose rotor/cracks/carbon tracks/etc. - nothing. Finally, discovered the coil ground wire terminal was just stuffed up in the cap (HEI ignition w/Crane box - stock-type connectors aren't there). Apparently they took the cap off when they lifted the engine (at least they thought of that), had put maker numbers on the plug wires, and I guess disconnected all the primary wires to the cap as well and didn't get that one wire back on right. I hooked it up - buzzing gone, radio works again, revs to redline again, etc.

Sorry for the long venting, but just another reason why I wish I could have spent the money I gave them for labor on the shop press I've been wanting...

At the reuninon...

 

Nice car.... ever give a thought to losing a couple of doors?

You went to school with a bunch of old geezers, didn't you?!?!? Damn boy, some of those people are near as old as me!

 

As a matter of fact, I have considered losing a couple...

Funny, they seem to keep getting older, but I'm still 18...

 

Some shops are so ignorant.

One guy crossed 3 plug wires on my car. I had to re-route my wires because they kept burning up. Instead of intalling them by length I installed them the way I wanted so they wouldn't burn up.

I knew before hand, most shops will remove plug wires and just plug them back in by length rather than taking the time and labeling wires, so before i brought my car to the shop I just used some duct tape and labeled each wire. The MORON STILL installed them by length, AND he left a spark plug out! He tried telling me I BROUGHT MY CAR TO HIM running like that!!! I just laughed, said "Give me my f'cking keys" and left. I got her home, found a plug was missing, which explained the smell of gas, and I found he crossed 3 wires. Boggles my mind! The guy was certified, so he had *some* credibility to his name!

Amazing, since then I've made an appoint to do every repair or modification on my own. Or if I can't, I'll pay engine shops the big bucks they want to do it right the first time.

 

Forget about the doors. It looks like some of the Kid's buddies could stand to lose a few spare tires.

I'm glad that you and I are still only 18 (+/-30 or so). Most of the people at my 25th looked the same way - like a group photo of Ritalin/Prozak/Viagra/Rogain poster children... or as proctologists would say, "A retirement account".

See? Next time, fight your urges and convince your roommate that you should spend the labor $$ on the necessary equipment to do it yourself. Of course, then you'll need to spend a little more on the space to store it, but it's only money.

Nice ride.

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EDIT: OH! Non-Tech! Non-Tech! Ban 'im!

If you take your car for service, always test drive it before accepting the bill.

(There. Satisfied?)

 

"Technically speaking", yes, spare tires are an issue.

That buzzing noise was the wierdest thing. I assume it was the coil arcing - I didn't even imagine that's what it could be when I first heard it, because I could hear it above the exhaust noise. I'm hoping no damage was done to the coil or ignition box.

 

No way! Fast door collectors are cool .

 

Matt,

Nice location. Bring 'em on. We'll supply the refreshments...

 

#9 or #7?

 

Vader,

I didn't know you were a Canadian, too!

 

Bull,

Only on the inside...

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AJ,

Nien Nine. {Got it?)

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5-7,

If it has returned to normal operation, I woulsn't be too concerned. The coil insulation is designed for higher voltage, so transients on the primary side shouldn't have caused any breakdown. I'm not sure what kind of switching is used in the Crane box (probably a power Darlington) but their engineers hopefully seleceted a robust output capable of the voltage and loads. I'd be a little more concerned with the input side of the HEI module, especially if it's a factory type. They seem to be a little more sensitive to higher currents and it wouldn't surprise me if they couldn't handle the sustained transients on the low side. If you have a spare lying around, you might want to keep it in the glove box on road trips for a while.

 

The Crane connects directly to the trigger, so the module is eliminated. I guess that's good news.

My times picked back up (down?) to normal yesterday, so it looks like it has returned to "pre-bushing job" operation.