Best dead on the road saves, Getting home stories Options

[r_towle]

What are some of your best “getting it home” repairs?
Those side of the road breakdowns you will never forget?

I have a few…
One of the best was when a buddy and I were heading up north to ski country and the throttle cable broke on my vw beetle. I got out, sat sideways on the rear bumper and I was the accelerator while he drove us up off the highway to a gas station….then bike cable and some clamps, fixed.

914 broke the cable at the local autox , about 10-15 miles away.
I tied that sucker off at 3500 rpm’s with my shoelace and drove home
I was given some wide eyes at a few lights and stop signs….but it worked.

[targa72e]

I will keep this to 914 related saves as there have been many others.
I had the accelerator rod to pivot break on highway. Coasted to off ramp. -6 with carbs. Cranked the idle screws up to 3K idle and went back way home. slowly.

Trip to Red Rocks classic last year (same car). Very unusual for area, incredibly heavy rain in Grand Junction which was our overnight stop before heading to Salt lake. Next morning go to start car and it turns slightly and stops. Think, dead battery? try again and will not crank but other electrical systems appear fine, even when trying to crank. Was getting ready to trying to jump start or push start but then think, heavy rain and 50 year old air cleaner system might have allowed water into engine. Pulled plugs crank and a couple cylinder puke water. Yes engine was hydolocked. All good now, car cranks but will not start. Think again that much rain/water was able to get into the engine it probably also got into carbs. so I remove float bowl drains and drain fuel (and water) in hotel parking lot. I try again and Car fires and runs fine and I make it to Salt lake.
Next day drive to PMB for first drive of week and while idling in parking lot getting ready to leave for drive of the day the car dies. Pretty much the worst possible time to have a problem. After other cars leave I can hear fuel pump is not running. Check a couple things and then wiggle fuel pump relay and hear pump start running, car fires and I join the others for the drive.
Later that day after going over several high mountain passes and parking at high elevation car is hard to start and runs bad after idling for short time. Runs fine when driving hard and fast. I make it back to base hotel to trouble shoot and the floats are stuck open probably from water (and what ever else washed into carbs) percolating with hot engine at high elevation. Borrow tools and remove and clean needle valves. Car runs ok and finish the other drives and I make the 8 hour trip back to Denver. Further diagnosis shows most of the accelerator pump nozzles are also plugged and needed cleaning. Rebuild carbs (again) and all is good. These cars do not like being out in heavy rains. Had a great time at RRC despite some minor set backs.

john