Dumbest Thing Options

[bkrantz]

I know we have threads about PO stupidity, but how about the dumbest 914 thing you have done?

I will start with a, ahem, senior moment I had today. When I tried to add oil after my recent engine re-installation, it would not go in. Short version: I forgot to remove the paper towels I had folded up and tucked into the breather recess while the engine was out of the car, to keep anything from falling into the case.

I still can't believe that I installed the breather and did not see and remove paper towels.

[VaccaRabite]

Well, lets see... I have a tie I think.

1) after checking compression on my engine, I did not realize that the compression hose had unscrewed from the spark bore adapter on the #2 cylinder. I screwed in the spark plug to the compression adapter (they were the same thread and went in easy). I did not notice that the plug was sitting about 1.5inches higher then usual.
Drove around pissed off that I had a really bad miss on one of my cylinders after spring maintenance...

2) While doing work on the dizzy, the little spring at the bottom of the distributor shaft somehow went down the tiny hole offset in the dizzy shaft bore and into the engine case. I had to get under the car, lower the nose of the engine, pull the oil pump out and fish out the spring. It was a hot humid day and I was coated in sweat and oil by the time I rolled out from under the car.

Zach