Another 'Classic' CptTripps Welding Story. Options

[CptTripps]

As some of you remember, I had an..er...interesting time with a car I bought at WCC. ( http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?act=...=ST&f=2&t=30092 ) ...here's the MWC story.

Let me start with an apology...there are no pics to go with this...you'll understand why in a sec.

So we're all set for the 'Run to Hell and Back' and I'm raring to go. I didn't get to drive the 'fun run' at WCC because...well...I didn't have a car out there. (Riding shotgun with Brando was fun though!) So I'm the third car in line...had a goox mix loaded into the iPod, had bottles of water, 2 Cigars, Money for ice-cream...let's go, let's go...

So off we go...map at my side, driving gloves on, stogy lit and the tunes jammin. This is where the fun starts...

About 20min into the 'run' and my accelerator pedal starts to feel REAL light. Hmm... My mind raced back to the earlier in the weekend when Gary and I re-did the linkage on my carbs. "Well, that must be it...just came loose." So I pulled over and to investigate. So there we are, 20min into it, and I'm pulled over...everyone thought that we were stopping to collect everyone, so 35 cars pile in behind me. I waved them all on, and went back to re-investigate the situation.

So there I am, by myself in the middle of rural Michigan, Saturday afternoon...and I find the problem. Ready...(drumroll)

The throttle 'key' from the passenger side carb SPLIT IN TWO. (This is the part I'm talking about.) Half was on the end of the linkage, the other half was on the carborator. After looking at it and pondering for a few min, I came to the realization that there is NO way to 'rig' the thing so I can limp home. I'm reaching for my phone to cal AAA, and I hear a guy behind me...

Guy: I live right up the street...need any tools?
Me: Naaa...I think I'm past tools and into welding at this point
Guy: My neighbor has a welder...want to go see if he's home?
Me: Really?
Guy: Sure...hop in, and bring your parts.

So we we're off to his neighbor's house to see if A: he was home, and B: Can I borrow his welder? About 5min later, we're at his doorstep, and sue enough...he's home.

Guy: I picked up a stragler, he broke down, and needs to borrow your welder to get back on the road.
Guy's Neighbor: No problem...do you know how to weld?
Me: I know enough to fix this. :: holding part up ::
Guy's Neighbor: Let's get you set up.

This is when Samson calls me.

Samson: You ok man?
Me: Yeah, I gotta run, but I'll call you in a sec.

So the 'Neighbor' (Scott) get's me set up with his Craftsman MIG, and 'Guy' (Gary) helps me get the parts clamped together and ready. 3min later, I'm welding it up, and things are starting to come together. (No pun intended.) After I was sure it was all 'one piece' again, I looked at my welds...

Me: Looks good enough to get me home.
Scott: I've got a grinder over here...you can clean it up if you want.
Me: Sweet.

So the end result was a DECENT weld-job on a part that would be IMPOSSIBLE to find. Gary gives me a ride back to the car, and it took about 30sec to get it fired up. Carbs weren't perfectly synched, but I wouldn't expect that they would be...but it RAN! right about then, I called Samson to see what was going on.

Me: Samson...I'm rollin again, where are you all?
Samson: You didn't get my message...we're doubling back to where you are.
Me: I'll see you in 2min then.

I shook Gary's hand, thanked him profusely, and was ready to roll. about 30sec later, and I start seeing teeners headed towards me. I jetted into a driveway, and jumped back into line. The best part? My cigar was still lit...

Special thanks to Gary and Scott. You guys saved my ass.


So there you have it gang....another 914 meet, and another CptTripps welding story. Guess I oughta just bring one with me next time.

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif)

[TJB/914]

Cpt. & the others (a few posts up).

Yes, there is another end to this story. Since my car didn't make it to the meet (bug in the elec or fuel sys) and another story. I volunteered to help Mr. Zarbo.

We were getting reports that Dick's abandoned 914 was tagged by the MI State Police to impound the car. Big sticker on the windshield, abandoned vehicle will be towed (by big gorilla truck driver).

We left in my modern car & called AAA road service to meet the tow (flat bed) truck before they towed it away. This would be big trouble & expensive getting it out of hock at the pond. You know they pick them up by the front end and carry AV's (abandomed vehicles) on a dolly (big time damage to Dick's new show chrome if this happens). Meanwhile Dick is on the cell phone with AAA and the clerk is telling him nothing available & she will call back. We get to the 914 and it's 50 ft. from the apex where (2) major hwy's intersect. We have about 15-20 ft. of space to pull my car behind Dick's 914-6. Dick's in the passanger seat, about the center of the two roads. I am in the driver side and very close to the highway edge. I look in my mirror and see gravel trucks, trucks, travel trailers & everything else comming around the bend on my side. Sometimes they drift unto the shoulder and I am thinking we are in big trouble. I am thinking maybe I should ask Dick a favor. If he lives will he give me a discount at the hospital?? Dick's a big muckty muck high ranking Doctor at Henry Ford Hospital. I think he's Program Director & Chairman of the Pathology Dept. at H.F. Hospital. My wife would appreciate that. About then Dick gets a committment from AAA. They will have a flat bed there in 90 mins. He must have known I was a little concerned when I put my seat belt back on quit looking at traffic. Did you know that gravel truck going 80mph make your car move 6 plus inches when they go by. Yes they do.

Now for the good stuff.
We leave the keys under the matt with instruction from AAA. They are sending a flat bed truck and we are to meet the driver at Dick's house. We wait for a clear opening and I gun the motor to get up to hwy. speed (Michigan is normally about 80mph or they run you over). We get to Dick's house without problems. I meet his (2) teen age daughters and enjoy their company. Smart kids & you know the world is in good hands with teenagers like them. The truck driver calls & says he's on his way (early). We were surprised. The flat bed shows up & I inspect how the 914 was attached. He is a car guy (young man) who did everything right. Used nylon straps on the wheels and treated the car with respect. We roll the 914 off the flat bed and the driver says, why not try to start it!!!! This is the big one. Dick gets in and hits the key, it fires it up, runs beautifully the 10 ft into the garage. Can you believe it. Probablly dried out the moisture from the car wash early in the day.

Tom
BTW
You know I see & talk to Dick often. I got to know him really well during our outing. Sort of like bonding soldiers in a fox hole. I remember him telling me he has (4) rules taught to his kids.
#1 Nothing is free in life!!
#2 When asking the boss for a raise. You get what you negotiate not what your worth.
#3 I forgot
#4 I forgot.
Maybe I should add #3 & #4. Never wash your 914 motor down before the big event & never use take your 914 to the local P-Shop for repairs.

Thanks for everything Dick. I really enjoyed your company. You are a good friend. Tom