bubba fixes
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,145
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From: Texas
St. Jude Donor '09
bubba fixes
been reading a lot about bubba fixes over the years and some of them are pretty darn ingenious=betcha almost every 50 plus car has had some minor or major mods over the years- i remember life on the farm when something broke we didnt head for a catalog or the dealer, we went to the shop and either fixed it so it would work or made a new part. A lot of these old cars were kept on the road with "bubba" fixes-----so dont be to hard on some of these kids who kept these great cars running---they saved them for us========
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2013
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From: Arlington TX
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been reading a lot about bubba fixes over the years and some of them are pretty darn ingenious=betcha almost every 50 plus car has had some minor or major mods over the years- i remember life on the farm when something broke we didnt head for a catalog or the dealer, we went to the shop and either fixed it so it would work or made a new part. A lot of these old cars were kept on the road with "bubba" fixes-----so dont be to hard on some of these kids who kept these great cars running---they saved them for us========
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,223
Likes: 360
From: Southington CT
Did you ever notice that many of the people who use the "Bubba Fix" term couldn't wrench themselves out of a paper bag? I have seen many suggestions on here that in 20 years would be classified as a "Bubba Fix" because the person with the problem didn't want to do a complete and full tear down to fix the problem the right way.
Without knowing the context, timeline, or financial strain a repair might have been on the person fixing the car way back in the day, it is impossible to fault them for what they did. However in some cases the repairs are really out in left field, at that point you are left scratching your head in bewilderment.
Without knowing the context, timeline, or financial strain a repair might have been on the person fixing the car way back in the day, it is impossible to fault them for what they did. However in some cases the repairs are really out in left field, at that point you are left scratching your head in bewilderment.
Pro
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 713
Likes: 87
From: Norwalk CT
I am a bubba fixer. lol
At least, when I when I first bought my 64 as a teenager.
I didn't have the money to fix it correctly so, I did what I needed to, to keep her running.
The guy before me did the same, and he was a mechanic. The best part is, now that
I'm redoing her from the ground up, all the old matchbook covers I found to stop the squeeks.
At least, when I when I first bought my 64 as a teenager.
I didn't have the money to fix it correctly so, I did what I needed to, to keep her running.
The guy before me did the same, and he was a mechanic. The best part is, now that
I'm redoing her from the ground up, all the old matchbook covers I found to stop the squeeks.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,174
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From: Mosquito Land, Manitoba, Canada
I saw a documentary on the Sundance Channel a couple of years ago on the life of American cars left in Cuba after Castro took over. Some of the repairs on these cars were just ingenious. Parts were not available, so people had to be creative. One of these days, I will fly to Cuba and see all the 50's American cars. I wonder if it's possible to import a car from Cuba.
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From: Greenville, Indiana
My dad and two of his college buddies left southern Indiana in 1928 in a 1917 Dodge touring car. Somewhere in New York state, the Dodge beat the Babbitt out of one of the rod bearings. They were 900 miles from home, no money and no garages if they did have money.
My dad took the rod out of the engine, scraped some of the bearing Babbitt off the rod and fitted a piece of his leather belt he had cut off. It got them back home.
Fast forward 35 years.
I spun a rod bearing in my '56 Bel Air. It was a 265/240 engine. I just happened to be close to home and was able to coast into my driveway and roll into our dirt floor barn. I had a hot date so I had to fix it or miss out!
I pulled the pan off, pulled the rod cap and pried it off the crank as it was welded to it. Got a file and got the heavy stuff off and then dressed it down with a strip of emery cloth. In the meantime, a buddy was on his way from town with a new .001 OS rod bearing, pan gaskets and oil. I slapped that bad boy back together and away I went.
I think I got about another four months out of that jury rig and I was able to buy me a new crate 327/340 and put in the car.
My dad took the rod out of the engine, scraped some of the bearing Babbitt off the rod and fitted a piece of his leather belt he had cut off. It got them back home.
Fast forward 35 years.
I spun a rod bearing in my '56 Bel Air. It was a 265/240 engine. I just happened to be close to home and was able to coast into my driveway and roll into our dirt floor barn. I had a hot date so I had to fix it or miss out!
I pulled the pan off, pulled the rod cap and pried it off the crank as it was welded to it. Got a file and got the heavy stuff off and then dressed it down with a strip of emery cloth. In the meantime, a buddy was on his way from town with a new .001 OS rod bearing, pan gaskets and oil. I slapped that bad boy back together and away I went.
I think I got about another four months out of that jury rig and I was able to buy me a new crate 327/340 and put in the car.
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From: Canada's capital
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To me a BUBBA fix is a hastily done emergency repair that's been left long after the emergency is over. There's nothing wrong with a quality engineered modification done in your garage, sometimes they're done better, or fixed a factory problem. 
Bubba means baler wire, duct tape, bolts used as spacers, etc., etc,. All left in place as a permanent fix.
Bubba means baler wire, duct tape, bolts used as spacers, etc., etc,. All left in place as a permanent fix.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2007
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From: cookeville tennessee
To me a BUBBA fix is a hastily done emergency repair that's been left long after the emergency is over. There's nothing wrong with a quality engineered modification done in your garage, sometimes they're done better, or fixed a factory problem.
Bubba means baler wire, duct tape, bolts used as spacers, etc., etc,. All left in place as a permanent fix.
Bubba means baler wire, duct tape, bolts used as spacers, etc., etc,. All left in place as a permanent fix.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 1,952
Likes: 7
From: Grants Pass Oregon
To me a BUBBA fix is a hastily done emergency repair that's been left long after the emergency is over. There's nothing wrong with a quality engineered modification done in your garage, sometimes they're done better, or fixed a factory problem.
Bubba means baler wire, duct tape, bolts used as spacers, etc., etc,. All left in place as a permanent fix.
Bubba means baler wire, duct tape, bolts used as spacers, etc., etc,. All left in place as a permanent fix.
Russ
Team Owner
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 37,642
Likes: 1,105
From: CA
My dad and two of his college buddies left southern Indiana in 1928 in a 1917 Dodge touring car. Somewhere in New York state, the Dodge beat the Babbitt out of one of the rod bearings. They were 900 miles from home, no money and no garages if they did have money.
My dad took the rod out of the engine, scraped some of the bearing Babbitt off the rod and fitted a piece of his leather belt he had cut off. It got them back home.
Fast forward 35 years.
I spun a rod bearing in my '56 Bel Air. It was a 265/240 engine. I just happened to be close to home and was able to coast into my driveway and roll into our dirt floor barn. I had a hot date so I had to fix it or miss out!
I pulled the pan off, pulled the rod cap and pried it off the crank as it was welded to it. Got a file and got the heavy stuff off and then dressed it down with a strip of emery cloth. In the meantime, a buddy was on his way from town with a new .001 OS rod bearing, pan gaskets and oil. I slapped that bad boy back together and away I went.
I think I got about another four months out of that jury rig and I was able to buy me a new crate 327/340 and put in the car.
My dad took the rod out of the engine, scraped some of the bearing Babbitt off the rod and fitted a piece of his leather belt he had cut off. It got them back home.
Fast forward 35 years.
I spun a rod bearing in my '56 Bel Air. It was a 265/240 engine. I just happened to be close to home and was able to coast into my driveway and roll into our dirt floor barn. I had a hot date so I had to fix it or miss out!
I pulled the pan off, pulled the rod cap and pried it off the crank as it was welded to it. Got a file and got the heavy stuff off and then dressed it down with a strip of emery cloth. In the meantime, a buddy was on his way from town with a new .001 OS rod bearing, pan gaskets and oil. I slapped that bad boy back together and away I went.
I think I got about another four months out of that jury rig and I was able to buy me a new crate 327/340 and put in the car.
Well, How Hot was it?
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 58,061
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Army
My dad and two of his college buddies left southern Indiana in 1928 in a 1917 Dodge touring car. Somewhere in New York state, the Dodge beat the Babbitt out of one of the rod bearings. They were 900 miles from home, no money and no garages if they did have money.
My dad took the rod out of the engine, scraped some of the bearing Babbitt off the rod and fitted a piece of his leather belt he had cut off. It got them back home.
My dad took the rod out of the engine, scraped some of the bearing Babbitt off the rod and fitted a piece of his leather belt he had cut off. It got them back home.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,231
Likes: 34
From: Ontario
I saw a documentary on the Sundance Channel a couple of years ago on the life of American cars left in Cuba after Castro took over. Some of the repairs on these cars were just ingenious. Parts were not available, so people had to be creative. One of these days, I will fly to Cuba and see all the 50's American cars. I wonder if it's possible to import a car from Cuba.
They are running around Havana full of people hanging out the windows .
Bill
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 13,685
Likes: 61
They have good taste, most prefer old American wrecks to new Ladas and Moskvitches.
There are a few late '50s Corvettes that appear to be in very good condition. Perhaps "appropriated" by revolutionary commanders or party bosses?
There are a few late '50s Corvettes that appear to be in very good condition. Perhaps "appropriated" by revolutionary commanders or party bosses?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,115
Likes: 196
From: Wilton Ca.
I can understand some so called Bubba or, if you prefer, emergency fixes as I've done my share over the years as well. But what will really **** me off are the ones that COULD have been done right but the a-hole that did the work was just too damned cheap or lazy to do at least a decent job and just slapped things together. Usually some jerk who's thinking about selling the car later anyway. My .02
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 2,064
Likes: 140
From: Bornem
I have been to Cuba and I don't think you would want one of those pre Castro cars . Most are sedans with most glass missing , some kind of tractor engine transplant and totally worn out a couple times over .
They are running around Havana full of people hanging out the windows .
Bill
They are running around Havana full of people hanging out the windows .
Bill