The first trip out from winter hibernation although uneventful (it was afterall a trip to the alignment shop) turned out to be a disaster avoided.

I installed the DragVette kit (A review thread will be posted soon) on Thursday, and had an appointment to get it aligned the next day.

Everything went as planned, got the valves all set, checked all the fluids, tightened everything up, and was all ready to go.

Uneventful 3 mile trip, drove 50-55mph, not romping on it because It just came out of storage.

I got to the shop, drove it up on the rack, and as we were lifting the car we noticed something wrong:

There were NO LUGNUTS on the left rear tire!
I about puked right there, talk about a sickening sight. I could not believe the wheel did not come off and totally destroy the rear fender, among other things.

There was no vibration, no wobbling, nothing.

The wheel was not damaged that bad, and it looks like It will be fine, the holes were not oblonged, just a little marred up, the seating surface was fine and they told me to just watch it, and if the lugnuts will not stay torqued down I'll have to replace the wheel.

I still can't believe I made it in without any sign or problem, its sickening to think about how different this spring would be.

When I installed the DragVette kit I had to take the rear tires off to get the shocks off and when I re-installed them I just "set" the lugnuts with an impact wrench, and was going to torque them down when I got the car off the jack stands. Well I got busy on something else as soon as it was back on the ground and forgot to go over them with a torque wrench.

I did manage to put about 80 miles on it that same day (yesterday) and cruised all night without a problem, thankfully I got lucky this time.



As far as the DragVette kits go I'll post a seperate thread about install, and soon (April 17th) I'll have track results.

 

man some one up there is look'n out for you!!

 

Your a lucky man, if it would have been me I'm sure the wheel would have come off. Murphy works overtime on me. Glad all went as well as it did, sure could have been a nightmare!!!

 

As lucky as you are you better buy a Lotto ticket.

 

You are a lucky lucky lucky Man indeed. If it was me the tire would have come off the car would have gone sideways and flipped and they would have found me in the map pocket saying in a high pitched voice Help Me lol

 

DAAAYYYYYYUUUUM!!!!

Brett

 

Hey somethings not right here, if the wheel was just off then it was not stuck on so with no lugnuts what is holding the wheel on ?

Second how do all the nuts just spin off ? Something has to spin them something smells fishy here

Glad to see your OK

 

Motorhead

I'm as baffled as you.

I think my guardian angel was holding the wheel on!

Either that or my car has taken on a christine persona and was trying to off me... As far as I know, no-one with access to the garage has a beef with me, but I'll be checking my lugnuts more often now!

So how is the progress on the Kiesler???
I am trying to figure out my timing retard issue at the moment.
The track opens April 17th and i'm chomping at the bit!

 

SO you did put the lug nuts back on, you just didn't tighten them down??

You are lucky, go buy a lotto ticket...

 

Sometimes i think we get a reminder of who is really in control. cardo0

 

you need to buy some lottery tickets..........

 

I was driving down the highway at 65 mph in 1987 when the rear wheel/tire of an oncoming plumber's truck spun off its lugs, went airborne, crossed the center barrier and landed on the A-pillar of my Ford Tempo POS (company car). Billions of tiny shards of the drivers side window sprayed into my face and stuck like darts in a dartboard. I think it was enough to put the Tempo where it belonged... The cop said another inch into my windshield and my head would have been chopped off. For many years after that, my heart would go into my throat in reaction to any flying road debris like leaves or litter.

Let's all go tighten our lug nuts.

 

If that is true, do something nice for someone soon. Keep your angel smiling.

 

I was with a friend when going down the highway in his Monza when his rear wheel pasted us We were laughing when we 1st saw it until he realized it was his

Glad to hear you got there safely. Lots of details on the dragvette stuff in your next post

 

That's a scary story! Just glad it ended the way it did

 

I had a wheel come off when the five studs sheared at the same time. Mine was a front wheel. Bubba at the brake store overtightened the lugnuts with a rattle gun. Lucky I didn't roll the car.

Go buy that Lotto ticket you are a lucky man.

 

Tip: I tape a note to the windshield while working on and off the Vette to keep track and not forget anything.Have CRS.

 

Crazy! I didn't know that was possible???? You are very lucky...and glad nothing serious happened..wow..extra thing i will be checking more often now.