Near Disaster
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 216
Likes: 0
From: Douglas Georgia
St. Jude Donor '12
Near Disaster
Bought my 82 a few months ago, the PO had made several upgrades to make the car better including a Rack Attack steering unit. I was backing up to go to lunch when one front tire pointed left and the other right. The link rod between the tie rod and the steering had come loose and one end fell off. I have been driving this car 65 and 70 miles an hour almost every day since i bought it. This scared the hell out of me. To say the least it's now in the shop for a thorough inspection and repair. Murphy lives with me but GOD does look out for fools and children. My grandkids ride in it a lot.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,200
Likes: 3
From: Lehigh county Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania forces cars and light trucks, up to 17K GVW, be safety inspected once a year...the heavy, mostly commercial vehicles get inspected semi-annually.
Being a certified safety inspector myself, I wouldn't think of driving a newly purchased vehicle. new or used, without it being inspected beforehand. In that respect, our government tries to keep fools from killing themselves. Stuff still happens though. That's why every inspector fudges the current odometer reading to a lesser amount. That way no one can say I only put 20 miles on since the inspection and now my front wheels point in different directions.
Being a certified safety inspector myself, I wouldn't think of driving a newly purchased vehicle. new or used, without it being inspected beforehand. In that respect, our government tries to keep fools from killing themselves. Stuff still happens though. That's why every inspector fudges the current odometer reading to a lesser amount. That way no one can say I only put 20 miles on since the inspection and now my front wheels point in different directions.
Last edited by 69 Chevy; Nov 16, 2011 at 03:00 PM.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 216
Likes: 0
From: Douglas Georgia
St. Jude Donor '12
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania forces cars and light trucks, up to 17K GVW, be safety inspected once a year...the heavy, mostly commercial vehicles get inspected semi-annually.
Being a certified safety inspector myself, I wouldn't think of driving a newly purchased vehicle. new or used, without it being inspected beforehand. In that respect, our government tries to keep fools from killing themselves. Stuff still happens though. That's why every inspector fudges the current odometer reading to a lesser amount. That way no one can say I only put 20 miles on since the inspection and now my front wheels point in different directions.
Being a certified safety inspector myself, I wouldn't think of driving a newly purchased vehicle. new or used, without it being inspected beforehand. In that respect, our government tries to keep fools from killing themselves. Stuff still happens though. That's why every inspector fudges the current odometer reading to a lesser amount. That way no one can say I only put 20 miles on since the inspection and now my front wheels point in different directions.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 6,936
Likes: 848
From: melbourne florida
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
i was never so happy to move to Florida as when i found out we have no state inspections. another money grab avoided. most of these trade "skool" mechanics don't know what a car looks like. but i agree if you find a competent mechanic have him look it over.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,989
Likes: 198
From: Meriden CT
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania forces cars and light trucks, up to 17K GVW, be safety inspected once a year...the heavy, mostly commercial vehicles get inspected semi-annually.
Being a certified safety inspector myself, I wouldn't think of driving a newly purchased vehicle. new or used, without it being inspected beforehand. In that respect, our government tries to keep fools from killing themselves. Stuff still happens though. That's why every inspector fudges the current odometer reading to a lesser amount. That way no one can say I only put 20 miles on since the inspection and now my front wheels point in different directions.
Being a certified safety inspector myself, I wouldn't think of driving a newly purchased vehicle. new or used, without it being inspected beforehand. In that respect, our government tries to keep fools from killing themselves. Stuff still happens though. That's why every inspector fudges the current odometer reading to a lesser amount. That way no one can say I only put 20 miles on since the inspection and now my front wheels point in different directions.
CHarper, they should put jam nuts at the tie rod ends.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 216
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From: Douglas Georgia
St. Jude Donor '12
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,271
Likes: 1
From: PA
i took my 73 to a local mechanic recommended by enthusiasts the day after i bought it. told him i just wanted a professional eye to look it over before i drove on the highways....(i am in PA and have an antique license so no inspection AT ALL).
i ended up getting charged like 60 bucks for "tire inspection" among other BS but still managed to drive off with dangerously deteriorated gas lines, coolant lines, a distributor literally flopping around, and a carb so lean that it was causing detonation.
i inspect my car after almost every run....no one else cares as much as i do if i end up in a fireball on the interstate !
i ended up getting charged like 60 bucks for "tire inspection" among other BS but still managed to drive off with dangerously deteriorated gas lines, coolant lines, a distributor literally flopping around, and a carb so lean that it was causing detonation.
i inspect my car after almost every run....no one else cares as much as i do if i end up in a fireball on the interstate !
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Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 216
Likes: 0
From: Douglas Georgia
St. Jude Donor '12
Understood - I did the same with the PO on his lift and had a dealer mechanic check it out the first week i had it. Problem is that I am a tinkerer and not a real mechanic and this was just missed. I have it with a real suspension guy who is going over it with a fine tooth comb. I don't apologize for being in a position to hire someone to work for me it's just embarrasing to share something this carless among guys who know the car. Love it just concerned now!!!
Last edited by CHarper; Nov 17, 2011 at 04:33 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 5,768
Likes: 3
From: San Diego CA
Virginia had a mandatory safety inspection and it was a joke. They would check to see if your tires were well inflated, if the wipers and all directionals worked, the aim of the headlights and brake pad thickness (disc only) - you could probably remove all the steering gear and pass their stupid inspection.
There probably are honest to god safety inspections but I cant imagine a good one being cheap, as it would probably take a couple of hours to complete.
California its completely different - brakes, lights wipers, they are all optional, the car better smog though
There probably are honest to god safety inspections but I cant imagine a good one being cheap, as it would probably take a couple of hours to complete.
California its completely different - brakes, lights wipers, they are all optional, the car better smog though
Racer
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 434
Likes: 0
From: Triangle Area NC
In NC it's nothing more than a gift to repair stations.
I carefully chose my 74 to be old enough to avoid any sort of "inspection". Even California dropped the pretext of accomplishing anything with these (when the cost is weighed) and dropped them years ago.
You can learn a lot by lying under a car...even if you're not a mechanic. See any rust? Cracks? Broken or PO rigged "repairs"? Anything look loose or about to fall off?
We're all best qualified to look after our own well being.
John
I carefully chose my 74 to be old enough to avoid any sort of "inspection". Even California dropped the pretext of accomplishing anything with these (when the cost is weighed) and dropped them years ago.
You can learn a lot by lying under a car...even if you're not a mechanic. See any rust? Cracks? Broken or PO rigged "repairs"? Anything look loose or about to fall off?
We're all best qualified to look after our own well being.
John
Last edited by johnmb; Nov 18, 2011 at 06:49 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,520
Likes: 11
From: Hinckley OH
I just put a Rack Attack on my '74 that I'm fixing up. There are a couple bolts that need to have locktite according to the instructions. I wonder if the person who installed it didn't read that part of the instructions. The rest of the nuts have the nylon inserts so they won't loosen.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 5,948
Likes: 72
From: Oxford MA-----You just lost the game!!!!
Anyone who has spent time in the military knows about a concept called PMCS- Preventive Maintainence, Checks, and Services. You have to check everything periodically (more than once a year! 
) It basically boils down to checking all the fluids, condition of the tires, lubing the chassis, checking for play in the suspension and steering, checking to make sure all the lights work (headlights, turn signals, running lights), parking brake,etc. Ya gotta do it, or it'll bite you on the bum sooner or later.
Scott
) It basically boils down to checking all the fluids, condition of the tires, lubing the chassis, checking for play in the suspension and steering, checking to make sure all the lights work (headlights, turn signals, running lights), parking brake,etc. Ya gotta do it, or it'll bite you on the bum sooner or later. Scott