Dodged one again.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 16,475
Likes: 270
From: Kingman AZ
Cruise-In VII Veteran
Cruise-In VIII
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
Dodged one again.
The Lord must be looking out for idiots today.
I was getting ready to replace the coollant level sensor in my 87 and had taken the radiator cap off and was going to drain off some of the antifreeze. I busted 1/2 of the clip off of the old one last month and was going to make it right.
Son calls just then and says he needs help putting the cap on his pickup.
I change and grab a sandwich, close the hood and hit the highway. So it's about 1/2 hour drive over there. Top down, 90 degrees, cruisin at 80mph on the Interstate. Temp is running about 190 with AC off.
On the way back I decide to take back roads and hit some twisties. I notice some antifreeze smell and think, "I'll bet that sensor is starting to leak. Better get er done after she cools off". Crank the tunes, big smile, all is right with my world!
As I pull onto my street it hits me. "Dumb-azz! Did you remember to put the radiator cap back on?"
Pop the clam and the first thing I see is the radiator cap sitting upside down on top of the radiator shroud! I am one lucky sumbeach! The coolant was still at the top of the radiator so I think all I did is super-burped her. The temps were the same as if I had been running with the cap on!
Note to self. Buy Lotto ticket today.
Side note: Wanta know one reason why the the shipping/handling on parts from GM Parts Direct is so high? They shipped me this itty-bitty part in a box that was large enough to ship a large crock-pot in!
I was getting ready to replace the coollant level sensor in my 87 and had taken the radiator cap off and was going to drain off some of the antifreeze. I busted 1/2 of the clip off of the old one last month and was going to make it right.
Son calls just then and says he needs help putting the cap on his pickup.
I change and grab a sandwich, close the hood and hit the highway. So it's about 1/2 hour drive over there. Top down, 90 degrees, cruisin at 80mph on the Interstate. Temp is running about 190 with AC off.
On the way back I decide to take back roads and hit some twisties. I notice some antifreeze smell and think, "I'll bet that sensor is starting to leak. Better get er done after she cools off". Crank the tunes, big smile, all is right with my world!
As I pull onto my street it hits me. "Dumb-azz! Did you remember to put the radiator cap back on?"
Pop the clam and the first thing I see is the radiator cap sitting upside down on top of the radiator shroud! I am one lucky sumbeach! The coolant was still at the top of the radiator so I think all I did is super-burped her. The temps were the same as if I had been running with the cap on!
Note to self. Buy Lotto ticket today.
Side note: Wanta know one reason why the the shipping/handling on parts from GM Parts Direct is so high? They shipped me this itty-bitty part in a box that was large enough to ship a large crock-pot in!
Race Director
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 10,306
Likes: 15
Originally Posted by corvetteronw
The Lord must be looking out for idiots today.
I was getting ready to replace the coollant level sensor in my 87 and had taken the radiator cap off and was going to drain off some of the antifreeze. I busted 1/2 of the clip off of the old one last month and was going to make it right.
Son calls just then and says he needs help putting the cap on his pickup.
I change and grab a sandwich, close the hood and hit the highway. So it's about 1/2 hour drive over there. Top down, 90 degrees, cruisin at 80mph on the Interstate. Temp is running about 190 with AC off.
On the way back I decide to take back roads and hit some twisties. I notice some antifreeze smell and think, "I'll bet that sensor is starting to leak. Better get er done after she cools off". Crank the tunes, big smile, all is right with my world!
As I pull onto my street it hits me. "Dumb-azz! Did you remember to put the radiator cap back on?"
Pop the clam and the first thing I see is the radiator cap sitting upside down on top of the radiator shroud! I am one lucky sumbeach! The coolant was still at the top of the radiator so I think all I did is super-burped her. The temps were the same as if I had been running with the cap on!
Note to self. Buy Lotto ticket today.
Side note: Wanta know one reason why the the shipping/handling on parts from GM Parts Direct is so high? They shipped me this itty-bitty part in a box that was large enough to ship a large crock-pot in!
I was getting ready to replace the coollant level sensor in my 87 and had taken the radiator cap off and was going to drain off some of the antifreeze. I busted 1/2 of the clip off of the old one last month and was going to make it right.
Son calls just then and says he needs help putting the cap on his pickup.
I change and grab a sandwich, close the hood and hit the highway. So it's about 1/2 hour drive over there. Top down, 90 degrees, cruisin at 80mph on the Interstate. Temp is running about 190 with AC off.
On the way back I decide to take back roads and hit some twisties. I notice some antifreeze smell and think, "I'll bet that sensor is starting to leak. Better get er done after she cools off". Crank the tunes, big smile, all is right with my world!
As I pull onto my street it hits me. "Dumb-azz! Did you remember to put the radiator cap back on?"
Pop the clam and the first thing I see is the radiator cap sitting upside down on top of the radiator shroud! I am one lucky sumbeach! The coolant was still at the top of the radiator so I think all I did is super-burped her. The temps were the same as if I had been running with the cap on!
Note to self. Buy Lotto ticket today.
Side note: Wanta know one reason why the the shipping/handling on parts from GM Parts Direct is so high? They shipped me this itty-bitty part in a box that was large enough to ship a large crock-pot in!
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 16,475
Likes: 270
From: Kingman AZ
Cruise-In VII Veteran
Cruise-In VIII
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
Originally Posted by xlr8nflorida
Did you dent your hood?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 7,625
Likes: 4
From: Director of Bands
St. Jude Donor '08
Originally Posted by Pete K
It is better to be lucky than good. Send some of that luck my way. 
Only you, Ron! If it was me, I would've ended up soaking a bunch of stuff under the hood and having it cost a whole bunch of $$$$$$$.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 46,295
Likes: 2,596
From: Northern, VA
St. Jude Donor '15
"In honor of jpee"
Considering all the Optispark threads, anyone else and it'd been their Optispark.
Great catch, even if you did nothing but be doggone lucky!! YUp better lucky than good.
Great catch, even if you did nothing but be doggone lucky!! YUp better lucky than good.
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