What has your engine eaten?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 818
Likes: 1
From: Portland OR
What has your engine eaten?
I need to know that I'm not the only severe klutz.Here's why I always undertake my own work with intrepidation. A few days ago, I decided to clean the area between the radiator and condensor without removing any hoses. The engine ate a 13-mm (head size) fan shroud bolt, a 7-mm radiator shroud bolt and one screw **** from the air duct. Fortunately, I had an extra **** and was able to find the 13-mm bolt at a bone yard. I driving without the 7-mm. Anyone have an extra or know where I can find one of these? These are the metric bolts. Driving today, I heard a big klunk. I guess one finally came loose - oh well.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,694
Likes: 0
From: Beaverton Oregon
Large Impressive Member
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 65,811
Likes: 71
From: Good health is merely the slowest possible rate at which one can die
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07
It's eaten many, many dead presidents. But it's worth it when I mash the fun pedal and it puckers my shorts. 
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 19,149
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From: First to Sign Grumpy's Hat Only 53 miles from Hell
St. Jude Donor '06-'09-'10-'11
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,781
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From: Swanton VT 2000 Navy Blue Mettalic M6 / 1991 Auto - Steel Blue 68,500 R.I.P
When I replaced my battery this year after taking the Vette out of storage, I found a very nice 10mm snap-on box wrench that the last owner must have forgot when he changed the battery. It seems like every-time I open the hood I loose something under there including my mind 
Last edited by patsfan; Jul 11, 2007 at 10:02 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 6,564
Likes: 6
From: Woodstock Georgia
I prefer Mustang GTs, but rice will do in a pinch. Don't feel bad, a technician at work left rags in the intake when restarting a CAT 3406E after cleaning the charge air system. Needless to say the big CAT nearly choked to death on a shop rag. Then we had a DDE tech left clamps in the intake, clean air side, on a Series60 DDE and bought himself a complete rebuild when the clamps got sucked into the turbo.
ps--Home Depot and Lowes both sell Metric bolts.
ps--Home Depot and Lowes both sell Metric bolts.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 765
Likes: 0
From: Houston Texas
Mine likes 10 mm sockets. One standard type and one of those shallow sockets that is use with the ratchet combination wrench. The kind you can't buy individually, just in sets of 8 at Sears.
And everything on this car is 10 mm. Back to the tool box!
And everything on this car is 10 mm. Back to the tool box!
Team Owner
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 24,337
Likes: 25
From: San Diego , CA Double Yellow DirtBags 1985..Z51..6-speed
Old wives tale says you could toss a 5 gal bucket of water on the Corvette engine and not a drop would hit the ground.
(And the engine wouldn't start either. )
(And the engine wouldn't start either.
)
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,954
Likes: 2
From: Obama=death for America
When my engine was being put back together (at a competent mechanic's shop) and when the superram was off the car, a wrench somehow fell down into the engine (unbeknownst to the person working on the car). When the engine was started, a loud banging, marbly sound could be heard for quite a distance. I was there because I wanted to hear it started for the first time since the rebuild. Needless to say, the engine had to be rebuilt again. I was given the many pieces that at one time was a wrench. I guess mistakes are made at all levels of competency.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 9,600
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From: Springfield PA
Philly 'Burbs Events Coordinator
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 4,908
Likes: 735
From: Southwest Kansas
2022 Corvette of the Year Finalist -- Unmodified
2021 C6 of the Year Winner - Unmodified
I guess I'm **** about this. Before I start up, after a "session" of working on the car, I check to be sure that every tool I had out is accounted for. (More than likely they are cleaned and put away in the tool box.) This eliminated the possibility of such a happening.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,954
Likes: 2
From: Obama=death for America
I guess I'm **** about this. Before I start up, after a "session" of working on the car, I check to be sure that every tool I had out is accounted for. (More than likely they are cleaned and put away in the tool box.) This eliminated the possibility of such a happening.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 6,564
Likes: 6
From: Woodstock Georgia
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 40,156
Likes: 45
From: San Pedro CA
When my engine was being put back together (at a competent mechanic's shop) and when the superram was off the car, a wrench somehow fell down into the engine (unbeknownst to the person working on the car). When the engine was started, a loud banging, marbly sound could be heard for quite a distance. I was there because I wanted to hear it started for the first time since the rebuild. Needless to say, the engine had to be rebuilt again. I was given the many pieces that at one time was a wrench. I guess mistakes are made at all levels of competency.
thankfully, other than countless gallons of gas, my engine hasn't eaten anything, short of some platinum pucks from those junk AC Delco plugs...
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 7,033
Likes: 12
My engines have eaten the best gasoline that they can. That would be the highest octane around due to the fact that a 9.5,10-1 engine needs the most spark retarded fuel around. 
Only Exxon 163 octane for me.
Only Exxon 163 octane for me.
