The Ghost: Extreme C4
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 34,988
Likes: 515
From: Riverside County Southern California
Co-winner 2020 C4 of the Year - Modified
2018 Corvette of Year Finalist
2017 C4 of Year
2016 C7 of Year Finalist
St. Jude Donor '09 thru '20
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 34,988
Likes: 515
From: Riverside County Southern California
Co-winner 2020 C4 of the Year - Modified
2018 Corvette of Year Finalist
2017 C4 of Year
2016 C7 of Year Finalist
St. Jude Donor '09 thru '20
I left Carlisle on Saturday morning. I spent all day Thursday, and Friday walking the whole fairgrounds, and by COB Friday I was tapped out.
On the way out I searched for places to visit, and to my surprise I found the 9/11's Flight 93 crash site. I didn't know there is a National Monument honoring the victims of that awful day.
I took photos of all information bards. I hope you can read them.
When the plane hit the ground it was at WOT, and it went in 40 feet into the ground.
This is the area where Flight 93 crashed. All victims were identified, and buried there.
This marks the airplane's path.
Been there made me re-live that day. As many of you know I'm a retired US Marine, and that was the beginning of a long journey for all service men who deployed into combat.
On the way out I searched for places to visit, and to my surprise I found the 9/11's Flight 93 crash site. I didn't know there is a National Monument honoring the victims of that awful day.
I took photos of all information bards. I hope you can read them.
When the plane hit the ground it was at WOT, and it went in 40 feet into the ground.
This is the area where Flight 93 crashed. All victims were identified, and buried there.
This marks the airplane's path.
Been there made me re-live that day. As many of you know I'm a retired US Marine, and that was the beginning of a long journey for all service men who deployed into combat.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 34,988
Likes: 515
From: Riverside County Southern California
Co-winner 2020 C4 of the Year - Modified
2018 Corvette of Year Finalist
2017 C4 of Year
2016 C7 of Year Finalist
St. Jude Donor '09 thru '20
Broke Down
On my way to the Harley Davidson Museum from PA on the Ohio Turnpike I thought I had a flat tire. I pulled over, and all of them were good. Long story short even though all u-joints were new the drivers's side axle side blew up. This made the half-shaft move forward, it rubbed the coilover, making a loud dull metal-metal noise.
I had 15 miles to go before I reached the hotel for the night, I called AAA, tow truck showed up, and took me up there.
During the trip to the hotel, I was doing one of the fastest & complex brainstorming I have ever done. It was Saturday evening, nothing was going to get done. Next day was Sunday
. So the next business day was Monday 10:00 AM. I psyched-up for the unfavorable situation possible. Based on what I've seen up to that point was a broken half-mast end.
Got the C4 jack (it was cherry, and I popped it
) and the u-joint's retainer clip came off, and that caused the whole fiasco. I still wonder today how the heck it came off. I think it was destiny, perhaps there was nothing good awaiting for me at the Harley Davidson Museum.
I needed to moved, and a taxi was not going to get the job done. Luckily for me there was a Hertz a mile from the hotel, but due to the fact Elyria, OH is a little town, it closed at noon on Saturdays. The nearest rental place was at the Airport 40 miles away. I called a cab, took me there, and rented a car. Drove to Autozone, and bought one u-joint, a bottle jack, and two jack stands. I had lots of tools with me, but I never thought I'd need to go to the extremes like this.
I got back to the hotel, and watched TV... I planned to get up early, DIY this problem, and head out. Well, it was raining for few hours Sunday morning, and I started around 1:15 PM.
Damaged u-joint
It surely pays off to know how to work on your Corvette, but where the money was, was on the DeWalt 3/8 drive impact gun. That is one great son of a bitch to have.
Try to remove those 5/16 u-joints bolts with a rachet...
There was damage, but this was good enough for me.
The leatherman's file made my day. The u-joint would not go in due to the minor damage done to the inner part of the half-mast.
You guys have no idea how difficult it was to install that without a press.
Fixed
The rental car saved my life.
Test drove The Ghost around city, and a 25 mile round trip on the freeway. Passed with flying colors.
On Monday Morning I returned the car to Hertz, got in The Ghost and headed north towards Minnesota.
Elyria, Ohio, a place to remember
It pays off to have AAA Premier. The best $150 service you can have.
I had 15 miles to go before I reached the hotel for the night, I called AAA, tow truck showed up, and took me up there.
During the trip to the hotel, I was doing one of the fastest & complex brainstorming I have ever done. It was Saturday evening, nothing was going to get done. Next day was Sunday
. So the next business day was Monday 10:00 AM. I psyched-up for the unfavorable situation possible. Based on what I've seen up to that point was a broken half-mast end.Got the C4 jack (it was cherry, and I popped it
) and the u-joint's retainer clip came off, and that caused the whole fiasco. I still wonder today how the heck it came off. I think it was destiny, perhaps there was nothing good awaiting for me at the Harley Davidson Museum. I needed to moved, and a taxi was not going to get the job done. Luckily for me there was a Hertz a mile from the hotel, but due to the fact Elyria, OH is a little town, it closed at noon on Saturdays. The nearest rental place was at the Airport 40 miles away. I called a cab, took me there, and rented a car. Drove to Autozone, and bought one u-joint, a bottle jack, and two jack stands. I had lots of tools with me, but I never thought I'd need to go to the extremes like this.
I got back to the hotel, and watched TV... I planned to get up early, DIY this problem, and head out. Well, it was raining for few hours Sunday morning, and I started around 1:15 PM.
Damaged u-joint
It surely pays off to know how to work on your Corvette, but where the money was, was on the DeWalt 3/8 drive impact gun. That is one great son of a bitch to have.
Try to remove those 5/16 u-joints bolts with a rachet...
There was damage, but this was good enough for me.
The leatherman's file made my day. The u-joint would not go in due to the minor damage done to the inner part of the half-mast.
You guys have no idea how difficult it was to install that without a press.
Fixed
The rental car saved my life.
Test drove The Ghost around city, and a 25 mile round trip on the freeway. Passed with flying colors.
On Monday Morning I returned the car to Hertz, got in The Ghost and headed north towards Minnesota.
Elyria, Ohio, a place to remember
It pays off to have AAA Premier. The best $150 service you can have.
Last edited by PLRX; Sep 30, 2015 at 09:38 PM.
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Race Director
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 11,771
Likes: 177
From: Rolla Missouri
2021 C4 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist
St. Jude Donor '10 thru '25
Awesome pictures Pete!
You always have a cool story to tell when you post about your travels.
As neat as the Carlisle photos are, the Flight 93 Memorial pictures look like the highlight of your trip.
Did you make it to the Clydesdale farm in Boonville?
Sorry we didn't get a chance to meet up again.
You always have a cool story to tell when you post about your travels.
As neat as the Carlisle photos are, the Flight 93 Memorial pictures look like the highlight of your trip.
Did you make it to the Clydesdale farm in Boonville?
Sorry we didn't get a chance to meet up again.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 34,988
Likes: 515
From: Riverside County Southern California
Co-winner 2020 C4 of the Year - Modified
2018 Corvette of Year Finalist
2017 C4 of Year
2016 C7 of Year Finalist
St. Jude Donor '09 thru '20
Awesome pictures Pete!
You always have a cool story to tell when you post about your travels.
As neat as the Carlisle photos are, the Flight 93 Memorial pictures look like the highlight of your trip.
Did you make it to the Clydesdale farm in Boonville?
Sorry we didn't get a chance to meet up again.
You always have a cool story to tell when you post about your travels.
As neat as the Carlisle photos are, the Flight 93 Memorial pictures look like the highlight of your trip.
Did you make it to the Clydesdale farm in Boonville?
Sorry we didn't get a chance to meet up again.
Yes, I made it there, and as usual I got few photos
Moderator Emeritus
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 46,133
Likes: 111
From: Maryville Tn
CI 5 thru 12 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '09 thru '23
NCM Sinkhole Donor
I probably would have pulled all my hair our...
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 8,735
Likes: 412
From: WV
Pete, your the Macgyver of the Corvette community...
..I know of no one else that would even attempt to fix something like that out on the road , with the tools you had.......I agree with the statement above, you have all my respect.......WW
.
.
.
..I know of no one else that would even attempt to fix something like that out on the road , with the tools you had.......I agree with the statement above, you have all my respect.......WW.
.
.
Last edited by WW7; Oct 1, 2015 at 09:13 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,616
Likes: 111
Nice work,
I must say I would have been at the hands of the tow service and the finding a some type of reputable shop in an unknown area.......
Not the best of situations........just like a Marine......get yourself out of a jam yourself!
I did not know your past serving our country........so THANKS FOR YOUR SERVICE!
I must say I would have been at the hands of the tow service and the finding a some type of reputable shop in an unknown area.......
Not the best of situations........just like a Marine......get yourself out of a jam yourself!
I did not know your past serving our country........so THANKS FOR YOUR SERVICE!
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 3,973
Likes: 341
From: Adelaide South Australia
Great story and pictures
I had to laugh at your breakdown story, going on a 4 day run with our club tomorrow and wondering what the black bitch has in store, hopefully not a broken uni joint !!
I had to laugh at your breakdown story, going on a 4 day run with our club tomorrow and wondering what the black bitch has in store, hopefully not a broken uni joint !!
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 34,988
Likes: 515
From: Riverside County Southern California
Co-winner 2020 C4 of the Year - Modified
2018 Corvette of Year Finalist
2017 C4 of Year
2016 C7 of Year Finalist
St. Jude Donor '09 thru '20
Nice work,
I must say I would have been at the hands of the tow service and the finding a some type of reputable shop in an unknown area.......
Not the best of situations........just like a Marine......get yourself out of a jam yourself!
I did not know your past serving our country........so THANKS FOR YOUR SERVICE!
I must say I would have been at the hands of the tow service and the finding a some type of reputable shop in an unknown area.......
Not the best of situations........just like a Marine......get yourself out of a jam yourself!
I did not know your past serving our country........so THANKS FOR YOUR SERVICE!
Yes, the tow truck driver offered many locations, and auto parts, but I declined; remember it was a Saturday evening, the only choice I had was a parking spot.
You'll be alright. In case of any problems your group will help out. Few years back I did a group run to NoCal, a C5 broke down, it got fixed on the hotel's parking lot, and by the time the tire was back on the hub we were all drunk.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 34,988
Likes: 515
From: Riverside County Southern California
Co-winner 2020 C4 of the Year - Modified
2018 Corvette of Year Finalist
2017 C4 of Year
2016 C7 of Year Finalist
St. Jude Donor '09 thru '20
Mississippi Headwaters
Headed North towards the Mighty Mississippi Headwaters. Once I reached Wisconsin the weather changed, I know if you are from that parallel it's normal for you, but for a SoCal guy that was an unusual sky. I got to say, Minnesota has some weird roads going up there.
I wanted to visit this place for a long time, but it is so far away from everything that never found the way. This time, it was "on the way" to one of my stops, and did it.
The Mississippi River is born from Lake Itasca's overflow. This is how you can walk across the Mississippi.
I say the best time to visit this place is after 10 AM, anytime before that the angle of the sun doesn't help for good photography.
I wanted to visit this place for a long time, but it is so far away from everything that never found the way. This time, it was "on the way" to one of my stops, and did it.
The Mississippi River is born from Lake Itasca's overflow. This is how you can walk across the Mississippi.
I say the best time to visit this place is after 10 AM, anytime before that the angle of the sun doesn't help for good photography.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,658
Likes: 4
From: Clifton Park NY
This is an amazing story Pete, thanks for sharing all this. And the repair at the hotel is priceless..haha
It was great to finally meet you in Carlisle, wish Mike could have been there as well, may he RIP.
It was great to finally meet you in Carlisle, wish Mike could have been there as well, may he RIP.