Your self inflicted wounds
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 597
Likes: 9
From: near Newburypot MA
Your self inflicted wounds
Actually accidental damage you caused to your beloved Vette while trying to make an mod / improvement / repair ...
I'm sure this list will be ongoing / pics too !
And it might save others the same agony ...
I'm sure this list will be ongoing / pics too !
And it might save others the same agony ...
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 19,384
Likes: 87
From: Horncastle Lincolnshire, England
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
My Euro headlight fit was a disaster.
I ordered the kit and it arrived but one of the lights was broken in transit. The T85s for the UK were special order so it took a while to get the replacement.
I finally had all the gear I needed and started to strip the old lights out. All went well and I got the parking lights modified with a new circuit and the new headlight in on one side.
I then started to get over confident. The 2nd light went in but I thought I'd check that it was working before I bolted it back in place. I reconnected the battery but instead of turning the lights on I turned them off. The movement of the headlamp cradle caused avibration and the lamp which was resting on the edge of the engine bay sailed majestically down the hood and off the end. The electrical lead was just long enough to allow the corner of the light to make contact with the floor and it shattered the lens.
On my 3rd light it finally went well
I ordered the kit and it arrived but one of the lights was broken in transit. The T85s for the UK were special order so it took a while to get the replacement.
I finally had all the gear I needed and started to strip the old lights out. All went well and I got the parking lights modified with a new circuit and the new headlight in on one side.
I then started to get over confident. The 2nd light went in but I thought I'd check that it was working before I bolted it back in place. I reconnected the battery but instead of turning the lights on I turned them off. The movement of the headlamp cradle caused avibration and the lamp which was resting on the edge of the engine bay sailed majestically down the hood and off the end. The electrical lead was just long enough to allow the corner of the light to make contact with the floor and it shattered the lens.
On my 3rd light it finally went well
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 2,441
Likes: 25
From: @ work in South Carolina
St. Jude Donor '08-'11-'12
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 2,343
Likes: 9
From: Lexington Park MD
When I took my seats out to add heaters last year I dropped the driver side one on the sill and put a tiny chip in the paint. It's not that big of a deal, it's a DD that will crack 100k miles very soon so it has it's share of small blemishes already.
Luckily, I think that's the only damage I've ever done to it myself.
Luckily, I think that's the only damage I've ever done to it myself.
Pro
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 646
Likes: 11
From: San Antonio Texas
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 8,700
Likes: 298
From: Ft. Lauderdale Fl
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,771
Likes: 141
From: Kaukauna WI
Nothing major, but after fighting with one of the stupid radiator shroud pins on the sides, and enduring some bloody hands in the process, I just ripped the damn thing right off, and replaced the pin after installing my honker. Stupid pin.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 2,237
Likes: 9
From: Springhill FL
I did my cam swap while my wife was on vacation(so she couldnt see what was involved). She helped me take the hood off before she left. But I was too impatient to wait for her return to put the hood back on(I wanted to drive it to work!). I scratched the inside of the hood near the brackets from trying to hold it up and get the bolts in by myself.
I lost my grip on a jackstand and it swung just enough to touch the passenger quarter panel. It left a small nick in the paint. I could tell you its there and you couldnt find it. but I know its there and it drives me nuts.
I lost my grip on a jackstand and it swung just enough to touch the passenger quarter panel. It left a small nick in the paint. I could tell you its there and you couldnt find it. but I know its there and it drives me nuts.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 17,336
Likes: 8
From: Maker of Sharp Objects, AL - Roll Tide
St. Jude Donor '10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17
St. Jude Knife Maker
I had backed mine up on some step blocks one time to get the rear end up off the ground. When I went to drive forward and come back down off of them, the car rolled backwards and fell off. The tallest board is 3 or four boards (stacked) high, and my rocker came down on it. One side had a big crack and the other no damage. I was a little upset about that 
Costly repair 
Costly repair
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 825
Likes: 66
From: Baltimore Md
I had backed mine up on some step blocks one time to get the rear end up off the ground. When I went to drive forward and come back down off of them, the car rolled backwards and fell off. The tallest board is 3 or four boards (stacked) high, and my rocker came down on it. One side had a big crack and the other no damage. I was a little upset about that Costly repair
Costly repair as for the vette... while installing a new driver side mirror glass, I pushed too hard and broke it
Instructor
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 217
Likes: 1
From: New Jersey
Oldtimer
Count me in
dropped the targa top twice ........ into the car. second time put a small puncture in the cover of the console lid with one of the pins that comes out of the roof.
first time I did it was because I did not think about how hot the targa gets sitting in 90+ degree weather. Unlocked it, grabbed it lifted it then felt the burn....
first time I did it was because I did not think about how hot the targa gets sitting in 90+ degree weather. Unlocked it, grabbed it lifted it then felt the burn....
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 13,760
Likes: 75
From: Haymarket VA
Nothing on the car that I can think of. All of my self inflicted wounds are really self inflicted. I don't seem to be able to even wash the car without drawing blood. All of my CF friends will tell you it's bright red...
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,962
Likes: 254
From: Richmond, Ky
Hope I never get that cold!I have kissed a parking curb also, but only caused about a quarter sized scuff but it really shows bad on the TR. If my car was as pristine as some I would be really sick but the nose of my car needed painting when I bought it. I'm going to drive it a while longer before I fix all the little trouble spots then I am going to purchase one of those parking radar systems for the front.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 8,008
Likes: 49
From: Hoover, AL NCM Life Member #2438
been there... done that!!!!!!!!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 2,365
Likes: 447
Fuel door was stuck shut. I pressed the release button and nothing. Yanked on the emergency release and still nothing. Ended up taking a flathead and trying to pry it open but of course cracked the fuel door and had to replace it. I was so mad at myself. Ended up getting the door open but hitting it outta frustration and then pulling the emergency cord again. 
