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Old 10-06-2020, 05:40 PM   #1
daveymc29
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Default The Ace Mechanic Again

So here's my latest adventure. Took the seats out of the roadster and delivered them to a friend of a friend to be upholstered. He told me he would have them back to me in three weeks, my friend told me that means three months, well it turns out it was a bit more. but look good and fit well. I had bought new cushion springs from Snyder's.
As it had been a while with no running the state of the battery came into question and when I got into the car it started on the first revolution which it usually does. So off to the hospital up on the hill to get an E-ray. Seems my bladder is the size of a walnut and the prostate the size of a grapefruit which is backwards, but not unheard of. Anyway pull into the parking lot and find the remaining parking space is pointed downhill just off the entrance driveway, but not one I can roll out off. This one will take a hard bit of pushing to get out of.
I dash in and get the E-ray and return to my vehicle, so far fine, now the test. Get in, turn things on and step on the starter, thunk. Do it again and nothing. So now I have to push the roadster out of the parking space and turn it a bit to aim it out of the driveway. Walk to the front and proceed with the plan, car has obviously gained weight during the Corona virus and I have lost muscle mass, but I manage to get it moving a few inches when a nice young guy asks if I need some help. I thank him and with what breath I have left explain that I will appreciate if he would steer it so as to aim it out the driveway and than I can roll down to the hill and be on my way. We do that and as I walk up to the drivers door, he backs off and the car is now free to roll off down to he driveway and I leap on the running board to steer it toward said driveway instead of the row of parked cars it is headed for. Once around the corner I have very little time to get into the car before it will come to a very significant drop in elevation, so I decide I will shove it in gear before getting in so as to stop it and give myself time. I reach in an yank it into first, the engine immediately starts and almost throws me off my perch, so now I have a plan B. Pull the emergency brake and shut the key off, neither off which did a lot to slow the car and resulted in a near mortal wound to my right arm as I finally got into the drivers seat and stepped on the brake to bring thing into my control for what seemed like the first time in twenty minutes, but luckily I was in the car, it was running and I was short of the significant incline by several feet.
I waved, "Thanks" to my new found friend, who was standing paralyzed in the driveway, watching old fool well on his way to certain death. I wish I could have taken a picture of the total astonished look on his face, but all is well that ends well. I got home, washed the blood off my new upholstery and put a charger on the battery, took the alternator off today and installed the original generator so I'm awaiting another adventure to break up the boredom we all are experiencing.

Last edited by daveymc29; 10-06-2020 at 05:55 PM.
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Old 10-06-2020, 05:48 PM   #2
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Default Re: The Ace Mechanic Again

The young guy is thinking, "...geez, I gotta get me one of those!"
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Old 10-06-2020, 06:07 PM   #3
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Default Re: The Ace Mechanic Again

Thanks man! What a great laugh!
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Old 10-06-2020, 06:33 PM   #4
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Default Re: The Ace Mechanic Again

No crank?

Great story. Glad things turned out OK.

Enjoy.
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Old 10-06-2020, 07:18 PM   #5
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Default Re: The Ace Mechanic Again

Best thing, you didn't panic!
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Old 10-06-2020, 07:45 PM   #6
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Davey. I laughed until I cried. I've done that stuff myself, push it to go and then try to jump in and control the beast. Lucky it was a roadster with vinyl seat cushions. The blood will be easy to wipe off.
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Old 10-06-2020, 07:54 PM   #7
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Default Re: The Ace Mechanic Again

I'd like to be a fly on the wall when that young guy is telling his friends about this weirdo he he helped in the car park but I bet he would have been stumped if he were in the same position.
Dave, you wrote that really well - best laugh I have had for ages.
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Old 10-06-2020, 09:59 PM   #8
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Default Re: The Ace Mechanic Again

don't have a clue why two posts? I did redo a few misspelled words?
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Old 10-06-2020, 10:12 PM   #9
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Originally Posted by daveymc29 View Post
don't have a clue why two posts? I did redo a few misspelled words?
No matter. There's no negativity on this version.
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Old 10-07-2020, 05:08 AM   #10
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Default Re: The Ace Mechanic Again

don't have a clue why two posts? I did redo a few misspelled words?



ground hogs day...............
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Old 10-08-2020, 11:43 AM   #11
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Default Re: The Ace Mechanic Again

I built a 3/8 x 3/8 flathead in Jr. college, ran like stink but the starter never worked. I found that the roadster door was too small for my 6'2" frame to get into fast, BUT, I could start it in about 10' of pushing by: turning on the ign. switch (a house light switch) pumping the throttle once, push it a short ways, reach in and jam it into high gear and right back out again, and it was idling nicely! Worked every time!
BTW, My prostrate is similar to yours. I take 1 Ibuprofen before getting into bed, by doing so I rarely have to get up during the night and rush to the outhouse. At first I had to take 2, but now only 1. Doesn't work for everybody. Good luck!
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Old 10-08-2020, 02:19 PM   #12
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Default Re: The Ace Mechanic Again

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jim Brierley View Post
I built a 3/8 x 3/8 flathead in Jr. college, ran like stink but the starter never worked. I found that the roadster door was too small for my 6'2" frame to get into fast, BUT, I could start it in about 10' of pushing by: turning on the ign. switch (a house light switch) pumping the throttle once, push it a short ways, reach in and jam it into high gear and right back out again, and it was idling nicely! Worked every time!
BTW, My prostrate is similar to yours. I take 1 Ibuprofen before getting into bed, by doing so I rarely have to get up during the night and rush to the outhouse. At first I had to take 2, but now only 1. Doesn't work for everybody. Good luck!
Hey Jim,

Never thought I’d get medical advice on the Ford Barn, but I’ll have to try that!

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Old 10-09-2020, 10:49 AM   #13
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Default Re: The Ace Mechanic Again

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jim Brierley View Post
I built a 3/8 x 3/8 flathead in Jr. college,
Wot's a 3/8 X 3/8 flathead?
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Old 10-10-2020, 08:37 AM   #14
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Default Re: The Ace Mechanic Again

I never expected to get medical advice from FB.
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Old 10-10-2020, 08:42 AM   #15
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Default Re: The Ace Mechanic Again

Holy cow.
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Old 10-10-2020, 07:15 PM   #16
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Default Re: The Ace Mechanic Again

Okay.... I have to ask.... What the devil is an "E-Ray."
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Old 10-10-2020, 08:03 PM   #17
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Default Re: The Ace Mechanic Again

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Wot's a 3/8 X 3/8 flathead?



One that's been bored to a cylinder diameter of 3 3/8" and stroked an extra 3/8" to 4 1/8", or as I heard long ago, "huge by large".
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Old 10-11-2020, 09:34 AM   #18
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One that's been bored to a cylinder diameter of 3 3/8" and stroked an extra 3/8" to 4 1/8", or as I heard long ago, "huge by large".
Thanks
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