Folks Of Interest Ever do something and think you have a problem?

But get distracted and forget it?

I went to torque the head down on a 218 yesterday, as I was laying it in place, I lost a bit of grip and was pretty sure the head might have landed on one of the #6 valves.
I was about to lift the head back off, phone rang, buddy was out front needing some wrenches. I get them, we BS a bit then go inside for a bite to eat.
Head back and promptly torque the head in place.
Just remembered about maybe bending a valve…checked clearance just now, yep. Way too much gap from where it was set at.
I used to make mistakes being in a hurry, guess now I just forget shit

 

I had something like that happen while I was to torquing rod bolts. Went back to it stuck the pan on I didn't remember until I was under the car putting the headers on.

 

Trade a oil pan r and r for a new valve r and r

 

The last time I forgot and made a problem for myself was when I got married the second time.

 

Yesterday! For a minute. Thought I was wrong...

 

But you were only mistaken.

 

I'd say to my dad, "I thought..."
He'd say, "No you didn't."

 

But his wife said “yes dear”.

 

Simple stuff like leave the vac advance line off after timing and wonder; why is it running like crap ......

 

Wired and re-wired my headlights about 3 time…..f-ing bad ground

 

That's why I lock the door and turn off the phone when assembling an engine.

 

I could write a book.

 

Forget? After a model A engine I refurbished last summer and been looking at it sitting there wondering when it will be above zero in the shop so I can install it, a thought happened. I installed the pistons backward. I don't feel too bad about it though. It was that way when I took it apart for a refreshing.
It ran that way before, so to hell with it. It only goes a couple of miles a year anyway.

 

Back in 99 my 292 Y block crank rolled out of my dodge ramcharger when I lifted the hatch hit the bumper than the driveway. Assembled it anyway, I run the piss out of that motor with no problems knock on wood.

 

Not saying anything applies but I’ve always told my kids when given the excuse of forgetting.
If you’ve forgotten it was because it wasn’t important to you.
They’ve never given me a comeback response.

 

It happens more often the older I get.

I always have had the habit of checking rod and main caps 2 or 3 times before I install the pan. I'll put the bottom end together then check all clearances then check oil pan fit and gasket fit then if all is good I re-torque just before I install the pan. This has saved my butt twice.

.

 

Phone rang, forgot to tighten lug nuts, LF wheel blew through an intersection, a blackberry hedge and landed in a swamp.

 

Tough to like. But have to

 

last engine I done...bolted on oil pump, oil pan, timing chain cover, etc...Roll engine over to set distubuter and there with dizzy is my oil pump drive shaft..Dang it..

 

I hate it when I do that...

 

Fuckin cobwebs form faster than they used to. I leave stuff on the job I'm doing so I don't have to walk back n forth. I leave shit where I can see it so I don't forget. I text myself the store list.

 

Installed a brandy new clutch in the '37 after the engine rebuild. Re-installed the scattershield, bolted the trans on. Things are looking pretty, ready to put the whole thing back in the car. Turn around and notice that the clutch fork is still on the work bench. Dumbass!

 

I do that kind of shit every day.

 

About ten days ago I went to the store for some cheese and salami. They're both gone, and it seems I'm posting this from Tierra del Fuego. Oh, and my left turn signal is burnt out too....

 

Well son, I'm gonna have to write you up!

 

I just read 25 postings to what again?

 

I've had a posi unit sitting here for days with the ring gear just hand threaded in. Living on the edge....

 

This falls under Murphys Law.
Accident wait'n to happen, walking away from an engine after removing carb from intake manifold without covering it with a rag.

 

Hello,

When I was 15, I had my experience as the mechanical maintenance guy for my brother’s cars. I did not complain as I knew I had to learn what to do when it was my time owning my own car in the future. The external maintenance things were easy to learn and I was getting good at it. Plus, it was a way to get where I wanted to go without having to use the city bus services. Do some work and get a free ride to my destination(s).

But, when we decided to get a hot rod build going, including putting together a 283 SBC motor, it was daunting, as I had no experience in those projects. I had to learn from my brother. I was not going to stand around and watch. It was my project, too.

So, in order not to make mistakes in putting all of the small parts where they should go, I got a lesson in the beginning and from that point on, my nervous and unknowing problem was eased somewhat. Now I could look at all of the solid lifters, push rods, springs and know what and where they should go as well as how to install them correctly.

My brother wanted to make sure I did the right thing at first, but after checking out my finished cylinder head, he allowed me to do the other head on my own. He also wrote down what steps were necessary to get the job done correctly.


Jnaki

With that starting point, I then had some experience with the “little things,” then as my experience grew, I became more confident later on, when I had to do the work by myself during our post drag race days. The experience during our times in hot rods and drag racing, led to confidence in our later hot rod projects and the proper way to repair/replace any part on any car.

The teenage years with our high school Chevy sedans was easier since I had background in mechanical workings of a 283/292 SBC engine build under my experiences. Confidence was there and the choices were done with that in mind.

As an adult, when I did other car work or projects, my wife wanted to know how I knew what to do and how to do it. I could have earned "plenty of points," by saying I always knew how to fix or replace things. But, I told her that as a young teen, my brother taught me most of the techniques. I learned from my brother and the experiences in those early years led to confidence in doing repairs or building things to this day. YRMV

(although as a first year married couple, we bought our first flowering plant for our front porch. It looked great and within a week, it keeled over and died. So, that was the start of our learning experience together for the long run... nurturing and care goes a long way.)

 

Well , this has been fun guys, but I have to go out into the shop and probably do something stupid.