My wife and I took off Saturday morning for the MacDonalds in Malibu to hook up with Bad Bobs Caravan. We arrived early and had breakfast while we waited. A few cool cars drove by and their way to Ventura while we waited. Finally, around 7 am, the first of the caravan arrived. After the rest stop, the caravan took off. It was an uneventful cruise, the fog was lifting and the scene was fantastic. It was funny to see my wife trying to take video, but every time the '49 hit a dip or bump, she would bounce all over the seat (snicker). When we arrived at the show, there were a bunch of cars sitting in the parking lot, but we drove right in. After we parked, I realized we would be blocked in. I guess that's why everyone was waiting outside. After the show on Saturday, here's where the spooky thing starts. I go to start the car and noticed I left the headlights on. It had been foggy driving in and I left them on. ****! I hit the key and she fires right up. I guess who ever wired the car, wired the headlights through an ignition circuit. Oh well, guess I'm a lucky S.O.B.. Before going to Kiwi Kevs place, we decide to drive to Chicago Ribs to take some BBQ over Kevs place. Funny, car seems a little sluggish but I'll fix it when I get home. We had a fantastic time at the BBQ and head for the motel. Now the car feels like the brakes are on and the pedal is half way down. Shes stopping fine, just a low pedal. I'll worry about it in the morning. Gee, I hope Groucho has some tools. The next morning, I see Groucho and he loans we a wench to open my m/c which is under the floorboard. I go back to my idling car and the door is closed. No door handles and electric solenoids with the key fob attached to the key with the engine running. No worries, I was told a 9 volt battery with unlock the door, NOT!!!! Now the engine is running hot and I'm about to bust the wind wing when Grouch saids, lets try using 12 volts. I use his jumper box and the door pops open. (Thanks, John, you saved me). The m/c is low, so I fill it up and the brakes are fine. I hadn't checked the m/c for awhile so I thought nothing of it. We go back to the Ventura Nationals then to Old Gold Garage and the car runs fine. Monday morning, we load up the car, gas her up and recheck the m/c. Everything is fine so we take off. We take PCH through Malibu but now the brakes feel like they are tightening up. I make a rest stop at Neptunes Nest to cool the brakes and check the m/c. Thats when I notice how close the exhaust pipe is to the m/c. The car had sidepipes with baffles but it was too loud so I had a complete exhaust system installed. Now I figure the m/c is heating up and the fluid is expanding causing the brakes to tighten. After she cools down, we take off and everything fine. We get into Malibu Civic Center and the brakes start tightening up again. Just past Malibu Pier, there's a signal light. A Mitstubishi sportscar pulls in front of me and hits the brakes. I hit the brakes but she's not slowing down fast enough. I mash the brakes and the pedal goes to the floor. We're gonna crash! My wife screams, "We're gonna hit!" and braces herself. I aim for half a lane between the Mitsubishi and a parked Bronco. You remember that scene in Harry Potter where the bus suddenly get thin. Well that's what happens. My wife and I can't figure out how we didn't hit either car. I pull to the curb when the car stops, we get out and look back. We both look at the space, the with of the '49 and can't figure out how we didn't hit. Right then and there, I looked up and said, "Thank You!".
HAHAHA! What a weekend! It was one thing after another,with you guys! Glad you didn't get damaged....or the car. It was good seeing you two at the caravan and the show and KiwiKevs.
At least you after all that you remembered to say thanks to the man! He watches over us car guys/gals. If not half of us would have balled up our rides long ago!
I will probably trouble shoot the brakes next weekend. As for now, it stays parked. Funny, I drive from Torrance to Huntington Beach and back, no problems. But every time I decide to sell a car, these things happen.
Glad to hear everything is fine with you guys and no damage was done. I guess that is what happens when you get a car from, well, you know who.
The funny part was, when I was gonna break the window, Groucho yells, "PUT THE WRENCH DOWN and STEP AWAY FROM THE CAR!" He tells my wife, "Take the wrench out of his hand and don't let him near the car!". That afternoon, I was headed to the motel office when I hear, "PUT THE HAMMER DOWN!" Its Groucho yelling across the parking lot. (LOL)
............that last paragraph was like watching a scary movie, knowing the monster is coming at any time. thx for the story....glad you guys are okay.
I am still amazed that we didn't hit anything. I just confirmed with my wife that it happened and I'm alive. Its an odd feeling, thinking that something should have happened, but it didn't.
Funny story, when bad luck calls you better reply fast, otherwise it'll keep callin until something bad happens! Glad you ok, but i guess you should thank yourself 1st, real fast response man, prolly wanted to save both your wife and the car so bad you just acted out of your deepest instincts.
LOL! Rick was in mid swing to smash the gl*** when I thought about using my jumper box instead of the suggested 9 volt smoke alarm battery to activate the door popper. As far as the brakes....can you wrap the pipe near the M/C with that fibergl*** header wrap and drive in a remote area for testing?
Yeah, I'm gonna try that. Car was fine when it had the sidepipes. I couldn't take the racket and I added a full exhaust. Guess I'm getting old.
Whoa scary story! Glad you and the wife and the shoebox made it home o.k. Nice chatting with you Sunday. Really dig your car.
Like you said in your original post --> exhaust may be heating up the master cylinder. At high speed, there is enough air flow to keep the MC cool. At low speed, NOT enough air flow and the exhaust heats up the MC.
so when your car gets thin to avoid a collision does it get taller at the same time like in cartoons? I've never seen Harry Potter. this is the second "almost mashed my car on the way to a show" thread today.
It was great meeting you and your family too. Yours was my favorite car in attendance, but I have a weakness for '55's.
Yea, weird huh? Except mine was almost toast the battery, almost smash the window and almost crash the car. I still can't figure out how we made it, but I thank the Big Man up stairs.........
Thanks alot for the compliment! I think tri-5's get a bad rap sometimes for being to common or cookie cutter, but I still dig them.
Brake fluid is made to take quite a bit of heat. I would check the pedal to see if it is returning far enough to allow the master to return to the neutral position. (allowing the fluid to return to the master from the wheels.) I have had a few people that change their master come to me with this problem.. They adjust the rod too deep into the master. Anything can cause this. Mechanical brake light switch hanging up.. Carpet around the pedal.. Something hitting the linkage .. This will also cause the brakes to heat up and fail or fade.. Drive the car in a safe location.. Use the brakes a lot.. Pumping them. If the brakes seem to drag.. Pull up on the pedal with your hands and see if they release.. Just a thought...
I had a car that had a muffler leak that blew exhaust right on the left-rear wheel cylinder. Around town, there were no problems. However, on the freeway, the exhaust leak would boil the brake fluid and the pedal would go to the floor when braking upon exiting the freeway. Once I got a new exhaust system, the problem went away!!
I jacked up the car last weekend and wrapped the exhaust pipe. As for the brake, the right rear caliper sprung a major leak. Hopefully, my caliper will arrive today and I can be on the road this weekend. I also found a missing nut on one of the ch***is engine mounts.
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