Took her out for her first ride today.... learned a lot

[Texasbull]

Vick's is about 72 miles from my house and they were having an Open House today so I thought it might be a neat idea to take the car for her first road trip and check it out. We never made it to Vicks, unfortunately. Seeing as I just bought the car last weekend and have only driven her home, this would be a good opportunity to feel her out.

Didn't really count on the rain.

I learned that convertables leak, and when it's raining hard, they leak all over your jeans. When your heater has been disconnected, thanks to the PO, the windows fog. This isn't really a bad problem until she dies on you and you get all heated up trying to push her 40 yards down the road and into an Autozone parking lot. Thanks to the guy who jumped out and helped me the last 15 yards and up into the parking lot. Not sure why my g/f decided to go down 4-5 parking spaces, but we got her off the road.

Spent about 15 minutes trying to get my breath back... all I could think of at the time is, "I'm getting too old for this."

After my recovery, my analytical mind rose up and determined that there is most likely moisture in the distributor, since I had no problems on the nice, sunny day I drove her home initially. Purchased some WD-40, went back out in the rain and popped the hood.

[Texasbull]

After spraying the cap, noticed the coil wire was frayed, so back inside to get a new wire. Changed out the boots and got the wire on (yeah, it's still raining). Close the hood, started her up, SUCCESS!!

Confidence in getting home a little low, but we're off again. This is about the time I really noticed the windows fogging up something feirce. Decided we'd stop and get something to eat, and some napkins, lots of napkins.
A
Off again, avoiding the highways, and actually, other than getting wet still and not being able to see, it was a nice little ride across Dallas. Made it all the way to the northeast side and into the suburbs (I live about 40 miles northeast of Dallas), she died again. This time I made it to cover at a gas station and sprayed the cap, wiped it all down, and we're off again.

Finally got all the way to my turn-off, feeling good about my fix, so I drove her like I stole her.... The fun was back! She cut out a little when almost home, but I pushed the petal anyway and powerslid into the driveway, much to the chagrin of the g/f... hehehe...

Gotta get a new cap and plug wires tomorrow.

[Ky2000]

Ride'im Cowboy...

[sptcoupe]

They only run well when floored! Keep at it!

[dmwhiteoak]

Well, maybe next time you will make it to vicks. My wife took my truck to Plano today to buy furniture,that we did not need, and it has rained on her all the way and last I heard she was in canton.Even with all your trouble you have to admit it was still fun.

[124JOE]

wet pissed and stuck
yep it sure sounds like my last camping trip
65 miles from home driving a chevy wagon
so it needed a tow"NO FIXING it in a turist trap"
racoons stole our marshmellows
and rained for three days
god bless my bro
and his borrowed tow dolly
for coming to the rescue

i see the future and your car will see VICKS this year

[tonyfromjersey]

The first time I drove mine in a heavy rain storm I learned about the ground wire that runs from the trans to a part of the frame. Mine no longer had this, and there was an electrical short and then the starter started spinning with the car running. This was after I'd spent 3 hours or more doing the water pump. Waiting in the pouring rain, i would have sold the car for 3 bucks and a ride home.

It was at this point I randomly met the person who introduced me to Crazy Dave, who painted my car and several others in the njfiats group. So all was not lost, other than my pride when an attractive woman who works for me passed by and asked if I needed help.

[jimmycakes401]

It sounds like a terrible/fantastic trip. LOL. At least you're driving it. Mine is still sitting in my garage trying to come back to life. Lots of work ahead still. Looking forward to driving it. I have AAA Plus though. 300 mile tow.

124Joe! What Chevy Wagon? I had an 83 Malibu Wagon a long time ago.LOVED it. Got T-bone by a 16 year old girl who didn't have her headlights on in the middle of the night. Miss that car.

[Kent124]

They only run well when floored! Keep at it!

+1

[124JOE]

jimmy funny thing
it was a 90 celberty wagon
but sitting at home at the time was my 83 malibu wagon
it just had the 305 pulled out and a 350 put in

we should have drove it

[Ky2000]

Here’s my story: Nov 22 1982
My 1st Fiat was a 69 when I was 16 year old. I drove it for 3 years, and did all kinds of work to keep it running.

I was 18 and joined the Army and was in training in Georgia. I took the car down so I had wheels. At the end of my training I was ready to return home to Ky. The car had always had an overheating problem, because the cooling fan clutch was shot. As long as I was moving the temp was fine, but if I stopped and left it running it would overheat. While in Georgia the car had developed a starting problem, sometimes it would turnover and other times it wouldn’t. I would have to push it, and dump the clutch to get going. I had no tools with me.

Ok the trip back home:
I took off west towards Atlanta at 4 PM, and after awhile I had a flat tire. I had to shut the car off or it would overheat. But if I did it wouldn’t restart because of the starter problem. So I had to shut it down and change the tire. I was lucky that I was on a small incline, so I was able to push the car backwards with my left foot out the door and pop the clutch.

Off again:
I stopped in Atlanta to get gas, and when I filled the tank gas started running out from under the car. It was the rubber fill hose that had split. I decided to go on and hoped the leak would stop. Then as it got dark it started to rain very hard. I found out that the seal on the top was shot. Rain was pouring in and I got socking wet. My heater core was bypassed, so I had no heat. I decided to stop for the night.

The next morning I got some people to give me a push, and I got started home again. The rest of the trip was fine.

It ended up being a loose connection at the starter. And I replaced the gas fill hose and all was good again.

I’m on my 4th spider now.

[Texasbull]

That's a great story Neal, one to remember!