How something easy becomes a mpia - ZR-1 Net Registry Forums

vilant · 07-16-2012

Thought you guys might find my ineptitude a little funny. So I'm a construction worker, could build you a house top to bottom w/ all the fixin's. But my automotive skills are limited to changing oil, filters, fuses, and other easy projects. So I bought a used wiper motor from a yard, and decided to install it on Sat.. Easy right? So I get the old shot motor out, no sweat. Get the first screw started on the new one, good. Start the second and PING

I drop it down into the motor somewhere. Spend the next hour w/ flashlight, mirror, and magnet trying to find it and fish it out. Finally get it out (now my back is starting to ache from leaning over so much). And it's also 90+ in my garage and I'm soaked. Try it again being careful not to drop the screw and CLANG, are you

kidding me? Dropped the socket wrench down into the engine.... and it disappears. Now I'm efn furious.Spend another hour trying pull it out because it wedged itself down in there and refused to come out

. So I finally got it out and the rest went smooth, only took 3+ hours. Spent more time fishing out things then I did installing. Anyway, I'm looking to hang a punching bag in my garage for future endeavors, know of any good ones

VetteMed · 07-16-2012

Been there, done that -- don't feel too bad!!

PhillipsLT5 · 07-16-2012

forget the punching bag, install A/C unit instead

DaveK · 07-16-2012

That seems to happen with everything I touch these days!

XfireZ51 · 07-16-2012

Get a telescoping magnet.

tccrab · 07-17-2012

The first time I did a plenum pull I dropped a plenum bolt down that little gap behind the engine and it rolled back about 4 inches down the bell housing.
If memory serves me, it took about 3 hours of crawling all over the top of the engine with a flashlight and the magnet tool.
I never actually saw the blasted thing, it just magically came back with the magnet after an eternity of fishing it around in the dark recesses.

Feeling your pain....

'Crabs

Blue Flame Restorations · 07-17-2012

If you only knew..........What happens in the garage, stays in the garage........

C4Fanatic · 07-17-2012

My wife dreads every time I go to the garage...much cussing is sure to follow...

mike100 · 07-17-2012

I used to be in the trade and even with experience, you will lose some stuff from time to time. I replaced my map sensor bracket screws with conventional 10mm bolt heads after I lost one of those. I found the one I lost about a week later on my garage floor.
Another time, more recently, I lost one of the small nuts for the throttle cable cover. I didn't even try to find it. I know it fell out on the street somewhere- I need to try to find another one- or maybe a similar pair with the same thread.

XfireZ51 · 07-17-2012

I wish I had $5 for each time I said, "Oh this will take just a few minutes" and 3 hours later....

07-16-2012	#1
vilant Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: PA Posts: 772	How something easy becomes a mpia Thought you guys might find my ineptitude a little funny. So I'm a construction worker, could build you a house top to bottom w/ all the fixin's. But my automotive skills are limited to changing oil, filters, fuses, and other easy projects. So I bought a used wiper motor from a yard, and decided to install it on Sat.. Easy right? So I get the old shot motor out, no sweat. Get the first screw started on the new one, good. Start the second and PING I drop it down into the motor somewhere. Spend the next hour w/ flashlight, mirror, and magnet trying to find it and fish it out. Finally get it out (now my back is starting to ache from leaning over so much). And it's also 90+ in my garage and I'm soaked. Try it again being careful not to drop the screw and CLANG, are you kidding me? Dropped the socket wrench down into the engine.... and it disappears. Now I'm efn furious.Spend another hour trying pull it out because it wedged itself down in there and refused to come out. So I finally got it out and the rest went smooth, only took 3+ hours. Spent more time fishing out things then I did installing. Anyway, I'm looking to hang a punching bag in my garage for future endeavors, know of any good ones __________________ Joe 1990 Bright Red ZR-1 #2599

07-16-2012	#2
VetteMed Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 1,828	Re: How something easy becomes a mpia Been there, done that -- don't feel too bad!! __________________ 2004 Z06/Z16 LeMans Commemorative Edition 1991 ZR-1 #302 White/Gray (sold) 1991 ZR-1 #1147 Red/Saddle (sold)

07-16-2012	#3
PhillipsLT5 Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Scottsdale, AZ Posts: 2,452	Re: How something easy becomes a mpia forget the punching bag, install A/C unit instead

07-16-2012	#4
DaveK Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Sudbury, Ontario. Canada Posts: 1,538	Re: How something easy becomes a mpia That seems to happen with everything I touch these days! __________________ 1991 #1516 Black/Black davidmkelly.com "Speed is often confused with insight." - Johan Cruijff

07-16-2012	#5
XfireZ51 Join Date: May 2007 Location: Chicagoland, IL Posts: 9,708	Re: How something easy becomes a mpia Get a telescoping magnet. __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]Former Membership Chairman Former ZR-1 Registry - BOD 1972 Corvette 4speed base Coupe SOLD long time ago 1984 Corvette Z-51/4+3 SOLD 1992 Corvette ZR-1 Aqua/Gray #474 SOLD 1992 Corvette ZR-1 Black Rose/Cognac #458 2014 Honda VFR Interceptor DX

07-17-2012	#6
tccrab Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Folsom CA Posts: 1,655	Re: How something easy becomes a mpia The first time I did a plenum pull I dropped a plenum bolt down that little gap behind the engine and it rolled back about 4 inches down the bell housing. If memory serves me, it took about 3 hours of crawling all over the top of the engine with a flashlight and the magnet tool. I never actually saw the blasted thing, it just magically came back with the magnet after an eternity of fishing it around in the dark recesses. Feeling your pain.... 'Crabs __________________ TomC '90ZR1 #792 Honorary Pirate [B]If it ain't FUN, you're doing something terribly WRONG. [/B]

07-17-2012	#7
Blue Flame Restorations Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Pendleton, IN Posts: 3,904	Re: How something easy becomes a mpia If you only knew..........What happens in the garage, stays in the garage........ __________________ 1988 KOH Prototype EX5023 sold 1990 ZR-1 #444 Convertible 1990 ZR-1 Black #966 1991 ZR-1 Quazar Blue #296 1957 Duntov SS Project

07-17-2012	#8
C4Fanatic Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Sin City Posts: 149	Re: How something easy becomes a mpia My wife dreads every time I go to the garage...much cussing is sure to follow... __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]1991 ZR-1 #128

07-17-2012	#9
mike100 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: San Marcos CA Posts: 1,802	Re: How something easy becomes a mpia I used to be in the trade and even with experience, you will lose some stuff from time to time. I replaced my map sensor bracket screws with conventional 10mm bolt heads after I lost one of those. I found the one I lost about a week later on my garage floor. Another time, more recently, I lost one of the small nuts for the throttle cable cover. I didn't even try to find it. I know it fell out on the street somewhere- I need to try to find another one- or maybe a similar pair with the same thread.