In a message dated 10/21/99 10:49:16 PM Pacific Daylight Time,
rock@rocky-frisco.com writes:
> We have an anthropomorphic personification on the Mini-list, called
> "Finger-Tight Malcolm;" we even have FTM awards on a web page, devoted
> to really horrible boners by mechanics who should have known better, but
> perhaps went to lunch and came back and forgot they hadn't torqued down
> the mains, etc. etc.. ;)
>
Well, I might as well owe up to my own FTM move on an LBC. It was many years
ago (28 to be exact). My buddy and I had pulled the head off my B for some
reason which slips my mind. It was winter here in LA late and dark, we were
working with drop lights. I had put everything back together except for the
spark plugs. Almost everything that is. I went to crank the engine over to
build oil pressure before putting the plugs in and firing it up. My buddy
was standing by the front of the car while I was leaning in and working the
key. I cranked for a few seconds and let up on the key. My buddy hollered
that I hadn't tightened the fuel line into the carbs, I yelled back that I'd
tighten it in a moment. I turned the key to crank again forgetting that the
ignition system was live and the plug wires were laying near where the fuel
was leaking. All of a sudden there was a large WHOOMP! and the entire front
of the car got a very bright orange. I had a fire extinguisher behind the
seat. I killed the key and grabbed the fire bottle. The fire was out in a
moment, and then I saw it, the cowl of my nice white B was BLACK. DOH! I'm
going to have pay to have it repainted. I touched the black and found out it
was just soot. whew!
Needless to say this is the last time I ever let a fuel leak go on any car no
matter how harmless it seems.
Rick Ewald
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