69monzaredbigblock

Driving down the road 45mph, T tops off, car is running great. What is better than this! Wave to a C-5 going by then-nothing. Tach goes to zero gauges go to zero and I coast over to the shoulder. 4-way flashers on, out I go to open the hood. Scratch my head a couple of times, look around and I see nothing. I don't have a screwdriver, a pair of pliers, an adjustable wrench ,any spare parts or my T tops(home in the garage where they will be safe) I call Hagerty and they dispatch a flatbed (I am 5 miles from my home) 20 minutes later my baby is on the hook! Lots of lessons learned today. I think all this was caused by a welded together set of points . I know, no one uses points anymore besides me. Oh, I got bit by a tick while I was standing in the weeds and will probably get Lyme disease. I deserve it. Next trip out I will be better prepared. Parts stores open tomorrow and I have a list to fill.

Eddie 70

Sorry to hear of the bad luck. Hopefully the rest of the day will be better for you. :flag

OHSIXX

I have ridden the tow truck a few times myself. Roadside Assistance it great stuff. So, cheer up I suspect it happens to most of us

Wrecked82

I have "ridden the hook" four times in 150,000 miles - loss of motor - spun bearings; lost brakes at 100mph! - c-clip came off; ignition module died; starter motor died.

Paul L

That's a bit of bad luck on a Holiday outing. But you are home on one piece. I am always betwixt and between on the various opinions on the electronic ignition conversions. But my Pertronix has held up well. I do have a completely rebuilt points/condensor unit in the basement but have been reluctant to put it in. In any case that is another, oft-repeated thread. Enjoy the rest of the evening and have a few Millers or equivalent! Tomorrow is a new day.

w1ctc

At least we have some chance of fixing things with basic tools. A new
car can be totaly dead if a .0001 inch computer circuit trace fails. I always
carry some parts with me, especialy the ones that may not be available
on a Sunday afternoon. Don't mess with the lyme disease, my best friend died from it and never had the round rash.

vettenoir

That's nothin'. I've been on the hook over 4 times in 30,000 miles.
1st time - wire came off the starter (had the car about 2 weeks & didn't know squat about it.) The tow truck driver blew a tire by cutting it with an improperly placed hook. When I contacted CAA, they proceeded to defend the tow truck driver rather than help me. :mad I eventually got the towing company to pay for the tire.
2nd time - engine electrical problem (I won't go into the gory details of the under-hood wiring when I bought the car.)
3rd time - swallowed a carb stud & split the block open So much for my ZZ3
4th time - broke a half-shaft u-joint at the drag strip. This one was expensive (+100 miles)

It has also been towed from my home to a garage for work beyond my ability on a few occasions. (The longer I own it the less that's beyond my ability though... )

You know you have a problem when you are on a first-name basis with the local tow truck drivers

My wife says I should write a book...

Hope the rest of the 4th was better.


[Modified by vettenoir, 10:51 PM 7/4/2004]

R 73 454

I've always managed to limp home, but not very pretty! Last 4th weekend, I had a rear leaf spring bolt break, fortunately it happened 100 yards from my driveway. Quite the Macgiver act to get it up the driveway and in the garage though!!!

Gordonm

I broke the rear at the drag strip 60 miles from home. A bunch of $$$ later it was home. Replaced the rear no problems since. Crap happens!

Larry B.

I put a pertronics unit in a couple opf years ago but after reading all of the bad reports on the forum I re-installed the points. I like the point set up. I was towed once because of a flat tire on my way home from work. No spare tire and no jack...


[Modified by Larry B., 7:47 AM 7/5/2004]

ukvette72

I had the same thing happen a month ago at my first outing to a drag strip. No one there could help as they dont use points!!! (looks like its only you and me then )

I have since put in a pertronix ignitor and so far am very pleased, in fact the car has never run better. I too have read about the bad rap that these units get so i now keep everything (including spanner and screwdriver) i need to convert back to points in a plastic bag in the storage compartment just in case.

David

VegasJen

i was feeling pity but that line just got me rolling!
brother, i've been there. fortunately, never had to put the vette on a flatbed but only because i know people and i now own a trailer.
points eh? i thought those went out with tube tires and kingpin suspensions

PRNDL

Damn those C-5s!!! :mad :mad :mad :mad :mad


Why do you suspect the points? I use points! I upgraded to AAA+ (100 miles free towing) after a flatbed home.

TheVin

Been there,,only 1 mile away from home before rear end desided to take a dump.......

CrossedFlags77

Been there one time. About 200 yards from my house, broke leaf spring, u joint, halfshaft, rear cover. Dont ask me how, I just heard a horrible noise and it was over. 4 hours later the tow truck guy came, good thing I was by my house cause I just went home and watched t.v.

Go-Gone

Happened to me 3 weekends ago. The unilite module that has been in there for 12+ years failed without warning. I was about 10 miles from home. I replaced the unilite with the Crane hifire module and it runs 100% better. I now belive it was causing a weak spark for some time.

SharkAttack

Glad it's not major. I rode the flatbed home once when the gas tank was low and some small garbage got sucked into the carb. Now I carry all the basic tools with me.

no_radio

First flatbed ride was to the bodyshop for paint, second was coming home from same shop with new paint.
But, I did loose a wheel about 6 miles from my house. Tow truck came but didn't seem to know what to do. I borrowed his jack and put the wheel back on and drove home. Then had it towed to the shop for repair and repaint, had it towed home just to check the mechanicals over before driving it again.
Last time was in March, threw a rod through the pan and block. Flatbed home, free courtesy of Hagerty roadside assistance. Maybe back on the road later this month...I miss my '74!!
Jeff

BB wowbagger

I was just wondering about Flatbeds. Last year i blew my engine and a flatbed came to the rescue. When we pulled the car on to the flatbed with the help of his winch,he connected the hook to the lower A arm and when he started to draw the vette on to the Flatbed the wire started to lift on the fronclip due to the angle of the car and truck.
Where should you put the hook on the vette?Would the vacuumcanister hold(-73)



[Modified by BB wowbagger, 8:10 PM 7/6/2004]

StingrayDK

Hi BB,

I got a loop boltet on like this.






[Modified by sting74, 9:45 PM 7/6/2004]