TeamSwift

So in light of the hilarity over on the "for sale" board, I think it's prudent for us to start listing the ghetto rig jobs and old-timers tricks that we've used (or heard of) in order to get just a few more miles out of a dying car:

I'll start with a slipping clutch. The old racer's fix is to mix some coca-cola and baking soda (or I've also heard of mixing it with baby powder), and injecting it up into the bellhousing with a turkey baster (or the like). The sticky gritty mess will give you a little more life on that dead clutch.

Another ghetto fix, which was proven on "Mythbusters" to solve a leaky radiator, was the old "raw egg in the radiator" gag. Don't know how long it lasts, but that sucker held!

And lastly, one cannot expect to make a cross-country trip in a junker without the following items:

Duct tape
zip ties
safety wire (bring some twisters, too)
case of cheap walmart oil
a few gallons of water
a bottle of tire sludge (fix-a-flat, slime, patch kit, whatever)
A multimeter, clippers, and a couple feet of insulated wire
Rain-X
A box of rags.
A sleaping bag.

*A small amount of gas and some matches

And lastly, your american express card. Don't leave home without it.

Anybody else have suggestions on how to prepare for a trip of this nature?

--Roy

*Note: The gas and matches are to "accidentally" torch your car in the event that you feel it just wont make it any farther.... this is a joke, people.

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1989 Suzuki Swift GTi - ITB Racecar
2000 Subaru Impreza 2.5 RS - Daily Driver
2004 Dodge Ram Pickup - Tow Vehicle
2006 Suzuki DR-Z400SM - SuperMoto
2009 Cannondale Rize
I rarely visit TeamSwift anymore, so please email me if you have a question. On average I'm only checking my PM's here once a month. "roy (at) forcefed4 (dot) com"

pepper is a good short term fix for a rad leak as well. it also helps your car smell like steak!!!

on a carby engine,for a bad fuel pump, i have "seen" . a small gas can underhood and plumbed into the carb. gravity feed will work as long as you dont expect much over quarter throttle. and i also wouldnt use this to get across country, but only a few miles

a can of carb cleaner

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GO FAST TURN LEFT!! IF YOU HAVE TO TURN RIGHT, YOU NEED A ROUND OF WEDGE!!!

here is my sig. karma if you look

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<img src="http://tellico.off-road.com/wwwthreads_uploads/1438321-lolsroyce.gif">

I once snapped the head off the alternator adjuster bolt on my old MK1. All attempts to remove the bolt stump failed, so I had to figure out some other solution to hold the belt tension. Using a jigsaw, I carved a curvie shaped wedge out a 2x4 and jammed it between the alternator housing and the engine block. I ended making a few other wedges so I could set a different level of tension as the belt started to stretch. I never did get that broken bolt out, and for something like 2 years*, I had a 2x4 on the back of my engine providing tension for the alternator belt. The wedge even ended up evolving to a semi-adjustable model that bolted properly to the adjuster bracket.

*The service life of the 2x4 wedge was probably a lot longer than 2 years. However, due to the car getting written off, I'll never know how long I could have continued with this "fix".

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Pantyhose! Yes gent's it can be used to replace a broken V belt. I've done it. Dont know if it will work on a serp belt but I know the V-belts it works for.

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Metroless and looking for another already!!

In addition to the above: things to take with you:

NEW can of starting fluid.
Flashlight and spare batteries.
Cell Phone with a car charger.(optional: with internet access so you can check TeamSwift.net incase you have problems)
A good Atlas
Chewing gum
Bailing wire
Grey Tape
Pocket Knife


I've bought a few cars from out of town (never had a trip go as 'wrong' as last weekends..but I've picked up some that I KNEW were going to have problems making it home.... havent been stranded yet). You can never plan for everything; Every time you come up with a better way to "Idiot Proof" something, the world develops bigger and better Idiots.


Phil

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<b>THANK YOU Wagon, T3Ragtop, and Casey for getting us home.</b><p>

How about your CAA membership card?

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LNLC Founding Member

FAKE FRIENDS: Never ask for food.
REAL FRIENDS: Is the reason you have no food.

A gun. Make sure you save the last bullet for your enemy or yourself.

One thing you should always/always/always/always carry is a flashlight. At the worst possible time your car will break down, and one of the worst times is at night. And spare fuses. If you run out of fuel, pop the hatch and hope for a strong wind in the right direction.

Other than that, a first aid kit, the jack. Oh, and your wits. You do NOT go to a bordello in the middle of nowhere. Period.

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Rice: Race Inspired Cosmetic Enhancement

What are you talking about? It's the best way to make sure nobody that you know sees you....

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LNLC Founding Member

FAKE FRIENDS: Never ask for food.
REAL FRIENDS: Is the reason you have no food.

I'm pretty sure Seth and Richard Gecko said the exact same thing.

I thought of a few more things you should always have. Advil/tylenol and something to eat. Those dried noodles are tasty when they are dry.

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Rice: Race Inspired Cosmetic Enhancement

I'm new to these cars, but I'm a major car enthusiest, might as well make my first post a helpful one...

When buying a car that has been sitting, particularly in the sun, check the tires for cracks before heading out. Nothing beats getting multiple blow outs about a mile from the place you got the car, staying in a SUPER ghetto hotel because it was the one at the exit you blew all the tires, and trying to find a tire place that WON'T rip you off when you drive in with 3 flats on a Sunday.


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1987 Mercedes Benz 190E 2.3-16 - Down for rebuild and upgrade
1981 Toyota Corolla - Pending trade for 1987 Sprint Turbo
1991 Nissan 240SX - Pending trip to the metal scrap yard.
Puma sneakers - Most reliable transportation.

Some of that two part epoxy putty and a file and saw is good.
Also silicone rubber is a great glue.
john

zipties fix all

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I love the smell of bondo and fiberglass in the morning

A weird experience: I once had my accelerator cable on my '99 hatchback slip out of its mount on the throttle body while driving. I was driving down the road and suddenly the gas pedal dropped to the floor and the engine slowed to an idle. I was sitting there stomping on the fallen pedal but the car just slowed to a stop. After an hour of staring at the engine and scratching my head I finally figured out what happened. I just stuck the cable back into the holder and the pedal rose up again. Anybody else have that happen?

i once had a coil shorting to the frame on sunday night in small town, texas. a roll of electrical tape burned thru. they were laying new phone lines and scraps of heavy insulation lay here and there, and when taped on redeemed the coil all the way to tampa, fl, about 1,000 miles.

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'90 geo metro 1.0l 5 speed