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What is the most bone-headed thing you've done in your van?
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GWTWTLW
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PostPosted: Wed Jan 28, 2015 11:34 pm    Post subject: What is the most bone-headed thing you've done in your van? Reply with quote

Over a campfire recently, I casually mentioned that I had once stuck my head through the skylight while lowering my top. Dohh! We Thought that would make a good topic.

So, what is the most bone-headed thing you have done in/to your van? Do tell...
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Zeitgeist 13
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PostPosted: Wed Jan 28, 2015 11:38 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

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photogdave
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PostPosted: Wed Jan 28, 2015 11:39 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Almost killing ourselves undercoating my van in a closed garage with no ventilation.
Luckily, we were drinking beer! Laughing
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IdahoDoug
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PostPosted: Wed Jan 28, 2015 11:47 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Curious how the VC works in practice, I put the Syncro up on jackstands running, in gear and played with trying to grab and stop the front tires. My one concession to safety was a pair of leather work gloves so I wouldn't blister my hands. If you work for State Farm and are reading this, you just invaded my privacy and you cannot use this as grounds for dismissal of my insurance...

DougM
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t3 kopf
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PostPosted: Wed Jan 28, 2015 11:50 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Tried to get a little air on the top of a grassy hill in an A/C vanagon 15 years ago. The top of the hill was way too steep and I just ran my bumper into it and took a bunch of clay and grass with me.
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PostPosted: Thu Jan 29, 2015 5:26 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Zeitgeist 13 wrote:
Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.


Tha picture right there is why you wear short or tight sleeves, no ties, no unzipped jackets, cut off sweatshirt hood strings, and pull back your long hair!

Just imagine your body in that photo if that red rag was attched to it! Shocked

Dave
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wecm31
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PostPosted: Thu Jan 29, 2015 5:34 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

After a lovely sunset supper with the missus in the van whilst parked in our front yard...


...tried to park the van back on the carport with the roof still popped up.


Wouldn't fit Embarassed


Luckily wasn't going that fast, no cracks or damage.
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alaskadan
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PostPosted: Thu Jan 29, 2015 7:36 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Had a 69 econoline van. Fuel issues. Pulled engine cover stuck old mcdonalds cup onto aircleaner screw sticking out of carb. Poked a couple small holes in the bottom (jets ha ha )and proceeded to drive it home keeping the cup topped off with gas! Shocked Think i was 18 or 19.
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kbeefy
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PostPosted: Thu Jan 29, 2015 8:03 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Drove to La Paz thinking I could obtain a vehicle permit there to take a ferry to the mainland. Discovered in La Paz they had recently changed the law and could only obtain one in Tiajuana.

the stupid tax was high on that one.
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PostPosted: Thu Jan 29, 2015 8:06 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

wecm31 wrote:
After a lovely sunset supper with the missus in the van whilst parked in our front yard...


...tried to park the van back on the carport with the roof still popped up.


Wouldn't fit Embarassed


Luckily wasn't going that fast, no cracks or damage.


I left the parking lot after a concert at Red Rocks Amphitheater with my Vanagon full of people; folks walking by were screaming at me to stop! Stop! The top was still popped. Thank goodness I didn't make it to the road like that...

Once I was trying to install an axle shaft, lying underneath, and had already done the wheel end. I didn't get the first bolt started on the transaxle end when I thought I had. I let go and the CV joint came down and hit me in the face. My first reaction was to punch; I hit the corner of the transaxle with my fist. I ended up with a black eye and a nice gash on my hand. Never fight your Vanagon. It's bigger and stronger and can really take a punch.
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SCM
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PostPosted: Thu Jan 29, 2015 8:29 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

After my first coolant system bleed. Pulled the van partially into the garage and walked around to the front to open the radiator bleeder screw. In my haste to get the job finished I forgot to put my auto transmission into park. I noticed the van creeping forward just in time to run back to the driver's seat and stop it before it damaged anything.
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geodude
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PostPosted: Thu Jan 29, 2015 9:55 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

When I was much younger and stupid I let a friend drive the Syncro while on a trip in Utah and he proceeded to drive us into a wash at 30mph. Dropped 4 feet bounced off the bottom, hit the far wall, and then bounced back up onto the intact road. To his defense it was noon and the area was bright white sand and gypsum so no shadows. The body looked fine, the van was running, and we were out in the middle of nowhere so decided to drive out.
Mistake number 2. It appears the driveshaft or something else got knocked out of shape and a vibration started. Not noticeable at low speed, but on the highway it would shake the shifter. Parts literally feel off the engine due to fatigue cracks. Got into town and called the insurance about the accident. They screwed around for over a month before saying that I hadn't had an accident because the body wasn't damaged! Insisted that the various parts that had fresh cracks and fell off had been like that (how exactly I could have driven from Virginia to Utah with the alternator, powersteering pump, and the bellhousing broken is beyond me.
Mistake number 3 not taking a rock and bashing up some easily replaced piece like bumpers and a door so they couldn't deny the claim. Or since the transmission was leaking at that point from several seals bash a hole in part of it. Same thing happened to another friend who while driving through a construction area had a piece of equipment go through her radiator intake and punch a hole in the radiator and engine. Insurance denied the claim, again because it didn't damage the body (sports car with big wide open intake without a grill).
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wcdennis
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PostPosted: Thu Jan 29, 2015 10:00 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

djkeev wrote:
Zeitgeist 13 wrote:
Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.


Tha picture right there is why you wear short or tight sleeves, no ties, no unzipped jackets, cut off sweatshirt hood strings, and pull back your long hair!

Just imagine your body in that photo if that red rag was attched to it! Shocked

Dave

Yes this photo also scares the crap out of me. When I realized how quickly a moving belt could take a finger off, I felt grateful that, in my foolish youth, I had somehow avoided that.
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PDXWesty
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PostPosted: Thu Jan 29, 2015 10:02 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Do we really need to bring this up again? Smile

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tarandusVDub
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PostPosted: Thu Jan 29, 2015 10:04 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I'm not sure if this qualifies or not. I was going to Yellowstone Park to visit some old friends and wolf watch, and stopped for gas in Gardiner. As the pump shut off, I noticed gas cascading off both front tires. I looked and found that my roll-over/expansion tank hoses were intact, but leaking through the material and pouring out gas.

I waited 5 minutes for everything to evaporate, then continued on with my 2 day trip, making a mental note not to fill the tank completely.

Didn't get blown up, but afterward I felt like maybe I should have headed back home to replace the hoses instead...
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0to60in6min
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PostPosted: Thu Jan 29, 2015 10:06 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

back then, long ago in the '70, I had a 1974 bus... after a few months of ownership the bus had some clanking noises... yeah I didn't know back then but now I know it was CV joints...

anyway I bring it to a mechanic.. he recommends a new engine... and yes... I did have a new engine... because of CV joint noises...

how stupid was this? aargh I was young, restless and stupid...

Very Happy


Last edited by 0to60in6min on Thu Jan 29, 2015 10:22 am; edited 1 time in total
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Gnarlodious Premium Member
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PostPosted: Thu Jan 29, 2015 10:12 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Buying it.
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Abscate Premium Member
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PostPosted: Thu Jan 29, 2015 10:18 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:
what is the most bone-headed thing you have done in/to your van?


I don't remember her name, and pictures would be creepy.
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PostPosted: Thu Jan 29, 2015 10:22 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Abscate wrote:
Quote:
what is the most bone-headed thing you have done in/to your van?


I don't remember her name, and pictures would be creepy.


Laughing
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Zeitgeist 13
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PostPosted: Thu Jan 29, 2015 10:29 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

wcdennis wrote:
djkeev wrote:
Zeitgeist 13 wrote:
Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.


Tha picture right there is why you wear short or tight sleeves, no ties, no unzipped jackets, cut off sweatshirt hood strings, and pull back your long hair!

Just imagine your body in that photo if that red rag was attched to it! Shocked

Dave

Yes this photo also scares the crap out of me. When I realized how quickly a moving belt could take a finger off, I felt grateful that, in my foolish youth, I had somehow avoided that.


Literally a blink of an eye. I just wanted to take a quick visual inspection, and had my trusty shop rag at the ready. I lifted the lid, and the rag disappeared just-like-that. Odd noises and the obligatory "ah shit!" ensued. Be careful out there
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