. Diaper Please

[robert campbell]

Dudes,
Recently I had the pleasure of working on a 1963 1/2 Ford Galaxie 500. Fresh out of a frame off restoration. It is so pretty it is scary. 289 auto car with a small cam and hipo exhaust manifolds and a 4 barrel. Running like doo doo.

So rob gets the car and sends the owner off. It cools a bit, and Rob hooks up the vacuum gauge and timing light for initial settings. Gets in car and it won't start. Dead as a door nail. Been to this rodeo, so I wiggle the column shift in park a bit and bingo it starts right up. Way cool!! Sit for a few seconds all is good. Get out the drivers door and walk around it.... All is great and it is idling at about 1,00 rpm on a bit of a choke. Start to move towards the front fender...... Wait for it.....

Wham it shifts into reverse!!! Leaving the garage and getting ready to shear the drivers door off or stop the car!!! Old guy chasing!!! Okld guy wins and slams the door just before it hook the side wall in the center that separates the doors!!! Whew!!!

Old guys sprints (lose term for 60, but he looked liked an old Marshawn Lynch) running out the other door!!! Gets to drivers door!!! Opens and jumps in like he does it every day!! Stomps on brakes and brings car to a stop!! Turns off engine......

Cars seat should be stained!! Diaper is full!!! Knees are knocking!!! Heart rate is at full chat!!!

Should have ran in and had a shot of THE Glenn Livetts!!! Asked owner for a new diaper.... Wow!! I always chock unknown cars on my lift and sometimes even on my floor.

NEW RULE!! Chock all unknown cars!!!

By the way, car purrs like a kitten now.....

Rob

 

[CougarCJ]

Dang Uncle Rob, glad that everything, and you are safe.

I was actually expecting a story about this crazy powerful 427 cammer scaring the doo-doo out of you during a test and tune.

 

[Midnight Special]

...I remember a recall of sorts on Ford sedans & wagons with column shift autos...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxGlIFlZ0CI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFkeGP2xlmM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fkAsJtNubuY

'Glad you got her stopped, Brother Rob! 'Could've been bad!

 

[stangfan]

Holy Crap!!!! (Pun intended.) :grin:

 

[rvrtrash]

My '69 Fairlane pinned me against a steel gate once, when it dropped into reverse while I was behind it. I was stuck there until someone came by that jumped in and moved it forward. I still have dents from my hands in the trunk lid that I'll have to take out when I get that far in the restoration.
Glad no damage done to you or the car.

Steve

 

[franklinair]

Did you check & adjust the linkage to preclude any future surprises?

Neil:scared:

 

[Batgirl89]

OMG!! glad you are ok!!! was that before or after John called you??

Ya I was thinking like Scott, you were test/tuning a 427

 

[robert campbell]

Dad,
Not yet, but it is coming back for some other work and shifter adjustment is top on the list!!

Wish I could say it was a cammer, but this was enough to fill my diaper!!

Rob

 

[robert campbell]

OMG!! glad you are ok!!! was that before or after John called you??

Ya I was thinking like Scott, you were test/tuning a 427

It was last week! Needed a weekend off the recover.....

 

[robert campbell]

...I remember a recall of sorts on Ford sedans & wagons with column shift autos...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxGlIFlZ0CI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFkeGP2xlmM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fkAsJtNubuY

'Glad you got her stopped, Brother Rob! 'Could've been bad!

Tim,
Those are so funny!! Glad this pristine Ford did not have to have someone shoot its tires of!!!

Rob

 

[rvrtrash]

The issue isn't adjustment, but rather the shifter detents on column shift cars get worn down, because the part is made of pot metal, and the weight of the shifter handle causes it to drop down, with reverse being the first position it comes to. I'm converting my Fairlane to floor shift as a safety precaution. :grin:

Steve

 

[robert campbell]

notice my Ford Ranger and the truck up in the cul-de-sac. Yup, missed the Ranger and I stopped it just in time to not hit the other truck....

 

[clubpro]

Rob,

Thanks again for the laugh! The 63 1/2 Galaxie is one of my all time favorite cars and the one that you are working on is absolutely gorgeous. My best friend in high school had a 64 XL and originally it had the 352 auto and we pulled that out and went with a 390 4 speed. After having fun for awhile we pulled the 390 and put a 428 in it. Growing up in Fremont we had the drag strip just a couple miles away and we spent many a Wednesday night running up and down the strip. Great memories. My buddy still has the car and it now has a 427 with three twos set up on it. Not many guys can say that they still have their first car, but he does. He paid $800 for it back in 1973. Every time I go to his house I am taken back to high school again.

Cheers,

Ron

 

[p51]

Bob, found just what you need for those days when you're working on the stang... :wink:

 

[robert campbell]

Hell, I got a gun belt with both holsters full of huggies!!

Rob

 

[Mosesatm]

Here's one of the squirrels from Rob's neighborhood.

 

[mbsf1970]

I'm such a guy....not even considering the safety of Brother Rob, I went immediately into full smile / laughing mode when i read about your adventure.
I played it out in my mind....very impressed by the door save!!
Have reconsidered........may not be bringing you my car in future!! lol

Stephen

 

[p51]

Here's one of the squirrels from Rob's neighborhood.

:smile:... He looks startled, amazed, and is praying all at the same time...

 

[Mosesatm]

OK, where's Marty. I think he may have something to say about runaway cars.