Well, I give up.  Me and my step son got the '69 to idle correctly this morning and took off for a ride.  Made it one block before it stalled again.  While trying to start it up again, one of the starter bolts popped out.  My son was good enough to push it home.

For about an hour there I was seriously thinking of selling it as is.

Then my wife found a shop in Pasadena that can take another look at the fuel line and starter tomorrow and offered it as my birthday present.  Yeah!   AAA will be here with a flat bed in the morning to haul it off.  I wonder how long it will be before I see it again.

Jim

Don't give up! It's always darkest before the dawn! These cars almost always have problems because of previous owners bad repairs. Once you get it straightened out, you'll love it!

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"Down on the Boardwalk...

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69 is worth the effort ... hang in there !

Dadgummit! 
I feel yer pain....most of us here have. Hang in there....it'll get better. Once it's fixed, and running dependably again, it'll make all of the aggravation go away....


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Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56    
My Link


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"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"

Carb issues and starter bolts are light stuff!! Keep in wrenching!!  

Well, the mechanic has found sugar in the carburetor.  So a complete clean out of the tank, fuel line, pump and carb are in order.  May need a new carb and fuel pump.

I'm waiting for Hagarty to call in the morning to let me know if this is covered under my comprehensive insurance.

Now I'm off to order a locking gas cap.  Thanks for the encouragement!

What did you do to make someone angry? That ticks me off more than anything! I mean, if you have a problem with someone, why mess up their car? I hope you get it all straightened out! Keep us posted!  

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"Down on the Boardwalk...

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Now you got me cranked up too...I've worked on a bunch of no starts only to find that white stuff around the filler kneck...but our car doesn't really have that...one question I have is that I've never seen the sugar...sugar in its crystal form won't pass thru the filter in the tank...I can smell the sweetness of the gas so maybe that's what they are talking about...it's tough to smell these days of ethanol...I'd be more pressed to think it was water in there...I get that more than sugar...I would suggest an alcohol test to see what's in it...also check around the back deck to see if there is sugar laying around there...most sugar people don't mix it before they pour it in the tank..either way get it cleaned up so you can enjoy it.

|UPDATED|3/28/2012 9:34:15 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|


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My first parade at Carlisle 2010

Prolly not the case....most likely some jealous a$$hole.
There's many types of "sugar" that can make it all the way to the carb...molasses, Karo, soda pop...even Honey. In any event...it's some nasty, gummy, hard to clean stuff.
I'd be extremely concerned about any top end engine damage, too. That stuff can get into the pistons rings, and gum up, as well as scratch the cylinder walls....depending on how much is in there, and how long it was run. A good top end cleaner would be a good idea, once the fuel system is back on line...

This is another reason I don't like leaving my car un-attended anywhere.....



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Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56    
My Link


(click for Texas-sized view!)             NCRS

"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"

Haven't heard of anyone using the syrup before but wow would that be an absolute nightmare! ! I really hope there is no engine damage.

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My first parade at Carlisle 2010

ok,

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Warning: The surgeon general has declared that it is NOT unhealthy to smoke your competition AND I just discovered that my corvette is a hybred.  It burns gas and rubber! 

Back home, that was the choice of most of the women that were pizzed at their men....lot easier to pour into the tank, and dint leave no tell-tale evidence. Mixes in with the fuel pretty dang well, too. I've seen stuff like that actually seize an engine up...just gum it up until it just wouldn't turn over at all. It'll go thru the filters, and not even stop up anything in the carb unless you let it sit with the stuff in there for a few days. But...running the engine down the road for a spell would suck that sticky crap right on down into the cylinders...and then start weldin stuff together....


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Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56    
My Link


(click for Texas-sized view!)             NCRS

"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"

Joel, did you learn this by experience?????????????

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"Down on the Boardwalk...

(Click image to see a larger version}

Only from the repair end, Bluebarry...only from the repair end....

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Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56    
My Link


(click for Texas-sized view!)             NCRS

"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"

Jim, please keep us posted on the answer from Haggerty, knowing insurance companies as we do, it would be interesting to hear their response. My policy just went up 25 % here in Calif. but its so cheap I just don't count on them ever paying off on any claims. Hope I'm wrong about them.

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Jimmy B.
Just can't wait to get on the road again.

 
                             Click to see larger views!

Well, my '69 is back together and running.. about a grand if I'm adding all the estimates correctly.  So far I have a new gas tank, new fuel pickup, new rubber fuel hoses at the steel pipe, new fuel pump, and a rebuilt carburetor.

Hagerty is sending an inspector (yesterday or mon) and will then decide if this is a covered event.  Police won't take a report until the junk in the fuel system is analyzed by Hagerty.

I left the car with the shop for them to swap the straight steering column with a tele/tilt steering column I picked up a few months ago.

I'll let you know the ultimate outcome.  By the way, I bought the insurance from Hagerty but my insurance cards say "Essentia Insurance Company" from Canton Massachusetts.

However it goes with the insurance, the car should finally be back on the road.

Jim

PS  and no tank sticker/build sheet.  This already had a replacement tank.


|UPDATED|3/31/2012 12:36:10 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|

Glad to hear it didn't mess up your engine! At least you got it back now (sort of)! Hope the insurance works out but at least you know what the problem was!

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"Down on the Boardwalk...

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Got the Vette back today!  Just as it should be, except running a little rich.  I still need to figure out which parts I need for the horn button.

Expecting the insurance decision tomorrow too!  I'll let you know.

Jim,

Wow, sorry about your luck. that makes me glad to be from a small city in Canada. If that happened to me ,I would have done somthing to deserve it. Around here the styrofoam packing peanut does a great job, the gas turns them liquid, then the air mix turns them gummy again.

Don't give anybody any ideas, Craig! I had never heard that one! Man, people have always told me I should have a locking gas cap on mine. Gonna have to do it now! You guys are scaring me!

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"Down on the Boardwalk...

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Got a letter from Hagerty today denying my claim.  They think it was water in the fuel tank causing rust pieces to settle in the various parts of the fuel system.  I think it is a plausible explanation.  I wouldn't have thought of sugar if my mechanic hadn't mentioned it.

Case closed.  Only think, I wish the adjuster had called me on Wednesday instead of just sending a letter.  Oh well.

Jim

At least you got it fixed! And I put my locking gas cap on yesterday just to be sure! Hope you now can enjoy uninterrupted cruising!

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"Down on the Boardwalk...

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 Thanks for sharing Jim. Considering how low their rates are the response is understandable, I'm sure it would be the same with any ins. company though. I'm just hoping they don't make excuses for all claims. I mean, the wording on their policies is pretty restrictive. You can only travel X amount of miles per year, and only use the car for shows and gatherings and don't ever stop off in a parking lot unless that's where the show is. I guess I'm just expecting the worst of any ins. company, as in , trying to weasel out of responsibility instead of stepping up. Anyway, I'm considered a collector (3 or more cars), and their rates are great and I don't see many options really. I would just like to actually use my cars for any and everything without the fear that they might not be covered if something bad happens. Here's hoping the Guardian Angel of Corvettes is watching over us.

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Jimmy B.
Just can't wait to get on the road again.

 
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