Topic: I miss my Vette
in Forum: General Non-Vette Discussion
Already a Member?
Click Here to Login
Not yet a Member?
Click Here to Register for Free!
Just stopping by to say "Hey!".
I've been out for more than a month now. Things have been hectics at best. I left Florida to move back to Canada.
I found a job in Montreal, but my first assignment (IT consultant) is in Toronto.
I sold my house, my truck, put all my stuff in storage (in FL) and the Vette stays at a friends house for now.
Moving country is allways a pain; even if your a citizen, they (the guv'ment) make it over complicated.
I should have my stuff moved from FL to Montreal sometimes next month and the Vette right after. Hopefully, I'll get it back before the end of the summer, fix it and take it for a spin before winter.
When I say fix it, I mean suspension re-haul is now a necessity. Right before I left FL, I decided to take one last ride..... So from Tampa, I drove south on I-75 until I was almost out of gas. At the gas station, I noticed the front-driver side tire was almost flat. I knew the valve stem was causing the trouble, but didn't think much of it, filled the tank, filled the tire and I was back on the road (now going back north on I-75).
About 15 minutes later, going about 112 mph (don't worry, the road was wide open; I wouldn't do that if there was a lot of traffic....), I started feeling a wabble from the front. It felt like it was the engine, where one of the motor mount has gone bad or something. So I didn't take a chance and slowed down to 70 while making my way to the right lane (traffic was going about 80). At the very moment I make it to the right lane... BOOOOM! The tire exploded and shredded in a 1000 pieces. I had a hard time keeping the car in my lane as I was slowing down. Traffic caught up to me and people were avoiding pieces of tires and myself (slowing down and waiving in my lane). I was able to get it to a stop and nobody was injured. Then I saw my rim passing me...
(I later found it on the side of the road in the high grass). Thanks to the good service of AAA and the sub contractor who not only had a flat bed (that I especially requested), but he also had pieces of 2x6 to make sure the car clears the angle when lifting it on the bed; 2 hours later the Vette was back in my garage with a spare tire on.
(I later found it on the side of the road in the high grass). Thanks to the good service of AAA and the sub contractor who not only had a flat bed (that I especially requested), but he also had pieces of 2x6 to make sure the car clears the angle when lifting it on the bed; 2 hours later the Vette was back in my garage with a spare tire on.A visual inspection didn't show any problems related to the "explosion", but after I replaced the tire with a new one, it drives really bad; can't go over 40 mph. The suspension has allways been bad, but now it's horrible in the front. I might have crushed some bushings somewhere in the suspension or even the steering.
I keep on debating with myself if I should move the car to Canada or not. This Vette is special for me because I bought it when I turned 30; I wanted to buy myself something that was my age (she's actually a few months older than me), but she has never seen the winter. She will stay in a heated garage, but she has allways been in the south; California, Texas & Florida.
Anyway, I hope to get it back and running before the winter.
SPONSOR AD:: (Our Sponsors help support C3VR)
Lifetime MemberModerator
Duncanville, TX - USA
Joined: 11/8/2003
Posts: 20214
Vette(s): #1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/
Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight"
#2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto
Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas
Wow!!!
Glad you were able to keep it under control, Stephane!!
My '74 blew the left front tire(Firestone 500
) when the car was fairly new, and it took the lower part of the fender, behind the tire off!! 
Hope the rest of your move goes well, and painless, eh?
Glad to see ya back in action here, too!!
Glad you were able to keep it under control, Stephane!!
My '74 blew the left front tire(Firestone 500
) when the car was fairly new, and it took the lower part of the fender, behind the tire off!!
Hope the rest of your move goes well, and painless, eh?
Glad to see ya back in action here, too!!
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"
Lifetime MemberHOWELL, NJ - USA
Joined: 5/18/2004
Posts: 6812
Vette(s): 1979, Targa Blue (72 Color), Pace Car rear spoiler, L88 hood, Dark blue factory interior, 525HP 406, HD 700R4, 370 gears,Steeroids, composite rear spring, TT IIs wrapped in T/A Radials.
Thanks to the big guy upstairs, it was only a tire and suspension work and you were safe!!!!!!
LukesVette Homepage
Veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom
101st Airborne(AirAssault!)
God Bless America
Support Our Troops 
2011111017209r.jpg)
I'm glad that you are safe after your encounter. I remember a friend of mine taunting me about how high my top speed would be. At the time I had a 427, 66 Vette, engine slightly modified (a little over 500hp). I was turning 12.19 in the quarter mile, 121 for speed. It was 4 in the morning on a 4 lane concrete road. We were watching the speedometer reading 151 when we noticed a thick steel plate covering a repair in the road. The car was a roadster, I told my frind to roll into a ball and croutch down....I was afraid of rolling the car and probably killing my friend. We hit the plate, the upper control arm on the passenger side sheared a bolt that secured an offset lift kit, tying the balljoint and control arm together. The wheel/tire top fell inboard toward the engine. the steering became a tremendous pull to the right. It took all the stength that I had to keep the car going strait. As we attempted to slow down the tire was rubbing the inside sidewall agaist the frame...eventually blowing the tire. What an experence. We were extremely lucky that we didn't roll the car. I ran home 4 miles to get the spare tire (remember I raced, and a spare tire add extra weight...any extra weight slows you down). I also brought a bucket of various length/size bolts. I managed to get things together good enought to drive the 4 miles at about TWO MILES PER HOUR. After that great experience I replaced every bolt, with bolts that exceeded grade 8 aircraft quality. Every nut, bolt, washer, and lockwasher I chaged. I used what was called Supertanium bolts and hardware. I was lucky that there wasn't any damage to the fender ..... CORVETTES ARE FUUUUUUUUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The need for speed was intoxifying for me. I'm a little older now but still haven't grown any wiser.....maybe be someday?
corvette440hp
in Forum: General Non-Vette Discussion
SPONSOR AD: (Our Sponsors help support C3VR)