Adventures of Big Red: Part 1 - The Case of the Missing Fire Exstinguisher
I hung out with my friend Lindsey the other day and somehow in the conversation we got to talking about my daily adventures of almost dieing in "Big Red." She was unaware that everyday she saw me during my Sophomore year of high school was a day that I could have not been there. She took those days for granted... I guess I did too, but I'm alive to tell the tales. For those of you who do not know what "Big Red" is take a look at the picture below. Then you will understand!!!
1963 Ford Galaxie 500XL
So now you know what "Big Red" is, lets get to the Adventures.
Adventure 1:
Scenario: Summer before high school. Car broken in garage.
Major Problem: Everything was broken... EVERYTHING!
"Big Red" was sitting in the garage, nothing would get it to start and more specifically the wiring harness in the dash was messed up so no lights would come on in the car. I was told by my father that this would be my car to drive because my parents nor I couldn't afford to buy another car. I began to work on it. First mission was to rewire the entire wiring harness in the dashboard. At that point all wires where useless. So I read a book or two and began the wiring process. After working on the wiring for a couple hours each day it only took me two or three weeks to complete the tasks. But believe me when I say it is uncomfortable to be under the dashboard of a vehicle.
Next task was to fix the broken carburetor. I tried to rebuild the existing one. I was pumping the gas after I made some adjustments and there was a leak... I had my dad looking at this with me. Now I have to say that I honestly believe my dad and I are brilliant, but for some small reason we both weren't thinking at the same time thus resulting in a decision to start the car again. Now flashback to 5 seconds ago when I said there was a gas leak... Gas was all over the top of the manifold... Gas plus spark equals FIRE!!!!!!!! FIRE, FIRE IN THE GARAGE!!! THE CAR IS ON FIRE! Panic time... I looked for the fire exstinguisher that I swore was in the trunk. Not there. Looked around in the garage. Nope still no where to be found. Go get the hose.... This was probably the dumber idea I had. The fire was just a small fire inside the carburetor but once I sprayed the water on it the fire spread to the top of the engine.... BIGGER FIRE!!!! My dad ran into the house to get the flour which thus after several layers of caking the fire with the flour the fire was put out. Now I have a burned up carburetor, flour covered engine, and a melted coat of paint on top of the hood. So after pondering what just happened my dad and I both still in shock and frustration pulled the hood down a little on the car. There right in front of our eyes on the wall blending in with the Red hood.... was, yep you guessed it.. THE FIRE EXSTINGUISHER... ON THE WALL! Who does that???
So I had to buy a new carburetor for around $112.39. I installed the new carburetor. The car is now drivable but the paint on the hood is gone.
Big Red Adventure 1: "The Case of the Missing Fire Exstinguisher."
1963 Ford Galaxie 500XL
So now you know what "Big Red" is, lets get to the Adventures.
Adventure 1:
Scenario: Summer before high school. Car broken in garage.
Major Problem: Everything was broken... EVERYTHING!
"Big Red" was sitting in the garage, nothing would get it to start and more specifically the wiring harness in the dash was messed up so no lights would come on in the car. I was told by my father that this would be my car to drive because my parents nor I couldn't afford to buy another car. I began to work on it. First mission was to rewire the entire wiring harness in the dashboard. At that point all wires where useless. So I read a book or two and began the wiring process. After working on the wiring for a couple hours each day it only took me two or three weeks to complete the tasks. But believe me when I say it is uncomfortable to be under the dashboard of a vehicle.
Next task was to fix the broken carburetor. I tried to rebuild the existing one. I was pumping the gas after I made some adjustments and there was a leak... I had my dad looking at this with me. Now I have to say that I honestly believe my dad and I are brilliant, but for some small reason we both weren't thinking at the same time thus resulting in a decision to start the car again. Now flashback to 5 seconds ago when I said there was a gas leak... Gas was all over the top of the manifold... Gas plus spark equals FIRE!!!!!!!! FIRE, FIRE IN THE GARAGE!!! THE CAR IS ON FIRE! Panic time... I looked for the fire exstinguisher that I swore was in the trunk. Not there. Looked around in the garage. Nope still no where to be found. Go get the hose.... This was probably the dumber idea I had. The fire was just a small fire inside the carburetor but once I sprayed the water on it the fire spread to the top of the engine.... BIGGER FIRE!!!! My dad ran into the house to get the flour which thus after several layers of caking the fire with the flour the fire was put out. Now I have a burned up carburetor, flour covered engine, and a melted coat of paint on top of the hood. So after pondering what just happened my dad and I both still in shock and frustration pulled the hood down a little on the car. There right in front of our eyes on the wall blending in with the Red hood.... was, yep you guessed it.. THE FIRE EXSTINGUISHER... ON THE WALL! Who does that???
So I had to buy a new carburetor for around $112.39. I installed the new carburetor. The car is now drivable but the paint on the hood is gone.
Big Red Adventure 1: "The Case of the Missing Fire Exstinguisher."
posted by Mr. President at 11:31 PM
2 Comments:
The story is true. I can attest to every bit of it. But I’d forgotten about the wiring.
Dad
What an adventure!!! I had some fun times with my first car...the Blue Moose.
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