Deal was too good to pass up: a driveable 88 SPG for less than $1000. The hood had to be strapped down with duct tape, and the fender had to be attached the same way.

The car fired right up once we dropped a new battery in it. We drove it around a little bit, but nothing serious. We paid the man, and were on our way. One mile from where we bought the car, the temperature guage shoots into the red and a strong stench of coolant fills the car. The highway we were on had no shoulder. We do our best to get out of traffic, pulling over onto the merge area to enter an exit ramp. Both of the coolant lines on the the heater control valve had blown off and the thermostat was sticking. We had no other means lined up to get this car home, and it was less than 20 degrees outside with winds over 20 miles per hour, gusting to over 40 mph.

We decide that we can fix this, so we try to start the car. It won't fire up. People are barely missing this car, as it is dark gray, and sitting under a bridge (like I said, only spot we could make it to) It finally fires up, and takes off like a bat out of hell (still an SPG!) We limp it to a parking lot, fix the hoses and the thermostat, and drive it (almost) all the way home to Damascus, MD (500 miles)

We pull over at a rest stop, and come back out to keep on going. We only have about 100 miles or so left to go. Car won't start, at all. Just won't turn over We decided the fuel pump relay was getting too hot, so we let it cool off for a bit, and then she fired up again. We did not shut the car off again until we got it home.

This complete and total rust bucket was then totally disassembled, with the engine and trans to see another day transplanted into another SPG. Upon inspection, the ball joints on the car were almost completely done, and a couple of caliper bolts were missing! Lucky to be alive. What a trip.

Mike

• Happy breakdown stories anyone?, KeithR, Tue, 20 Mar 2001 19:48:49
  • Re: Happy breakdown stories anyone?, Lee in So Cal, Mon, 26 Mar 2001 01:25:44
    • read this one, the other is a wrong post!!, lee in So Cal, Mon, 26 Mar 2001 01:36:58
  • one mcgyver, one luck, fsik, Thu, 22 Mar 2001 11:55:33
  • BEAT THIS, Quinn S. Kurz, Wed, 21 Mar 2001 14:32:40
    • & why do 2 guys have panty hose in their VW? (n/m), A.Roper, Wed, 21 Mar 2001 16:54:58
  • Damn You are McGyver!, Mike 87 900s, Wed, 21 Mar 2001 12:12:47
  • Damn You are McGyver!, Mike 87 900s, Wed, 21 Mar 2001 12:10:24
  • In Utica, NY in JANUARY, car begins to super-overheat (long, WASSAAB, Wed, 21 Mar 2001 10:16:16 <-- Viewing This Message
  • You ARE McGyver! :), mfatic, Wed, 21 Mar 2001 01:41:30
  • the good insurance company folks - happy endings, John A., Tue, 20 Mar 2001 20:05:23

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