The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The HiPo Shop Watch this video

I realize this isn't a Chevy truck, but this is a HiPo vehicle.
I posted this in the Greasy Spoon but I know not everyone looks there.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=5oO226PgSkg

Normally this post would hit the trash since it is neither truck related or Chevy/GMC related. However it serves as a reminder that horsepower isn’t everything, you’ve got to be able to stop too.

The pain of $$$ flowing out the window was greater than the pain of the actual crash. Justhorsein is right. Before you drive your baby, make sure it will stop. I mean REALLY stop. Nothing is worse than doing a ton of work on a beautiful antique only to throw it out the window because you didn't do the brakes right.

Well, I know what I'am doing tomorrow, Brake Check. If the throttle is hanging up on a 1300 hp engine, why in god's name would you be driving it on public roads?

I'm wondering why he didn't turn off the ignition with a sticking throttle. In a situation like that, you have to keep your wits about you and take the appropriate action.

On my build (all stock) nearly all the brake parts are new. Just the drums are original.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^What he said!

I had that happen to me when I was 16 years old in a 68 1/2 ton. It had a new engine put in it, but apparently they did a poor job of rigging the the throttle setup, causing to stick at. In that model you cannot dig your toe under the gas pedal to pull up on it to free up the bind. The brakes did keep me from speeding out of control for a while then began to fade.
I ended up putting it in neutral and turned off the ignition. The engine did not like that at all. It backfired out of every orifice for quire a while with the ignition off. Must have had some serious hot spots on the cylinder head to keep the combustion going on all at the wrong time.
The worst part was when I was finally able to bring the truck to a complete stop, I was broadside in the middle of a busy highway and it was foggy out. I laid on the horn when I saw headlights coming, praying that they could see the broadside a truck in time to miss me.
I waited until I couldn't hear any traffic noise, jumped out and freed the stuck throttle linkage and started the truck and got off the road.
I'm thinking the operator of the Ford (You know, Fix It Again Tony) car did not have the sense of a 16 year old underachieving, habitual slacker to avoid a collision at full throttle without enough brakes.

This video also makes a pretty good case for dual circuit brakes.

Mark

Good point, but in this case it probably wouldn't have done much good as he smoked the brakes and probably melted the caliper seals.

Part of my "Welcome to the auto mechanics class" orientation lecture for new high school students every year was "You're going to learn how to make a car stop and steer long before we talk about any 'go fast' stuff!" Boring- - - -but essential! Now- - - -about that bargain IFS system some people insist in installing on a stovebolt- - - - - - - -!
Jerry

Scary video. During some body work I had to remove the emergency brake from 54 3100. I have been putting off re-installing it. I also have lap and shoulder belts brand new sitting in a box for the last year. I think I am going to find some time to re-install the emergency brake and seat belts.

I just watched the whole video: start to finish! If you haven’t watched it yet you MUST! OMG! Thru my whole life, one of my ongoing and enduring thoughts is: “What can possibly go wrong?” This applies everyday to EVERYTHING I do! I’m pretty confident about the truck I’ve built, but….maybe now I’m going to more seriously consider shoulder belts instead of just lap belts. The narrator in the video made some great, excellent points. I’m thinking way beyond everything he said tho. What would I have done if my brakes went out!? Neutral? Definitely! Hammer my emergency brake!? DEFINITELY! Am I ready to blow up my my 700-R4 by jamming it in park at that speed!? ABSOLUTELY!!! And what about that mini-van that was [censored]-ended? I wonder how that guy made out? And how big was the lawsuit!?!? Is your insurance up to date!? I’m cancelling my joy ride this afternoon and gonna do a thorough safety check on the old truck…..what can possibly go wrong!? Wayne67…thanks for this post!

Good luck trying to jam an auto into park- - - - -unless you can lock up the driveshaft at least momentarily so the parking pawl can find a notch to fall into. Otherwise, it just makes a horrendous grinding noise and the driveshaft keeps spinning. Nail what's left of the brakes, select reverse while the rear wheels are locked up, and gas it. That's more likely to make a bigger difference in your forward momentum!
Jerry

In the past I have turned away many a customer because they would want me to just throw a bandaid at their repair. I refused to do any repair that I wouldn't let my Wife and Kids drive.

As far as the build on my 59' I have spent a lot of time doing research and finding the correct parts. I tend to lean on the side of bigger is better with brakes, I am installing a hydro boost and disc on the front.

What I don't understand is that the owner knew that the throttle linkage had a tendency to stick and still drove the car and that was with 1300 HP. I think I would have addressed that issue first and foremost.

It's called the "I'm 10 feet tall and bulletproof" syndrome. Most people outgrow that attitude by their late teens or early 20's. Hotrodders tend to be a little bit more stubborn. A few of them survive by good luck instead of good management!
Jerry

One other comment.
That blower sticking out of the hood that you can't really see around would be illegal in many jusrisdictions on the street.

HRL: after considering your response, I agree, you are correct….yes, the parking pawl would just ratchet across the parking gear. I’m going to revise my panic plan. The other day while doing my safety inspection I got to thinking about my rubber brake hoses. They’re 30 years old but they look fine….do you think rubber brake hoses should be replace at any particular interval? Thanks, Dave

Brake lines whether rubber or steel break down from the inside. I would think after 30 years yours are due for replacement.

I once had a female friend who called me late in the evening. She said she had to leave in the morning on a 1200-mile trip, and her brakes weren't working. She brought her Chevy Malibu over to my house, and I quickly diagnosed the problem. She had a hole in the brake line leading to the rear brakes. She said she wondered why she kept having to add fluid all the time!

Since it was late and no stores were open, I said that I could fix it temporarily BUT she had to bring it back in the morning so I could replace the brake line. THEN she could make her trip. I dug up a brad from my pile, took the brake line loose from the master cylinder, stuck the brad in the line, effectively sealing it off, and screwed it back onto the master cylinder. I then told her, you only have HALF your brakes, so drive slowly and carefully, and bring it back in the morning so I can complete the repair.

She left on her trip first thing in the morning towing a U-Haul trailer!!!. When she got back home two weeks later, she told me that the brakes seemed a little weak but she made it OK.

That's when I swore I would never again make a temporary repair for someone.

The first thing I did when I got my truck was make sure the brake system was working well. And I didn't work on anything else until it was completely reliable. I ended up with four-wheel power disk brakes.

tuts59 Finally saw your post about chapped cheeks happening here on the bolt !! LOL LOL I f you don't settle down I am gonna rupture LOL !! I too have recieved some chapping remarks but hide is getting tougher as time wears on. Saw where a 350 mile treck to KC is maybe happening. My piece is not up to that,but have one that is.

Baldeagle That kinda gives you a chill !!

I could imagine a hundred scenarios where that could have gone horribly wrong.

Baldeagle,

My auto mechanics teacher in high school recommended I not work on other people's brakes when I mentioned I was going to do it for a friend. He was concerned with the litigious nature of society and liability rather than my skills.

That has stayed with me my entire life. I will never work on other people's brakes. I only do brake jobs on my own vehicle. I will watch or assist others if they're doing their brakes but I won't do it myself.

Otto, your auto mechanics teacher was wise. And you were wiser for taking his advice to heart.

have had throttle stick on a few vehicles over the years. First time on the interstate passing someone. Foot went to the floor, passed and go pedal stayed there. Had a few miles to figure out a plan which was shut it off and figure out what happened.

Every time after that on every stuck throttle it was shut off within a second. Only exception was a snowmobile that sat in some freezing rain and then got real cold. I started it, let it idle for a bit and burped the throttle standing next to it. That thing took across the field and slammed the stone wall launching it into the woods. All while I stood there and watched it go.