I'm going to put a 427 car in the body shop for some minor repairs and I'm concerned that some kids in the shop might start playing with it and damge the engine. Doesn't have a MSD ignition, has all original parts. I was thinking of switching 7 & 8 plug wire, kind of quicky rev limiter, think it will do any damage? Thanks RWJ
Wes Adams FORD428CJ
Built Ford Tuff With Good Ford Stuff
79 F-250 X-Cab 4x4 with a 6.9 Turbo Diesel
64 Falcon X-Ram 428
55 FORD Truck 4-link Rides on air with X-Ram 428
2000 Yamaha V-MAX VMOA#4277
2000 Yamaha 700 Mountain Max
2001 Polaris 600 Edge X
2001 Polaris 500 SP
Rule #1.........It is NOT my car.........treat it like that.
Rule #2.........The customer deserves respect. They pay the bills.
Rule #3......... Anyone that does NOT respect the CAR for it's own value is scorned and we have no use for them.
Rule #4.........See rule #1........no matter what it is..hot rod, classic or race car.........or yer ole lady's daily driver....
If you think that your car will not receive this treatment at any shop...don't take it there........period. If the owner cannot assure you of this.......find another.
Visitors Rule ...simple...LOOK BUT DON'T TOUCH...EMPLOYEES, SAME THING........do the repair and if there are personal belongings in the car........leave em alone.........as for moving the cars around and the need to fire the engine to do so........treat it like it should be.........a gentle start, short warm up and then move.........shut it down and try to only start it when necessary.
But Wayne, if you have any reservations about leaving the car with "children"....find another shop. Do not disable the car...have it running absolutely correct. More damage can be done by crossing wires, etc. than having it right.
If this still bothers you........bring it to Texas.
Mark
....home of the TexasOutsiders
www.texasthunderperformance.com
This message has been edited by texoutsider on Jul 9, 2008 2:10 AM
Pull the good stuff and put some old 2V junk motor in there that doesn't have enough power to blow a piece of loose lettuce around just so they can just move it around.
brick under the pedal / vice grips on the throttle cable / duct tape on the carb with small air hole, or the most convincing.....a note on the seat with a scattering of spent .38 shells !!!!!
When Hemi 'Cudas were new, one of the magazines, might have been Hot Rod, was given one to play with, and an engine builder volunteered his services, thinking it would be great advertisement. Engine gets blueprinted and hopped up, so the guy's got it running, decides to do a few burnpouts in the parking lot of the industrial complex where his shop is, jacks it up pretty good and the throttle sticks- so he turns off the ignition, but it's one of those new-fangled column locks, which locks the steering, so he ends up in the middle of a bunch of Ferraris parked in the lot, and back then the Ferraris were worth a helluva lot than some Plymouth- instant Egg-On-Face Award
it might blow out a power valve , drain fuel into the engine oil .... maybe glow the exhaust if fuel builds up in the pipe while running ... probably better than kids messing with it running good though .... to bad you can't put a 3000 rpm chip in it
Definately have talk with the manager/owner........................
July 8 2008, 7:34 PM
Put the key in his hand and let him know that at no time is it to be out of his possession. If he cannot guarantee that, go elsewhere. You might also inform him of the value of the car and the value of the engine alone. A good trick to disable the car is to trade the dist end of the coil wire into a spark plug wire position and put the plug wire in the coil hole......I think as was stated prior that crossing 2 wires might blow a power valve, beyond that I don't think it would hurt anything. RonW
I personally can't leave my car at any shop. I've either stayed there with the car or leave it a one-man shop with someone I trust. I've got my car at a coworker's home being painted now. I just couldn't sleep knowing it was in some public shop with anyone tempted to over rev it or take it for a test spin. I still remember visting a couple of old school mates who worked at a trans shop and they would take different customer cars out after hours for some midnight torture. Same with valet parkers. My old next door neighbor valet parked for the Hyatt and smashed a guy's Corvette up. A 427 to have fun with would be too tempting to try out and also be able to brag to their buddies about. I'm sure most shops are professional, but I'm not much into gambling with my car.
This message has been edited by 427kevin on Jul 8, 2008 8:01 PM
If I have to push it, instead of simply starting it an moving it...I don't want that customer's business. If the customer does not trust me.........I have no trust in him.
One bit of interest that I observed.....one of my ex friends ran a small business of taking care of expensive cars for a few collectors in the Dallas area. He would come by my shop and "show off" the new "toy".........Every time he did this I cautioned him about the care of the car. To my advise he listened not.......the result was a spun bearing in a HemiCuda, transmission damage to a Shelby Mustang and a general disregard for the cars and the customers possesions..........I have a video that my wife took of this guy nearly wrecking a Boss 9 while "showing off" at my shop..........I told him this was stupid and was going to ruin his rep..........after many little bits of this treatment to his customers and winding up with one of his "charges" getting "stolen"...later to be found stripped and not stolen at all, but tossed from the storage facility for non payment of rent..........his ass was done. He is now a janitor for a local company and is still treating whatever he touches the same............he is no longer welcome here. I finally told the owner of some of the cars that he abused about the video and cautioned him about another person that was working on his cars...........one car, a nice Mustang GT was wrecked while being used to do a drug deal and left in south Dallas......
This type of disregard for the customer's cars is not the way to do business and I will be the first to say so...........
NOW, IF THE CUSTOMER DIRECTS YOU TO RUN THE SHIT OUT OF THEM, UNDER HIS SUPERVISION..........WELL, LET THE HAIR GO WITH THE HIDE.....THAT IS HIS DECISION...........AND ANY BREAKAGE GOES WITH THE TERRITORY...........IT'S BROKE AND IT STILL BELONGS TO THE CUSTOMER..........END OF STORY.
M.
....home of the TexasOutsiders
www.texasthunderperformance.com
This message has been edited by texoutsider on Jul 9, 2008 2:26 AM
yes - darn straight - do what ever it takes to prevent abuse.
July 9 2008, 1:27 PM
One bit of interest that I observed.....one of my ex friends ran a small business of taking care of expensive cars for a few collectors in the Dallas area. He would come by my shop and "show off" the new "toy".........Every time he did this I cautioned him about the care of the car. To my advise he listened not.......the result was a spun bearing in a HemiCuda, transmission damage to a Shelby Mustang and a general disregard for the cars and the customers possesions..........I have a video that my wife took of this guy nearly wrecking a Boss 9 while "showing off" at my shop..........I told him this was stupid and was going to ruin his rep..........after many little bits of this treatment to his customers and winding up with one of his "charges" getting "stolen"...later to be found stripped and not stolen at all, but tossed from the storage facility for non payment of rent..........his ass was done. He is now a janitor for a local company and is still treating whatever he touches the same............he is no longer welcome here. I finally told the owner of some of the cars that he abused about the video and cautioned him about another person that was working on his cars...........one car, a nice Mustang GT was wrecked while being used to do a drug deal and left in south Dallas......
Squirrels don't just live in trees ... they get their nuts anywhere they find 'em.
So, Bottom line - you have have proof of and should understand why so many of us feel this way? No doubt that may be one of the reasons that someone like Jay Leno built a shop and hired his own crew to build and maintain his car(s).
I've talked to the owners of a few shops and came away feeling less than assured of their care and concern about my or anyone elses property. And that sign you see on the wall at most shops - the one about fire, theft, damage to your car or posessions is not their responsiblity...does not endear a whole bunch of "warm 'n fuzzy" feelings either.
F ew years back...the one where some mechanic at a big time ford dealership. was talking about trashing some guys top of the Line Mustang Cobra...well he forget to think that maybe a Fellow Ford fanatic "might" be a member on the same forum? Well one of his friends was.
Its all fun 'n games, until someone loses an eye.
This message has been edited by beoweolf on Jul 9, 2008 1:35 PM This message has been edited by beoweolf on Jul 9, 2008 1:31 PM
bringing the car over here to Rusty Gillis. I believe you know him and or his son. I can garuntee no one will mess with it and it's only about an hour and a half from you.
I am sure you know Rusty. I have been in his shop and seen their work. It is impressive. It it just him and his son, without a bunch of jacklegs running around. Plus I have talked with Rusty enough since meeting him 5 or 6 yrs ago to be convinced that he top notch guy. RonW
Ask to see the owners insurance policy. Demand to be a named entity, and speak to his carrier to confirm such. The shop owner bears full responsibility. The term is, "care-custody & control."
I own a company that retools and rebuilds machinery. It's standard liability practice in my world to protect customer's property.
When it came time to have my GT500 painted, was surprised how unprofessional many shops operate. Protect yourself.
I just dropped off a buddy's '65 Nova SS at the body shop....
July 9 2008, 5:32 AM
...it has no drivetrain in it, so they just roll it around. For piece of mind, I think I'd pull the distributor out of it and just let them do the same.
What about closing/shorting the spark plug gap on two plugs?
July 9 2008, 7:08 AM
What about closing/shorting the spark plug gap on two plugs? that will prevent back fires, it will just shake like hell.
I know it is possible to switch two wires and have the engine idle ok, but it will sputter hand have no power. It will also possibly backfire. I used to do it in high school. I think it was on a cheby you could switch the middle two and it would idle just fine, but run like crap.
Either way it they are going to start it a lot, it will wash the cylinders some.
I would also retard the timing, loosen the throttle cable/rod
or find a way to stop the throttle, but if your engine is that powerful (and i am sure it is) only installing a 352 2v would be best safest protection.
TALK TO THE SHOP AND REMIND THEM THAT THE ENGINE IS WORTH LIKE $40K and they will buy you a new one if any funny business happens. Maybe get an agreement in writing about who will start and move the car and who has access to the key.
************************************
1967 FE 390GT engine: 416 CID 233/238* @ 0.050 Solid Lifter w/ 4 spd TL.
1968 GT/CS Mustang. 289/c4
1995 Mercedes e320 I6 DOHC, 216 HP wagon.
2003 Tundra SR5, 4.7 DOHC, 4x4.
Another Galaxie (one day.)
Oh and a Bicycle - daily driver to save gas for the 'F'un 'E'xcursions.
You could damage your car, especially if some punk decides to railroad it. A pal of mine lost an engine after another "pal" decided it would be funny to switch a few wires while we were, well, in a bar.
If you can't trust the shop, then find another shop, or take Royce's advice about the rev limiter. But even a "valet switch" wouldn't prevent some yahoo from neutral slams or dumping the clutch if it's a stick.
about those thing I wouldn't take it there. Find a new shop that you know is run professionally and use them. If it costs more it is well worth the piece of mind.
A Malory revlimiting Tachometer. It has a shift light and Soft touch revlimiter. Easy to wire in as it just shorts the Distridutor coil lead to ground. Just Hide it up in the dash. I will loan it to you if you want. Email me
It wasen't red they gave me a slow tree.
Glens67
2005 Sportsman Class points winner Inifineon Raceway 2005
67 GT 390 (428 CJ) Mustang FB
65 Galaxie 500XL Hard Top 390 4 Speed
65 Galaxie 500 4 door 352 auto
48 Willys CJ-2A
82 VW Van Westy Diesel 27.10 @ 46 mph 1/4 mile
96 Exploder
1 428 industrial engin
97 F250HD 7.5
