<VV> Mouse stories

[John Kepler]

I got my '69 Monza 110 from a fellow that was convinced the engine had
serious problems.  I took a chance got it for $200.  After a quick
once-over, I decided to try and start what appeared to be a perfectly solid
engine based on the prelims.  With a touch of fuel in the carbs, the engine
fired right up sounding like a rock-crusher on steroids!  It was the noise
that got the original owner's panties in such a wad that he damn-near gave
me the car...and made me smile, I knew I'd stolen a deal! I pulled the
shroud off and sho'nuff, inside were several winters of black walnuts that
the squirrels in the guy's neighborhood had stored inside the engine that
the fan had been tossing around like marbles!  An hour with a shop vac, and
the engine ran like a top!

Then there was the intractable problem with my 67.  After 5 years of heavy
restoration (remember guys...buy the car, not the story!), an engine that
ran quite well when the car came home suddenly was running like a load of
crap.  The engine stalled, baulked, and generally acted like it had serious
carb problems.  OK, not a problem.....I yanked the carbs off and rebuilt
them....no change.  I changed fuel pumps....nada!  Then...I remembered
something a buddy had told me MANY years before.  I unhooked the main fuel
line on both ends and blew it out with air.  Out of the fuel line popped a
large wad of spider silk, several egg-cases, and a BIG load of empty bug
carcasses!  I had had the fuel tank out of the car for about 2 years during
the resto, and the vacant line became the residence of at least one family
of spiders.  So remember folks....it's not just rodents that can give you
fits!  

BTW, after that episode, I make a point of blowing out ANY tubing product
(EG-brake lines) before I install them.  The crap I've gotten out of lines
straight from the FLAPS has convinced me it's ALWAYS a good idea!

John