Sooo Close To Carlisle

[crazyboutwagons]

I started my trip later than i expected(2 hrs) car was running great we were about 30 miles from carlisle and start smelling something burning i look in the rearview mirrior and there is a cloud of black smoke behind us i get the car off to the side of the road and get out to investigate and open the hood i find the alt and a/c belts in shreads all wrapped around the alt pulley and behind the a/c compressor. I manage to get them untangled and decide to limp the car another mile to the exit which we make without another incident.

Here is what we do next, the repair shop is right off of the ramp so we pull in and i go inside but they are at lunch till !;00pm. So we go to lunch next door and when we return they had looked at the car and give me the line do you want the good or the bad i said does it really matter.


The situation is the alt is good but the a/c clutch is locked up solid.After 2 hours and numerous phone calls the only clutch that can be located will not be available to ship for 10 to 15 days from a reconditioner outlet. I call AAA for a flatbed to tow car back home (170 miles) my membership gives me 100 free miles so i am on the hook literlly for 70 miles @ $4.00 a mile so $280.00 plus pike fees. i used my EZ-PASS for trip home and pay $20.00 to get the truck back to it's home base. We arrive home at 7:00 pm and are drained . We are going to get up early and drive to carlisle for the day and at least walk around and look at the cars and swapmeet area.

I just love the old car hobby always something happening on the trips good or bad . just wondering what to do next .i am thinking replace the compressor and clutch and move on . Suggestions welcome

 

[tallhair]

Man sorry about your misfortune but it could have been so much worse. Enjoy tomorrow and the rest of the weekend

 

[crazyboutwagons]

my feeling is no one got hurt. i am on vacation till next friday so i am going to enjoy the next 6 days and the car will be fixed and ready for next year.

 

[tallhair]

That's the right attitude

 

[Zymurgy]

Sorry about your bad luck enjoy the day even though it will be without your c-body.

 

[commando1]

Damn you were so close!
But I discovered today that there is always next year!!

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[CanCritter]

that's part of the adventure or the adventure you make out of it....

 

[detmatt]

Sorry to hear about the wagon but it could have been worse. There was no rerouting different belts to bypass the compressor?
Look for all of us tomorrow, you've got a lot to see in one day!

 

[70bigblockdodge]

Duck the belt on the outside alt groove straight to crank it barely clears but it does clear on 68 up.

 

[Ironwolf]

Sorry to hear about the belts, I hope it all works out. and have a safe trip either way you end up heading.

 

[greasemonkeyman]

Sorry about your misfortune.That can be a real bummer.I'd replace the whole compressor knowing that you won't have any more issues with an unknown part in the future.Who knows how old these parts are or if they've ever been changed.Better safe than sorry!

 

[crazyboutwagons]

unable to run belt from alt to to crank as the mounting bracket for alt is in the way we looked at that. i was sitting watching the pirate game last nite on tv and thought i would go down to garage and look over things again. i took a couple pry bars and put them behind the pulley and rocked them back and forth trying to disengage the clutch to no avail. i then grabbed the pulley with both hands and tried to turn the pulleys well after trying to turn it clockwise then counter clockwise a couple times it broke free turns out the ribbing on one of the belts had wrapped itself on the shaft that you could not see it. i got a set of picks and was able to remove about 5 or 6 pieces of the belt that were preventing the pulley's form spinning. so after messing with it for about 1/2 hour i got all the pieces out and now the pulley spins freely and the front hub spins also. so after a couple trips to different stores i was able to get 2 of the belts the 3rd one is being delivered to autozone on sunday afternoon from another store from across town.i am going to put everything back together sunday and see what happens. i might get lucky and compressor is good it was just jammed by the belt that came apart. will let you guys know how i make out.

 

[1978 NYB]

Sorry to hear the bad news. That shop should of offered to find a belt (or have one in their shop) and bypass the compressor pulley and get you back on the road to Carlisle.

 

[70NPORT]

Bummer. Well it could have been worse is probably the best attitude. Goes with driving an old car I guess. I'll be watching my compressor like a hawk now.

 

[greasemonkeyman]

As they say, " Better Safe Than Sorry ". If I'm not sure how old a parts is on my car ( like a starter/ ac compressor/water pump ).I assume that they are old and either need to be rebuilt or replaced. If you only drive local then it isn't an issue but if you really enjoy driving your car that it makes sense to take these safety precautions. I found it to be alot cheaper to replace things while the car is sitting in my garage rather than 200 miles away on the side of the road. And yes,I have had new/rebuilt parts go bad,but most will fair better than a part that's taken 40 years of use. Most engine accessories aren't that expensive to replace and not that difficult to do the job.

 

[1978 NYB]

As they say, " Better Safe Than Sorry ". If I'm not sure how old a parts is on my car ( like a starter/ ac compressor/water pump ).I assume that they are old and either need to be rebuilt or replaced. If you only drive local then it isn't an issue but if you really enjoy driving your car that it makes sense to take these safety precautions. I found it to be alot cheaper to replace things while the car is sitting in my garage rather than 200 miles away on the side of the road. And yes,I have had new/rebuilt parts go bad,but most will fair better than a part that's taken 40 years of use. Most engine accessories aren't that expensive to replace and not that difficult to do the job.

I keep a plastic tote in the trunk with emergency parts....ignition module, balast resistor, fuel pump, and I'm thinking of adding a starter. I've driven from Aberdeen, Maryland to Green Bay, Wisconsin without a single problem. But if I needed one of those parts on the road....

 

[bulldogchesty]

I hope you can get it up and running. So close.

 

[70NPORT]

I keep a box in my trunk with 2 spare BRs, assorted fuses, brand new coil, Ign module, VR, assorted light bulbs and more fuses. Also got a spare alternator and I'm thinking about getting a jump box to keep back there as well. Never have any mechanical failures, knocking on wood now.

 

[70bigblockdodge]

I have about 5-6 compressors and clutches here I could drop one off to your work as some days I'm by there 3-4 times you can pull the clutch off with a pry bar on side of road I keep a spare clutch in car. I'll pm you.

 

[bulldogchesty]

I keep a " trunk monkey " in my trunk. I tried to find the link.