Unique Maiden Voyage

[Guest]

Well - I am proud to say that the Dusk Rose (pink) 57 T-Bird that has taken me 9 years to restore made its maiden voyage this past Sunday. It was a total frame up done by me with a little help from my friends (who work for refreshments only) so none of us are professional.

Have no intention of showing the car seriously but she is pretty enough to have created a traffic jam in our small town when I stopped to fill 'er up at the local gas station. After answering all the usual questions including "How much is she worth?" I had to defend myself for driving a pink car using the line "Real men don't have to prove it".

Trouble was the filler pipe to the tank did not seat properly and I had to wait for about 1/2 hour while a quarter tank dripped out before I dared start back up and limp home. Quite the commotion and a little embarassing. Also have to deal with a leaking wheel cylinder and a pinhole or two in the radiator. But nothing serious and it is sure nice to be out and about with it.

Does anyone else have a story about their maiden voyage that they would like to forget? Would be interested.

[ply33]

I suspect that all maiden voyages turn up a few areas that need to be addressed. If nothing else a few adjustments here and there.

It was not on the maiden trip out, but after about 5 or 10 "shake down" trips of ever increasing distance from home I discovered that I had forgotten the cotter pin that is the safety on the rear axle hub nut. Apparently I had also not tightened the hub nut enough too. Fortunately I was going slow at the time and it did not do too much damage. <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

[Ron Green]

Many years ago I knew a guy that was so excited about getting his 57 Chevy Conv on the road that he fired it up and just took off like a bat out of h*ll as they say. About 5 minutes later he came limping back with the freshly rebuild motor barely running and extremely hot. He forgot to put the engine oil in as he was in to much of a hurry buttoning up all the many loose details for the maiden drive. Lesson learned for everyone there not only him.

I have a maiden voyage (including sea trials) comming up in the next 4 to 5 weeks in the Amphicar that I have torn apart this winter, however I have learned from past projects to slowly check all the systems, fuel lines, hoses, safety stuff, etc out before jumping in a vehicle and flying down the road. Anal retentive as my wife says, but then again she won't be in the car if it starts sinking.

Congratulations on a long and successful project. Sometimes you wonder if you will ever get the car done. I have never finished one without a few minor problems the first time out.

[Amphicar BUYER]

Ron - Here is a great maiden voyage movie from Dave "the Wave" who restores Amphicars. The guy in the movie is taking his newly restored Amphi in the drink for his first time. It is halarious! This could be you! <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />