Well, since I havent been too active here I thought I'd share a a quick story of a resent catastrophic falure of the vette(well, not the vette, but cheap parts). Driving to work one morning around 7:50, maby a minute after getting on the on-ramp to the highway all the sudden vette losses all power, so as cautiosly as I can, I cross one lane and onto the sholder in trafic. While doing that(like with most of us I am sure) a million thoughts went trough my head like; hoe i didnt blow a piston(new engine remember), did I lose oil pressure, did I lose a fuel pump relay, etc. etc. etc... Well, looking at the rear view mirror gave me a good feeling, being there was no smoke trail behind me. When at the sholder, open the ignition switch and I hear the fuel running trough the fuel rail, indicating fuel pressure. I crank and hear compression, as well as a few soft explosions inside the exhaust. Like all vette owners, I get out of the vette, poped the hood and check basics, oil level, collant temp, sensors and all I could think of. Then it hits me....I dont have spark. I instantly thought ignition module, for it's a comon problem with HEI ignition. Had to call my dad to tow me back home about 3 miles away(used a tow rope). Borrowed granfathers camry, and man, it was a horrible feeling driving that car. Shocks were gone, felt too high, and most of all, it couldnt even get out of it's own way. Anyhow, when I got home i cranked it and heard something too familiar.... spark jumping, so I ask my brother to spin it over and I pay close attention to the distributor and hear spark dancing around in there. Took off the distributor cap, and sure enough, the rotor is completely shattered in there. Screws and all were in place, but cap and rotor trashed. Cheap autozone "gold class" ignition components. I cahnged it out for a used one I had laying around and fired right up. Two days ago I just replaced that used cap with an accel cap and rotor, so I'm worry free now. I tell you what, knowing that you have grade known parts sure gives you peace of mind, not like off-the-shelf parts. Another sory that reminds me of that saying: "do it once, do it right". Anyone else have a catastrophic falure story they'd like to share??

Glad you're ok!

That could have been a lot worse...

YEARS ago, I had new rims and tires put on my 1978 Pontiac Trans Am.. I think it was like 1990 or something and the ride was horrible!

I was going to turn around and go back to the shop when all of a sudden I hear a "WUMP!" the car drops on one side and I hear a "SSCCRREEEEACCCHHH!!".

I slam on the brakes, try to keep the car straight and notice one of my wheels rolling past me!

ALL THE LUGS NUTS ON MY CAR WERE HAND TIGHT!

This wasnt a part failure, it was more of an idiot mechanic failure.

Luckily there wasn't any damage and he came out and put the wheels/tires back on.

Never went back to that shop...

Ack! Glad it's up and running.

I once got a flat on my `99 WS6. A nail ran through the tread and sidewall of my passenger-side DR. SO I pull over on this long bridge cause the ass end was all squirrelly, I was thinking it would better than ruining the wheel.

Son of a... I had the car up on that chicken poop jack GM likes to hand out when probably 6 or 7 semis drive by. That bridge was bouncing like a trampoline! I just grabbed the lug wrench and walked a bit watching the car jiggling like Tina Turner on stage till the trucks were gone. Stayed up, thankfully, but it had me pretty freaked.

didn't happen to me but my son had new tires put on the rear of one of his dump trucks and about 3 miles down the
road had one of the duals go rolling by as he slowed down. luckly it didn't hit anybody but the nuts on that side
of the truck were not torqed down. this was a busy road at that time of day.

I have replaced every part on my car at least twice.