The Murdersofa is literally held together with tape now

"Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To" (murdersofa)
11/05/2014 at 18:44 • Filed to: murdersofa, ghetto repairs, afro engineering

Presenting: my fuel line.

Story:

My fuel line was leaking where it connects to the fuel rail. The part that deteriorates is actually a part of the rail, and the only way to fix it is buying a new rail for $100 or buying a quickconnect replacement fitting for $10. I bought the fitting. It snaps onto the fuel rail, then you cut the fuel line and use a brass bayonet coupling to fit it together. For extra security, I stuck some hose clamps around that.

Two days later, I smelled gas again. I took the hose clamps off and some son of a bitch designed them so that they have little metal bits pointing inwards that scored and eventually cut through a tiny part of my fuel lines where they were attached. I hammered the little metal tabs into submission, wiped gas off the line, and wrapped the offending area in three layers of Gorilla Tape, not for the adhesive, but so the hose clamps could clamp onto something other than the nylon line when I put them back on. The Gorilla Tape adhesive was immediately dissolved by the gas and started leaking onto my fingers as I put the clamps back on, but once they were on I pressurized the system and boom. No leaks whatsoever.

It took 10 damn minutes to get that adhesive off my fingers, though.

DISCUSSION (16)

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
11/05/2014 at 18:46

FWIW, I could have told you that gas dissolves tape adhesives.

No, I don't recall how I ended up finding that out, but I know I've been there.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht
11/05/2014 at 18:48

I knew that it would. Gasoline is an amazing solvent. But I just needed the ridiculously thick tape itself to be there and couldn't care less about the glue.

Hahayoustupidludditeshutupandgohandcrankyourmodeltalready > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
11/05/2014 at 18:52

I can do you one better. My brother had my parents minivan held together with packing tape and insulation foam. Not to mention the body putty.

JGrabowMSt > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
11/05/2014 at 19:16

I've seen people cut a larger diameter hose, slip that over the trouble area where the leak is, and then hose clamp that into place like you have the tape. Just a thought, if you want something a little more semi-permanent.

Steve in Manhattan > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
11/05/2014 at 19:23

It took my sister and some gasoline to get the white writing off my last ZipCar rental (and I mean my LAST).

Kinja'd!!!

Clay_T > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
11/05/2014 at 19:47

I had an '83 Volvo 245 for ~ 15 years. One day I'm driving along and smell fuel.

Pull over and pop the hood.

The fuel rail had split a joint. The top of the engine and underside of the hood was as clean as the day it rolled off the assembly line.

Gasoline is a good solvent.

I get the fire extinguisher out of the back, put it on the passenger seat and drove home.

Borrowed girlfriendzilla's car, went out and bought some JB Weld and a bag of marshmallows.

Cleaned and glued up the split joint.

The next morning I put some coat hangers and the bag of marshmallows on the passenger seat next to the fire extinguisher, and drove to work.

Made it about a block from work before the fuel smell came back.

Started straightening hangers as I drove the last block.

Had it towed to the Volvo shop to get the rail replaced...

Takuro Spirit > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht
11/05/2014 at 21:57

I remember my old landlord trying to fiberglass his LTD's gas tank WHILE IT WAS LEAKING. Didn't work. Instead of letting the gas drain onto the ground, we gathered it up in milk jugs and poured it down the bathroom sink.

Ehhhh I was like 5 years old. I know better now.

Jay Lauer > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
11/05/2014 at 22:13

Presenting, your future.

Kinja'd!!!

http://wichita.craigslist.org/cto/4703448215…

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > JGrabowMSt
11/05/2014 at 23:11

I just made a hose.

Out of tape.

Boom.

But yeah, I've heard that as well. I'll try that if this starts leaking again, but so far everything is perfectly dry. Going and poking it with my finger and squeezing it doesn't reveal any gas drops, so that bodes well.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Clay_T
11/05/2014 at 23:12

I was laughing harder at this than I feel I should have been.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Jay Lauer
11/05/2014 at 23:12

OOOOHHHH. Nice.

I'd become *another* Panther platform owner but daaaaaamn

Jay Lauer > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
11/05/2014 at 23:18

But RWD. Having that and the 4.6 V8 would destory at autocross. Put a muffler on it, and you've got Mustang GT sounds.

Just plasti-dip it black and make it Murdersofa Part Deax. For $1000, it's a really good idea.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Jay Lauer
11/05/2014 at 23:27

It really is. Do those have LSDs, or is there a cheap way to swap one on?

Jay Lauer > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
11/05/2014 at 23:41

It's a plain ol Ford 9 in. I think, so as easy as it gets, really.

They're reliable as all hell too, so that wouldn't be a hard sell. I'd text him just to see what his bottom dollar is.

Clay_T > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
11/06/2014 at 11:56

That's ok, I was laughing at the time too.

When I first opened the hood, and gasoline was dripping off the underside, I thought no way did this thing not fireball five minutes ago.

For those not familiar with early Volvo 200's, they had an issue with the engine wiring harness. The insulation on all the wires hardened and crumbled, leaving every connecter a jumble of bare wires. Mine had terminal harness leprosy which I kept in check by painting every wire I could reach with liquid electric tape.

It really should have burned to the ground...

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Clay_T
11/06/2014 at 11:58

I'm almost disappointed mine didn't. That gas was dripping *right* onto the exhaust manifold.