driving with vise grips - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

freak · 10-25-2015, 12:20 AM

Funny story about my 72 c10 (currently working on restoring). Back in 86 I was working at the local Chevy dealer (parts department). My power steering went out, I think a hose broke, and I drove it for a number of days without power steering I assume till payday so I could get a hose. My truck had a nice black SS steering wheel from a Chevelle. Well after strong arming that thing for days it cracked and finally broke completely off while making a turn. Fortunately I had vise grips and I clamped on the nut which cam off so out of desperation I clamped right on the threads and drove for two days with a pair of vise grips. It didn't damage the threads too bad. I finally got a new wheel from somewhere and I seem to remember the nut going back on with no trouble. Those were the days... I think.

cooperhw · 10-25-2015, 11:03 AM

This is "what not to do".

Think about what that steering shaft would have done to your chest cavity if you would have had even a 35 MPH crash. Shishkabob. Or Smoore?

I think most of us older guys have also done some, "not so bright" stunts/tricks, we just don't talk about em.

freak · 10-25-2015, 01:42 PM

I was 18 thus invincible!

MikeyMan · 10-26-2015, 04:43 AM

While I never used them for steering, I have used Vise Grips for a shifter lever on a floor mount 3-speed transmission.

I have also used the "C-clamp" style Vise Grips to latch a door closed.

68C15 · 10-26-2015, 08:32 AM

I would have aired the front tires up real high and loaded a bunch of weight by tailgate.

**Gregski** · 10-27-2015, 12:20 AM

post with a title like that I just had to read it... AWESOME, stupid and dangerous, but still awesome, ha ha

midniteblues · 10-27-2015, 08:18 AM

I had a 79swb that I sold too a bud that lived in the bad side of town. After a while the locals figured out you didn't need key too start it.
So it got stolen 3 times and found. He started too pull the steering wheel off when he parked it well that didn't work vice grips were used on the shaft.they booger up the shaft so bad the wheel would just slip. He parked it in the small yard and left it there when he moved.it was pretty trashed by then from all the unwanted joy rides.

I think most of us did some sorta dumb stuff like you did at one time or another.

rpone605 · 10-27-2015, 08:52 AM

I have actually had this happen as well. But not in a truck. I was driving in the 24 hours of lemons series (www.24hoursoflemons.com) and the hex head bolts holding our steering wheel onto the removable hub came out. I had been tightening them up for the prior 10-15 laps or so before I ended up loosing all of them.

I came out of corner and luckily hit a straight and the steering wheel came off in my hand. The corner worker looked at me with a wtf are you doing look and I held up the steering wheel. The tow truck came to get me...tried to pull me and realized he couldn't (all wheel drive car). He tossed me a set of vise grips and said good luck. I drove the car back in following the tow truck. The corner workers thought the car was fixed and green flagged the track. I thought about staying out but opted for going in and fixing the issue.

10-25-2015, 12:20 AM	#1
freak Registered User Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Pemberville, Ohio Posts: 162	driving with vise grips Funny story about my 72 c10 (currently working on restoring). Back in 86 I was working at the local Chevy dealer (parts department). My power steering went out, I think a hose broke, and I drove it for a number of days without power steering I assume till payday so I could get a hose. My truck had a nice black SS steering wheel from a Chevelle. Well after strong arming that thing for days it cracked and finally broke completely off while making a turn. Fortunately I had vise grips and I clamped on the nut which cam off so out of desperation I clamped right on the threads and drove for two days with a pair of vise grips. It didn't damage the threads too bad. I finally got a new wheel from somewhere and I seem to remember the nut going back on with no trouble. Those were the days... I think.

10-25-2015, 11:03 AM	#2
cooperhw Registered User Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Mesa AZ (Near Phoenix) Posts: 2,303	Re: driving with vise grips This is "what not to do". Think about what that steering shaft would have done to your chest cavity if you would have had even a 35 MPH crash. Shishkabob. Or Smoore? I think most of us older guys have also done some, "not so bright" stunts/tricks, we just don't talk about em. __________________ "Life is too short to drive a boring vehicle". Later, Wayne

10-25-2015, 01:42 PM	#3
freak Registered User Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Pemberville, Ohio Posts: 162	Re: driving with vise grips I was 18 thus invincible!

10-26-2015, 04:43 AM	#4
MikeyMan Registered User Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.W. Chicago, IL. Posts: 317	Re: driving with vise grips While I never used them for steering, I have used Vise Grips for a shifter lever on a floor mount 3-speed transmission. I have also used the "C-clamp" style Vise Grips to latch a door closed.

10-26-2015, 08:32 AM	#5
68C15 blood type; Retumbo Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: next to my reloading bench Posts: 10,269	Re: driving with vise grips I would have aired the front tires up real high and loaded a bunch of weight by tailgate. __________________ Man rule #77...if you own a 67 stepside with a caddy 472 you will never be in danger of loosing you man card

10-27-2015, 12:20 AM	#6
Gregski Post Whore Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 10,882	Re: driving with vise grips post with a title like that I just had to read it... AWESOME, stupid and dangerous, but still awesome, ha ha

10-27-2015, 08:18 AM	#7
midniteblues Registered User Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: strausstown pa Posts: 3,394	Re: driving with vise grips I had a 79swb that I sold too a bud that lived in the bad side of town. After a while the locals figured out you didn't need key too start it. So it got stolen 3 times and found. He started too pull the steering wheel off when he parked it well that didn't work vice grips were used on the shaft.they booger up the shaft so bad the wheel would just slip. He parked it in the small yard and left it there when he moved.it was pretty trashed by then from all the unwanted joy rides. I think most of us did some sorta dumb stuff like you did at one time or another. __________________ 81 camaro 355 4/spd 342 posi my first love. 67 swb step 454/4spd ott 373 posi 4/7 drop. 2000 s10 zr2 little blue truck that never gets stuck. '74 heald super bronc vt8. tecumseh powered moon rover.

10-27-2015, 08:52 AM	#8
rpone605 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Mentor, Ohio Posts: 101	Re: driving with vise grips I have actually had this happen as well. But not in a truck. I was driving in the 24 hours of lemons series (www.24hoursoflemons.com) and the hex head bolts holding our steering wheel onto the removable hub came out. I had been tightening them up for the prior 10-15 laps or so before I ended up loosing all of them. I came out of corner and luckily hit a straight and the steering wheel came off in my hand. The corner worker looked at me with a wtf are you doing look and I held up the steering wheel. The tow truck came to get me...tried to pull me and realized he couldn't (all wheel drive car). He tossed me a set of vise grips and said good luck. I drove the car back in following the tow truck. The corner workers thought the car was fixed and green flagged the track. I thought about staying out but opted for going in and fixing the issue.



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