What did you do to your S550 Mustang today?!

[Bikeman315]

Installed license plate bracket. Almost got killed (and the car almost got buggered up!).

Was on the ground working a Stow-N-Show install when this happened:

The front of the car was right where the top box is. I was laying on the black mat with my head toward the tool boxes. As I was installing I could hear some *tink* - *tink* - *tink* sounds. I thought it was just my ears acting up and was not really paying too much attention. Then I heard the first of the drawers sliding out as the bottom box started to collapse! Now mind you, the car is inches away from the tool boxes. I managed to swing around and grab the bottom box in a bear hug and used my face to keep the top box from slipping all the way off the bottom and having it all crash onto me and the car!

So there I am, a lap full of heavy tools, my face pressed up against the top box trying to keep it from crashing, and no one for miles. Even if anyone was around to hear, the actual act of screaming would have sent it all crashing down. Oy! It took a good 15 minutes for me to get things stabilized. It was hairy to say the least! I was able to finagle the old floor lamp in place to sort of prop everything up. I also used a big box that has a new rag top in it (that I want to sell BTW, fits a 2014) to shore things up.

After I stabilized things I was then able to quickly jump in the car an pull it out of the way. As I pulled away it all came skittering down! You can see the top box was a bit tweaked, the bottom roller is trash. (You can also see the big box from the top in this shot.)

Post mortem showed the front wheels just folded over. Everything was tight. The drawers were all closed. The sheet metal on the bottom just gave out. That was the *tink* sound I was hearing.

Who would have thought a license plate bracket install would be so scary!

First off good to see you’re OK. That must have been quite a moment. Second glad the cars OK. Lastly unless you overloaded your boxes I’d contact the manufacturer and show them your pictures. That could be a serious product defect.

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[kiksbutt]

I installed a raceseng shift knob and swapped all interior lights with diode dynamics. What a pain in the ass to swap those lights but worth it.

The knob is best mod I’ve done. It made a night and day difference in shifting experience. I had my doubts, but WOW! I initially swapped the OEM one for FRPP carbon fiber but it was lighter in weight and I didn't like it too much. It did look great but needed more weight.

 

[NoVaGT]

.......Almost got killed (and the car almost got buggered up!).......

Many claps for a great reaction to all that. That was a very, very nice save!!!

 

[CJJon]

First off good to see you’re OK. That must have been quite a moment. Second glad the cars OK. Lastly unless you overloaded your boxes I’d contact the manufacturer and show them your pictures. That could be a serious product defect.

That box must be 30 years old now...or damn near. Craftsman. It wasn't overloaded, but it did have heavy tools as it was meant to hold. No depleted uranium bars or anything like that though.

I had a falling out years ago with Craftsman when they would not replace a lifetime warranted torque wrench. Even though the tool has "LIFETIME GUARANTEE" stamped on it. Seems they stopped offering lifetime warranties on torque wrenches. At least that is what the tool manager said.

"OK" says I, "Then the replacement will only have one year guarantee." "Nope" Says he, "We only offer one year now". Round and round we went. Ultimately they failed to honor a lifetime guaranteed tool. Never bought another thing from Sears ever again. But I digress...

 

[CJJon]

This story has me reconsidering the price of Snap-on tool cabinets. I thought they were overpriced for what you get, but now I think they might be worth it. If only because you have a company in the states to sue if the box falls on your head

@CJJon, glad you're ok. That is the definition of the "Oh shit" moment.

Or at least beef up the bottom/wheels of a cheaper cabinet. Some 3/4 ply would do it. That's what I am going to do to fix mine.

You are right though, you can spend thousands on a rolling cabinet. An EMPTY cabinet at that!

 

[CJJon]

I mean, they technically warranted the tool for the lifetime of the company. Sears is essentially dead now.

This was way before Sears went away. They still produced the catalog at the time. I tend to think my boycott sort of started the downfall. Makes a nice story anyway.

 

[Bikeman315]

Or at least beef up the bottom/wheels of a cheaper cabinet. Some 3/4 ply would do it. That's what I am going to do to fix mine.

You are right though, you can spend thousands on a rolling cabinet. An EMPTY cabinet at that!

After 30 years you deserve a new box. My buddy has Harbor Freight and swears by it.

 

[NoVaGT]

Or at least beef up the bottom/wheels of a cheaper cabinet. Some 3/4 ply would do it. That's what I am going to do to fix mine.

Please buddy, don't do plywood.

Grind the paint off on the affected area, then hit the bare metal with weld-through primer, and take it to a local welder with some 1/4 steel plate (also hit with weld-through primer) and have that welded in.

Spend the $100-$200 to do it correctly, don't take any further risks.

 

[NoVaGT]

America is built almost entirely of 5/8" plyboard. You're not anti-American are you son?

"I'm a man who discovered the wheel and built the Eiffel Tower out of metal ....and brawn."

Welded steel. You hate good 'ol 'Merican steel son? Some stout, beefy Pittsburgian, Midwestern, heart of the US-of-A steel?

 

[NoVaGT]

.......Harbor Freight....

You spelled "cheap Chinese crap built to last 23 minutes" wrong.

 

[1 old racer]

Omg, glad you are ok. This is one of the reasons they say the garage is the most dangerous place in the house. Once again I am glad you are ok and thanks for the safety check.

 

[HoosierDaddy]

Who would have thought a license plate bracket install would be so scary!

Scary but saved your car. Based on your description, if you weren't doing the install, the front of your car would be trashed.

 

[CJJon]

Scary but saved your car. Based on your description, if you weren't doing the install, the front of our car would be trashed.

That's true. Never thought about it. Wow!

 

[Bikeman315]

You spelled "cheap Chinese crap built to last 23 minutes" wrong.

OK, I know it’s not a Snap On but it’s only $299. More than decent for a home garage.

 

[NoVaGT]

OK, I know it’s not a Snap On but it’s only $299. More than decent for a home garage.

Just a joke.

Although they do have a bad rep. And since a member here had his rolling tool chest fail and damn near kill him and wreck his car when the metal failed from fatigue, this is a very topical discussion.

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