A New Formula In Our Stall

[Raydar]

My coupe had locking nuts on the wheels, and no socket, of course.
I just hammered a socket on, and turned them off.
The socket may be in the trunk, although I suspect you need the wheels off before the trunk can be accessed.

Just because a manual column is installed, I can think of no reason for the car to be left in neutral. (Did I read that right?)

[Fierofool]

At some time they had moved the car back or forward from where it was originally sitting so it may have been left in neutral after that.  It was sitting on fairly level ground and wouldn't go anywhere.  With the manual column, the shift lock cable would have been removed, disconnected or otherwise rendered inoperable, allowing the shifter to be moved with the ignition off. 

We did inflate the tires, so the rollback should be able to load it provided the tires don't have a fast leak.  If someone's there, there's a compressor available. 

I found the socket tshark was referring to.  It's a Gator Grip socket.  Pat, get one of these on order, please.
http://www.brandsport.com/gatr-20120mo.html?cmp=fwgs2011&gclid=CLrgk53FydACFUg2gQodlz0MQg

This site has lots of other good stuff, too. 

[Roger]

WalMart has them.

[Fierofool]

I have a couple of security lugs of the same style as on the Formula.  Think I'll grab one and jog on down to Wally's tomorrow and see if they have a Gator Grip that will do the job. 

[Fierofool]

Pat, I expect the car to be delivered New Years weekend.  Maybe even while we're doing The Polar Bear Run.  If you need help making a clear path to where it will be placed, let me know

[TopNotch]

Today I checked the Wal-Mart closest to my work to see if they had the Gator Grip socket, and they didn't. But I checked online, and the Home Depot in Duluth, which is on the way to work, has 5 in stock, so I will go there tomorrow and get one.

[TopNotch]

I have a Gator Grip socket now.

[TopNotch]

The Gator Grip I got at Home Depot is the 3/4" one, and it doesn't fit on the locking lug nuts. I just ordered the 1-1/4" one (not available at Home Depot).

[Fierofool]

The Fiero lugs are 3/4 inch.  I would have thought it would fit.  Will the 1 1/4 fit into the recess in the lace wheels?  I'll have to check the two lug keys I have to see if they're the same.  I read something earlier this week that someone had some from different cars, but they had the same pattern.  I know that when you buy the aftermarket stuff from Advance, like I had on the 86SE, they are all keyed the same pattern.  GM used McGard for their supplier but it seems they would have used different key patterns.  Anyway, hope the bigger one works for us.  Thanks for picking them up. 

[Fierofool]

Just got word that the Formula will be delivered during New Years weekend, either Saturday or Monday.  It isn't scheduled with AAA, yet.  Maybe we can go up and escort it back after we get to the end of The Polar Bear Run.  I've already been through the race car museum, so I can go up, meet the tow truck, and you guys can hook on as we come back through. 

[pgackerman]

AAA offers a delivery service?

How does that work? 

[TopNotch]

I got the bigger Gator Grip today -- It's not going to work. Maybe the socket from either of my Formula's will fit the locking nuts on the "new" Formula.

[Fierofool]

There's one in the Fastback and one in the Duke.  I'll put them both in the Duke and bring it along on the PBR.  I expect we will find the correct one when we get the trunk open or it could be down in the spare tire bucket.

[Raydar]

If all else fails, don't forget about the "driving the hex socket over the security nut" thing.
Mine were on *very tightly* and they came right off. I'll go downstairs and see what size I used.
 
Edit - The only socket I could find that looks like it's been hammered upon was a 3/4" deep well.
I don't remember using a deep well to get the nuts off, however.
Oh well....

[Fierofool]

Delivery service?  Most AAA services don't care about why they are hauling.  They get a paid service call from it.   AAA itself doesn't know anything about the vehicle.  Leslie has 100 mile free tow.  It's about 75 miles to Pat's house, so that's a good pay for the wrecker.  I think they are paid by the mile plus a service call charge.  Several years ago Don had a RFTH car hauled from a back country church to our hotel, for someone else (see the church in the home page slideshow).

The tires on the car will inflate and hold air for a while.  They have a compressor at the house so there's no immediate need to remove the wheels, but it will eventually be required.  We need to get a good set of tires to go on it.  Maybe some used ones will suffice.