As most of you know, I made my latest purchase hoping for some closure with the Talon and looking for a more reliable fun car. As it turns out, part of that statement is wrong. The Camaro took a dump on me today. And by a dump, I mean a good sizeable corn poop right on my head. This morning I set out for work to collect my paycheck and pickup a few things. I jumped in the Camaro all primped and ready looking pretty good I might add. Driving through town, I made my left turn to head towards the interstate and I decided to let loose a bit. This turn allows me to romp the gas and slide sideways most of the way through first as it's downhill and off camber. I did the dirty deed and looked back smiling through the rearview looking for spent rubber on the pavement.
As I cruise on down to the interstate I make a right and pretend I'm on "Road Atlanta" making my slalom down the on-ramp. I sit back, set the cruise, and turn up the stereo. No sooner did I get relaxed that I happen to look back and see a white cloud come out from under the car. AAAAAHHHHH CRAP (not necessarily what I said)! I look down and the temp gauge is pegged, centimeters from the red. I shut her down and cruised to a stop. Sure enough, one of the smaller radiator hoses had come loose and was spilling coolant all over the asphalt like the Exxon Valdez. I get to looking underneath and spot that radiator hose dangling with coolant pulsing out of it. I immediately inspect it, but it doesn't appear to have any signs of stress cracks or splits in it. There is no hose clamp in sight so I suspect it must have instantaneously combusted. Now I've got a car with no coolant in it, no hose clamp, and I'm 6 miles from the town I live in. What do I do? I start walking....and walking..... and walking. Two miles later and a guy pulls over in the other lane and motions me over. I run across the oncoming traffic like Frogger and jump across the ditch. He mentions he used to be a State Trooper and did it all the time. I can't remember how many times I thanked him, probably close to a Jillion. He offers to drive me to my storage unit where I keep the car to get tools. It just seems to be luck that I had all the neccessary coolant and clamps to get it done at my disposal. He then offers me a ride back and I graciously agree. He hauls me back down there and leaves me to work. I thank him again and he's back on his way. I would have offered to give him some money but I didn't have anything on me at the time. I do a bit of work bundling things up and refilling the radiator and she's fine... for now. It seemed to heat up and then cool right back down immediately so I'm thinking there's still a big gas bubble in the system. Anywho, I parked it and I've still got to go inspect a bit more. There is no coolant in the oil and no apparent white smoke from the tail pipes so I'm hoping I didn't blow a headgasket. I shut it down pretty soon so I'm hoping that's what saved it.

The man who helped me out owns the Merle Norman and 1123 Hair Studio in Champaign and lives in Downs. I told him that I would come down to get a haircut soon for his help. I can't tell you how nice it was that someone stopped to help and I wasn't stuck out there all afternoon. None of my friends were answering their phones and the ones that would were at work. Oh well, cars suck, I'll get over it.

damn dude, you didnt tell me the whole story! Sorry I was workin otherwise I could have came and got ya!

That sux but atleast one of the few people like that guy spotted you.

No biggie meng, that's why I didn't bother calling you as you were busy. The extended version is getting old so I've shortened it considerably.

dude, you and cooling systems just don't get along!

Tell me about it man!

Camaros don't suck. People who put a radiator hose on without clamps do. Find this person and shoot them.

Isn't there a "Man Law" about this? If not there should be.

It seems to be running ok now. I've got the system burped and new coolant throughout and it's running right at where the thermostat opens on the highway (which is where it always runs). I'm crossing my fingers and hoping all my troubles are behind me. It's not the overheating that worries me anymore. It's if I got any moisture on the Opti while that hose was spraying coolant all over.

No worries men, everything is A O K! In fact, tonight I put on my Hooker Cat-back system and the difference is, well, quite large. See you at Cordova!

Glad to hear it!