OK guys, I guess I learned a lesson today. We are still trying to finish the Mav. We kept having a little smoke coming out of the steering column while the engine was running. Found out we pinched the hot wire for the horn when reinstalling the steering column. Fried the wire and the horn. Fixed the wire, replaced the horn, reached in and fired the car up to verify everythings cool. The carb was on high idle and evrything is great, no smoke! Then the car decided it wanted to leave. It shifted into reverse and attempted to go through my shop door. Totalled out my shop door, didn't hurt the Mav. but I just might. The shifter was in park and when we rolled the car back forward the parking pawl engaged. We have had the thing running and idleing for about a month now. Why would it just now decide that reverse is where it needs to be? Lesson learned- don't start this car without someone behind the wheeel and on the brake! I included a pic.
I have experienced the Ford going in reverse by itself too. I will not let my Cyclone Spoiler idle without the wheels being blocked. Us older guys remember all the press Ford got over this exact thing from years gone by. Even to this day there are reports of Crown Vic Police cars going into reverse and running over officers. Too bad about the damage to your garage door, but be thankful nobody was hurt. Chalk this one up to experience, you will be safer from here on out if you do indeed chock the wheels while working on cars. Dan
Now i hate to be the one pointing this out...but is it really a wise idea to be running your car with the garage door shut, anyways? I have had the same problem...in my case it was an aftermarket (B&M) shifter that had not been correctly adjusted. After idling for so long, enough fluid got through the valve body to kinda put it in reverse. That, and not enough pressure on the pawl made mine run away.
I had an excellent idea for your garage door (maybe i'm in too much of a "new years eve" mood right now)...instead of fixing it: TADA!
CACollo I understand your point about running the engine with the door closed, but my shop has two bay doors, a side door and two windows. At the time the shop heater was running and we were just checking electric circuits and wiring on the car. The engine was only running 15-30 seconds at a time. It's actuallly a good thing the door was shut or the Mav. would have run across my driveway and hit my other cars in my garage. The real bad part about all of this is that I guess I am an old timer at this. I'm 44 and been hot rodding since I was 15. But, as I've said before, this is my first Ford to build from the ground up. I do remember the days when Fords would back up randomly, when their owners would have the car door open or be out of the car doing something and the car would knock them down and possibly kill them. I guess I got used to this car and didn't think it would happen to me. As I said, lesson learned! Thanks guys for the words of wisdom.
another option is to jack up the rear so it's off the floor. hindsight is always 20/20. that's the reason the nhra rulebook says that any time the car is in the pits with the engine running, a person must be behind the steering wheel.
