Hot Rod’s John McGann can wrench. He can write and photograph his process too. But he can also make a mistake, which is what he talks about in a recent column related to his 1967 Chevrolet C10 pickup. And I have to tell you, even though it sucks to hear about his engine problems, it’s also refreshing to hear about respected wrench turns also making mistakes.

While performing work on the engine, McGann lost track of a small, inexpensive part. It wound up heading down through the open throttle and on into the engine. The result? A fairly heavily damaged piston, gouges on the cylinder head, and valve damage. A part that costs $12.15 will wind up costing John a few thousand dollars instead.

It sucks. But it’s also great to see McGann write about this. Wrenches of every level need to see and hear about these sorts of mistakes. It can help you remember to check things on your own builds but also reminds you that shit happens. Go read the column using the link above, and to see more photos of what happened.

[Source: Hot Rod]