Desperate things you did to keep an engine running...

Sisters Corolla 1.8 motor oil pump went out on a trip back from Skiing in Big Bear, zero oil pressure. We kept putting oil in it and it kept running. I think we had about 8 qts in there when we limped into home base.

Sheared the 6 CV joint allen bolts on a VW bus right at the top of the Cajon pass. Pulled 3 from the other side and put them on the empty side. Babied it into Victorville on 3 bolts a side and found some at a Napa. Made it to Vegas... Return trip was another story. My Dad said they used to put bananas in worn out manual transmissions right before they sold 'em. Made them quiet again. Pantyhose can make you a water pump belt in the middle of the desert too. There was a US fighter pilot in WW2 whos Mustang was overheating, He pumped the primer pump knob to cause a cooler richened mixture and made it home. He wore his palm down to the bones pushing that priming knob.