tbm3fan
Old Man with a Hat
On Monday morning my wife managed to run into the rear of a big Ford F250 on the freeway at a slow speed. She is ok but ended up without a car. She was in a part of the freeway that I told her to stay out of given my 20 years experience of the section where 5 lanes drop to 4 lanes and cars crisscross at a split for two major freeways. Plus she was tired from not getting enough sleep which is pretty much the same as drunk.
So grill smashed, glass headlights smashed, and radiator support knocked back almost three inches. Truck bumper higher than hers. Plastic radiator cracked that I put in 3 months ago. Was not about to junk this after getting new tires, all new suspension, new power steering rack and so forth. Car was running and driving great for a 1990 Mazda 626.
So down to the Hornet to talk to our resident expert on repairs to see what he would suggest. No more than 1/2 mile from the house I am at a light and see burgundy 1965 Chrysler 2 door drive past and pull in for gas. Slightly dull paint but great body and this has to be the first time I've seen one on the road in many decades around here. Wonder who it was.
So after talking with Tom I stop by Harbor Freight to pick up two ratchet straps. Used one on each side of the support and attach to the tie downs below the front of my 91 626. It worked! Back into place but with some kinks I can't get rid of. Put a piece of 2x4 in the channel to use a very large monkey wrench to then twist the support back to level. This now enabled me to get the radiator out. Those smashed headlights used 1/4" thick glass and glass was everywhere.
Fortunately I have a radiator in stock along with a replacement left turn signal housing and two used headlamps due in by Wednesday. No grill so need to wait but at least the car will be functional tomorrow.
So grill smashed, glass headlights smashed, and radiator support knocked back almost three inches. Truck bumper higher than hers. Plastic radiator cracked that I put in 3 months ago. Was not about to junk this after getting new tires, all new suspension, new power steering rack and so forth. Car was running and driving great for a 1990 Mazda 626.
So down to the Hornet to talk to our resident expert on repairs to see what he would suggest. No more than 1/2 mile from the house I am at a light and see burgundy 1965 Chrysler 2 door drive past and pull in for gas. Slightly dull paint but great body and this has to be the first time I've seen one on the road in many decades around here. Wonder who it was.
So after talking with Tom I stop by Harbor Freight to pick up two ratchet straps. Used one on each side of the support and attach to the tie downs below the front of my 91 626. It worked! Back into place but with some kinks I can't get rid of. Put a piece of 2x4 in the channel to use a very large monkey wrench to then twist the support back to level. This now enabled me to get the radiator out. Those smashed headlights used 1/4" thick glass and glass was everywhere.
Fortunately I have a radiator in stock along with a replacement left turn signal housing and two used headlamps due in by Wednesday. No grill so need to wait but at least the car will be functional tomorrow.
