This is why 84 year olds shouldn't drive!!!
- Thread starter IhaveNoPantsOn
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I can't even check, since the hood won't open. I am going to have it done somewhere else, since insurance is paying for it, and, unfortunately, I don't really have the space or tools to do it all myself. So, I'll probably be without a car for a month or 2!! stupid f'ing body shops...
I did manage to get the hood to pop open, and I can't really tell what got bent and what is OK. Here are a couple pics that show how far it got crushed in. The metal inner fender, and the plastic wheel well both got damaged, and the fender-to-radiator support bar also got bent slightly. I don't see how this much damage occured, when I was doing 20 mph tops, and he was just pulling away from the curb.
probally your tie rod ends and drag link, probally jacked up your ball joints too, be careful with the insurence company they are quick to total out these old cars and give you 2000 bucks.
IhaveNoPantsOn said:
In my state, there's a random examination, and your family doctor has the capability to suspend your license, and it cannot be reinstated unless a bunch of conditions are made.
But yes, there are many fine older drivers, and a couple of guys who still drive race cars and win past 70.
Do you know how to check for a bad ball joint? Have somebody there to help you in case your jack is crappy, because you could get your hand stuck.
You place a jack under the a-arm, jack it up, then, after supporting the vehicle with a jack stand, keep the jack engaged against the a-arm, and place your hands at the 6 and 12 positions on the tire (one under, and one at the top). Grasp the inside edge of the tire, and imagine that you are trying to shake loose the wheel and tire using those two hands in the 6 and 12 positions, in alternating effort.
I could detect a barely bad ball joint on my 81 GP that way. I remember the front-end shop guy cussing me as he waled on the fork to get that sucker off.
Update:
Since I don't have collision on my insurance, I have to go through the old guy's policy. That's fine, except for the fact that the woman who was assigned my claim hasn't been in her office for the past 2 days! And no one else there can/will give me any info regarding gatting an adjuster to come look at it, or if they cover rental car fees. So, I am now stuck driving my mom's 1995 Ford Escort. There are quite a few stories behind this car, since it was what my brother and I learned to drive in, and was usually used to haul 4 or more kids all around town every weekend. The 'Scort has hit or been hit by more things than I can remember, none of which were other cars.
One winter, one of my friends though it would be a good idea to take a corner at 30 mph, with almost bald tires, and 2 inches of snow on the ground. The car keeps going straight, up over a curb, and into a tree, about 2 feet in the air. No damage at all. Another friend was doing atleast 50 down a side street, when we went around a corner, and saw a 6-8 inch diameter log in the middle of the road. Hit it. Kept on going. No damage. Quite a few more stories too, but I am late for work.
Oh, and all this with just about no maintenance...ever. She's one of those people that changes her oil once every 2 years, or whenever it needs it... And besides a new gas tank, the car is completely original. Looks like hell, but still chugging along, with 108k on it.
Since I don't have collision on my insurance, I have to go through the old guy's policy. That's fine, except for the fact that the woman who was assigned my claim hasn't been in her office for the past 2 days! And no one else there can/will give me any info regarding gatting an adjuster to come look at it, or if they cover rental car fees. So, I am now stuck driving my mom's 1995 Ford Escort. There are quite a few stories behind this car, since it was what my brother and I learned to drive in, and was usually used to haul 4 or more kids all around town every weekend. The 'Scort has hit or been hit by more things than I can remember, none of which were other cars.
One winter, one of my friends though it would be a good idea to take a corner at 30 mph, with almost bald tires, and 2 inches of snow on the ground. The car keeps going straight, up over a curb, and into a tree, about 2 feet in the air. No damage at all. Another friend was doing atleast 50 down a side street, when we went around a corner, and saw a 6-8 inch diameter log in the middle of the road. Hit it. Kept on going. No damage. Quite a few more stories too, but I am late for work.
Oh, and all this with just about no maintenance...ever. She's one of those people that changes her oil once every 2 years, or whenever it needs it... And besides a new gas tank, the car is completely original. Looks like hell, but still chugging along, with 108k on it.
Well, I just came back from looking at a Regal that I pass every night on my way home from work. '85 or '86 I believe. Looks decent. Guy is asking $1500 or best offer.
The Good:
Newly rebuilt 350 (so he claims)
350 transmission
T-tops!
Body is about 6.5/10. Some rust on the bottoms of doors, a few small holes behind rear wheels, and lip of trunk lid. He claims the T-tops have never leaked. 'I take this thing through the car wash all the time, with no problems.'
Good tires and wheels.
Interior is very nice. No rips or tears that I could see.
Dual exhaust exiting right behind rear wheels.
The Bad:
Looks like it was front- and rear-ended. All 4 plastic bumper fillers are distorted and crushed, and there was no space between the bumpers and fillers. Almost looked like the bumpers were shortened, and were squeezing the fillers in towards the center of the car.
Dash was hacked apart a bit to fit bigger speakers. Plus, has a crack all the way down the center.
Column shift, bench seat car. If I do end up having to get another car, I definitely want a floor shift.
Door stuck when he tried to get back in to shut it off. He had to screw around with it for a couple seconds to open. Looked like it was sagging too.
Huge rats' nest of wire and such near the AC box. Probably from the computer he removed.
It did start right up and sounded pretty good. I still have not been able to get ahold of the insurance company, so I probably wont know anything til Monday. I really hope I get the GP fixed ASAP, and they dont decide to total it.
The Good:
Newly rebuilt 350 (so he claims)
350 transmission
T-tops!
Body is about 6.5/10. Some rust on the bottoms of doors, a few small holes behind rear wheels, and lip of trunk lid. He claims the T-tops have never leaked. 'I take this thing through the car wash all the time, with no problems.'
Good tires and wheels.
Interior is very nice. No rips or tears that I could see.
Dual exhaust exiting right behind rear wheels.
The Bad:
Looks like it was front- and rear-ended. All 4 plastic bumper fillers are distorted and crushed, and there was no space between the bumpers and fillers. Almost looked like the bumpers were shortened, and were squeezing the fillers in towards the center of the car.
Dash was hacked apart a bit to fit bigger speakers. Plus, has a crack all the way down the center.
Column shift, bench seat car. If I do end up having to get another car, I definitely want a floor shift.
Door stuck when he tried to get back in to shut it off. He had to screw around with it for a couple seconds to open. Looked like it was sagging too.
Huge rats' nest of wire and such near the AC box. Probably from the computer he removed.
It did start right up and sounded pretty good. I still have not been able to get ahold of the insurance company, so I probably wont know anything til Monday. I really hope I get the GP fixed ASAP, and they dont decide to total it.
I don't know how they are going to find parts for your car being as old as it is, don't be surprised if they say they can't repair it and just give you a check for the damages which may be a lot less than you think because they will say that the book value of your car is say only $800 bucks! And it's not a new car so they are not obligated to put "new" parts on it, so be prepared to get yanked around by his insurance company!
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