Thread: Big screw up

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So I am taking the body off my frame and had all the bolts out (so I thought). I ran a strap right behind the a pillar right in that curve, hooked it up to a chain hoist and slowly started to raise it up. It wasn't getting anywhere, but my dad and I thought it might be a little stuck so we went a little more. Next thing i know the front wheels are off the ground and i look at where the strap is and "O SH*T!!!".

We put a huge dent on either side. It bent the drip rail up and left a huge dent above it. My dad and I just sat there completely sick to our stomachs...especially as mint as the body has stayed over 70 years. We hadn't seen the bolts going in from the side inside the door.

The good news is that anything can be fixed the bad news is I sure as hell can't fix this and I'm betting the bill will easily have 3 zeros at the end. Between the inner structure and the complex curve with the drip rail this was a HUGE and expensive screw up

Lesson learned: take your time, think, and triple check

We've all done similar things, you just have to write it off to experience and forget about it and go on. Just like going to Las Vegas and playing the games. The money you lose is gone, so just move past it and learn from it.

Sorry to see that happen to you though. Like you said, it can be fixed.

Don

thanks don...the sick feeling is gone for now (probably because i haven't gotten to the car in a week). i'll be back at it this weekend...hopefully things will go smoother

If it makes you feel better two weekends ago we were trying to fit the headers between the steering box and the block. the steering box has a ridge on the top, Rick looked at it and said it didn't look like it did anything, marked two lines and said to go ahead and cut it. he didn't say not to go full depth. yup, it does something, fluid pressure regulation or whatever, anyways it had to be welded up and pressure tested etc. looks like s*&t now. I am going to have to get a new one before long as it would suck to have such a blight on the car.

not as expensive a repair as yours, but an oops all the same.

Red

Here's my personal favorite: I was helping my brother in law pull the drivetrain out of his 88 Suburban to rebuild the engine. He has a flat concrete driveway with a steep hill on the back that goes to a looong sloping yard and meets up with a wooded area at the back. It was late at night, and we were pulling the drivetrain with a cherry picker and it was stuck on something because it was starting to lift the front of the truck. "here it is," I said, "we forgot to unhook the speedo cable." He handed my a pair of lineman's pliers and said to cut it, because it didnt work anyway. When i cut it, the truck bounced, the brick behind the rear wheel moved, and we both watched as the truck went down the enbankment backwards and disappeared into the darkness. A few seconds later we heard the crash as the truck slammed backwards into a tree, destroying both rear doors, bumper, top, and breaking out both side windows. It sat there for three years before he had it hauled away for junk.

35Fordcoupe,

Your situation reminded me of an incident about 30 years ago. I was watching a mechanic at a gas station attempt to get an aluminum head off of a Vega motor. He had unbolted all of the head bolts he could see and tried to lift the head, but it wouldn't come loose. He checked out all of the bolts again, and again he couldn't find any that were left in. So he tried again, and nothing. So resorting back to his animalistic instincts, he got his trusty air chisel and set about attempting to remove the head. Another mechanic walked over and told him he had forgotten to remove one of the head bolts which was hidden behind the intake manifold. Took it out and head came off. Unfortunately for him he had aleady punched a hole through the water jacket with his trusty air chisel. Station had to buy a new head for the owner. I still chuckle today when I think about the surprised look on the mechanic's face when he found the one bolt holding the head to the block.

How about this Quik Oil Change Incident?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFqvcRhuBsc

Pat

mopar and especially falcon...those stories make me feel better . I just can't wait now to see how retarded the body shop thinks I am

i aint about to tell on myself

Originally Posted by shine

i aint about to tell on myself

Me either..

Jack