Thread: Project Special K

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Thanks guys I was just rummbling a few thoughts to let you know I am alive and wel. I as always appreciate input and will continue to stick to plan. I will eventually paint interior and around windows prior to glass instalation. No short cuts!

I was going to paint mine with hot rod flatz but I decided I'll just shoot it in single stage. If I mess it up, I'll fix a panel at a time later. It should look better than the fading purple it has now. I mean electric blue......

Thanks, Ever since the divorce I've been plugging away on all sorts of new house projects, that leaves me with very little down time for the old truck. But I've come too far to give up. One of my new neighbors is a car guy who does bodywork and painting. He gives me tips and inspiration. He's really into VW's. So we talk shop. Remarkably there is no less than a dozen hot rods in garages that I pass walking my dog everyday, so I guess the new neighborhood was the right place to move!
PM me the dates you'll be down and I'll try to hook up on a day off or maybe a morning before work. Lots of weird work related meetings/classes coming up in the next several weeks. I'd love to see what progress you've made on the Volvo.

hey folks just under a year from last post. so much to catch up on this thread! Just as I was finishing up projects that would allow for me to return to the old F1 I got hit on the hiway from a complete stop By somebody at 50-70mph. Miracle that I'm still here, my 98 Tacoma was totaled. I was headed into the Berkeley /Oakland area where my brother lives to help patch dry wall/ plaster de-laminated off a wall in his house. 10:30 am on a Friday. 8 lane hiway. Next thing I know I wake up in the third lane to the left with traffic whizzing by at 70mph. My truck was thrown into a car in front of me and he into a suv in front of him. To say I was dazed would be an understatement. The two guys in front of me didn't get out of their cars(for good reason) but started to pull foward so I followee wanteing to get info in a much safer place. After approx 200 yards lead guy stops figuring no way can we get off hiway. He gets out of car followed by guy in front of me. I am still in shock/concussion so I get out too to exchange info. I tell them I should go back to the smashed Toyota/Honda van that threw me into them, about the time the hiway patrol shows up and makes a traffic break to get us off the hiway. Well flash forward to 20 minutes later Hiway patrol turning the report over to lower level CHP guys. Guy taking report asks if I have a plate or picture of vehicle that hit me, I'm still in shock with heart palpitations so I said no. He then says you could of caused the accident, and have no proof that you didn't . I point out the damage to the truck, and he says unless you can prove that this morning that wasn't htere we will assume you caused the accident. Now I'm freaking out. I have his partner come over to my truck to take pictures of the crushed rear bumper with frame member poked through the chrome bumper, and same on front end. I tell him if you go back to the impact point you will see drywall that flew out the bed of the truck, tail light and bumper parts from my truck and parts of a silver van that hit me. Long story short I drove my truck(yes no idea of the damage done, still driving fine) 50 miles home. It's only when I get home I remember my security camera system with footage of me l with a intact front and rear bumper.
leaving that morning. So two incredible things happened from this. First Insurance company sent an expert 40 year adjuster to inspect the truck which he proves was freshly impacted from rear to front breaking apart the dual frame rails from all cross mounts and trailer hitch, along with assessing total loss value to a very accurate number, Second thing my camera proved no preexisting damage, and no damage to me, no whip lash etc. other than maybe a concussion! I feel blessed to be alive, if I drove my MR2 I'd be dead today. Greatfull truck took care of me, and found new replacement tacoma (2006 4x4 excellent cond. for 11K , after 9.8 k settlement, 1,200.00 dollars more , 8 years newer with 183k on engine and transmission, old truck 198k on the same). New truck looks new inside and out, very happy with Allstate, and frankly with being alive

I thought about buying back the wrecked 98 tacoma, but after going to get my stuff out of it realized I didn't have much left of value to salvage and let it go. Funny thing my mom passed away 21 years ago but came to me in a dream a few days before the accident. Out family has this wierd connection where we get p[reminititons before people are hurt, me included. I didn't think much about this until the accident happened, I would like to believe she was my guardian angel that morning! Doesn't matter, but was grateful to see hee in my dreams after no dreams for 12 years!

Quite the story, so glad you're still here with us.

Now, about that F-1......??..?? LOL..

Good thing you had the video evidence. Good to hear you're OK.

Thanks guys. I am grateful for what I have and a bit humbled by this accident. Makes me even more determined to get the truck finished properly and have it be safe for me and others.

Your type of accident is the reason that I like to run high back seats. They don't look as good in some cars as low backs, but with all the distracted drivers out there now, they will help protect you from neck injuries if you get rear ended. It's shocking how many high speed rear end collisions I've heard about. As a motorcycle rider, I try to check my six all the time. Damn cellphones are usually to blame.

A doctor friend mentioned the same thing, he said you had your head rest adjusted right! I always have it up behind my head, not down by my neck!

At 6'0" I find very few head rests which would protect me adequately.

I'm also 6 feet.

I'm so glad you weren't hurt or worse in the accident. That is nuts the van that hit you made t far enough to get away. Hopefully karma catches up with them!

Originally Posted by firebird77clone

At 6'0" I find very few head rests which would protect me adequately.

The 05 Dodge ram seats I have in my 72 have adjustable head rests and are at the back of my head area on the lowest setting. I'm 6'2".

UPDATE
After almost 2.5 years post divorce, and relocation to new house, things are finally looking like the truck can be focused on. I finally got a local guy who is and auto mechanic, but does welding as his true passion, to check out the frame issue on my truck. This guy has his own mobile welding business and we were able to connect yesterday. He came over to the house last night and took a look at the major cut out which my muffler exhaust guy notched out of the frame to get clearance for the exhaust system. On the bright side I've had years to come up with structural patch ideas that allow exhaust to still fit, but should add strength back to the frankenstein notch! Here is a picture showing why, I've not done a thing getting the front back on my truck for too many years!