Chris Lockhart

HEllo all. Well, after 5 years and about 65K miles, I had my first accident in the shark. Luckily it's "minor", although I still feel like she's been violated. Technically speaking the maccident was my fault, and I was charged with being at fault, but if the other guy hadn't been speeding and not paying attention, he would not have hit me.

I had on my left turn signal, and was making an illegal U turn to park in a space on the left side of the road. I was too lazy to drive up the street and turn around properly. (dumb*ss me) I had looked behind me, and all was clear, so I went to make my turn, and WHAM, he hit me. Apparently, he had just pulled out of a side alley after I had looked behind me, so I never saw him. He floored it to make the light at the intersection, and I turned across his path. He got me right at the left rear tire.

The car was semi-driveable, as I was able to limp her home, but the rear suspension was damaged, as well as bending (ANOTHER!!!!!!!!!!!) wheel, and causing some body damage behind the wheel. I got her jacked up and took the wheel off, as well as the wheel well liner and side marker light. The left rear wheel had massive negative camber as well as toe out after the hit. Tomorrow, I'll start disassembling the suspension, and see what all is bent. Luckily a local lister has a few spare suspension parts he's willing to donate to the cause. (BIG thanks Glenn) Hopefully I can get her back on the road in a day or two, minus the body work. Then I'll have to take it to the local body shop, and see how much it'll be to fix that part.

Now a technical question--- will the lower control arm from an '85 fit an '89???
TIA, for any answers. Here's a pic:

perrys4

OUCH!!! I can feel your pain.

Scott M.

Oh Man!

Sorry to hear that, you wanna borrow my Roncho dent king? Pop that baby right out

If you need any parts? I have an 85 5 spd parts car we can troll.

Scott

Chris Lockhart

[Sorry to hear that, you wanna borrow my Roncho dent king? Pop that baby right out

If you need any parts? I have an 85 5 spd parts car we can troll.]

What's the dent king???? Thanks Doc, I may need some bits. I'll get her all taken apart tomorrow, and see what kind of a parts list I rack up. Hopefully not too big.

Nicole

Mega-Bummer!

Don't know why, but it somehow makes me think of that guy in my home town (Stuttgart), who had a colission with a street car/trolley. Werever ccars and trolleys share the road, the trolleys run in the middle, with the cars having their lane to the right. Sometimes parked cars force drivers to cut into the part of the street with the rails.

So, after they collided, the guy said to the trolley driver: "Gosh, if you would have moved just a little bit..."

SharkSkin

AW dang.... sorry to hear that, Chris! Maybe it's your shark's way of asking you for GTS flares...

Jadz928

Yea, man.... sorry bout the mishap. You will have your baby back on the road in no time... wish you well.

jserio

Hey Chris, The rear arms should be the same. I think the front uppers are only different. Keep us posted on your needs.

Curt911

How did he not see ya with that wing!

Jim_H

Did your PSD pump survive?

Garth S

Ouch! The good news is that the lower control arms from '80 on are the same (according to PET5) - so yes to the '85.

Mike LaBranche

Serious bummer, Chris. Sorry to hear it. Must be the season tho.... I got pranged in the black guy last week in almost the exact same location. Much smaller ding right at the cover to fender line behind the side light. P'd me right off. I was _parked_ and an some flake backed his beater pickup into me while I sat in it, blowing the horn, watching him close the gap until that horrible scrunch sound....

Good luck with the repairs... I feel your pain.

Ed Taylor

What a Valentine president for your baby. Hope the recuperation goes easily.

James-man

Bummer. Sorry to hear the bad news.

The silver lining is that bent wheel would make a super clock.

Abby Normal

Sorry to hear about this Chris!

I echo James on the clock though