Mike,
I am so sorry to hear about the accident. I know it is of little
consolation, but I'm glad to hear that you are (relatively) okay.
Keep us posted about your Dak. And yes, I had a Jack & coke
for you.
Chuck Robbins
'99 Sport v6 5spd 2wd RC
http://www.members.home.com/clrobbins
> Well folks, as I sit here drinkin' beer, going over the days events, and
> trying to relax, I wanted to let ya'll know about my day. After work
today
> I went to the dealer to pick up my truck after having new carpet
> installed. Windshield leaked and got the carpet soaked. After being on
> order for over a month, the carpet finally came in and had it installed.
>
> On the way home from the dealer, I got stuck in typical Oklahoma
> traffic. Two lanes, 65 in a 70, both lanes going same speed. I'm
> following a late eighties/early nineties Chebby Silverado. I come over a
> hill behind the Chebby, following close to 1 1/2 car lengths behind, and I
> see white tire smoke coming from the Chebby. I slam the brakes and try to
> steer to the left to go into the median, but the front wheels were locked
> and I couldn't turn and slammed into the back of the Chebby. Air bag went
> off, instrument cluster lit up like a Christmas tree. After the impact I
> could finally turn off the road to prevent an ass end collision on top of
> the a frontal. It happened too quick and I was too close with no advance
> warning since I couldn't see over or around the Chebby in front of me, all
> I could do was mash the brakes. Fronts locked, rears didn't, but can't
> steer with locked front wheels.
>
> Cab filled with air bag propellant smoke and talcum powder. Had to roll
> down both windows to breath. Opened the driver door and it made a
> unhealthy creaking sound. Took a look at the front and saw a pretty
> FUBARed truck. Condenser and radiator were both punctured, front grill
was
> where the radiator normally sits, hood was buckled up, and pushed in a
good
> foot. Bumper was pushed down, about five inches from where it's supposed
> to be. Both turn signals were completely destroyed, headlights were
intact
> but cracked. Both fenders were buckled in the middle, and the paint came
> off like potato chips, solid curved pieces. Very weird paint on it.
About
> .040" thick and silver on one side and forest green on the other. Body
> shop guy was going to take a DA to it tomorrow and see how many coats are
> on. He says it might have been repainted due to assembly line damage,
> shipping damage, or dealer lot damage.
>
> I have stock 215 tires on it and the fenders were rubbing the tires on the
> front side. It did a number on it. Brand new truck, bought it on
December
> 18th of last year. It was built in January of '99.
>
> Not a good day for me folks. I'm ok. My nose and chest bother me from
the
> air bag impact, and my knees bother me from hitting the dash. I was
> wearing my seat belt, but still slid up enough to wack the dash with my
> knees. I'm 6'5" so I have about 4-5 inch gap between my knees and dash
> normally. I'm glad I had the passenger airbag off.
>
> My advice is to practice hard braking folks. Even though your equipped
> with rear anti-locks, it does no good when the front locks. If the fronts
> lock, you can't steer, you can turn the wheel, but you'll still go
> straight, as I found out.
>
> What a day. Time for another beer
>
> I had the truck towed to Bob Howard Dodge, a five star dealer, only to
find
> out they don't have a body shop there, so I had to go to their recommended
> shop that they have all their body work done at. From the outside it
looks
> like a San Antonio West side shop. Real old crappy exterior, nothing
> fancy. Onc inside I see a $50,000 frame machine, and a very expensive
> forced downdraft heated paint booth. After talking to the owner, find out
> the body and paint work is guaranteed for seven years, and he will use all
> Dodge parts since it's so new, no aftermarket parts. Paint will be PPG
> urethane base coat clear coat, with 165 degree F baking. So it looks like
> the Dak is in good hands. I will have pictures. The shop owner wants to
> document the repair process. It's one of those type wrecks :)
>
> Well folks, have a good one, if you don't drink one for me, I'll cover
ya'hh :)
>
> Mike
>
> PS For those that want to know about the Chebby, looking from the side,
the
> truck body was V shaped. Rear window was blown out, not broke, blown out
> into the bed. Briefcase behind the driver seat was crushed. Bed pushed
> into the cab putting a good 1 inch dent where it hit. Guy had one of
those
> fiberglass sport bumpers and it did no good. Frame protruded through it
> and it's what did the damage to by front end. Tail gate was bent, but
> still intact. He could drive away. Frame didn't look bent, looks like the
> bed was bent on the body mounts. It looked weird, front and rear end were
> higher than the center.
>
> __________________________
> mschwall@flash.net
>
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