So I wrecked my Vette...

[Junkman2008]

Actually, a couple of weeks ago. I've been working on it since.

... and it wasn't pretty either.

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I went all NASCAR and taped it up so that I could drive in home.

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This is why I couldn't pursue the guilty party.

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Here's what happened. It was 0-dark thirty at night and I was rolling at around 80 through the mountains of Chattanooga, TN. I was coming down a bridge when this semi threw a retread. I had a concrete barrier on my left and right and was going to fast to swerve so I grabbed the steering wheel with both hands just in time for the impact. The car shimmied and I immediately pulled over. I knew it was bad, I just wasn't really wanting to see how bad.

I got out of the car and looked at it and just stood there in disbelief. Semi was long gone and there I was in a little shock.

The insurance company wanted to put the car back to stock and raise my rates but I wasn't going to have any of that. So I told them to go screw themselves and I went shopping for a new provider. In the mean time, I'm fixing the car myself and this thread will chronicle the experience.

I have already started ordering the parts I need thus far. A new Tiger Shark fascia from Starcraft (by way of J.W. Motoring), a new fender and a new wheel housing. That was over $2000 for those three parts alone.

We're just getting started.

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Since the inner fender housing was damaged beyond repair, it had to come off the car. This was not a fun time as the inner fender is glued to the frame.

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You can see how it is glued in this picture.

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The horns were all finagled and bent every which way. I straightened one out. Check out what is left of my fog light.

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Test fitting the new inner fender.

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Prepping the new bumper.

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Test fitting the fender and bumper:

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What's left of my fog light...

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... and the repair continues.


I finally got into the hood and found out that the fiberglass wasn't cracked, thank God. It was just the paint that was damaged so I got that knocked out. I also got my alignment all together so all of my seams look great.

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[Junkman2008]

Finally got the inner fender in place and glued to the frame. That is an adventure unto itself. I don't wish that on nobody.

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It appears that my skids were slightly bent and I darn near crapped on myself trying to pull them straight. I finally unfangled my horns too. I am going to replace my turn signal sockets while the bumper is off and redo my fog light wiring. I'm also going to replace my high beam 4300 HID's with 5000's. I'll probably do away with that 197 bulb. I don't like how it matches with all my HID stuff. The 197 bulb is the one that is illuminating the inside of my high beams in this picture.

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Tomorrow, I go get my paint. I should have it primmered and ready to paint by this weekend but I have to do a detail clinic in Texas so I'll wait until next week. I'm going to have to do a lot of clean up after all this is done. My hands will probably be worn out after all the buffing I'll have to do too. I want to make sure that every drop of orange peel is out of the paint so there will be a lot of wet sanding and clear shooting in order to match the undamaged paint on the car.

I am going to paint the entire dog house and blend into both doors. I am not going to chance having any unmatched paint lines.

I'll update some more tomorrow. I plan to be spraying paint by Wednesday. By the way, I switched insurance companies. I went with USAA. My time in the Marines paid off again.

 

[plumcrazy]

sorry to hear this but cool to see it rebuilt

 

[Joe_Joe]

Sorry to hear about this!!!! Looks like your getting her fixed up quick fast and in a hurry!!!

 

[TowDawg]

Damn Junkman, that *****! I'm sure YOU can buff a lot of it out!
If you had stopped in to help me with some detail tricks while you were in Chattanooga, you wouldn't have been on the road at that exact time. Maybe you'll remember this next time and stop by for a beer and some detailing tips!

 

[Bad Asp 06]

AJ
That really ***** man. Hope you find a better insurance company and the car looks like your doing a top notch rebuild on it.
Could be a sign that its time to finally get you in a Viper though.

I Wish you the best of luck on finishing her up, but it doesn't look like you need it.

 

[eucharistos]

stink j-man, but looks like she is in good hands

..... I was rolling at around 80 .....

if 80 is greater than legal limit, i'd edit it if you still have a dispute with your ins co (you edit yours, i'll edit mine )

 

[bluesrt]

where is the viper? no viper? ***? no viper?

 

[Junkman2008]

Damn Junkman, that *****! I'm sure YOU can buff a lot of it out!
If you had stopped in to help me with some detail tricks while you were in Chattanooga, you wouldn't have been on the road at that exact time. Maybe you'll remember this next time and stop by for a beer and some detailing tips!

You should have put up the Bat signal! lol!

stink j-man, but looks like she is in good hands



if 80 is greater than legal limit, i'd edit it if you still have a dispute with your ins co (you edit yours, i'll edit mine )

No dispute here, they've been canceled!

 

[ghengishahn]

I would just be sick and I know you are. And at not fault of your own. Wrong place at the wrong time.

 

[KNG SNKE]

You couldn't buff that out?

Sorry about your accident, what a horrible way to damage a nice vehicle. Just remember it could have been worse.

 

[Junkman2008]

I would just be sick and I know you are. And at not fault of your own. Wrong place at the wrong time.

Exactly. I stood there on the side of the road in somewhat disbelief. It really bummed me out, but I'm going to make the best out of it. I couldn't image what this would have cost if I had wrecked my Viper. I'm at $4000 already. The paint alone was $150.

 

[Jay M]

stink j-man, but looks like she is in good hands



if *0 is greater than legal limit, i'd edit it if you still have a dispute with your ins co (you edit yours, i'll edit mine )

I agree... I was dropped form an insurance company because of what they read on a forum. We are being watched.

Sorry about your car, I know it's a labor of love for you.

~Jay

 

[viper_itch]

yeah, that won't buff out.


looks like you're doing a nice job. But man, it looks involved.

 

[Camfab]

Exactly. I stood there on the side of the road in somewhat disbelief. It really bummed me out, but I'm going to make the best out of it. I couldn't image what this would have cost if I had wrecked my Viper. I'm at $4000 already. The paint alone was $150.

I'm actually surprised it was only $150, that sounds really cheap for material these days.

 

[Junkman2008]

yeah, that won't buff out.


looks like you're doing a nice job. But man, it looks involved.

I would be inclined to agree with you!

I'm actually surprised it was only $150, that sounds really cheap for material these days.

That was for a quart.

 

[Junkman2008]

Another update!

I finally got all the body work completed and laid my primer and paint.

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Halfway decent for a "brutha' in his friend's garage production" (my friend has the air compressor I needed)!

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Now comes the fun of wet sanding all the orange peel away. This is as much fun as claying, another arm burning activity. I'm starting with 2500 and working my way through 3000. I'll then re-clear everything and go back again with 3000. I'll then re-clear again and it will be slick as snot, with plenty of clear on the car.

My first clear, wet sanding and buffing...

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In progress...

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And the saga continues...

I've got to get the paint back as slick as I had it before:

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[Camfab]

You are moving along at an amazing rate. If only paint shops were as passionate about their work as you are. If you ever move out of Tennessee and move to SoCal I've got some paint work for you!

 

[viper67wife]

AJ - it looks great, but I think you broke a sweat! I'm glad you weren't hurt, but disappointed you didn't take the opportunity to pick up a Viper!

Diane

 

[Junkman2008]

I'm just a po' man! I can't afford all the toys you big boys and girls have!

 

[viper67wife]

AJ - In it's CURRENT shape - I think your 'Vette keeps you drier than our Viper!

 

[MKvpr]

I'm glad it worked out so well for you & you weren't hurt!

I wasn't so lucky about 12 years ago, I was in my '85 Cutlass Supreme & a semi let loose many of it's retreads at once, ( You gotta love how that happens & WHY are these still legal?!?) I did my best, but I got one wrapped around my left front axle, AND tire, which sent me into a series of 360's onto the median! Insurance screwed me & totaled the car, even though they found no fault.

 

[Junkman2008]

AJ - In it's CURRENT shape - I think your 'Vette keeps you drier than our Viper!

I'm glad it worked out so well for you & you weren't hurt!

I wasn't so lucky about 12 years ago, I was in my '85 Cutlass Supreme & a semi let loose many of it's retreads at once, ( You gotta love how that happens & WHY are these still legal?!?) I did my best, but I got one wrapped around my left front axle, AND tire, which sent me into a series of 360's onto the median! Insurance screwed me & totaled the car, even though they found no fault.

Yikes! Man, that's a bum deal!

 

[PaViper]

Dude yours looks much better than the "professoinal" job I had done, sorry to hear about your accident.

 

[swexlin]

AJ, sorry to hear. But, it's AMAZING you're doing this in your garage? As for USAA, had them for years, excelllent service, BUT, they kept jacking my rates here in PA, for no reason (no accidents, clean record). Almost two years ago switched to Travelers, and I know pay less for 3 vehicles, then I did with just 2 before.

Please keep us posted. Still shoulda gotta Viper though......!

 

[viper067]

Exactly. I stood there on the side of the road in somewhat disbelief. It really bummed me out, but I'm going to make the best out of it. I couldn't image what this would have cost if I had wrecked my Viper. I'm at $4000 already. The paint alone was $150.

Not that I have a point of reference having smashed the Viper in '09, a new hood $14,500 for starters ... great job on getting it back together.

 

[Ripper]

Fantastic Job !!!

 

[thompsonracing]

Looks good AJ!

 

[Bad Asp 06]

How many days did that take you from start to finsh? Awesome job!!!!!

 

[JohnnyViper]

thats amazing you did that in a garage