My Tale of Woe

[60TR3A]

I shipped my '63 BJ7 from Vermont down to Florida via enclosed truck and when it arrived the driver misjudged the car's narrow track as he backed it out and the right side came off the inside of the ramp, damaging the length of the lower right side. To add to the problem he somehow managed to damage the fuel tank and fuel pump because as I drove the car home from where he'd unloaded it, there was a loud racket coming from the pump. At first I thought the rear wire wheel had been damaged and was coming apart because of the loud, speed-dependent clicking but I checked it out and it was fine. I drove it to my mechanic who jacked up the rear end and crawled under and saw what he described as a "crushed" gas tank. I'm not sure how that causes the pump to make so much noise - he said something about it being "fuel-starved" - but it seems to work just fine, albeit very noisily. I'm guessing that the damage was done when it fell but perhaps the driver jacked the car up to get it back on the ramp and somehow hit the underside of the tank.

Whatever the case may be, the paint work is going to cost $1850 and the mechanical is yet to be determined as my mechanic will wait to get it up on the lift to do a full diagnosis. Paint gets done next week and the week after it goes to the mechanic.

The trucking company's insurance is paying for it and they're very apologetic and being very helpful.

If you ship your car, make sure the driver is warned that these older car's have narrow tracks and to take more care to keep them on the ramp. Better yet, make sure it isn't a one-man operation and that the driver has someone guide him to make sure he's not going off.

 

[bob hughes]

That is a real bummer, my heart goes out to you.



Bob

 

[Johnny]

A friend of mine did exactly the same thing to his tri-carb healey, only he was the driver attempting to back it off the trailer and his wife was guiding him. Guess who was blamed?
Any way he had the work done professionally and it cost over $5K. OUCH

 

[HealeyRick]

At least it looks like a scape rather than a dent and it's on the OEW part as well (even though you just had that painted) Could have been a lot worse. If you need a new gas tank, this guy on ebay seems to get good reviews from people that have used his tanks https://www.ebay.com/itm/AUSTIN-HEA...Parts_Accessories&hash=item3cccdacdd9&vxp=mtr Don't know how you can desert VT in the most beautiful time of the year, all that cold, slush, freezing rain, salt, snow and, did I mention snow?

 

[dougie]

I'm sorry to hear about your misfortune. I worry about this every time I use my smaller open trailer at the closer track events around the PNW. Even with the one fender that drops down, I line the ramps up in the rear and run her straight back down.....

https:// DSC09465 by dougescriva, on Flickr

 

[60TR3A]

Don't know how you can desert VT in the most beautiful time of the year, all that cold, slush, freezing rain, salt, snow and, did I mention snow?

LOL! The day the car was picked up it was in the 20's but at least was dry. Now I'm in balmy 60s and 70s - perfect top-down driving weather - and my Healey is out of commission. Not complaining, mind you. I am blessed.

 

[60TR3A]

My repairs are finished and it turned out that the dented fuel tank was not the cause of the noise: apparently, when the car slipped or was lifted back up onto the ramp, the e-brake cable got pushed a little and it came into contact with the drive shaft and it was making a loud racket, like a weed whacker over my right shoulder. Got it all fixed up now and probably won't bother replacing the fuel tank just for being a little dented as it is mechanically fine.

 

[why]

Hah: Better it made if off and fell, my Lotus Elite the narrow track caused a suspension arm to tear itself out of its fitting in the fiberglass "frame" along with bending Chapman strut etc. etc. Goodness knows what really happened as I was not present thankfull for my heart. Enjoy,
Jay '65 3000