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So I Had a Wreck...

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Webb Sledge

Webb Sledge

Jedi Warrior
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I was driving home the other night in the pouring rain, doing about 30mph as I entered a left turn (which I might add is 5mph under the limit for the area). I began to brake before the turn as I normally do, and carried the braking through the beginning of the turn. About half way through, the wheels locked up and the TR6 and I skidded into the curb and into a street sign. The damage (I think) is fairly minor. It was pitch dark out, but as far as I can tell the bumper has a small dent in it, the front valance is probably bent in about an inch, and the bumper support bracket is probably bent. Also the tire popped as it hit the curb and the edge of the rim chipped off and I assume it bent.

That said, does anyone have a used front bumper bar, the center part, in good condition that they are looking to sell? I REALLY don't want to have to buy one from Moss for $440. I'm also looking for a Minilite wheel, which I believe is a 15" rim. Post here or email me if you've got one.
 
Hey Webb, good to see another british driver in virginia.. I am just over the mountain from you... I guess you have tried the british car place there in waynesboro?? there is another guy in Grottes that you might want to check with also... Good luck

Jack /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/driving.gif
 
yes, Joe Hash in Grottoes. I worked for him over the summer and do work on and off when I get the time. I know Joe very well, he's a good guy.

I'll have to call him and Mike Gassman to see about parts, but from my experience Gassman will charge me my soul for a part like that.
 
[ QUOTE ]
...The damage (I think) is fairly minor. It was pitch dark out, but as far as I can tell the bumper has a small dent in it, the front valance is probably bent in about an inch, and the bumper support bracket is probably bent. Also the tire popped as it hit the curb and the edge of the rim chipped off and I assume it bent....

[/ QUOTE ]Ouch! Glad you're ok and the damage seems minor. At risk of stating the obvious, do check out the front suspension for damage.

Many years ago, my GT6+ slid into a high curb during a snowstorm. I was making a left turn...or at least the front wheels were trying to. Result was that the RF wheel/tire hit the curb almost parallel to it. The roads being as slick as they were, I didn't notice any particular problems with steering or tracking, and was most disappointed when I got home to find that I'd lost one of my "pseudo-Rostyle" wheel covers. But I soon discovered that I'd also seriously bent the lower A-arm on the RH front. Oddly enough, the wheel was fine; go figure! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
 
Really the important part is that you're OK. These cars arent' know for their safety after all.

You might also want to check your verticle link. I know I had one that was bent, but I never knew it until I replaced all the bushings in the front (it made it really, really hard to turn).

Good luck on your parts search.
 
Webb- Check into having the bumper straighten and recromed. the PO of mine hit a deer and when I bought it I had mine done.
 
Check real carefully at the brackets where the lower arms are attached to the chassis. They are famed for cracking/breaking where they are welded to the frame.
 
I got the car home a few minutes ago and after an excruciating drive home (wheel pulled to the right like nothing i've felt before) I pulled the wheel to check out what's going on. Turned out to be a LOT worse than I had expected. Because I was turning the wheels were turned at about 45 degree, and I hit the curb at about 45 degrees, which means the curb effectively blindsided the wheel. There was no rolling involved. So much for the frame. Check out the pic. In case you've never seen a TR frame, that should be a smooth curve...

 
Webb,
Glad that you are OK!
Ouch! That is a tough break with the frame damage! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cryin.gif
I hope that you are able to fix it. From the first time I saw your pictures I thought that yours is a very nice car and wished mine looked that good!
Best of luck! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hammer.gif
Roman
 
You know they are making new TR6 frames now? I don't now the price though. If you can get your insurance company to write off the car it might be a cost effective fix...
 
I've heard about the new frames, but for me to buy a new frame would mean that there was absolutely no way to fix this damage, and I have a feeling it can be straightened on a large jig designed for this type of thing.

My insurance company hates me. I can't catch a break (no pun intended). Not 3 weeks ago a lady ran a light and totalled our '85 190E, which was the car I drove when the TR was out of commission. Now I have nothing to drive! It's also unfortunate because in my last accident I was charged with failure to yield (lady said she had a green light, I am SURE I had a green turn arrow) just because I'm the young male driver. Policeman didn't even ask me what happened, just went and talked to the lady, (who was on her cell phone according to a witness) and then came over to tell me very rudely that I was being charged and I shouldn't even bother to take this to court and that he wasn't going to subpoena anyone on my behalf. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif
 
Sorry you are going through that; I'm sure it is a real let down.

I am interested in the tires you were running. If it is not a problem please advise the size, brand guestimate of tread like, air pressure etc. Any of this would be appreciated.
 
Sorry to hear about your wreck Webb. Glad you're ok.

Good luck with the fix, I hope you're back on the road soon.

Matt
 
Webb, Here's to your health! Your car is making it hard for you to sell her. Maybe its a sign /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/yesnod.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
Or maybe it's a sign that I should run it off a cliff...

*Frustration*

[/ QUOTE ]

I can relate - I got the same feeling when the sandblaster punched through what looked like a solid frame rail. Look at it as an opportunity to insure you have a solid foundation to your car. Triumphworks could be able to straighten or repair it, or Ratco sells new frames and will even include certain mods and powdercoat it!

Whenever you feel down, just remember the smiles you got on those perfect days when driving with the top down /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/driving.gif
 
Sorry to read about the accident.

The new Classic Motorsports issue has an ad for the new frames. No price listed.

As for the wheel, is it really torn up or can it be repaired? There are numerous companies who will repair alloy wheels. I believe they weld in new metal and turn it on a lathe to reshape the rim. If the center is bent they won't repair. If it's too far gone they won't work on it.

If you are still planning to sell the car, maybe you should get an estimate and reduce the price accordingly. You wouldn't have a claim so it shouldn't affect your insurance rates. The risk lies in finding a buyer who is willing to purchase the car knowing it needs some specialty work before it is road worthy.

Years ago the son of a local chicken farmer ran a red light and hit my first TVR. This was in Vineland NJ. Apparently the kids parents were "connected". I insisted in a court hearing.
As usual traffic court was packed, and I was way down on the list of cases. I paid a lot of atention to the cases that were heard before mine. One involved a local police officer who ran a stop sign and was hit by another car. The policeman wasn't on a call, his lights weren't flashing and his siren was not on. He just wasn't paying attention. The judge was extremely biased toward the cop. It was obvious that he didn't want the city to have to buy a new police car. (it was T boned and totalled). He had the civilian take the stand first to give his account of the accident. When the driver said the cop car pulled out right in front of me, the judge stopped him and said "you saw the police car?" The driver said yes. The judge repeated the question and said you saw him before you hit him. The driver said yes, I couldn't avoid hitting him. The judge said the driver had the right of way, but only if the intersection is safe and clear. Because you saw the police car and continued on, the accident is your fault. Amazing but true. No matter what the driver said the judge wouldn't change his mind.
It was another hour or two before my turn came. The judge said he had both of our statements and there was no reason for testimony. There was no clear violation on either side as we both claimed to have a green light, so we had to settle up with our own insurance companies. I said I wanted to ask the other driver some questions. The judge scolded me and said there was no reason to do so. I insisted. He said I would have to take the stand first and that "anything you say will be held against you". I gave my account of the accident. He scolded me again for wasting the courts time, saying that my account was exactly what was in my written statement. Again he said we both needed to go to our way and settle with our own insurance companies... I insisted on having the other driver take the stand. I planned to ask if he saw the car (just like the judge asked that poor guy earlier). The other driver took the stand and said the light was red as he approached the intersection, but he could tell it was yellow for the crossing traffic. So he didn't slow down. He was expecting it to be green by the time he reached it. Then he saw the little red car in the intersection. He was driving a clapped out '63 Impala. Said he tried to brake but the road was wet and he skidded into the car. The judge gave him one of those looks where you roll your eyes in frustration, called him by his first name and said I'm going to have to charge you with the violation. The kid said "I saw him and couldn't stop." The judge said it was his fault. It was obvious that the judge was mad at me. Both for having out smarted him and for getting his friend nailed with the ticket.
I don't know if this tactic would work with an honest judge but it worked for me.
It took 4 months to get a check for the repairs.
 
I'm sorry to see what happened. Let's try to look at the positive though- if I understand correctly you aren't going to need paint and body, which would really have run the price up. Remember also there are a lot worse things you could have hit than a kerb. I think you're going to want to replace most if not all of the RF suspension parts - that bottom rear control arm looks bent in the picture and pretty much has to be considering the force that it would take to kink the frame like that. Hopefully you can source these from a scrapped car. You're going to want a frame/alignment/front end shop that has somebody that does specialist work. I wouldn't take it to a regular body shop- a lot of times they won't work on it anyway and would much rather do big buck insurance jobs on newer cars. The frame shop is going to be able to give you a good idea of the prognosis. I think the biggest thing for you is finding out whether they think they can pull the frame straight with the body on.

Best of luck, whatever you find out and decide to do. Pete
 
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