My ZR-1 saga...

[Paul Workman]

Well, here's where she was on June 2nd.



In the mean time, most of the parts have been rounded up, including a new hood, bumper and bumper cover and some internal pieces.

Today, my baby went to the hospital to get straightened out. The collision/frame guy walked around her for a bit, and agreed with others that it isn't too bad. However, he inspected the frame, paying close attention to the locations designed into the frame to absorb impact, etc. and found some of them had "done their job", as he put it. None of them very bad at all.

The bad news is one of the spots is just above the drivers side motor mount. That might require having to take the car back home to pull the motor in order to access the frame. But, other than a pain in the arse, especially w/o a lift, it isn't so bad.

More good news: Since our cars were built, manufacture's have gone to water-based paints. One of the advantages is the paint matches the chips very well and doesn't change color like the solvent based paint tend to do. What he was getting at was I might not have to paint the entire car (as I was resigned to do) - just the panels that got scratched. (I looked at some of the cars he had in the shop that were fresh from the oven, and I swear they were perfect!)

I hate having my baby away from home. Dang. Wish I had asked him about visiting hours!

[ghlkal]

Here's hoping this all works all well, Paul

Originally Posted by Paul Workman

More good news: Since our cars were built, manufacture's have gone to water-based paints. One of the advantages is the paint matches the chips very well and doesn't change color like the solvent based paint tend to do. What he was getting at was I might not have to paint the entire car (as I was resigned to do) - just the panels that got scratched. (I looked at some of the cars he had in the shop that were fresh from the oven, and I swear they were perfect!)

I had one panel of my 85 painted by a shop that does good work with new tech. It looked perfect to me. Nobody I showed the car to could tell what had been repainted.

[Dynomite]

Originally Posted by Paul Workman

he inspected the frame, paying close attention to the locations designed into the frame to absorb impact, etc. and found some of them had "done their job", as he put it. None of them very bad at all.

The bad news is one of the spots is just above the drivers side motor mount. That might require having to take the car back home to pull the motor in order to access the frame. But, other than a pain in the arse, especially w/o a lift, it isn't so bad.

Keep us informed and great that the damage is not beyond fixing

Would be interested on where those locations for impact absorption are.

[LGAFF]

Paint match is as much or more about clear than the base coat.....

[Karl]

Good luck Paul!

[RedSled]

Best of luck. Sorry though...

- Keith

[ZZZZZR1]

Cars can be fixed but people can't!

Glad your ok paul!



David

[We Gone]

Originally Posted by Paul Workman

I hate having my baby away from home. Dang. Wish I had asked him about visiting hours!

Good luck I know about missing your car mine has been at Marc's for going on 12 weeks, longest I have gone without seeing it in 12 years lol

[HAWAIIZR-1]

Best wishes P and I'm sure it will be awesome when back to new again. I'm thinking I might have to repaint my entire car too when I get back the car back to Hawaii next year with the TP hood and 49th Street rockers.

[Paul Workman]

Originally Posted by We Gone

Good luck I know about missing your car mine has been at Marc's for going on 12 weeks, longest I have gone without seeing it in 12 years lol

yeah, I felt that pain too - down for a year getting "the package" installed. I had done the top end P&P myself, but had the die grinder get away from me when doing the heads, and ended up having to start over with a new head (I now have one 90 and one 92 head on my LT5) after punching a BIG hole in a very bad spot. (Note to self: NEVER relax my grip BEFORE turning the grinder OFF...that and stick with pneumatic grinders, except for intricate stuff.) And, after reinstalling the motor, learning something about OHC motors with direct acting cams - that lead to the preload formula published in an article in HOTB - after reinstalling the motor (again)).

So, it isn't new to me; being down for a season. But, it still sucks! However, after it was all done it was as Pete said, "First time you whack it (the throttle), you'll forget all about the trouble it took to get there!" He was right, as usual, and I predict you too will be wearing a permagrin and the time away will be forgotten. At least in Atlanta, you can drive it some in winter w/o worry about salt dust!

IF I have to pull the motor as part of dealing with tweaking the front bumper, then I'm planning (hoping) to have a pair of Pete's cams installed to "finish" the 5.7L project. In any case she'll be better than before, so there's that to look forward to! (gotta thing positive!)

Thanks to all for the kind words. I'd rather have been "out among ya" this summer, but come the BG gathering, she'll be stronger than ever!

P.