My poor car :(

[Tomguy]

RIP Quicksilver.

What happened: Going around a blind corner, a red Explorer was in the middle of the road (straddling the center line) - I was entering it as he was exiting it. I swerved to avoid him (probably shouldn't have, since the ass didnt even STOP or anything). Got on the gravel on the low shoulder, and started fishtailing. Tried to correct it, but when I got back on the pavement, my front tire grabbed the shoulder and my rear went around. WHAP, into the guard rail, then I tried cutting the wheel to try to get off of it, which worked... too well - I whacked into it with the front.

I was able to drive it home. I haven't looked at the suspension or anything, but it seemed to handle fine the rest of the way down. I didn't break the radiator and it seemed to be running fine. Didn't puncture the tank that probably has at least 15 gallons in it.

I'm a combination of pissed and depressed right now. Poor Quicksilver.

[300SDog]

Man that really sucks..... sorry to hear about your bad luck. And this is the car you snuck through rust inspections with the souped up 4.5 / 3.5 engine?

[Tomguy]

Yep. It's inspected until October of 06, I believe. It's got the 4.5 with heads and cams from a 3.5 - or as I like to say, the way the 4.5 should have been...

[280SE Guy]

Ouch! At the very least you are OK. Now is it time to find another 108? Did you get my PM about the 280SE 4.5 on eBay?

[Tomguy]

Yeah but that's $ I dont have now.

Edit (To avoid double-posting):

The suspension looks fine. None of the wheels hit the rail, just the bumpers. Tomorrow (or whenever it warms up a bit) I'm going to take the rear bumper off and see if I can whack out the panel so I can at least drive it if I need... I almost have the front fender off, but I stopped because it was getting dark and cold. The sealant stuff is holding it on. As far as I can tell there isn't structural damage or any frame bending, but I want to take the front quarter panel off to see.

[Tristar1959]

Sorry about the sheetmetal, TomGuy!

Wish I'd known you were gonna do this, sixteen years ago when I stripped out a clean 108 280SE down to the bare bones and let the carcass go to the junkers,- I'd a kept it for ya! Pretty sure I kept the bumpers and some lights - PM me if the frame rails and suspension turn out to be okay and you decide to fix it, and I'll dig deep in my garage to investigate - nothing I'll ever use, now that my 250SE/c is becoming ferrous oxide.

Stan

[kpb]

tom, looks like you got bundts on the front and wheel covers on the rear?

BTW, being the shameless scavenger heartless buzzard I am, dibs on the grill guard if he parts it out.

Also, truly sorry 'bout your luck. Your involvement with Quicksilver has taught me alot during the years -- thank you.

And a futher BTW, think of it this way -- the things you have already done to this auto pale in comparison to fixing this bit of cosmetic mess. You can do it!!!

[Nate]

that ******* didnt stop either???

Id be pissed too.... Thats a nice car, im sorry to see it like this. U remember plate numbers or anything?

Im so sorry
~Nate

[Tomguy]

Originally Posted by kpb

And a futher BTW, think of it this way -- the things you have already done to this auto pale in comparison to fixing this bit of cosmetic mess. You can do it!!!

That's the insane way I've been thinking. No sane person would think this car is worth saving, with all the rust on it. Why should I fix it, so I can worry about the inspection again in October? Although the guy did say it "Seems structurally sound", he didnt like all the holes...

I'm gonna see if I can pound the rear panel out first. If so, then I need to fork out cash for the rear bumper half, the front bumper half, all the mounts for the bumpers, 2 trim pieces, and the head + taillight assemblies. And the hood latch snapped too.

Unfortunatley, my grille guard got dented.

[Strife]

I've been in exactly this spot. My suggestion: step away from the problem, and go on to something else for a while. You will be able to think more clearly in a few days. The damage doesn't look all that bad, you can pound 90% of it out, better/newer parts will just have to wait, but they will be there when you can afford to do it. Don't get discouraged!

[t walgamuth]

dont pound it. beg borrow or rent a hydraulic body jacker. you can prob push most of the rear out and then smooth it off with some fiberglass filler then finish off with a thin layer of bondo. the front prob warrents a new fender which i bet you can cop for $200.

pounding it will stretch the metal and it won't ever be right.

overcorrecting catches a lot of folks. i put a 49 chebby into a bank that way when i was bout 17 or so. didnt do much damage but got caught anyway when the seat adjuster didnt work when my buddy's dad got into his work car the next day. my buddy pushed against it so hard in the excitement of it all that it bent something.

tom w

[Benzcrusher]

Got insurance?
They would most likely pay you off and let you keep the salvage....

[Mark DiSilvestro]

Alternative to finding/buying/renting a hydraulic jack is what I used on my '72 250 a few years ago, after some 'hit & run' jerk caved in my right rear quarter panel and tore off the bumper. I got some suitable-length 1-inch pipe, 3/4 inch all-thread and a 3/4 nut & washer to fabricate a long screw-jack. I propped one end of this jack in my trunk, against a 4x4 resting along a part of the unibody frame-rail.
I used assorted bits of scrap wood on the other end to gently press out the dents and straighten the trunk opening where it had pinched against the trunk lid. Not perfect but sure beats hammering it out.

For 'quickee' silver paint touch-up, especially on old and faded silver, I suggest trying the metallic-grey alloy-wheel spray-paint availible in some autoparts stores. It's more expensive, but less bright and flashy than common silver hardware-store spray-paint.

Happy Motoring, Mark

[meltedpanda]

I have a 73 114 donor, if I can help. I supose the jack@#$ drove off without stopping after running you off the road

[Tomguy]

Some more pics. I'm going to see if I can take the rear bumper off now and pop the dent out with my hydraulic jack and some boards...