project: buy a truck, wreck it, rebuild it.....

[hewlett2002000]

Obviously a new name is in order but it seems to fit. Been here for a while but its also been a while. had a 66 a few years back that i was building with a lq4/4l80e but we moved and it had to go. now that im older (22) and im getting married and have a daughter its harder than ever to find time and money for a project, but here it is.

I bought this truck a few months back. has a good strong 350/th400 with a cam thats too big for an engine with stock everything else... what are people thinking... lol anyways to continue my story..

Ive driven it since i bought it and yesterday we were driving around looking at houses and were in a private neighborhood with no stop or yeild signs in sight. well i was approaching a 4 way and i slowed down (should have stopped completely, my mistake and i admit it) and looked both ways and saw nothing so i kept going, then i saw the 06 ford car coming going at least 55 on the little private road. i had no time to react. i knew it was coming so i through myself over my 2 1/2 year old daughter in her car seat (yes it was buckeled, i dont trust them though). the car hit, we did a 180 and stopped. she and i are ok but my wife hit the left side of her head on something, i still cant figure out what being on her left side. gashed it open, blood pouring. long story short no trauma but had 11 staples in her head. the other driver came out unhurt. btw the truck was the last thing on my mind until this morning, i left it sitting there and went with the ambulance. a guy that lived there pulled it to his yard for me so it dident get towed. (gotta do something nice for him).

went and got it this morning and checked out the damage. frame bent in three places, rear diff pushed back 2 feet, drive shaft on the ground. she still runs though, transmission condition is unknown as of yet. no fluid leakage though so thats a good sign. i think it just pulled the yoke out clean. Called a buddy of mine today in fort worth and hes got an 84 he was gonna scrap with no engine or trans. good rust free body. gonna swap my engine and trans and start over. swap over some reworked vortec heads and an intake to match.

This will be a slow but steady project. Heres some before and after pics and a pic of the truck im gonna rebuid. Lemme know what you think.

[hewlett2002000]

After....

[hewlett2002000]

And the new.....

[71swb4x4]

Wow she got you good!! Glad to hear you and the baby are OK, I hope the wife heals well. I am sure everyone is a little sore today. Take it easy, the truck can be replaced.

[gchemist]

Wow. And people say these trucks can't take lick on the tanks. Save what you can build the one up!

Hope everyone feels better soon.

[str8axle55]

Glad you are all OK, the truck did it`s job and protected the occupants. Save what you can, and let the fun begin.

[RandyP]

You're so lucky there was not a lit stick of dynamite in the gas tank, it would have exploded!

I hope your wife is doing OK with her injuries and I'm glad you and your daughter did not get injured.

I agree with saving what you can off the truck and scrapping the rest. What's the chances the other party might be at fault and have insurance? Or maybe with it being an unmarked intersection you'll just be SOL?

But again, still plenty of trucks available to replace what you had. Only one you though, glad you made it through it.

[old Rusty C10]

Like the other guy said the truck can and will be replaced.. the wife and daughter cant.. im glad to see that you all made it out reasonably ok.. the other truck looks like alot of work but thats half the fun of owning one of these old relics..Ive seen people start with alot less and wind up with one heck of a truck.. good luck and let us know with lots of pics your progress

[hewlett2002000]

well a friend gave me the number of a lawyer that thinks he can get me $6000 out of the wreck. since she hit me on the passenger side he says shes in the wrong because i was already in the intersection, plus medical bills for my wife. so we will see how that goes. down side is i gotta leave the truck as it sits until its over so at a stand still again. my wife had to o back to the er because her head was swelling around the wound, they said its post concussion trauma or something along those lines, they said it should go away in a week or two. i feel so bad for her, i wish i would have been on the passenger side instead of her......

[Hoods69BadBowTie]

Wow damn that sucks so bad about all of it. Glad to to hear that the kid and wife should be fine. Hope she heals up real fast. Bummer about the truck! I would keep all the good parts and put them in a new truck. Have fun with the next build hope it goes better next time.

[406 Q-ship]

I bet being you were on a public street and she was on a private driveway (going way to fast for the conditions) that she is at fault, she should have yielded to you. To make matters worse for her she hit when you were clearly in the intersection. Get a police report and go after her insurance.

Hope your wife heals up fast and well. Good luck

[juiceman650]

Wow,,that sucks but I'm glad you and the fam are doing well. Hope your wife heals well. These trucks can sure take a beating! Same thing happened to me except I was hit on the driver's side by a Benz while I did a u-turn (i didn't see him at the time). Long story short, his Benz was wrecked and I was able to drive my beat up truck home. I too hit my head, no gash, but I hit it on the back edge of the door near the B pillar.
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