77 Chevy step-side half ton VS Closed Mechanic Shop Door

[Russell]

TIE!

I got home from work this afternoon, and went to unload my tools from the 77 like I always do -- park her by the shop, apply the e-brake, and go unload my tools (not taking it out of gear, like usual)

I was inside my other shop putting tools away when I heard a loud mettalic SNAP from my 77, looked over my shoulder just in time to see the end of the box driving away, OH CRAP!!!

Ran outside, and got to the door just as I heard the sickening sound of wood and sheet-metal being crunched. DOH!!!!!

Fortunately for me, the 77 didn't take a go at the shop door dead center, but the side of it slid up against the wall beside the door. If it had gone straight through, it would have caught my 80, shoved it back up against the boiler (full of hot glycol, and burning wood, which would have tipped over, through the back wall, starting a fire & spilling glycol all over the place, not to mention pushing the GMC through the back wall of the shop, and into one of the trees back there.

Wound up pushing the garage wall in approx 3 feet, and busting the brackets / rollers for the garage door, not to mention crunching the driver's side fender on the 77 pretty dang good. Amazingly enough, it didn't break any of my lenses on the truck, LOL

I was able to pull the wall back into place with the bobcat, and was able to repair the garage door by replacing or repairing the various brackets / rollers. Less some silver paint on the garage door opening, a few small dings on the door itself, and a bunch of white paint on the truck / mooshed in fender (which was already mooshed in, and set for replacement anyways) it all turned out ok, and you'd never know what happened :P

Took me about 3 - 4 hours to fix the damage, but it all wound up ok in the end Still not sure what happened to the 77 to make it release the e-brake though. The cable didn't snap, as it still works just fine... Just released for some reason!

Oh well, that was my excitement for the day! Sorry, no pics as it was dark out, lol

[apstguy]

That's one of those "oops". I guess we learned that puting it in gear is a good thing! But that really sucks. Those e-brake cables aren't fun to replace. But then again, mine was fighting me back and rusted on there.

[hotrodhomi]

I hear putting it in park works well.

[bigblock73]

Originally Posted by hotrodhomi

I hear putting it in park works well.

Sounds like the truck might be a stick...so there isn't a "park".

If it is indeed an auto, then I have no clue why he didn't put it in park.

RUssell, sorry about that, that does suck...but you got off pretty lucky from the way it sounds.

[hotrodhomi]

I'm not sure how you could put a manual in gear and make it stop with out
spinning the tires, dying, or holding in the clutch.

[bigblock73]

Put it in neutral, apply the E-brake?

[Russell]

My truck is an auto -- its an old habit of mine, I have always been taught that things only click and move so many times, so whenever I can, I leave the auto in gear so it isn't moving bands, parking pawls etc all the time.

I might have to break that habit for this truck though, lol

Still haven't figured out what caused the e-brake to release though...

[bigblock73]

Russell, E-brakes aren't the best thing to use in the winter either, they tend to freeze up...usually in the applied position.

[Russell]

Surprisingly enough, I've never once had that problem before...

I do maintain my e-brakes though, oil the cables up and such at least once or twice a year, so maybe thats why...

[Matt_305]

Well atleast nothing too bad happened good for a chuckle now perhaps. At work (Canadian Tire) one of the mechanics was driving a suburban from our era up to the big garage door and he pressed the brakes and got nothing so the door barely started to raise and plowed right through it and wrote off the truck, sort of funny, it was in rough shape anyway so not much of a loss haha.

[Zoomad75]

Originally Posted by Russell

My truck is an auto -- its an old habit of mine, I have always been taught that things only click and move so many times, so whenever I can, I leave the auto in gear so it isn't moving bands, parking pawls etc all the time.

I might have to break that habit for this truck though, lol

Still haven't figured out what caused the e-brake to release though...

Not trying to rub salt in the wounds, but unless you stuff the trans into park while moving there is not much to wear out. I'd be breaking that habit..Heck I barely use the PB in mine with a stick. Just stuff it in Granny and it's not going anywhere. (2nd gear however allow it to roll into the street from my driveway, ask me how I know)

Bummer news though. Never like hearing damage like that.

If it makes you feel better I could tell you a tale when I took out my gate and ran into a tree (all in my backyard no less) after a routine brake job on my wife's Minivan...I think DrityLarry almost messed himself when I told him about it. Just proof that anything can happen, no matter how hard to you try to prevent it.

At least nobody was hurt and no fire to take out both rigs and the shop.

[N2TRUX]

Dang dude, be careful. You keep banging em up your never going to get one finished...

[hotrodhomi]

Originally Posted by N2TRUX

Dang dude, be careful. You keep banging em up your never going to get one finished...

Does anyone ever really finish one? I've never seen it. There is always one more thing.

[Russell]

haha, no worries N2 -- Shes getting a face lift later on this month anyways

I scored a mint 74 front clip for her