project 1951 Pontiac Chieftain

[Noel Tidybeard]

jaysus- i'll wager if you did a youtube of the autopsy and rebuild it'd get some views and maybe some revenue

[Zelandeth]

All things considered it looks like both the cars have escaped surprisingly lightly given how severe the storm was in your area.

Really hope getting the house sorted out doesn't take too much.  Trying to get anything dried out around there without working AC must be nigh on impossible given the humidity.

The extremes of weather over there are downright terrifying.  I'll never forget seeing the damage left behind by a tornado that had passed through Iowa City when I was visiting my husband for the first time back in 2006.  One of the main things which I remember seeing was what looked to be a utility pole having gone in through one side of an apartment building and out through the other side.  Three or four floors up.  I was sure I'd taken a photograph of that but I'll be damned if I can find it.  Several buildings had been similarly impaled by random bits of timber, but that one particularly stood out.  It had been a month or so since the even when I was there, but there was still plenty of damage visible, the odd car still on its roof etc. 

Definitely puts our grumbling about the weather in the UK into perspective!

[PhilA]

Looking at the state of a lot of the wood, it's got a lot of stress fractures.

Don't think there's going to be a garage there for a while.

That was all tornado. Did a bunch of damage as it came through, but it's always rather precise. The tree next to the garage is untouched. The one by the fence is uprooted.

 

Phil

[somewhatfoolish]

Sadface about the cars and the shed, but they look salvageable and sheds can be replaced. You and yours are ok, that's the main thing. Presumably a "Wizard of Oz" style tornado bunker would end up a tornado plunge pool quite quickly?

[PhilA]

16 minutes ago, somewhatfoolish said:

Sadface about the cars and the shed, but they look salvageable and sheds can be replaced. You and yours are ok, that's the main thing. Presumably a "Wizard of Oz" style tornado bunker would end up a tornado plunge pool quite quickly?

Yup, digging down liberates water quite quickly.

[PhilA]

Oh that's great. I just checked and the policy on the Chieftain is actually TP/F&T only. I had requested fully comp. 

I hate insurance companies. 

Phil

[loserone]

Fucksake man. 

[PhilA]

I'm gonna just have to get busy.

[hairnet]

so norm will be getting competiton?

 

[PhilA]

Ran the car yesterday, thumped the hood and most of the dent popped out.

Tried it with the roof but the headliner prevents good access. I've been suggested to try dry ice, rubbed around the dent to cause the metal to contract and pull the dent out. Only place that sold the stuff locally was destroyed by the storm so I'll have to work on that one.

 

Phil

[Madman Of The People]

You could also try a big suction cup to pull the dent out.  I've seen it work pretty well on large panels.

 

[vulgalour]

Crumbs, only just caught up on this.  From that aerial photo it looks like the weather did its best to pick its way through the gardens and avoid the houses which is some relief.  I'm amazed that the cars appear to be relatively unscathed and relieved you and yours are safe.

[somewhatfoolish]

Is the sun visor going to make a recovery?

[PhilA]

3 hours ago, somewhatfoolish said:

Is the sun visor going to make a recovery?

It is, I need to get some rivets to put it back on.

 

Phil

[STUNO]

Is the house responding to treatment and liveable now ?

I have heard the opposite re dents, put hot water on then apply  a suction cup but not tried either of course.

[PhilA]

2 hours ago, STUNO said:

Is the house responding to treatment and liveable now ?

I have heard the opposite re dents, put hot water on then apply  a suction cup but not tried either of course.

I wish. We just got the adjuster visit, so now we can start trying to find people to come in and clean the house up and make it livable.

I would do it myself but when it comes to houses and mold, I want that paper trail showing that yes, damage from water. Yes, professionally cleaned and certified. 

 

Long process

 

Phil

[PhilA]

A month passes.

Tidy-up continues as and when we're home. New roof going on tomorrow hopefully which then means we can do the insides of the house. Car remains parked up there.

But that's a good thing, right? The orange Challenger is gone, in place of the Pontiac going. Already miss the 392 but that's life.

Been keeping the rest of my time either working or walking the dogs.

Though, the dogs oft try to walk me. 

Middle of November we move out of this place, which is a shame as I like the neighborhood. We're moving back down towards the beach so instead there's going to be sand everywhere. 

I had wanted to bring the Pontiac here, but that was vetoed. Would like to cruise along the beach, even if I missed the car show last month.

 

Phil

[hairnet]

dawg lol

not them that needs exercise

glad it seems to going back to normal

youve done the fast thing tho - slow and crooze ftw

[PhilA]

No car updates, other than the battery really needs to be replaced in the Chieftain. 

Now, we have moved again. Get to sit on the beach with the dugs instead.

[hairnet]

does the dog need a haircut or is your camera mid drop or summat

 

[PhilA]

1 hour ago, hairnet said:

does the dog need a haircut or is your camera mid drop or summat

 

No, just a lot of dog hair

[PhilA]

November since an update?

 

Well, the car hasn't gone anywhere.

Hopefully soon it'll be back on the road again a bit more.

Phil

 

[hairnet]

like for pic but then pokes eyes out due to shit on the left

[PhilA]

2 hours ago, hairnet said:

like for pic but then pokes eyes out due to shit on the left

Builders. Not mine

[AnthonyG]

Did the ‘65 Fury survive? It looked like it managed to hold the garage roof fairly well from the September pic - maybe all the Bondo acted as strengthening? 

[hairnet]

6 minutes ago, AnthonyG said:

Did the ‘65 Fury survive? It looked like it managed to hold the garage roof fairly well from the September pic - maybe all the Bondo acted as strengthening? 

less mud than your bl product sir

[PhilA]

1 hour ago, AnthonyG said:

Did the ‘65 Fury survive? It looked like it managed to hold the garage roof fairly well from the September pic - maybe all the Bondo acted as strengthening? 

I think so. I haven't extricated it from the garage yet.

That'll be in the upcoming few months.

Phil

[PhilA]

Had a little while today so ran the car up to warm on fast idle.

Got nice and warm, though the thermostat seems to be a bit sticky because it was running cool.

Leaned on the air cleaner while reaching over the engine and the revs went up- upon closer inspection I'm missing 2 of the screws that hold the carburetor together ... no idea where they went but they need replacement. And thread lock, evidently. That'll be why it was running rough, then.

Phil

[Zelandeth]

Must be something in the air for carburettor and associated hardware unscrewing itself lately!

[PhilA]

Climbed under the collapsed wall of my garage and liberated the spare carb.

Put the missing screws in place and tightened them up. They've got shakeproof washers on but that didn't stop then falling out.

Car starts and runs better now.

 

Phil