Welp, she's a goner.

Well my fears came to fruition today. My trusty girl, she's going to have to live on in another truck. What I initially thought wasn't a bad impact (for those who don't know I had a couple too many wobble pops, spun out on black ice and snapped a telephone pole in half), did indeed tweak my frame.

The entire front section of the frame has equally shifted about 2-3" off center, and it was honestly hard to tell by eye. As I was starting to put pieces and parts back together, lining up the core support was when i really noticed it. Looking at the truck from straight on, the drivers fender is noticeably pointed to the right, with the core support off center. To line the fenders back up, the core support needed to be shifted about 1.5" to the left. That's when I noticed the holes for the support are nowhere near where the frame mounts are. The hood doesn't line up with the latch at all. The unfortunate thing is that the truck still drives. I don't know how, it doesn't dog leg, steers just fine etc. But unfortunately she has seen her last days and is overall in just beyond disrepair. It's going to kill me to let her go, but there comes a point where I have to cut my losses and move on. Part of me screams "yank the frame straight" but it's just not worth it.

I can't complain. This $500 rig lasted me almost 6 years and over 400,000 miles (I bought it with 113k on it).

I think the hardest part is the memories made in it. I spent a lot of time with the old girl, and it's crazy how sentimental an inanimate object such as a truck really can mess with your mind and emotions. I'm still in denial, but my own stupidity got me into this predicament. I'm not going to lie, the realization that she's gone has me a bit distraught. I know I made a dumb mistake, but now I really have to lose my pride and joy, and I guess I deserve that. I sure would love another one, I guess I'll keep my eyes open.

For now, she lives in my driveway parked on the side of the garage, still moveable. But, I cannot forsee how much longer that'll really be. I'm hoping some of the parts will live on in a new rig sometime soon.

Anyone else here have to let go of a truck before? For reasons due to or beyond their control?

Sorry to hear that Angelo, but sometimes you gotta put a good dog down.  

I'm sure you'll make the best of a bad situation.

400k in six years?!?!
Yow!  I thought hitting 460 in 33 years was a lot.

I drive that thing everywhere! Everyone locally knows me :D

Ain't nothing to see me all over the western half of New York and northern PA with it.

Sorry to hear about the new found damage. It always sucks to lose these trucks when there aren't that many around these days.

I let my 1980 go to a guy who parts out trucks when I lost direction with the truck and started to let it sit for years at a time. I wanted to focus on other things besides working on vehicles, so selling was the only option I saw at the time. Took me a year or so to start missing having a project truck, and although at times I wish I hadn't sold that one, I definitely don't see myself ever trying to get it back since I've learned from the things that caused me to throw it on the backburner and refuse to go back down that same road with the new truck.

Sorry to see that, Angelo.  However, have you read about what I found on Big Blue?  The front was out on one side every bit as much as yours, and with a come-along, ratchet straps, etc I got it back in.  But all of that bend was after the engine crossmember.

ArdWrknTrk wrote

400k in six years?!?!
Yow!  I thought hitting 460 in 33 years was a lot.

I hear ya. I do about 40k miles per year, and a big chunk of that is highway driving for work, but that's been in diesel Volkswagens getting between 40-50mpg. Driving in the 65,000 mile per year range, and an old truck that gets how many MPG Angelo?...holy cow...I bet they all know you by name at the gas station(s) too Angelo?..ha! With the price of gas up here, I couldn't do it even if I wanted to...lol.

As for seeing an old vehicle go, I have normally lost all attachment with them by that time. I get bored with them after a while anyway. However, I have had a few over the years that I sold for various reasons, and either regretted it, or missed them terribly. A little blue F100 Flareside back in the early 90's was one of them, which is why I am here today...lol.

Shortly after that time, back in the early 1990's, I bought one of those "Iraqi Taxi's" from my uncle. Are you guys familiar with these? It was an '81 Chevy Malibu with a 3.8V6 and a 3spd manual floor shift. Anyway, this thing was mint...my uncle had owned it since new, and he sold it to me for next to nothing, and it was a great little car. Friend and I were doing donuts with it in the fluffy snow one night, and smacked a curb sideways with the rear end. Bent the rear axle, bent all four rear suspension links, and shifted the body on the frame in the rear. The car was sold for parts. What a sin too, because had I not been screwin' around, that car would have lasted for years.

.... back when cars had frames.

Ok, boomer!

ArdWrknTrk wrote

.... back when cars had frames.

Ok, boomer!

Hahaha!

That does suck. If your interested I have an 86 f-150 rolling frame and you are welcome to it. 133"WB and 2wd. I am in York, PA. Don't know if your interested in a reconstruction project or it may just be time to let it go.

I read this with empathy.  I had a mid-80's 4-runner that was crunched 24 hours after I said out loud I'd never sell it, and didn't have the time or resources at the time for salvage at that time in my life. That vehicle made it through 5 states, 6 homes 3 decades and 4 kids without complaint.

For me personally, I spend more time with my dog and truck than my family, and I spend a *lot* of time with the latter.  I grow accustomed to the familiarity and easy company both provide.

There was a kids' book I read to all my daughters when they were young- "One Year in Coal Harbor" that had a great quote that has always stuck with me:

“You can't replace one dog with another any more than you can replace one person with another, but that's not to say you shouldn't get more dogs and people in your life.”

(Or trucks)

-Mark

...Or find somebody with a frame straightener? Worst case, cut and splice the frame... at least for the Rangers there is a spec for what and where the frame rails can be cut and welded as a collision repair; I think they even sold repair rails made specifically for this reason. At one point one my Rangers was in a wreck and thought the frame was tweaked, which is when I came across this info (the frame ultimately was unscathed).

It just sucks all the way around. I mean there's not much more else to say. I guess maybe it wouldn't be so hard to let it go if it was a mangled mess. But it still runs and moves fine.

Get the frame from PA and move everything over.

Unfortunately it's not really in the cards financially with this state shutdown and being out of work. I'm putting all my money into my 79 right now, and I need a reliable daily driver. I'm looking for another truck, but for now I'm picking up an 02 Escape I went thru for a guy at work just to bomb around in for the time being.

I do appreciate the offer though!!!!