The inevitable happened tonight.

[otto]

The nephew, Chris, has been driving the Z on a regular basis since I only need it on weekends. Well, today he had an accident. I now need a front bumper, grill, headlights and the headlight support bracket, maybe the headlight supports, too. Could've been alot worse. I'll post some pics tomorrow. He's pretty upset about it. I am more on the side that it could've been worse and it's easy to repair. Besides, gives me something to do with wrenches other than work. Doesn't look like the radiator support got bent so I hope everything lines up. I'll go to H&H junkyard tomorrow to look for parts. Maybe they have a teal 2nd gen Z there....wouldn't that be the cat's pajamas???

http://www.v6z24.com/registry/OTTO/

[Swampfox]

Thats every car enthusiasts worst fear, glad it wasnt too bad, good luck in the boneyard

[Green Mountain]

How old is your nephew? I bet you are his favorite uncle.

[otto]

Well, it'll give us some bonding time. The boy needst to learn how to use tools and do the job right. Says he don't wanna work with his hands....we'll see about that now, wont we? LOL

[2hot2coolme]

That sucks! Good thing it's not too serious.

I just went to look for a car with my nephew a couple days ago, it was supposed to be for a used car, he's a student at ISU, we ended up buying a new 2006 Malibu loaded for 15k, a buddy of mine works at Rockenbach.

[otto]

How old is your nephew? I bet you are his favorite uncle.

He's 17. We took nim in before my brother went off the deep end with stuff that I ain't too proud to speak of. He's a good kid and he was at the point of either following in Dad's footsteps or having a shot at the dream. So he lives here with us in the burbs going to a good school and he has a shot at a future.

I love him as my own son even though I have never had kids. I'm glad he wasn't hurt and I hope he sees how I really didn't take it too hard, afterall it's just a car.

[otto]

That sucks! Good thing it's not too serious.

I just went to look for a car with my nephew a couple days ago, it was supposed to be for a used car, he's a student at ISU, we ended up buying a new 2006 Malibu loaded for 15k, a buddy of mine works at Rockenbach.

LOL, we could never afford that!!! This is a 1994 Z24 Cavalier vert that I put alotta sweat and bloody knuckles into to make it what I want it to be. It's a poor man's hot rod. I'd like to get the 3400 engine out of that malibu! With a special motor mount it'ss slide right into the Z!!!!

[always learnin]

I feel your pain! Wed. I was on a roof replacing a heat exchanger on a gaspack, when cell phone rings. Wife calls telling me my son just called and that he just flipped his car over and it's on it's roof on 41@ In./Ky. state line.( we live/work in Ky.) Poor kid just gotthe car a few months ago B/4 going back to college. Had his seat belt on and didn't get a scratch! Car is totaled with 11,000 dollars damage. Best of luck he didn't get hurt.:) :)

[otto]

Well, this does bother me a bit because it's the one thing i got that is mine and nobody else's. maybe if i feel that way i shouldnt've let him drive it. I knew the risks and I knew this day would come.

I can't be mad at him because I know this is inevitable. I took the chance knowing what may happen. I'm glad it was just a lil fender bender. I already got a new grill lined up from a friend online in Ohio who's on the Z24 website.

It has been very difficult for me lately. Especially with the holidays and all. I work my fingers to the bone and we're still always in debt. Too long of a sob story to get into here. Taking on the kid and now he damages my car that I worked sooooooo hard on........

Where's my rewrd for being a nice guy? I don't go out and sell unnecessary furnaces and UV lights to little old ladys who live only on their ss income. I'm not a bad guy.

Why does **** seem to follow me around?

[2hot2coolme]

Well if it helps, maybe next year when things pick up for me you can make some extra cash on Saturdays if you're interested.

[otto]

Thanks 2H2CM
That brings a smile into a bleak evening.
Honestly, it means alot.

[bootlen]

You're a good man, Otto. A real man. Kudos to you, Guy.

[otto]

2H
My e-mail is havc_service_tech at comcast.net

or call 6303792098

[keepitsimplestupid]

Have him fix it.

I learned a lot. Got a 65 ford about in '72 for $25.00 when I was 15. It ran into a tree. Guy ran into a tree and didn't want to report it to his insurance co.

I learned a lot. fixing the front end. Doing body work. Having it repainted. Upolstering the seats. Rebuilding the carb. Removing the heads and having the valves redone. Installing a retrofit optical electronic ignition. Porting the intake manifold. I got 18 mpg in a 6 cyl car way before it's time when I was done. Kept a 15 YO busy until I could get my license at 16. More elbow grease than $.

The tough one was the slit in the fuel line at the gas tank.

I even learned what happens wen you put the car in park when the car is still moving. You break a gear on the parking spline and occaisionally you can't get it out of park without taking the jack out of the car or shaking it loose.

Car needed a ring job when I sold it to someone who could do it.

[selfemployed]

Long as nobody got hurt. thats whats important. Things will work out, just don't look good right now I'm sure. Hang in there Buddy.

[otto]

Have him fix it.

I learned a lot. Got a 65 ford about in '72 for $25.00 when I was 15. It ran into a tree. Guy ran into a tree and didn't want to report it to his insurance co.

I learned a lot. fixing the front end. Doing body work. Having it repainted. Upolstering the seats. Rebuilding the carb. Removing the heads and having the valves redone. Installing a retrofit optical electronic ignition. Porting the intake manifold. I got 18 mpg in a 6 cyl car way before it's time when I was done. Kept a 15 YO busy until I could get my license at 16. More elbow grease than $.

The tough one was the slit in the fuel line at the gas tank.

I even learned what happens wen you put the car in park when the car is still moving. You break a gear on the parking spline and occaisionally you can't get it out of park without taking the jack out of the car or shaking it loose.

Car needed a ring job when I sold it to someone who could do it.

Reminds me of a friend I had growing up. Sammy Smith. Him or his dad, Don, could fix any car ever made. I remeber riding in a 57 Cadillac convertable with Sammy and there was a big hole in the floorboard and ol Sam would have to whack the tranny to make it shift.
I poop you not, it's real

[otto]

Long as nobody got hurt. thats whats important. Things will work out, just don't look good right now I'm sure. Hang in there Buddy.

I know whatcha mean. Thanks for the hope, it always does work out one way or the other and that he didn't get hurt is OK by me.

[tinner73]

otto....where's that boneyard you go to?

[otto]

Tomorrow morning I'll go to H&H in Elgin over on Bluff city Blvd

[otto]

A good one that's wort the drive is HUB auto Parts in Lemont on 83 at the Cal Sag

[otto]

Victory is OK but sometimes expensive and a mud pit after a good rain.

[otto]

Some Johnny Lang on XM radio 12.

[square&level]

Otto, I'm glad the boy is alright. Lord knows I should be dead already...

Speaking from firsthand experience, Murphy seems to take up permanent residence in your house when you are in debt. Check out the book by Mary Hunt titled Debt free living, or maybe debt proof living. Sage advice that was extremely helpful to my family. Just keep doing the next right thing.

[the editor]

Well, this does bother me a bit because it's the one thing i got that is mine and nobody else's. maybe if i feel that way i shouldnt've let him drive it. I knew the risks and I knew this day would come.

I can't be mad at him because I know this is inevitable. I took the chance knowing what may happen. I'm glad it was just a lil fender bender. I already got a new grill lined up from a friend online in Ohio who's on the Z24 website.

It has been very difficult for me lately. Especially with the holidays and all. I work my fingers to the bone and we're still always in debt. Too long of a sob story to get into here. Taking on the kid and now he damages my car that I worked sooooooo hard on........

Where's my rewrd for being a nice guy? I don't go out and sell unnecessary furnaces and UV lights to little old ladys who live only on their ss income. I'm not a bad guy.

Why does **** seem to follow me around?


It follows all of us around. Though that doesn't help the wallet, it helps me to know that I'm not alone in all the struggles. I have a 19-year-old son and he's a piece of work. Good kid. Smart. Brilliant actually (gets that from his mom). But like all teenagers, he thinks he's indestructible. He makes some bad decisions.

Like you Otto, I know it will catch up to him/us. It's only a matter of time. And money. As long as he can walk away from whatever it is, then everything else is easy.

Sounds like your nephew walked away beautifully. That is the best part of the story. The rest -- well it'll take care of itself, right? Just means more hard work. Maybe more tight times. But it isn't the end of the world.

That's how I look at it.

Now where's that bottle that makes the pain all go away :D?

[otto]

I'll keep on keeping on 'cause it's all you can do. It's not being in debt that bothers me, it's just that I need more money than I can pay all at once. Tax refund should bring us up to date and make everything better.

[otto]

Editor,

Yeah, I know what ya mean. Then again I thought I was indestructable at 17, Thank Jeebus I survived!

He's a kid. I wrecked cars before. But, I was on my own and either had to fix 'em or buy another $400 beater.

[otto]

And believe me as I type it. The boy will be a workin on the fixin

[otto]

Tis is a bit of a read....but it's interesting to come across this tonight. It's from my other home on the web.
http://www.v6z24.com/jbodyforum/viewtopic.php?t=88893

[spotts]

I can't be mad at him because I know this is inevitable. I took the chance knowing what may happen. I'm glad it was just a lil fender bender.



I have 2 boys driving vehicles I own. 1 is 18 and one is 22. Neither one of um has ever had a fender bender, knock on wood. 8 yars driving between um and only one ticket. 28 in a 20. Son didn't even know there was a 20 in front of the post office so the old ladies can get across. Every other street is 30 in town.:p

[newoldtech]

Where's my rewrd for being a nice guy? I don't go out and sell unnecessary furnaces and UV lights to little old ladys who live only on their ss income. I'm not a bad guy.

Why does **** seem to follow me around?[/QUOTE]



I guarantee your family appreciates everything you do. And when you need them they will be there for you. That will be your reward. If you do the right thing, your clear conscience will be the greatest reward.

[oroy54]

Welcome to parent hood my friend.

[2hot2coolme]

2H
My e-mail is havc_service_tech at comcast.net

or call 6303792098


Got it.

[The Penguin]

Good luck Otto.

When I was younger I used to hoon around and thrash my cars street racing and the like getting into mischief here and there - never got arrested though.

When I was about 28 I had a car similar in size to your 24 but a hardtop sports car 4 cyl and I had done a few things to improve the handling and power - boosted from 175 hp to about 250 hp 2.3 4cyl turbo 15 psi boost pressure at 3000 rpm till it redlined at 7500 rpm 1000 over factory set.
I could do 130 km in second gear. it would top out way over 240 kmhr ( I had it up there once or twice)

Anyway I dropped the clutch at a light to blow some guy in a rice rocket off and I blew the clutch (again) $400.00 for parts - I mean I BLEW the clutch plate material into many many small pieces (50hp increase had allot to do with that)

I spent yet another weekend pulling the tranny out to replace the clutch - it was raining and I was wet cause it was outside and cold. I cursed my self for the problem and I finally learned my lesson -

that is its my problem to fix what I break and I stopped thrashing my car so much - I was wayyyyyy gentler afterwards

Back to your kid - he has to do the work he did the damage he has to fix it - you can guide him but he needs to actually go with you to the wreakers and pull the parts with your help and do the repairs.

I gurranty you if it was my kid I would make him/her fix it - I would help but they would do the work

Sorry I don't mean to leature or tell you what you should do

[oroy54]

Like I said. Welcome to parent hood. You remind me of me. You have a good heart otto. Tell Robin hello.

[otto]

Thanks all. It helps the hangover to see the replies. Too bad the car is still bent, LOL. Yes, he'll fix it with me.

150 in 2nd gear??? Dang! I do know a couple o guys on the Z24 site that actually have blown the material right off their Bully and Centerforce stage 2 clutches. That would suck. Drpping the tranny on this thing is like taking out a VW engine, just not as easy.

OOOOOOOOOOOOhhhhhhhhhh chit, my hear heretz.
I need Dos Tacos de Chorizo por favor

[mcr]

Well, it'll give us some bonding time. The boy needst to learn how to use tools and do the job right. Says he don't wanna work with his hands....we'll see about that now, wont we? LOL
Doesn't want to work with hands? Now how is he going to learn how to bake cakes that way? If you have trouble finding parts at least you could bond in the kitchen.You need to find one of these for your nephew. Cheap and safe!
http://www.maigh.com/photos/79_bonne_rf.jpg
Bears/Pack today. Pack needs like 8 other games to go right just to be alive at game time. Like to see Favre get to call all the plays.

[otto]

Here's his car and yes he'll rebuild the engine or at least replace the blown head gasket.
http://chicago.craigslist.org/nwi/car/254547641.html