Where do I begin?
Baggage, we all carry it. I finally dropped some of mine by the wayside two years ago or so. When most of you were being encouraged to work on cars, I was being discouraged. Girls don't work on cars. Girls don't do math. Girls don't go fishin. Go inside and help your mother. Wash, rinse, repeat.
We had inherited my mother-in-law's car (28,000 miles) and it was in raw condition. Headliner hanging, clear coat off the paint, no vinyl roof left and some unknown black grime coating everything. No doubt from the smokestakes near Alton, Illinois.
Paid someone to get it running again. Drove it down to my dad's farm and he managed to back his 1-ton Chevy Silverado into the front. I managed to yank enough of the front left quarter panel away from the wheel so my very angry husband could exit in a cloud of dust headed back to our place.
It occurred to me when I drove home that the car and my husband deserved better. He could no longer physically work on the car. At that point, I decided this girl can learn to work on cars.
Started with this:
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and this:
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And have managed to get it mechanically sound and road worthy, as well as cosmetically improved. I found this forum and many of you have helped me get this far. Replacing the roof, the headliner, the left fender and header panel, getting lights working, engine running and hoses replaced, learning. You've all been wonderfully helpful.
Now:
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Quarter panel, wheel well trim, and header panel are replaced.
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Not perfect, but a survivor.
This car and I have much in common in that regard.