P71 Battle Damage Assessment and Repair: All Hail the Rattle Can!

"Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo" (rustyvandura) 01/12/2020 at 18:15 • Filed to: None

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I had a chance to begin assessing the state of my 2010 Police bruiser. It turns out that the body damage is comprehensive and that only the driver side rear quarter is unaffected. I managed to get the hood down nearer to where it’s supposed to be, cut out the most mangled sections of the front fender, and replaced the passenger front door. Then I rattle canned the door panels to make the body all one color and I do say that I find the car to be a good deal more presentable. Next thing, I’ll work on cobbling on some front lights.

There’s an ECU issue: the cat monitor(s) won’t reset after much driving — all conditions in the FoMoCo Driving Cycle have been met more than once — and I am told that if there is an O2 sensor or a cat that is marginal, this could keep the ECU from making a decision. So a more extensive diagnosis is in order, undertaken whilst driving . It turns out also that I can get a provisional 60-day registration pending smog certification. So I’m taking Friday off and meeting my pal the expert diagnostician and shop owner, then going to DMV at 7:45 on Saturday morning. And I’ll be ordering a custom plate, but I will not reveal what that will be, though I’ve determined that it is available.

This is my report.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 01/12/2020 at 18:19

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Ah yes, the rare 3-tone option.

NKato > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 01/12/2020 at 18:21

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Since you insist on not replacing the fender, header panel and core support, all components required to be in good condition for adequate headlight and corner marker installation, I suppose you could invest in some adjustable off road lights for the right side. Bolt them wherever, aim them and done.

P.S. it's not hard to replace them.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 01/12/2020 at 18:22

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He left the pink scrawl on the side, ugh.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 01/12/2020 at 18:23

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One thing at a time. Don’t hate!

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > NKato 01/12/2020 at 18:29

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What I am insisting upon doing is the minimum to get the car roadworthy. Once it’s registered and street legal, then I can consider attacking the front clip. But if it won’t even pass smog, doing body work at this stage would be sort of like putting lipstick on a pig , wouldn’t it?

I have the front lights and markers. They’re in crappy condition and they don’t match, but I’m pretty sure I can get them to line up. Again: once it’s registered and I know I’ll be driving it, then I can look at redoing the front, but if you look at the pictures of the passenger rear quarter, there’s some ugly tweakage that took place back there that will not be easy to straighten.

NKato > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 01/12/2020 at 18:32

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I saw the damage back there, yes. And regarding smog, I get it. Get that cleared first then work on it. The o2 sensors that the ECU prioritizes are the upstream ones. They're not too hard to get a hold of. 

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > NKato 01/12/2020 at 18:38

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I had one afternoon to work on it and this is what I accomplished. And to be honest, if I’m going to daily this pig, I’d place finding a 3.55 posi rear diff higher on the priority list than beautification. But first: smog. After as much as I’ve driven it, I am tending to guess that a sensor may be wonky. I am hoping that given the low mileage, the cats are still serviceable. Then get the power front windows operable and find out what’s blowing the cigaret lighter circuit. BDAR: Battle Damage Assessment and Repair. In the Army, that ’s a thing.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 01/12/2020 at 18:43

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You were already in the junkyard though. I understand the priorities and good luck. I’ve enjoyed following this project so far.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 01/12/2020 at 19:04

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Nope; no junkyards. Not yet, anyhow. The guy who sold me the car has all kinds of Vic Junk lying about and he will deliver. I was telling NKato that if I am going to daily this thing, finding a 3.55 posi rear end would be a higher priority for me than fenders. 

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 01/12/2020 at 19:06

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Shouldn’t it be pretty easy to find a replacement hood for it at a local salvage yard that is much straighter than that one?

MM54 > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 01/12/2020 at 19:08

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Slow and steady improvement! Run out of paint for the roof? :)

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 01/12/2020 at 19:10

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Yeah. But the hinges are all tweaked up. Roadworthy mechanicals first, then fenders. And given the condition of the body, there's still a chance that I could be dropping another body onto that chassis.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > NKato 01/12/2020 at 19:16

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This could also turn into a body swap of a Ford pickup onto this chassis, though there, too, people will question my taste because I'd want a 7th Gen F-150. Those were new when I was a teen.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > MM54 01/12/2020 at 19:29

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Nope; leaving that white.

MM54 > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 01/12/2020 at 19:45

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I guess it’s got a little longer before it starts to peel

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 01/12/2020 at 19:51

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Those are starting to come around again. Right now the jelly bean F150s are at the absolute valley of the depreciation curve.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 01/12/2020 at 19:58

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The jelly Bean was a very good driving pickup.

MKULTRA1982(ConCrustyBrick) > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 01/12/2020 at 23:42

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BDAR sounds like my car repair philosophy . Screw cosmetics I just need it to function how I want it to

MKULTRA1982(ConCrustyBrick) > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 01/12/2020 at 23:46

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I personally think it looks cool all beat up and mangled, a kind of trashy patina if you will. I say if the body work doesn’t impair road worthiness the don’t waste your time. Few people will be impressed by a clean Vic anyways so why bother if it’s not for your own enjoyment. Lighting could be achieved with a light bar and zip ties. You could buy metal zip ties if you want to run wild with it. 

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > MKULTRA1982(ConCrustyBrick) 01/13/2020 at 12:07

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You’ve nailed it. Few people will be impressed because the Vic is so unimpressive. I think a BDAR Vic stands out. 

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > MKULTRA1982(ConCrustyBrick) 01/13/2020 at 12:08

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I’ll use Tico strips to mount the lights. Tico strips are good because they’re malleable and easy to work with. I’ll post some pics.

MKULTRA1982(ConCrustyBrick) > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 01/13/2020 at 13:08

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Tico strips? Please do post about those I’m always looking to add more weapons to my hack-fix arsenal (most recent was the silicone caulking gun, leak now youbitch!!!). The BDAR Vic screams “I know what I’m about, son”, even if some people will think it is the FUBAR vic.

From FUBAR to BDAR in a still undetermined amount of  simple steps! Body shops hate him!

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > MKULTRA1982(ConCrustyBrick) 01/13/2020 at 15:46

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You get me.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > MKULTRA1982(ConCrustyBrick) 01/13/2020 at 22:09

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Hey: would you mind shooting me an email? I’d like to ask you offline about something. oliphant.chuckerbutty@gmail.com

MKULTRA1982(ConCrustyBrick) > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 01/14/2020 at 11:17

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Sure thing