CAT-a-lytic Converter RB's!!!!

[NY3V]

Both of the tailpipe hangers for the Black Widow Mobile have broken loose. THey were held up by rubber, and that rotted away. One day I climbed under the thing (At GREAT RISK of encountering a BLack Widow Spider!!!) and TYWRAPPED them up. But then, the heat of the tailpipes melted the tywraps. Hmmm.....

I guess you were afraid to use some of your copper wire, for fear an RB would steal it.

[NY3V]

Since This is such a STIFF bill, I called up the Insurance company to see if they would cover it as a claim. RBs!!! Yes, they will cover it, but they say it is a COLLISION instead of comprehensive. Had it been a rock that bounced up and hit my windshield, it would be Comprehensive (which is 100% covered) But because it bounced up and hit my Cat Converter, they say it was a Collision! (with a $500 deductible!!!). They also want to charge it as an ACCIDENT which means my insurance policy takes a hit (allowing them reason to RAISE the rates!!!) RAT B*****Ds!!!!

So, I can either Pay the $1138, or pay $638 and see how this affects my insurance rates. I don't see how WHERE the rock bounces makes a difference. I DIDN'T hit the rock, or collide with it. I never even SAW it. Most likely it was a small rock that the tire hit and threw it up into the Cat converter. HOW is that any different than the rock hitting the windshield???!!!!!

Here I have gone probably 10 years with no claims, and they try to SCREW Me on the first one I put in after paying DEARLY for insurance for 3 cars all these years!!!

Tell them you will let your friendly local Small Claims Court judge decide whether it meets your insurance policy definition of 'collision' or 'comprehensive'.

[WA6MHZ]

After a disconcerting time with the jaded person on the phone, I went to the drive-in Claims center to have my Town Car examined. There I met a VERY PLEASANT adjuster who agreed that a rock should not be considered an imovable object and therefore it was NOT a collision, but an Accidental impact. That turns the claim into Comprehensive, and thus, a $50 deductible instead of $500!!!!

I could have just KISSED HIM!!!! he saved me $450!!!!!

Not only that, they wrote out a check to me to pay the claim, for over $1000!!! Now I am waiting on the muffler shop to call me back and tell me when to bring over the Town Car to get it fixed.

If all goes well, I should be BACK IN ACTION shortly, and the Town Car will not only be ready to go to the Chino Hills Swapmeet this Saturday, but to Torrance in Sept for the ARRL SW convention and then to Santa Clara for Pacificon in October!!!

PHEW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The problem still isn't fixed, but atleast it is PAID FOR!!

[AC4UT]

Dang, if I had all my problems that need fixed paid for I could retire as a millionaire.

[KA5S]

That is good news. Because failing to file a police report on a kilobuck property damage collision is a nononono.

Your Town Car adventures convinced me to stop worrying about gas; when the loan check comes in, I'll go get the Grand Maquis (its in the Resistance). Maybe we can collide, er, meet, at Dayton next year. Lots of room for antennas on those boats.

Cortland
ka5s

[WA6MHZ]

a Grand Marquis is definitely an excellent choice. It is ALMOST Identical to a Town Car, IS identical mechanically so it will be so quiet you can hear the wind blow over the car instead of the engine screaming. And hopefully U will get the 27MPG I can get with a good tailwind. Had I taken my wifes Toyota, I would have gotten 29 MPG but my back and body would have paid for the great discomfort and bouncing 4400 miles would have given it. So it is WELL WORTH the few MPG less to drive a TUNA CRUISER!

[AF6LJ]

Glad to hear you were able to get the money to fix that Pat.
Seems like all the insurance companies want to do is cheat you out of a claim.

[KA5S]

a Grand Marquis is definitely an excellent choice. It is ALMOST Identical to a Town Car, IS identical mechanically so it will be so quiet you can hear the wind blow over the car instead of the engine screaming. And hopefully U will get the 27MPG I can get with a good tailwind. Had I taken my wifes Toyota, I would have gotten 29 MPG but my back and body would have paid for the great discomfort and bouncing 4400 miles would have given it. So it is WELL WORTH the few MPG less to drive a TUNA CRUISER!

First 70 miles; 15.5 mpg in town. Considering the Marquis is $20,000 less than newer and better mileage economy cars, I can buy a lot of gasoline for that. Looking forward to the drive to Dayton next year. Oh, it's a '97, not a '98, according to the Net, pre-coil-on-plug. Don't know what ignition noise is like. YET.

Plotting where to put the HF antenna mount. Almost a crime to hack up that pretty tan paint doing this in haste and magnets.... I made one large enough to hold a Screwdriver on (seven 5 inch magnets) but the scratches would be a SIN. Maybe I'll chrome an old CHP solid ball mount. Yeah, that's it. Chrome.

Cortland
KA5S

[WA6MHZ]

I do TRUNK LIP Mounts. No scratches, No holes, and I hold a full sized Spring with a Hamstick on it. Can't do a Screwdriver antenna though. Need to install a Trailer tow hitch for that.

[WB2WIK]

Ball mounts work well for HF, if you can find a good one; they're not as easy to find nowadays.

I use one that was sold for many years by Motorola, although I doubt they actually manufactured it. But it's big, it's heavy, it's strong, and can hold many kinds of antennas. Takes four holes, though: Three for the mounting, and one larger one in the middle for the big connection bolt.

Never a problem with it.