Squirrel strike

Decolliber · 07-17-2002, 06:07 AM

I have a dent in the front valence as a result of hitting a large squirrel. I am wondering if I could just insert a bar under and behind the valence and just pull it out, or would I risk making it worse? Or should I remove the valence, lay it flat and use a rubber mallet? If I want to have an auto body shop fix the valence, can I just take the valence to them or would they need to see it on the car?

The original cause of the accident:
http://web.wt.net/~psherr/squirrel_hazing.htm

dad911 · 07-17-2002, 06:42 AM

You shouldn't be responsible for damage. Submit claim to squirrel's insurance company.

Kurt B · 07-17-2002, 06:45 AM

You're a b@stard for killing that little animal man. REALLY MAN, IT'S JUST TRYING TO MAKE ITS WAY IN THE WORLD LIKE YOU. MAN.

I have pounded dents out with a rubber mallet, but generally speaking, you are a lot better off pulling. But you could easily warp the valence and make it worse because it is not a fully secured body panel

If it's not that bad, just take it off, lay it on the carpet and tap it out. I used a body panel hammer (you get at pep boys) with foam taped to the head of it last time I did this, but a rubber mallet is better if you can aim it right!

Dan Owens · 07-17-2002, 06:50 AM

Damn man, what are you thinking. Out racing squirrels in your spare time is no way to have fun??? I had the same problem. Mine was a rabbit and the son of B$%#@ almost won.

I was able to use a small plunger on it and get the valance to pop back out.

surflvr911sc · surflvr911sc's Garage

Well, that cracked me up. I can't believe I read through the whole site. Thanks for the hump day entertainment.

k9handler · 07-17-2002, 07:21 AM

Ha Ha

I have not taken the life of any small critters with my pcar yet...but I have taken out many of them damn orange cones at the local autocross! They are much easier to hit since they just stand right in the way.

widebody911 · widebody911's Garage

I can't wait to see what kinda mayhem my aluminum splitter will do on a squirrel/cat/wabbit. I bet it would fillet it on the spot!

dtw · 07-17-2002, 08:06 AM

You may have luck using a bit of 2x4 on the other side of the valence while you strike it with the mallet (hammer & dolly action). This will help prevent bowing the metal out in the other direction and hopefully improve the finished repair's appearance.

nhromyak · nhromyak's Garage

Dent Magic, Dent Doctor, etc.... come to mind. ~$80.

pbs911 · pbs911's Garage

Street racing and hazing is all fun and games until a squirrel gets an eye poked out.

old_skul · 07-17-2002, 10:29 AM

I wonder if he was a member of the SCA - the Squirrel Club of America, that is. Maybe he was headed to a Scurryer's Ed.

gosla · 07-18-2002, 11:26 AM

Hello;

I'd suppose that hitting it from the exact opposite side with a equally weighted squirrel, at a similar velocity, would reverse the damage. I'd recommend this simple to make, inexpensive tool for propelling the rodent to the appropriate velocity... Would work with other small animals with minor modifications...

Click me for plans...

Nicholas

speeder · 07-18-2002, 12:19 PM

Nicholas, Speaking of menageries, that's quite a collection of cars you've got there.

This is one kooky day on the Pelican board, but can't say that I'm not enjoying it.

gosla · 07-18-2002, 01:19 PM

Thanks...

Actually, as of tomorrow, the list will be a bit shorter. The Cobra is being sold, thank god...

And now, a brief commentary (venting...) on Ford and my experience with their "performance car"...

I decided to get a new Cobra, about 5 years ago. $28K. 0-60 time that should cost twice that... Actually, I was irritated with the delays in getting my then daily driver, the 71 Mercedes 280S, repaired. Weeks of waiting everytime something went wrong... I actually went to the dealer for a SHO Taurus. Learning that they no longer can be ordered with manual transmissions, I was invited to drive the Cobra, which only comes with a 5-speed. I wasn't really interested at first, but it was super quick and I rationalized that it would be a good choice. After all, it's a new car... How bad can it be? Seemed like a bargain... I signed the papers and picked it up the next morning... A total of 8 Cobras were sold by that dealer, that model year...

By 2,000 miles, the transmission was shot. By 27,000 miles, it needed a new engine. I found when I had it hauled in for an engine change that I was in fact the 2nd from that year to need a new engine. I was the last of all 8 to get a transmission rebuild... The brakes went several times. With each repair, the brakes would work, for a few weeks...

The $1850 "electronics package", e.g., CD player & remote keychain, it turns out is finished with something resembling water color paint. The paint smears off, revealing nice attractive white plastic on every switch you touch... Oh yea, sounds like crap too...

No independent rear suspension. Caught me by surprise... Didn't even ask about stuff like that before the sale. After all, this was Fords "Flagship Performance Car" and it was 1996... No problem, unless you hit any road imperfection while going around a curve...

It turns out that Ford thought it best to "soften" the suspension in their Cobra model. After all, it has slightly thicker sway bars and larger tires... Unfortunately, my experience is that when the road "dips" the rear bottoms out. I'm not talking about speed bumps or potholes. Just a road that goes from "downhill" to "uphill" more than average...

Found out after the clutch was replaced that they still use a clutch cable. No expensive hydraulics like on most every other car made... That new clutch lasted 1 hour. Then it exploded. Dealer said "it happens" and replaced it again.

5 years after the Cobra was purchased, that Mercedes still runs well. Just have to learn to fix them yourself. (nearest credible Mercedes repair shop that can handle the older cars is nearly 2 hours away...)

Meanwhile, my 22 year old Porsche outperforms it in most every way & has been nearly perfectly reliable for the year that I've owned it... The Benz is as nice as it was 5 years ago.

I guess it's fair to say that I wont be back to the Ford dealer any time soon. My fingers are crossed that my Mexican made PT Cruiser has a better track record 5 years from now...

P.s. I forgot to mention that you'll need to use "wadding" when loading small furry animals into the launcher that I recommended for the repair...

Nicholas