so, i finally got around to installing the hitch i bought from Biff.
this was on my friends '96 80, with unknown history as it was bought from a shady used car dealer. (look, he had to have an 80 so there was no tellin him nuffin!)
it quickly became obvious there was something wrong.
i had one side bolted up ok, but the other side wouldn't get close enough to the frame to get the bolt threads started.
8:30 am and i've already got a towel to keep sweat from dripping in my eyes.
Biff seemed like an honorable, upstanding guy so i doubted he sold me a crooked/bent hitch.
i had a look at the port installed hitch on mine, and realized what the problem was.
i looked over at my friend and asked "you ever been in an accident with this truck?"
edited to add: after the look of insult left his face, he said.. no.
Turns out, IT WAS THE 80 THAT WAS CROOKED AND BENT. HA!
it would seem that it was rear-ended or had been backed into some unmovable object. the rear bumper looked fine, until we knew what to look for. anyway, i was able to pound the bent metal flat enough that the hitch lined up Perfectly.
have a look at the attached picture.
if you want to see a pic of the flattened version, i'll post it but... just imagine the curved bit...flat. ( he said something to the effect of, " i'm going to go inside and do something else so i don't have to see you pounding on it with that sledge hammer"
btw, i had to hammer both sides flat.
the pic:
,
this was on my friends '96 80, with unknown history as it was bought from a shady used car dealer. (look, he had to have an 80 so there was no tellin him nuffin!)
it quickly became obvious there was something wrong.
i had one side bolted up ok, but the other side wouldn't get close enough to the frame to get the bolt threads started.
8:30 am and i've already got a towel to keep sweat from dripping in my eyes.
Biff seemed like an honorable, upstanding guy so i doubted he sold me a crooked/bent hitch.
i had a look at the port installed hitch on mine, and realized what the problem was.
i looked over at my friend and asked "you ever been in an accident with this truck?"
edited to add: after the look of insult left his face, he said.. no.
Turns out, IT WAS THE 80 THAT WAS CROOKED AND BENT. HA!
it would seem that it was rear-ended or had been backed into some unmovable object. the rear bumper looked fine, until we knew what to look for. anyway, i was able to pound the bent metal flat enough that the hitch lined up Perfectly.
have a look at the attached picture.
if you want to see a pic of the flattened version, i'll post it but... just imagine the curved bit...flat. ( he said something to the effect of, " i'm going to go inside and do something else so i don't have to see you pounding on it with that sledge hammer"
btw, i had to hammer both sides flat.
the pic:
,
Last edited:
