fallenone121 & the 'Project'
08-18-2012, 12:20 PM
#1
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Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Bellevue, Mi
Posts: 2
fallenone121 & the 'Project'
(For some reason my other entry wont let me put pictures onto it or even view it...)
I guess I may as well get this over with...
-steps out setting out his soap box and stands on it-
My name is Charles McMillan, I am 29 years old and the only son of two retired military members. While growing up as a child I had few to no friends and well into my adult years it was the same thing. I graduated high school in 2001 in Clovis New Mexico, only a few months prior to the occurance of 9/11/2001, I was at a job interview in Lansing Michigan when the news broadcasted the twin towers attack. I worked a number of menial jobs prior to the employment rates beginning to plunge so I enlisted int he US Army in August of 2004.
As a truck driver for the army I deployed to Iraq in December 2004, while in Iraq I drove semis supplying US Military with ammunition, food, and fuel. While deployed I bore mute witness to close friends dying and people being blown apart by IEDs. Occasionally I was placed in charge of cleaning out blown apart vehicles with human remains still within in 150-160 degree temperatures. When not on mission I had been selected to watching over local national drivers while passing through forward operating bases.
Upon returning from Iraq I went through several depressing events including getting married, divorce, and bankruptcy. Also upon being discharged from the military for civil matters involving the marriage - I was granted the opportunity to utilize my experiences in driving semis cross country where I performed these duties for the next two years based out of Phoenix Arizona's Swift Transportation. While driving through South Carolina I had thought I had thought I had come down with the stomach flu but upon going to Dorn South Carolina VA hospital came to be misdiagnosed in the VA ER by doctors saying I had a bowel obstruction when in all actuality my appendix had burst and ruptured whereby I during a course of two months I had encountered four near death experiences in the course of eleven surgeries.
Upon being released from the hospital my parents drove me to Bellevue Michigan where attempts to recover failed due to still being sick as a year after my release from South Carolina I basically relapsed when scar tissue wrapped around my insides. Several trips to the Battle Creek VA ER finally brought relief when Kalamazoo Bronson surgeons decided to operate to remove scar tissue and hernia left over knowing that it was no way to live.
I am now a disabled veteran unemployable because I cannot lift over 10 lbs due to mesh in my stomach from losing so much weight due to the poison in my abdomen in 2010 in addition to PTSD and other military service related disabilities. Driving is my way of relaxing and escaping the extensive stressors that life throws in my path. Luckily my parents were in a position to help me to recover from the bankruptcy, divorce, and assisted me in the purchase of 'Sadie' an 06 Subaru Impreza WRX STI - a car which has born support for charities including Scoobies for Boobies, Keep a Breast and Wounded Warrior Project.
-takes a deep breath-
I do not presently live in the desert - I am actually a Michigan member - but I previously did live in Phoenix prior to getting sick as a truck driver while I was in South Carolina.
Nor do I presently own a Z - though I want to more than anything - the Z's fine lines are comparable to a beautiful woman in my mind...it has curves and doesnt look like a breadbox like most modern cars. I also found out after I started working to try to get my hands on one that the Z is my mother's dream car though my project is first gen while her dream is third.
I have bid on several cars since joining the forum, always losing, after having spoken to yellowdatsun over email before coming in when I was looking at a mildly rusty no title car. Since then I have lost two no title rusters between 300-500$ because of reserves because the condition just wasnt worth it, I lost three mint conditions because I wasnt as daring as some, right now I have a slightly rusty one with a title I am bidding on putting a 1500$ max bid towards it. Once I have the body itself I can start figuring out what pieces I will need. I have looked in some craigslists and not had any luck finding any and have contacted shipping companies who say due to where I live that it will be 2500-4000$ to ship a car to me especially if it doesnt 'run'. So I look at cars within range that the amount I would save from shipping could be repaired for the amount I save with maybe a little leeway to put towards pieces and parts.
It was due to this continual search for an acceptable body to work with that I found my goal - a 1971 Datsun 240Z that I managed to win on Ebay for 2600$ - I just have to get a truck to go to NY to pick it up.
Whew...that was a mouthful!
I guess I may as well get this over with...
-steps out setting out his soap box and stands on it-
My name is Charles McMillan, I am 29 years old and the only son of two retired military members. While growing up as a child I had few to no friends and well into my adult years it was the same thing. I graduated high school in 2001 in Clovis New Mexico, only a few months prior to the occurance of 9/11/2001, I was at a job interview in Lansing Michigan when the news broadcasted the twin towers attack. I worked a number of menial jobs prior to the employment rates beginning to plunge so I enlisted int he US Army in August of 2004.
As a truck driver for the army I deployed to Iraq in December 2004, while in Iraq I drove semis supplying US Military with ammunition, food, and fuel. While deployed I bore mute witness to close friends dying and people being blown apart by IEDs. Occasionally I was placed in charge of cleaning out blown apart vehicles with human remains still within in 150-160 degree temperatures. When not on mission I had been selected to watching over local national drivers while passing through forward operating bases.
Upon returning from Iraq I went through several depressing events including getting married, divorce, and bankruptcy. Also upon being discharged from the military for civil matters involving the marriage - I was granted the opportunity to utilize my experiences in driving semis cross country where I performed these duties for the next two years based out of Phoenix Arizona's Swift Transportation. While driving through South Carolina I had thought I had thought I had come down with the stomach flu but upon going to Dorn South Carolina VA hospital came to be misdiagnosed in the VA ER by doctors saying I had a bowel obstruction when in all actuality my appendix had burst and ruptured whereby I during a course of two months I had encountered four near death experiences in the course of eleven surgeries.
Upon being released from the hospital my parents drove me to Bellevue Michigan where attempts to recover failed due to still being sick as a year after my release from South Carolina I basically relapsed when scar tissue wrapped around my insides. Several trips to the Battle Creek VA ER finally brought relief when Kalamazoo Bronson surgeons decided to operate to remove scar tissue and hernia left over knowing that it was no way to live.
I am now a disabled veteran unemployable because I cannot lift over 10 lbs due to mesh in my stomach from losing so much weight due to the poison in my abdomen in 2010 in addition to PTSD and other military service related disabilities. Driving is my way of relaxing and escaping the extensive stressors that life throws in my path. Luckily my parents were in a position to help me to recover from the bankruptcy, divorce, and assisted me in the purchase of 'Sadie' an 06 Subaru Impreza WRX STI - a car which has born support for charities including Scoobies for Boobies, Keep a Breast and Wounded Warrior Project.
-takes a deep breath-
I do not presently live in the desert - I am actually a Michigan member - but I previously did live in Phoenix prior to getting sick as a truck driver while I was in South Carolina.
Nor do I presently own a Z - though I want to more than anything - the Z's fine lines are comparable to a beautiful woman in my mind...it has curves and doesnt look like a breadbox like most modern cars. I also found out after I started working to try to get my hands on one that the Z is my mother's dream car though my project is first gen while her dream is third.
I have bid on several cars since joining the forum, always losing, after having spoken to yellowdatsun over email before coming in when I was looking at a mildly rusty no title car. Since then I have lost two no title rusters between 300-500$ because of reserves because the condition just wasnt worth it, I lost three mint conditions because I wasnt as daring as some, right now I have a slightly rusty one with a title I am bidding on putting a 1500$ max bid towards it. Once I have the body itself I can start figuring out what pieces I will need. I have looked in some craigslists and not had any luck finding any and have contacted shipping companies who say due to where I live that it will be 2500-4000$ to ship a car to me especially if it doesnt 'run'. So I look at cars within range that the amount I would save from shipping could be repaired for the amount I save with maybe a little leeway to put towards pieces and parts.
It was due to this continual search for an acceptable body to work with that I found my goal - a 1971 Datsun 240Z that I managed to win on Ebay for 2600$ - I just have to get a truck to go to NY to pick it up.
Whew...that was a mouthful!
08-18-2012, 01:44 PM
#2
Hiya Charles, former marine here, sounds like you have had a rough go of it, Glad to hear you have found a Z to work on, I think you will find the guys and gals on our forum very helpful and friendly. Owning a Z car is a pleasure reserved for the adventurer in all of us. There are some very knowledgeable guys here, Nismopick, Fricfrac, Hoov100 to mention just a few, the list is pretty long really, and any advice you get from them is true gold forged on the front lines, elbow deep in grease I'm sure.
Glad that have survived some pretty bad times, now that you are a Z owner life is sure to take a positive turn. If nothing else, you can look to us for support and help. This forum is always a good place to vent, get your frustrations out and have some fun at the same time. Again welcome to Zdriver and good luck with your car !!!
Glad that have survived some pretty bad times, now that you are a Z owner life is sure to take a positive turn. If nothing else, you can look to us for support and help. This forum is always a good place to vent, get your frustrations out and have some fun at the same time. Again welcome to Zdriver and good luck with your car !!!
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