Finally!!! Previa is home!!!

It's home! As of 2/9/19.

Let's do the timeline:

September 2017 - Older person hit my van.
November 2017 - Final assessment of Previa and decided options.

2018:

•  Tried to find a Previa chassis with same options (95 and up, supercharged, dual sunroof and capt chairs in middle row). 
• I also attempted to find a place to drop motor and transmission with no luck.
• Decided to check the costs for frame straightening.
• There was only one shop that popped up on CL and that was  AJC Autobody. I contacted them and sent pictures. I was quoted $1000.
• I went to a couple junkyards for a few parts. 
• I had the van towed to their shop.

I stopped by and met with Dave. We talked and I asked if they have a place that does alignment. They said they have a sister shop that does alignment. I pushed for it to be done after the frame straightening. 

I called a couple weeks to get an update. I was told that the headlight I brought was not the right one. I told them that the headlight is from a 1991, but it was mainly for the bracket. They said they will get the proper one. I approved and followed up a few days later. They said they were just waiting, but it would probably be a couple days. 

No update a couple days, so I called after the weekend and I was told that a couple more days. 

I get a call saying that it's almost ready to go and everything is good. I also paid $500 as a down payment. I get anxious and then no call. 

During the weekend I thought about the door. Should I get one from the junkyard? How off will the color be, if I can find the same color at that. What about changing the lock...

I call back and I asked about them fixing the door too. I said its cool to fix the door as well. 

I also get a call about the alignment being off. They need to change the lower control arm. 

I pushed for an alignment after they did some frame pulling to see how much it would improve. This was also mentioned to me by Samay when I visited him in Seattle.

I agreed to the door and the lower control arm replacement. I was told it would be done on a Friday, so I waited. No call. I tried to call Saturday. Nothing. I then waited til Monday and they said it was almost done, had to do some more pulling. 

Finally, I get a call Wednesday, February 7th, saying it is ready. I asked for pictures and I was sent this:

YES!!!

I said I was gonna pick it up on Friday (Feb 9th). I get off work and spend time at the DMV, getting paperwork done. 

Due to weather and time, I wouldn't make it. So I called the shop and talked to Ali. Paid over the phone and asked him to leave the van outside as I would pick it up Saturday, Feb 10th.

After I get off work, I take the BART to San Francisco and take a Lyft the the shop. Pulled out my keys and started it right now. Filled it with fresh gas and headed home (1 hour drive).

It was traffic up til the Bay bridge, so I was checking for idling or engine heating issues. I wasn't expecting any and it all ran fine. 

When I got to open road, I again pushed it and it was smooth and drove STRAIGHT!!! I absolutely was ecstatic!!!!

Made it home and now, tomorrow, I will clean her up a bit.