Driving to work today an old lady pulled out in front of me. I was going about 55, I managed to get it down to 30 or so. I think. Anyway, it kind of ruined my day.

Insurance is going to go my way, it was totally her fault, she said as much.

I think I can repair it. Its going to need a lot of new sheetmetal, but I don't want to have to start from scratch again.

 

DAmn i'm sorry man...that sucks........i hope you get her fixed soon

 

Buy a different shell.

 

Not a bad idea, but they're kind of hard to come by around here.

I live at the farthest point from anywhere you can get in CA.

 

There's plenty in socal but they are all FB's. I want a clean SA. damn it!!!

 

*tears* looks like the frame would be tweaked.

 

Theres three up here, actually. But theyd as soon kick your *** as sell you it. Believe me, I tried before I bought my GSL.

 

You thought so too, huh?


It tracked awfully good on the way home. So I have some hope for it.

 

Oh, and a shameless plug for Hawk brakes. I would have hit a lot harder if not for those things. They make a lot of noise, but slow you down in a big hurry.

 

How's the frame?

 

My knee hurts too much to go check it yet.

I think tomorrow I'm going to go pull everything off and start cataloguing what I'll need.

Like I said, it drove awfully damn well to have a bent frame. I've driven a couple of bent cars, its not fun.

 

that sucks bro. I know what it feels like lol. i had a post about my car also that was in a accident. I will post some pictures now that it is fixed. Bu i will give you some advice. if the frame that is welded is not damage then just replace the parts that can be removed. other than that u better have a welding machine... u can do wonders with a welding machine WONDERS!

 

Hope you can get her fixed. It does look like the frame had some damage, hopefully not too bad to fix. Good Luck

 

I don't think the frame puckered. You should be fine.

 

I agree, I don't think it's as bad as it looks.

 

I figure I hit the rear drivers side door on a late model Taurus. That car is like 70% plastic, whereas my car is mostly steel.

Its going to be a bitch getting stuff apart to check though. Cant even pop the hood at the moment, its tucked under the...

Whats that thing called? The piece in front of the hood, but behind the bumper?

 

^^valance?header panel? something like that^^ sux to see that man. it does look like the radiator support is bent tho and maybe the inner fender. why are you taking it apart to inspect now? im sure her insurance will require estimates from a body shop. take it in to get an estimate on it wait for the check then tear it down,fix it yourself for a lot less and pocket the extra, or go ahead and let the body shop do it. im afraid to say with that much damage they will consider it a total loss.

 

Yeah, not much question of that.

I mostly wanted to get a look to see if its even worth fixing. I don't have a lot of money.

 

****... You people think his frame is tweaked, My wreck looked like that, except I was sliding sideways and ended up snapping the tie rod and mangling the control arm...

How would I be able to tell if my frame is bent? It drove like **** when I finally got it back together, but I attributed it to the trashed steering box (quarter turn in either direction of steering wheel play), the crappiness of the alignment (Junkyard tie rod and control arm.) and the halfassedness of my work. (Left the front swaybar off, Didn't do any adjusting of the tension rod.)...

<Paranoia>

I think I've gotta part it out, anyone have an SE for sale, (Preferably K3 Silver so I don't have to repaint the door jambs and engine bay.) Shell or better...

Would I be able to get a couple hundred by parting out a running (Last I checked.) GSL? Dare I think $1000?

</Paranoia>

 

its fixable ...is there any frame damage? does it still drive straight?
do you know mike carr? he lives up there by you... nice guy and he has lots of mazda parts

 

Mike Carr... the name sounds familiar. I probably heard of him when I was working for Arcata Auto last summer.

It drove damn good on the way home, I had to drive about a mile down 101 and it ran fine at 65. No shakes or anything. Turns fine too. Having had a chance to look it over I think its structurally sound, mostly needs some exterior work. Still cant get the hood fully open though, and I really don't want to pull it apart until insurance is done.

 

if it drives straight then there wasnt any frame damage!! yah
swap out some sheet metal and some new paint, your good as new!!

mike is sponsered by arcata auto.. he has a grand national and some rx7's too

 

Insurance company totaled my '83 and it looks alot better then yours. Front driver fender got ruined, Driver head light and the Hood were also ruined. Only serious damage was the Rad support bar underneath buckled. Local bodyshop wanted 7,000 to fix because of some surface rust. I'd talk to the insurance company and see if there's a way you can keep it from getting salvaged. Best of luck.

 

I don't mind if they total it, I'm more than happy to drive a car with a salvage title. From the sounds of things they are going to total it just based on age and give me a rather arbitrary amount.

Then I'll buy it back and start reconstruction. Its been way to good of a car for me to leave it.