So here's the deal. I had a S4 vert that was running and traded it for a non-running S5 vert. I was going to do a 13b-re swap anyway so the functionality of the current motor wasn't of much importance to me.

Then someone pointed out these cracks in the body (specifically, right behind the ragtop on the right side). I was hoping someone might know whether these cracks are merely cosmetic or they are indeed stress fractures. If they are, is there a way to fix them or is it one of those things that once its been compromised its just better to start with something else. Photos attached, feedback appreciated.

 

Id say cosmetic but ive never seen a crack like that before. Just check under the car and make sure everything looks alright. You could also pull off the top and interior trim around that area to check for additional damage if you are paranoid. I think some shops can check the frame and make sure there is no major damage to it that might cause problems down the road.

 

So damage to the body doesn't indicate a bad frame unless you can see the damage to the frame itself?

On a related note, I have already bought the complete bushing kit from Energy Suspensions; are there some bushing that are recommended not to be installed to keep ride quality? Or is it best to replace them all for best response? I have also heard good things about using the expanding foam in the frame itself, I'm just worried the car may not be able to handle the 350-400 hp I'm shooting for.

 

looks like cracks in the paint to me. I would grind the paint off and see if it goes under that but i would bet it doesn't.

 

Okay, so what exactly is the stock body made of? It is definitely not just the paint. I can see almost an 8th an inch down the crack, but it looks like plastic to me... I'm really just more concerned in what the cracks mean to the overall rigidity of my vert. I just can't believe no one else has had this kind of thing happen to them before.

Well I suppose a suggested fix for the cracks themselves would be a nice bonus (fiberglass, bondo, i have no real bodywork experience to speak of)

 

I don't know to much about the vert body but if it goes that deep and isn't just paint, it could be somebody else's body shady body work, I would grind it down and have a look at it. but that should have no effect on the overall strength of the body. If your really worried you can reinforce it with Fiberglass. If it is just cosmetic and you want to make it look pretty, grind it down put some bondo over it, sand it smooth and then touch up the paint.

 

No, it is definitely the original body. I do want it to look pretty (body kit in the works w/flared fenders), but insofar as body strength I plan on getting beefier anti-roll bars, and inserting the expanding foam into the frame. Not really sure what else I can do to strengthen the back end. (Do they make the rear strut bar for verts? I thought I heard it doesn't fit...)

 

I learned in one of my mechanical engineering classes that you can stop a crack from growing if you drill a hole in the tip. The sharper the tip, the faster the crack grows. Give it a (relatively huge) 1/8" diameter tip, and no more growth. May look ghetto though, and who knows if those cracks are still growing anyway.

And are you sure those cracks aren't just in the paint surface?

 

stick a knife or something sharp in there and break off a piece of the paint, or take a grinder to it and then take a another picture.

 

that looks like paint cracking, but as for frame damage, its a unibody, so... technically if you cant unbolt the body panel, its frame damage, or so i was told by... carfax. lol

 

i do custom autobody work and repair and i dont think its just paint. looks kind of rusty arond edges, easy fix though, just grind it , weld it grind slightly again and bondo and viola(vuwaalaa) problem fixed.