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-   -   Front End Damage, is it fixable? (https://www.rx7club.com/2nd-generation-specific-1986-1992-17/front-end-damage-fixable-991076/)

sbrmechanic 03-13-12 12:42 PM

Front End Damage, is it fixable?
 
2 Attachment(s)
Give me some good news! haha, got into a crash and my frame got a little bent in the front, mostlly all on the passenger side, the steering was not affected, which im guessing is a good sign, but i want some advice from people who have crashed like this before or know about body work.

RotaryEvolution 03-13-12 12:54 PM

don't focus so much on the support structure but the frame itself. was the frame bent or look out of whack? did the car pull after the accident? a frame shop can probably tell you with a reasonable estimate if it's worth trying to fix.

the support structure can be cut from another car and welded in, how much is anyone's guess. whether it shifted the strut tower or not is the real question.

Tofuman FC3S 03-13-12 01:01 PM

See my build topic in my sig for your awnser. After that, measure to see if everything from the subframe and back is straight.

Riz.

REAmemiya_fan 03-13-12 01:02 PM

IMHO, it is not worth the hassle. Look for my build thread, it wasn't as bad as yours, but equally a pain. The way the frame is bent like that, It literally is not worth it. I would just source a better shell and swap things over. S4 shells are a dime a dozen. Bought mine with simply no engine or trans for $500. And it was a GXL with everything working.

j9fd3s 03-13-12 04:35 PM

its fixable, but it needs the whole front radiator support and a frame pull, so its probably not worth the money/time

PvillKnight7 03-13-12 06:24 PM

Definitely fixable and definitely worth the time if you can do the repair yourself. The fender gaps may never be perfect but if the rest of the car is stout, I'd do the repair and run it into the ground.

Do you have a porta power? Mig welder? You might have to drill some spot welds, straighten the metal, then re weld them.

Rob XX 7 03-13-12 06:38 PM


Originally Posted by PvillKnight7 (Post 11016006)
Definitely fixable and definitely worth the time if you can do the repair yourself. The fender gaps may never be perfect but if the rest of the car is stout, I'd do the repair and run it into the ground.

Do you have a porta power? Mig welder? You might have to drill some spot welds, straighten the metal, then re weld them.

I would say if he is asking if it can be fixed he isnt comfortable doing it himself

GregW 03-13-12 09:41 PM

That made me laugh :)

Originally Posted by Rob XX 7 (Post 11016022)
I would say if he is asking if it can be fixed he isnt comfortable doing it himself

To fix it the car needs to go on a frame bench and as stated above needs some major donor parts. To do a good job would cost more than the car is worth monetarily

GregW 03-14-12 01:44 AM

https://www.rx7club.com/album.php?albumid=4105

PvillKnight7 03-14-12 10:08 AM


Originally Posted by GregW (Post 11016328)
That made me laugh :)


To fix it the car needs to go on a frame bench and as stated above needs some major donor parts. To do a good job would cost more than the car is worth monetarily

It doesn't need a good job and I agree it's not worth the time and money to do a good job.

I recommend doing a fair job. Beat that frame straight so the headlight closes and force the fender and bumper cover back into place and call it a day.

Rob XX 7 03-14-12 06:18 PM

that area is like paper, lining up the fender, hood, headlight, and bumper is tougher then you think.

done poorly it will look awful if it even bolts together

j9fd3s 03-14-12 08:16 PM


Originally Posted by Rob XX 7 (Post 11017203)
that area is like paper, lining up the fender, hood, headlight, and bumper is tougher then you think.

done poorly it will look awful if it even bolts together

+1, can't tell you how many FC's have an overbite cause the bumper support got bent, and they tried to pull it instead of replace it

sbrmechanic 03-14-12 09:58 PM

Well im planning on pulling it myself and if that doesnt work cutting it and welding a new one on

sbrmechanic 03-14-12 10:15 PM


Originally Posted by j9fd3s (Post 11017349)
+1, can't tell you how many FC's have an overbite cause the bumper support got bent, and they tried to pull it instead of replace it

Call me a noob but what is overbite? and at this point i dont give a shit about looks just wanna get it back on the road!

REAmemiya_fan 03-15-12 09:50 AM

Where the top of the bumper extends further than the bottom, causing it to look as though it has an 'overbite.'

j9fd3s 03-15-12 11:10 AM


Originally Posted by REAmemiya_fan (Post 11017955)
Where the top of the bumper extends further than the bottom, causing it to look as though it has an 'overbite.'

yes, thanks!

Bamato 03-15-12 04:50 PM

I was also going to mention that the lines up front (especially with pop up headlights) are never going to look the same...

sbrmechanic 03-15-12 04:55 PM

Well if it doesnt rain this weekend ill try out the ome along and post pics of how it went


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