last week I posted a pic of my 'new' project..
and I promised to post some more pictures of the damage.
so here you go..

haven't gotten around to setting up a website yet..
had a little trouble getting the powersteering pump out

This week they're going to have a look at the damaged frame
rails (wednesday evening) and give me a professional opinion
on the cost of welding/straightening of the front end..
Probably I'm going to order new frame rails and the cross member,
and have them cut right up to the part that's still ok.. then cut
the new ones at the same location and weld in those parts.

but maybe turbojeff has got some better idea? let's see

wish me luck please.. since there's a long way to go..

Rob

 

good luck brotha, tons of work ahead of you. I feel your pain

 

I'm REALLY, REALLY NOT A FAN of cutting the frame rails and welding on just the front section. I'm not a bodyman but I don't think that is a legitmate repair.

You can't fix this car the RIGHT way without a frame rack. It needs to be pulled BEFORE anything is cut. The pulling before cutting is a key step to a good repair. Some of the car that you are going to reuse is not in the correct position, you need to pull it with a frame rack to get it back into it's correct shape then do the repair.

The frame rails are expensive, you'll also need the front core support and the 2 pieces that comprise the headlight buckets.

If I were you I'd talk to a bodyshop about repairing/replacing the frame rails. They know what they are doing. My shop used a laser alignment system to measure the car before it was welded and also test fit all the body parts (fenders, hood, headlights and bumper cover) before welding anything.

 

definately get it tugged before you go cutting stuff off. If your going to secion the rails you might as well get used. I have to run up the the shop to drop off/borrow some more tools so Ill ask if it is a recomended tecnique by the aicpa.

 

oops, I think I forgot to mention that indeed it's going to be pulled first.. and indeed 'laser' aligned.
You mention the 2 pieces that comprise the headlight buckets, on which I wasn't really sure if I had to
get new ones for those.. but I guess that would be best.. since it's probably impossible to get anything
to fit if it isn't 100% straight/aligned etc.. the guy coming in on wednesday is a bodyman so I'm also
interested what he has to say.. (similar to what you're saying, I guess)

I agree with what you say about laser alignment, but the guy from which I bought the car (in this state)
was told it was perfectly straight. Ofcourse I'm going to make sure, even though on the eye it looks
as it is indeed straight from behind the obvious damage. The doors close perfectly etc.. so I'm quite
positive about that.

It could ofcourse end up all wrong, so I'm hoping for the best, but maybe I should prepare for some bad
news.. I've already checked the prices of the frame rails and the cross member and that has already been
taken into account.. although I haven't checked the price for the parts that comprise the headlight buckets..

which part do you mean by the front core support? is that the cross member section I was talking about?
maybe you have a partnumber? then I can find it in the catalog with the pictures...

thanks for the reactions/suggestions/tips already!

 

Take a look at these pics. The core support and pieces around the headlight bucket are in there along with the frame rail.

These are all available new from Mazda.

http://community.webshots.com/photo/...72689780JzjmgL

http://community.webshots.com/photo/...72690110HinNkC

 

I agree, Here in Ca it is illegal to cut the frame in anyway. it looses its strength to hold shape during a wreck and can get riped in two or three parts. haha kid from pimp my ride had his cars halfs welded togeather and when they took alook at it on the show the seem was ripping eeek.

 

I asked up at the shop and it is approved by icar, cuting metal peices slightly smaller than the rails and welding them in to make a sleeve is whats recomended, then welding on the sectioned rail on. There is a significant diffrence between what im describing and sectioning half of a car. I would do what your bodyman recomends and is comfortable with. Hope I helped a little. Mike

 

ok, thanx for the info..
actually the 'bad' part of the frame rails is in front of the suspension etc.. so it shouldn't affect the driveability
(wishfull thinking?) I mean it's holding parts like fenders, hood etc.. and I really think it's only
crumpled right behind the front core support.. well let's hope for the best.. I'll post an update once I've talked
to the bodyman tomorrow evening. Whatever the outcome, it has to be repaired properly.. so thanks for all
the suggestions guys..

Rob

 

well, my the guys from beekautoracing came over yesterday to have a look at the damage..
and they want to cut the frame rails as well. Over here that seems to be the way to fix this,
ofcourse after pulling it straight etc.. actually I think they want to do it quite like Mdessouki
described. I'm going to have to make a list of all the parts (part numbers) and order them from
mazda, including the bodyparts like fenders, the hood, bumpers etc.. so they can make sure it's
all going to fit properly. Actually I was thinking of getting the scoot hood.. but those aftermarket
bodyparts usually aren't as perfect as the original ones, which probably isn't a good idea for
fitting the bodyparts once they're doing the repairs?

Worse is that now I have to get nearly all the parts asap, while I was hoping to spread the spending
over the course of a couple of months.. so I've got to dig deep into my pockets.. and see if I can order
those parts soon..

wish me luck please..

Rob

 

me wish u luck!

 

don't forget to contact multirotor for parts or contact Pim vd Burght in Eindhoven!!!

I think you can find some better deals for bodyparts through them rather than MAzda itself (unless you ork for Mazda :-) )

 

hey its been a while but would love to hear how the car is doing?

 

If the car has been repaired, how has it aged over time, any issues with suspension, handling etc?

 

The OP hasn’t been on the forum for almost 16 years. Not likely he still owns the car