RM,

You want to get together on Saturday at my place? I'm going to be swapping out some catch-cans.

 

Well the pic of the floor shows it is bent, it could be bent from someone trying to jack the car up from the bottom. It would have had to hit really HARD to be bent like that from a rear hit, I doubt that is the case.

The hatch/ 1/4 panel fitment seems to be off. Take some pics of the hatch jamb with the hatch open and the weatherstripping pulled up. Make sure to look at both sides of the metal strip where the weatherstripping fits. Typically if the 1/4 panel was replaced you'll see some unpainted spot welds on one side or both.

Used hood hinges shouldn't be hard to find.

 

saturday this saturday the 26th? im not really doing to much, but my sister is visiting either this weekend or next. (im always down to hang out and talk rotaries) ill send you a PM... where in the bay area are you? -heath

 

ill take some more pictures next time im home... im slowly piecing together what happend to this car. i think the cause of the bent floorboards may be linked to some scratches/damage under the car where it looks like someone landed on a curb or something (somehow??). so im wondering if i sholuld just leave it how it is, try to bend it back, or what.

also im sure a replacement pannel was welded in the rear.. ill take some pictures to show what im seeing. before i go painting the car i wanted to get the body as straight as possible (meaning try and realign the messed up body pannels, although im not sure how feesable this is, and how one would even go about that. the whole drivers side is misaligned in multiple places... ill take more pics, and maybe you can tell me a little more of your impressions. thanks, heath

 

When you take more pics, get a little bigger shots, don't get so close up, that helps me see the big picture (no pun intended). Close ups show a tweaked floor pan but not overall chassis straightness.

The floor can be bent up a little and not be a big deal at all. There is a big section that runs right under the bins across the width of the car, if that is bent that is a problem.

1/4 panel skins aren't a big deal either...

 

Also get under the car and look for signs of abrasion/divetting that would match with Jeff's theory of someone using a jack on the floorpan or running over a curb.

I have heard of so many inexperienced drivers losing the rear and hopping over islands - it's usually a result of some "bad ***" trying to rip a left turn through an intersection to impress his friends and instead ***** his pants.

 

It sounds like someone might have run over a cement block similar to the ones used in parking lots. This would explain the underbody dents and damage along with the patched gas tank.