Proper way to repair a kinked front frame rail
#1
Proper way to repair a kinked front frame rail
Hi guys,
It's not a thread I'm really proud of but well... I need your help on this one.
I smashed my FD on the track. Yes another newb on the track... I know...
Now I'm in the process of repairing it, obviously on my own. The driver's front frame rail is kinked pretty bad around the wheels. I'd like to know the proper way to repair it.
As I don't think that unbending the frame rail will be enough, I was planning to replace the whole frame rail. But here in Canada, regulations permit to cut the frame rail up to the wheels and weld another good piece of frame rail. Which one is the proper way to repair a frame rail?
My plan is to document the whole repair process so if someday I sell the car potential buyers will be aware of the accident.
I'm not going to cut any corner on this.
turbojeff already gave me precious help as he already repaired a few FDs before. His input is important to me but I'd like more opinions.
So guys what is the proper way to repair a kinked front frame rail? Replace or repair (cut & weld).
<span style="color:red;font-weight:bold;">I'm looking for inputs from people that know what they are talking about, people that do this for living.</span>
Thanks.
It's not a thread I'm really proud of but well... I need your help on this one.
I smashed my FD on the track. Yes another newb on the track... I know...
Now I'm in the process of repairing it, obviously on my own. The driver's front frame rail is kinked pretty bad around the wheels. I'd like to know the proper way to repair it.
As I don't think that unbending the frame rail will be enough, I was planning to replace the whole frame rail. But here in Canada, regulations permit to cut the frame rail up to the wheels and weld another good piece of frame rail. Which one is the proper way to repair a frame rail?
My plan is to document the whole repair process so if someday I sell the car potential buyers will be aware of the accident.
I'm not going to cut any corner on this.
turbojeff already gave me precious help as he already repaired a few FDs before. His input is important to me but I'd like more opinions.
So guys what is the proper way to repair a kinked front frame rail? Replace or repair (cut & weld).
<span style="color:red;font-weight:bold;">I'm looking for inputs from people that know what they are talking about, people that do this for living.</span>
Thanks.
#2
RX-7 Bad Ass
iTrader: (55)
You probably need to get some pics up so we can see how bad it is.
You'll want to find a good body shop to work with, I'm assuming you're not going to be doing the cutting and welding yourself. There are a lot of things you can do to minimize labor costs, like stripping the engine bay to make room to work.
A good body shop will put the car on an alignment table and get everything dead level and accurate. Some of it can sometimes be pulled and pushed back into place, some needs new metal. It depends on the damage.
I would talk to a number of body shops in town, bring lots of pictures with you, get their input and how they would tackle the problem. Find a shop that does good work and that you're comfortable with. Also, find out how much you can do yourself to save them time and labor.
Dale
You'll want to find a good body shop to work with, I'm assuming you're not going to be doing the cutting and welding yourself. There are a lot of things you can do to minimize labor costs, like stripping the engine bay to make room to work.
A good body shop will put the car on an alignment table and get everything dead level and accurate. Some of it can sometimes be pulled and pushed back into place, some needs new metal. It depends on the damage.
I would talk to a number of body shops in town, bring lots of pictures with you, get their input and how they would tackle the problem. Find a shop that does good work and that you're comfortable with. Also, find out how much you can do yourself to save them time and labor.
Dale
#3
Urban Combat Vet
iTrader: (16)
I grew up working in a family-owned collision shop in high school and college. I still have a lot of the tools and now have a small personal workshop of my own away from the house. I can and still do my own minor collision and sheet metal repair. But if it's damaged at or behind the suspension it's almost certainly NOT something I'd attempt. I recommend a trusted shop.
Last edited by Sgtblue; 10-03-15 at 01:21 PM.
#5
BRAP PSHHH
iTrader: (2)
Pics would be a super help .
If you plan on straightening the frame without body parts, this will be kinda tricky. You need to gather all of you body parts and use them to help gauge how much more to pull, etc. Hitting a frame rail on the fd certainly means you have bent the rad support, which causes the two ends of the rad support (Where the headlights are assembled) to bend inwards.
I've done a few FD frame rails and even an FD rail just a month ago and know the difficulties and the easy parts as well. You need to get all the body parts and continuously check and recheck over and over. Good luck and I hope everything goes well!
If you plan on straightening the frame without body parts, this will be kinda tricky. You need to gather all of you body parts and use them to help gauge how much more to pull, etc. Hitting a frame rail on the fd certainly means you have bent the rad support, which causes the two ends of the rad support (Where the headlights are assembled) to bend inwards.
I've done a few FD frame rails and even an FD rail just a month ago and know the difficulties and the easy parts as well. You need to get all the body parts and continuously check and recheck over and over. Good luck and I hope everything goes well!
#6
Rotary Motoring
iTrader: (9)
Last time I checked with Mazda the front frame rails were the only body parts NOT available for the FD...
I would let a bodyshop that has lots of experience with this give it a try. Maybe a body shop near a track where this kind of damage is fairly common.
Worst case scenario you will want to add some reinforcement to the repair once it is done. You can take the opportunity to give the FD a cage with bars through the firewall to the front suspension.
That way you are all set back on the track if something worse happens!
-----------
Another alternative is to find a rear-ended or T-boned FD and buy that and have the shop take the front clip off on the factory spot welds and put a other one on.
This will probably cost too much in labor if you have to pay someone to do it- its best as a DIY project because it is so time intensive.
------------
Since you are in Canada I would probably just pick up another cheap FD and swap my good stuff over. You can probably find a 'roller' for 5k right? Repairing my FD with light front end damage was $10K...
Next time I will probably take a trip to Canada!
I would let a bodyshop that has lots of experience with this give it a try. Maybe a body shop near a track where this kind of damage is fairly common.
Worst case scenario you will want to add some reinforcement to the repair once it is done. You can take the opportunity to give the FD a cage with bars through the firewall to the front suspension.
That way you are all set back on the track if something worse happens!
-----------
Another alternative is to find a rear-ended or T-boned FD and buy that and have the shop take the front clip off on the factory spot welds and put a other one on.
This will probably cost too much in labor if you have to pay someone to do it- its best as a DIY project because it is so time intensive.
------------
Since you are in Canada I would probably just pick up another cheap FD and swap my good stuff over. You can probably find a 'roller' for 5k right? Repairing my FD with light front end damage was $10K...
Next time I will probably take a trip to Canada!
#7
Thanks guys.
I already bought a jdm front clip. It's stripped. Frame rails seems to be the same and P/N are the same. So I have all body parts for the repair. I just don't which way is the good way? Cut or replace?
LHD are pretty hard to find in Canada. RHD are much easier to find but I don't want a RHD.
I attached a pic of the ugliest part. I'll try to get more from the other side.
I already bought a jdm front clip. It's stripped. Frame rails seems to be the same and P/N are the same. So I have all body parts for the repair. I just don't which way is the good way? Cut or replace?
LHD are pretty hard to find in Canada. RHD are much easier to find but I don't want a RHD.
I attached a pic of the ugliest part. I'll try to get more from the other side.
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#8
Rotary Motoring
iTrader: (9)
Do not saw anything!
Get a spot weld removing drill bit and take out the factory spot welds.
Practice on the bent car first, you can practice on any of the sheet metal first and then do the box frame extensions to floor pan once you have the knack for it.
If you cut with a saw and try to weld together you will have an unsafe weak end product.
Get a spot weld removing drill bit and take out the factory spot welds.
Practice on the bent car first, you can practice on any of the sheet metal first and then do the box frame extensions to floor pan once you have the knack for it.
If you cut with a saw and try to weld together you will have an unsafe weak end product.
#9
Do not saw anything!
Get a spot weld removing drill bit and take out the factory spot welds.
Practice on the bent car first, you can practice on any of the sheet metal first and then do the box frame extensions to floor pan once you have the knack for it.
If you cut with a saw and try to weld together you will have an unsafe weak end product.
Get a spot weld removing drill bit and take out the factory spot welds.
Practice on the bent car first, you can practice on any of the sheet metal first and then do the box frame extensions to floor pan once you have the knack for it.
If you cut with a saw and try to weld together you will have an unsafe weak end product.
#12
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just pull it out, we've done this at the track before....
the latest one, Justin crashed in turn 6, and he was crying so much we told him to change his diaper and just pull the thing straight. he did, and then beat us in TTE.
this is the first one we did, car set its fastest lap like this
the latest one, Justin crashed in turn 6, and he was crying so much we told him to change his diaper and just pull the thing straight. he did, and then beat us in TTE.
this is the first one we did, car set its fastest lap like this
#15
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