I was in a 25mph t-bone collision that smacked up my front end, the body shop says that all the frame damage was in front of the front suspension points. By looking at the gap between the headlights and the radiator support it looks like it's tweaked toward the passenger side about an inch. Given that I need to spend as little as possible, would it be better to strip it down, tow it to the body shop and have them straighten it or would it be better to aquire a good front clip (I have a line on one) and cut/weld the new front on (all in front of the front suspension by about 4-6 inches.).
Thanx!

 

Have them pull it, replacing the front clip is far from trivial. Sounds like your car can be straightened.

Any pics with the IC, battery, radiator and front bumper off?

 

I just went and talked to the body shop, they said it would be $700 or so to straighten it and recommended against the clip.
I do have pics, but I don't have the ones with stuff removed on this computer.
Here are the ones with the stuff still on.
http://www.nopro.com/~fdparts/gallery/fd3s_damage

 

I wouldn't think you would want to do a clip on that car. It'll cost you thousands, the "sway" on the front end isn't that bad.

 

looks like it can be straightened. 700 seems a little hight but your in ca where bodyshops charge 60+/hr compared to 36 out here. either way it will be much cheaper than welding on a new front unless you can weld yourself and do all the R&R. Want to sell the fiske to cover some of the cost of repair? Mike

 

Yep they charge $60/h. I was going to cut and weld it myself. I love my wheels!

 

If you cut and weld it yourself that is the end of your car. You have no frame machine and no way to measure the car to see if you got it on straight. You shouldn't even contimplate doing it yourself.

Buy the replacement parts (hood, fenders, etc) in GOOD condition. Strip the car down in front and take it to them. They will put it on a frame rack, pull it straight, measure it and then have them test fit ALL of the exterior parts.

The front end of a FD is difficult to get all of the tight fitting body parts to line up right.

 

the car will need an inital pull to straighen everything out, then you pretty much cut off and weld (most people will tack weld a few spots and take a measurement in this spot), take your final measurements and pull if needed. Just straiten it though. it will still be cheaper and just as good in the end.

Hey jeff do you want to sell your Fikse?

 

I think the shop is right, from the looks of it your no where near needing front clip. You didn't indicate what was included in the $700 quote, but actually that doesn't sound too bad for labor in my area. Flat rate is usually varies regionally depending on what the insurance companies will allow. I would also think that it's preferable if shop has their own uni-body machine. It generally means they're experienced and saves you from dealing with someone else if it's not right.

 

Thank you guys. The shop has thier own machine and is highly regarded in these here parts. I'll just forget about the clip and strip it down and have the shop straigten it and I'll make sure I have all the body parts by then.

 

did they recomend you strip it down? its not realy required, couldnt hurt though especialy if they are painting it. Mike

 

They didn't say, I assumed it would be cheaper that way. I'm not going to have them paint it since I'll buy used black fenders, hood and bumper.