Front end rebuild

-
Brandon Moore

Brandon Moore

New Member
Joined
Nov 4, 2020
Messages
4
Reaction score
0
Location
Port saint lucie
I just got in an accident and am in the process of trying to see if it's rebiuldable. As of right now the inner and outer fenders are destroyed and the firewall is pushed in at the passenger corner where mostly was rusted out. It might have a a bent frame rail. Passenger door has no damage to it.

Snapchat-1999791385.jpg


Snapchat-1533862427.jpg
 
YIKES! Thats a shame. I would think it can be saved with all the parts available for it. I will be a matter of cost (Will it be worth it to YOU, is all that really matters) & having any frame rail/structural damage pulled properly. I would fix it but, put the right mirrors on it. :lol:
 
Brandon Moore said:
I just got in an accident and am in the process of trying to see if it's rebiuldable. As of right now the inner and outer fenders are destroyed and the firewall is pushed in at the passenger corner where mostly was rusted out. It might have a a bent frame rail. Passenger door has no damage to it.

View attachment 1716334637

View attachment 1716334638
Click to expand...

Yup!

Its rebuildable.

As stated , the biggest issue is if it is worth it personally to you to spend what it will take to do so.

First stage is to remove all the damaged sheet metal , including the passenger door, front seats and carpet and get a good look at the remaining body structure to identify any hidden damage to floor pans, rocker panels, frame rail and inner cowl sheet metal.

These cars are pretty easy to work on so may not be as bad as you think. Lots of used A-Body parts that are interchangeable around for sale including 4-door sedan which use a lot of the same inner structure parts.

Cheers!!
 
Unless that car has some sort of sentimental value, I'd get another body in better condition and build that. Doesn't make economic sense to build that car. It would be cheaper to buy a car already done.
 
If you have full coverage insurance, you should be golden. If not, how much are the repair costs versus another ride? It looks like you have a lot of value left there for a rebuild or a part out. I know I would be sick if that happened to my car...hope you are OK and best of luck with what you decide! The Professor has a good start on a list there for you!
 
Agreed value insurance, take the check and buy it back for a few grand. Pull the fender off and get it on a frame rack to pull it back and rebuild. Probably with a new frame rail if it was already rusted.

What did you hit...
 
dadsbee said:
Agreed value insurance, take the check and buy it back for a few grand. Pull the fender off and get it on a frame rack to pull it back and rebuild. Probably with a new frame rail if it was already rusted.

What did you hit...
Click to expand...
I was on the highway and something cam loose and pulled me right in a ditch and hit a tree
 
Yeah, it's fixable, but it's gonna be a job. @Oldmanmopar knows a ton about this kinda repair. Maybe he will chime in and give you some tips. If he does, follow them.
 
Just about anything can be "fixed". It's a matter of cost, and whether your emotional attachment to a vehicle overwhelms your common sense.
 
Finding a "shell" at a decent price to rebuild it with can be an expensive proposition in and of itself, and most I've seen (I've been looking for a while for a project of mine) could easily take as much work as your existing car to make them "right"... and if originality is an issue, that also needs to be taken into consideration.
Best (and only, really) way to tell is to get all the damage stripped off and assess what you've got left to work with- then and only then can you compare the project that lies ahead with your skillset and/or pocketbook.
 
Cost is dependent on where you take it. I was doing front clips for $1000 labor . No body straightening , No Paint, No parts. Prepping clip is extra time . Tow it in on an Friday and drive it out on a Monday. Three guys three days.

Now its only 2 old guys. We are much slower then before my son moved to his new shop. . But we made it much easier though with a 108 wheel base fixture. Crane , Fork lift, and two post lift does all the heavy work. Its only a 4 car garage but its organized since the machine shop is moved

Find someone near you that does these cars. A normal body shop cannot do it cheap because they are not set up for a single model/WB car . Measuring for fitment takes more time. With a fixture made for your car? It is set it on, Tie it down and weld,

100_0110 (2).JPG


100_0125.JPG


100_0126 (2).JPG


100_0121.JPG


100_0132 (3).JPG
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
-

Back
Top