This is topic Is it real expensive to fix minor frame damage, got pics! in forum Tech Talk at Northern California Ford Owners  .


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Posted by SleeperVert50 (Member # 2742) on :
 
Got into a accident about a month ago. And im pretty much ready to fix it up. I got minor frame damage to the front. Can you guys give your opioion on how expensive it would be to fix this. Any opioions are helpful!Heres a couple links to the pics.

Pic #1
http://images.cardomain.com/member_img_a/332000-332999/332990_18_full.gif

Pic #2
http://images.cardomain.com/member_img_a/332000-332999/332990_19_full.gif

Cardomain site with all pics
http://www.cardomain.com/member_pages/view_page.pl?page_id=332990
 
Posted by Blown Mystic (Member # 476) on :
 
just call up a frame shop
 
Posted by BOUNTY HUNTER VERT (Member # 2754) on :
 
if you can fix the front inner sheetmetal with a hammer and dolly aka no welding in new parts and the frame isnt bent i would guess about 1k to fix without paint using new parts. You could get that down to 350 with used parts. I just saw a complete lx front clip fenders lights front bumper and hood for 300 on stangnet.com. also does the car still drive straight or is it tweaked.
 
Posted by SleeperVert50 (Member # 2742) on :
 
I dont even know if its tweaked. I found somewhere close where I can get the hood, fender, and bumper for 400. So now im worried about the frame. One of my friends told me 500 and up to fix that and I almost puked! So u suggest hammering it out?
 
Posted by SleeperVert50 (Member # 2742) on :
 
Where did u see that on stangnet, I cant find it. Can u link me
 
Posted by hidnn.o.s. (Member # 1219) on :
 
I can get you a bumper cover with light support and lights, passenger side fender and a hood for $300
 
Posted by SleeperVert50 (Member # 2742) on :
 
lets do it, serious
 
Posted by SleeperVert50 (Member # 2742) on :
 
u dont got drivers side fender? and this is for 87-93 right?
 
Posted by hidnn.o.s. (Member # 1219) on :
 
$350 with both fenders. Yes, fox body years. From the pics I didn't think you needed a passenger side fender. Sorry

[ May 08, 2003, 04:23 PM: Message edited by: hidnn.o.s. ]
 
Posted by SleeperVert50 (Member # 2742) on :
 
no I need drivers side fender, hood, lx bumper, lights and light support
 
Posted by hidnn.o.s. (Member # 1219) on :
 
$300 for all you listed
 
Posted by SleeperVert50 (Member # 2742) on :
 
I should have the money by monday, is there anyone else looking to buy those things from you? And whats your opioion on the frame damage? Will it cost a ton of money to fix? Would it be farely cheap? Or can I do it myself? Also do you have any pics of the items? Sorry for all the Q's
 
Posted by BOUNTY HUNTER VERT (Member # 2754) on :
 
yea if the car drives straight still just bang out the sheetmetal to allign with the fenders and your good to go. I did this on my old 90 gt and it was fine.
 
Posted by SleeperVert50 (Member # 2742) on :
 
Bounty hunter vert u just made me feel a whole lot better about this, someone was telling me that it would cost a whole lot of money to fix. Andbody got any ideas?
 
Posted by SleeperVert50 (Member # 2742) on :
 
So its safe to say I can knock it back into being straight?
 
Posted by MR GO FAST (Member # 2088) on :
 
Did you run over anything?
 
Posted by BOUNTY HUNTER VERT (Member # 2754) on :
 
as long as the car drives fine just massage the inner fender wells and the radiator support back into shape and you will be good to go.
 
Posted by BOUNTY HUNTER VERT (Member # 2754) on :
 
as long as the car drives fine just massage the inner fender wells and the radiator support back into shape and you will be good to go.
 
Posted by jay-vee (Member # 2708) on :
 
it looks like the left frame rail is down, pushed back, and swung to the left.the right rail probably swung to the left with it, check the right door to fender gap, its probably wide. you could change the sheet metal but i doubt that you would be able to line it up properly, and the subframe most likely moved with the frame, so your alignment would be off, and the tires would wear quickly or the car would pull left. you could probably drive the car like this, but i would suggest that you have the frame squared.
 
Posted by jay-vee (Member # 2708) on :
 
by the way bay area shops charge around $70/hr for frame. you have 1.5 hours to set up and measure your car, 3.0 hours to repair the left rail and about 1.0 hour for the right rail. this is just what i see from your pictures it may not be as bad in person, but there may be more hidden damage so the labor times could go either way.
 
Posted by SleeperVert50 (Member # 2742) on :
 
DAMN!
 
Posted by SleeperVert50 (Member # 2742) on :
 
Anyone know a shop in the berkeley, oakland, richmond area where I can get it worked on for cheap? Anyone got any friends?
 
Posted by jay-vee (Member # 2708) on :
 
sorry to piss on your parade
 
Posted by 91sleeper (Member # 779) on :
 
Cheap labor rates equal shitty work, you get what you pay for.

And I don't reccomend you driving with a tweaked frame either. Just think if you rear ended someone or your ran head on with a wall. Do you know how easy that frame would fold and give?

Foxes are so cheap now a days I don't see why you just don't get another one.
 
Posted by SleeperVert50 (Member # 2742) on :
 
wouldnt it be cheaper to fix mines than get another one. Yea I can swap over all my parts, interior, engine, tranny and all but id still have to get a paint job. Thats expensive.
 
Posted by 91sleeper (Member # 779) on :
 
I wouldn't drive a mustang or any car for that matter which had a bent frame and was re-straightened. Any metal that has been bent out of its orignal shape and then re-bent back will not be strong. It might look good if its fixed but I wish the best to you if you ever happen to crash it again.
 
Posted by jay-vee (Member # 2708) on :
 
frame rails can be straightened, with all of the structural integrity it had from the factory. if this could not be done safely insurance companies would not allow frames to be straightened, and they would total out every honda that got into an accident. frame rails on uni-body cars are designed to bend, twist, and crush to absorb the energy of an impact to keep the occupants of the vehicle safe in an accident. if it were not possible to safely repair these vehicles insurance companies would lose there asses totaling out every car with minor frame damage. auto body shops make money on repairs, but they have to guarantee that your car was repaired safely and within factory specs. any and all reputable body shops have several thousands of dollars invested in frame straightening, and measuring equipment this would all be a waste of money if cars with frame damage were not safely repairable.
 
Posted by hidnn.o.s. (Member # 1219) on :
 
Your frame ABSOLUTELY "CAN" be fixed to factory specs. To save money take off the WHOLE front clip (fenderS, hood, bumper cover and radiator). This will save you at least an hour of labor, probably 2. It will be less expensive than you think. Doesn't look that bad. I have had 5 cars taken to the local frame shop in Santa Rosa and none of them have been more than $400 tops. 3 of them were far worse than yours.
 
Posted by 91sleeper (Member # 779) on :
 
Never said it couldnt be done but it defnatley will not be as safe as it was, just letting you know the risks.
 
Posted by jay-vee (Member # 2708) on :
 
properly repaired a straightened rail would be just as safe as, and react just as a factory rail would.
 
Posted by hidnn.o.s. (Member # 1219) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by jay-vee:
properly repaired a straightened rail would be just as safe as, and react just as a factory rail would.
Ditto
 
Posted by SleeperVert50 (Member # 2742) on :
 
so if i take off the fenders, hood, bumper, and radiator it will save me alot of money. And I can get the frame fixed fairly cheap?
 
Posted by 91sleeper (Member # 779) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by SleeperVert50:
so if i take off the fenders, hood, bumper, and radiator it will save me alot of money. And I can get the frame fixed fairly cheap?
You would save a lot money because it would be a lot less work for them to do.
 
Posted by 91sleeper (Member # 779) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by hidnn.o.s.:
quote:
Originally posted by jay-vee:
properly repaired a straightened rail would be just as safe as, and react just as a factory rail would.
Ditto
We will just leave it at that theres no need to argue over the internet about it. [Embarrassed]
 
Posted by SleeperVert50 (Member # 2742) on :
 
can anyone suggest a good place to do frame work in oakland or richmond?
 




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