I got into a accident. Rear-ended. I think the car is totaled due to the lack of cash. But, if i can save it i will. What damage should I look for besides the cosmetics, What areas should I look at that could tell me whether the car could be saved.

thanks,

Matt

The story on the accident is on this post: https://www.thirdgen.org/techbb2/sho...hreadid=211662

almost same thing happened to a friend of mine, he got hit by a lower car. Here was his damage

besides the obvious, Qtr panel, hatch, tail lights, bumper, plastic interior parts. blah blah

It busted.. Rear End, Gas Tank, The driveshaft pushed into the tranny and busted it.

He bought it back because of the engine, and found a new car to drop it into. Guess you will have to decide for urself

Yea, well i drove it to school from the accident. About 20-30 miles. I never got above 40 though. So i dont think there is tranny or rear-end problems. Alighnment is off though, the front-end was knocked off. I hope the rear isnt knocked off too. Frame damage is a good possoblity I think.

How can I tell if the axle/rearend is off or the frame is off?

Thanks,

Matt

Well I looked at the car today. It looks like the the taillights and hatch took most of the impact. The top of the bumper is smashed down a little. I dont think there is much frame damage, if any. the driver 1/4 panel is bent out a little where the panel meets the tail lights though. The hatch definitly wont open, the lock mechanism is bent up think. The back trunk wall(where the tail lights mount) is definitly bent up. Can that be fixed? How would it be fixed?

Thanks,

Matt

any pics??

No pics right now, I dont have a digital camera. My buddy does but he lives near my home and I can't drive the car. I'll try to find one and I'll post pics if i can.

Matt

being a unibody.If the Qtr panel is bent.The frame is probably off.Since the body panels are welded to the frame.If the frame moves the Qtr panel will too.The opposite is not as likely though.if the frame is corrected.Most of the the Qtr panel should pop back as well.

How would I go about bending the back of the trunk? I'm talking about the area where the tail lights mount. How could that be fixed?

Thanks,

Matt

A good 2x4 about 6in or so W/a good 5lbs sledge hammer.Shoul do the trick.Dont hit the sheet metal with the hammer.use the 2x4 between the hammer/panel.Eyeball the damage & place the 2x4 where the panel is pushed in & buckled outward aswell.I did this on a friends camaro.Worked really good.Afterward if the panel is oil canning.You can heat a small spot about the size of a quarter where it pops in/out.Apply a cold wet cloth right after you heat the metal to shrink it.This will tighten up the panel a bit

Thanks man!

Matt

Well I'm screwed. Insurance says they can't help. I'm gonna look into fixen it, but it don't look good.

Matt

If your car still runs and drives it is not totaled. If your 1/4 panels are bent you might as well look for another straight car unless yours is collectable or A++. Your rear subframe may be bent if the 1/4s were affected. This means your rear axle will be crooked unless you get checked out on a frame machine. I think full GM 1/4s are around $380 each, thats your cost before markup and professional install. Cheapest ******* method is bondo for small areas, or hack out parts of a used 1/4 w/ cutting torch. Here are pics of my first car, I would say it was in A+ condition before the wreck but it was a lost cause, bent both 1/4s from drivers side collision and ripped the control arms from the frame. Please give a moment of silence while i mourn....

pic # 2

Ouch!!

I am definitly gonna get the frame checked out professionally. I want to try to save it just for the simple fact that I can't afford another car and I can get all or most of the parts for free or cheap.

The 1/4 isnt damaged badly, only very slight bending, like the lip is bent slightly. I'll need to get pics.

And it drove fine it seemed. Except steering was off, but that it is due to that my front wheels are no longer alighned, the wheels were turned when i was hit and the camber on both wheels are off, the toe in on the passenger side is way off. When the steering wheel is straight my driver wheel is straight but my passenger is angled to to the left. It wandered when driving it back from the accident. I had to hold the wheel upside down in order to drive somewhat straight. i'm thinking the tie rods are off bad.

Also, the bumper did not take the direct hit. The taillights took the hit. If that makes a difference.

Thanks for the replies and advice,

Matt

My 84 was solid... no rot anywhere! (would hate to see my 88 get rear ended )

I got hit by a Corsica doing 30; I was stopped... behind a SCHOOL BUS letting kids off.

Her car was totally trashed, mine didn't look all that bad, but it was. My doors were sticky, the hatch leaked, something was loose when I braked or accelerated... it was a lost cause. I had just finished putting a rebuilt 350 in with all Edelbrock stuff, a new T5, a new rear end, and a whole new black interior.

The problem was, the car didn't really look that bad. I would hate to know how much damage a car has if you can tell from looking at it that it was in an accident!

This pic is before (shot the week I got it, check out that awesome system! And the brown vinyl interior )

This is after. You can see the driver's 1/4 was a little crumpled.

I wish my cars damage looked like that.

No pics yet, I cant get a camera, no one seems to have one.

The frame rails are directly behind the bumper, correct?

I need to check the frame, if the frame is good then fixin it is almost definite!

What should I look for frame-wise? What visible signs should i look for?

Thanks,

Matt