here is an update on my car after it has been stripped down from taking all the fenders off. Has anyone fixed anything like this. I know alot of people will say u would be crazy to fix that car but it has alot of value to many and i would hate to see a 90 vert get junked, with exception of keeping all the parts that are good.

 

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last one

 

Wow....that's no fun....
It will take a lot of work, but an experienced body shop can put a new front sub-structure on that car. You are just luck you live in CA..... there are TONNNNNNNNS of places in CA that would love to work on it for you. I have a simple rocker panel replacement I need redone on my '92 and everybody around here is freaking out cause it is a unibody car.......

 

If it wasn't a vert I'd say you are crazy. That is going to be very expensive, I was quoted $500 for a tiny ripple on one side of my car.

 

ive fixed accident damage like that before. you gonna have to do a pull on the drivers side first to kinda straighten stuff out a lil get things a lil more back into line. hows the door to quarter gap on the driver side compaired to the pass side? also how do the windows seal? after its pulled your gonna need to start cuttin stuff. id prolly end up replacin the driver side rail cause its awful bent and would take an awful lot of time to straighten. if gm doesnt still sell the rail your next best bet id a junk yard or parts car. to remove the rail drill out the spot welds on the firewall and hinge pillar where they are joined. you also gonna have to replace the radiator support. again drill out the spot welds holding that on. i believe gm still stocks our rad supports. once thats all done your going to have to starighten some sheet metal that may have gotten bent in the accident. and then you pretty much just have to weld on the new parts. mind you there are very important measurments that need to be done from side to side to make sure its all square. this is something a compitent body shop should attemp. when you do the initial pre pull on the car id recommend its done on at least a two tower frame machine. i didnt go into very much detail here because i dont want to bore everyone with a crazy long post. if you have any questions about repairing any of it PM me and ill help you out as best i can.
matt

 

been there done that. My car was in similar shap (bent frame) and is back to full strength now. I say fix it - the car is rare enough and you seem to enjoy it. Goto my cardomain for some pics of what mine looked like.

Expect a couple grand in frame machine work though. I believe it costs on average 300 bucks an hour.

 

3.1Eyecandy. What color is your car?

 

3.1 candy what did u have to spend to fix your car? I just got a quote and they said 15 thousand i am not to sure about that is so expensive. thats including paint, suspension, new radiator, new transmission cooler,and body panels is that a rip off?

 

Frame time in oklahoma is $50 - $70/hr. -- the body shop charges a different rate for body work, frame time, mechanical, & paint. They may all be the same rate, or they could all be different.

As far as repairs.. I'd fix it.. ANY reputable repair facility can fix that car easily. As was said earlier, you will need either a front clip or at the very least the front inner structure for the left side.

Can't wait to see you back up and running in that car!

 

Um, you can get a fully built 3rd gen convertible in absolutely immaculate condition and afford gas for a few years with $15K.

 

i charge 55 an hour for frame and mechanical. sounds like its expensive out your way.
matt

 

I paid - not enough. Frame work was done right (I hope), but the paint had to be redone. For what you're looking at I would expect 5 grand - that's frame job, used/new parts, and a decent paint job (not fantastic but decent). Better paint is more money.

The color of my car is Flame Red Metallic - a 1987 paint color. I think it's got a little more "pop" to it than most though

 

Same as mine! I have grown to really like this colour, especially on a sunny day when it just seems to turn all sorts of shades of deep red. My paint was made by Sikkens, which my body guy says is better than anyone else's.

 

hey 430sut, sound like you do body work. I had my hood fly up and when it came down the hood struts slamed the 1/4 panels real hard. they left DEEP dents and now my doors scrape on the bottom of the fenders. the hinges were screwed so i ordered new ones and banged the hood back best i could. (had wings where the hood meets window) i had a hella time lining up the hinge holes w/ the and then aligning the hood. i have since installed hood pins then shortly after that i get rear ended! AGHHH. It wasn't real bad, but she just hasn't felt the same since now after that way too long history (sorry) my question is about body shops. I went to one and the guy spent 30 min telling me there was nothing structrally wrong then 20 min filling out a way over priced est. that included a uni-body allignment!
What should i look for to find a compitent body shop. any advice or thoughts would be welcome. thanx

 

burnieslo- your right i do colision repair, and there are some shops that you have to watch out for cause they will try to take advantage of you. as far as a unibody realignment, sounds like bs to me unless hes talkin about puttin it on a frame machine. but if your being told theres no actual structural damage then the car goin for a ride on the frame machine isnt nessesary. if youd like, send me some pics of the damage and ill give ya my opinion if what it needs done. as far as finding a good shop, talk to people you kno who have had work done. ask them who they used and how they liked the work. also what ever shop u do choose to use ask them for references and if you can see some of their work. take a look around their shop, you should be able to get a good idea of their quality by the cars you see in progress. if you have any more questions email me at camaro430sut@yahoo.com ill try to help you out as best i can.
matt

 

Looks good!