Well what can I say for 12 years she has been my main steady.
I have replaced everything except paint, seats and carpet.
now a tree has stolen her from me 300k miles not a scratch
Not really wanting to fix her need a truck...

 

Dang...Hate 2 see that! Sounds like you prollly got ur $ worth out of her though.

 

Yes, that cars done, too bad. Must have been a pretty big tree.

 

Uhhh.. Ya that's totaled.

 

she's done

 

It's never done! Is it just the roof? or is this just the most noticeable damage? Obviously insurance would say its totaled because they probably consider the value at 2,000 or less prior to damage. A tree fell on it?

 

Totaled. HOWEVER......without seeing anymore pics it would appear you could make it into a full-time custom suicide roof (like a t-top...but w/out the 't').

That would just require cutting out the damaged metal, reworking the A-pillars and what you leave of the top, for added safety you could put a roll-bar in that follows the back of the roof.

Just thinking outside the box, don't know what your budget is but I don't see it as being that expensive to do.

 

you can see that it wont possible to get the door open, the whole body has been bent downwards.

it's over, this bird wont be flying anymore... time to get a camaro

 

Get a sawzall and swap a roof with another donor. Looks like the back window may have survived? Did it?

 

This. The whole car is.folded downwards. Its done.

 

if its only the roof ,not the entire body (maybe the door is not aligned) it can be fixed...but then again everything can be fixed its only a matter of money .

 

Think of it as a gold mine and not a car. Part it out. The parts are worth more than the car whole. E bay is your friend. With the money buy that truck.

 

It can be fixed properly, if you have the time and money. You'll be surprised how easy that roof will push back up/out.

 

This is true. Totaled is just a word used by the insurance company to say it's not worth their time or money to fix.
In 1988? No it's not totaled. In 2058? Someone would fix it. Today? Not so much. It's not worth the probably 8-10k it would cost to have fixed. Sad to say, but I think I hear "Taps" playing in the background.

 

I see cars running around like that all the time in the south, Just jack up the roof and drive it! It looks mean that way!

Sarcasm

Man, that's too bad

 

R.I.P or part it out like another poster suggested, damn that is sad to see, sorry for your great loss,

 

Thanks for the suggestions... actually all the doors open! and the back glass is un-broken.
I was done with motor it has less than 5k on it... +.30 over pistons, roller rockers zz4 cam... she was almost finished I was about to paint her and put in new carpet, headliner and seats(so glad I didnt have all that done)
a list of things I have done to her...
New fuel tank, fuel pump,fuel lines,injectors
New calipers, rotors (slotted and drilled)
New Radiator with extra trans cooler
air intake rotted off so went with aftermarket.
ported the plenum , heads and a custom chip
summit headers and true duels 2.25"
new springs, shocks, tires and pads(high temp ceramic)

Unless I can find a brave body man... I will find a similar bird to throw all my parts onto
Just hate to lose a 1988 Formula 350
I will post more picks.

 

You have to have a vision. Cut the roof off and replace it with a donor roof (you were going to paint it anyway) some body work and your back in business. Just a minor set back. Some bone yard cars are rusted or the chassis is tweaked but the roof is in tack, you could cut it off and get it for a little bit of nothing. You have done a lot to it already and know your car, so why not try to keep it?

 

That would be known as a "Targa Top". (You young kids!)

 

I think it definitly can be saved. All you need is a new roof. Actually a year or two ago, I picked up a t-top roof from a car that was "totaled" so as to repair my roof. They are out there. If the drivers door opens without a snag, then the roof probably caught all the damage. I am no body man, but I would say, save it, way too many get junked.

 

It's totalled.

However, if you want to experiment, I'd find someway to force teh roof back straight on your own and then evaluate how straight the door jambs and hatch and windshield and body panels line up after that. I would imagine the only chance you have to straighten that car back out is to force the roof back up. It's clearly bent... If that straightens everything out enough you may be able to just replace the roof.

But Id consider that car done at this point.

 

Haha, I've been found out!!

Thanks for the info, man, I didn't know that (and now I can use the correct terminology lol)

 

Forget the roof...Turn into a convertible.

 

that's what I was thinking. I have a 94 mustang GT vert that needed a new top. Instead I ripped the top assembly and rear seats out, bolted in a 4 point roll bar and made it a two seated roadster. Stays parked in my garage.

 

Can be fixed with a donor roof. Toughest part of the job will be pulling the entire dash out to remove old A pillars. One suggestion though is that before you buy a different roof have the car measured at a reputable body shop that does frame work, to make darn sure that the car is not bent in the middle. I doubt that is bent but always good to check.

My first post here!

 

Where is ASC when you need them?

 

Damn phone, turn it into a con.......

 

If you look at the picture you can SEE that it's bent. Not a lot, but enough to mess up the door jambs.

 

There is a fellow on this site (Whitegold) who cut the rusted top off of his Camaro and installed a donor top from a T-top car. He did a full restoration on the car and its a multiple first place show winner. The car looks outstanding and top does not leak. It has been finished for several years and he drives it regularly with no issues. Of course he is a professional body man, so he has an advantage over most of us.

Granted your car will need to be pulled and straightened and that will make the job more complicated. As others have stated, anything can be repaired with enough money. The question is if the car is worth the costs to you to have this work done? For me with a high mileage car, with lots of new pieces and parts like yours, I would go the donor car route. Find a straight roller and use as much from your car as possible.

If one of my two low mileage cars are ever damaged in the same manner, I am not sure what decision I will make. Probably pay a good restoration shop like Classic Pontiac Rescue in SC to remove the damaged parts and replace them with good donor parts? Since your car is mostly a driver, if it were mine I would go for the best method to get her, or most of her, back on the road.

 

Hey, is that a 91? Looks like my old 91 I got rid of in 1999. I traded it in in Indianapolis. Yeah I know it's virtually impossible, but it was an interesting thought.......LOL

 

Look up these guys, I am pretty sure they can get a roof for you, cut how you need it to be. (that is if all else fails.)

http://www.frankspontiacparts.com/us...rdtransam3.htm

 

Yeah that's totaled. I'm sure there are a few of us who probably cut it out and repair it depending on the frame and all that jazz.

 

Totaled! Look at the door gaps. From the pic it looks like the front is good, the rear is down. If the door didn't move judging by the gaps, the quarter got pulled into the door. The sail panel is buckled along with the big buckle in front of the wheel well. I'de have to see it but it looks like the factory brazed seam broke loose also. Car is buckled....sorry for your loss.....

 

Sorry for your loss I would buy a good non rusted roller bird and swap everything over. there are plenty of low mile birds out there, it could be a upgrade in a way. But if you decide to part it out I'll take the fuel tank, pump, and lines to help you get some cash flowing for a new ride.

 

If there is a will there is a way. If it was my car, I would cut the roof off, fix the a-pillars and quarter, and some how get a convertible top for it. I firmly believe it is fixable. But that is me and everyones different

 

totally fixable, just the roof!!!! while the motor still works ok, everything else can be fixed!!