So this morning my buddy totaled my camaro. 1989 RS with 350 swap, ttops. Very good condition prior. Looking for good sheet metal sources for a better estimate of repair to see if it will be worth it. Cab seems straignt with only the front end being swayed and crushed. Initial estimate is 6k. Guy walked away unscathed.

 

not to be a negative nancy but i own a body shop and i couldn't justify fixing that I'm sorry for your loss she was a really nice car .

 

Agree, sorry bud but id find a roller. Oh, and kill your friend. I will let no one drive my car.


(edit) if you look at where the top right of the drivers door where it meets the car/rear quarter panel, when the door is shut, is there a ding in the rear quarter.. that make sense...?? Im just trying to see how far the shock went back..

 

My Number One Rule,Never Let Anyone Drive Your Car ,Buddy Or Not.

 

I am a collision repair tech myself, and on the way to work he called me and told me the news. I know the car is totaled - by any estimate. But I may just fix it anyway. Why you ask? Sentimental value is a hell of a drug. I know it was my fault as much as anyone - a hard lesson learned.

Now about the damage.... No there is no kink in the quarter, rear seems to measure well cross corners. Doors hang only as much as before, maybe slightly more on the right side. Strut mount on left side seems to be in, but not back. Nose is definitely pushed right.

Now being said that i know my repair techniques, I will not know the full picture until i can get it tore down and see how DEEP it truly goes. Initial looks were optimistic (well as optimistic as can be in this situation) but i know from past experience trees don't move.

So being as i normally work on newer cars with high strength steel seemingly put everywhere and simple pulls being relatively hard, I ask the more experienced techs who may have worked on these cars in the past, How hard do you think it would be to pull it square again?

 

Sorry for what happened whoever you are! We all share the same emotions when we see another 3rdGen going down... It's very sad. Maybe you could harvest the organs and save the life of other 3rdGens out there.


Peace

 

I'm a exbody tech it's not really that bad at all rip all the sheetmetal off up front take it to a body shop have it pulled out on a frame machine to get ur frame rails stright.the cheaper way would to get a doner car and ur gonna have to cut the top frame were the fenders bolt in front of the shock tower and the front core support and do the same to the wrecked one and reweld it. with out paint you might be around 2k

 

Welcome to the board Nancy. Look around a bit, folks on here can justify much more than this. It's about the love, not money.

 

Oh, Belle, sorry about your ride.

 

Sorry.

Number one rule : NEVER.

I had to buy my own car. If a friend wants to drive it, tell them to buy their own also.

 

I would pull the sheet metal off and see how the front end pulls back on the frame machine. If the rails and strut towers can be pulled back to spec, it may just be worth fixing, especially if you do body work and can do the labor yourself.

 

So, is he still your buddy or is he now an indentured servant?

Hope you can fix it if that's your plan, if not then that's a heck of a loss.

 

What L0tus said makes a lot of sense. If you go through the repair be sure to keep us posted. I have to admit, I would definitely attempt it.

 

x2 ^^^^^

 

any updates bud?