Yes thats right. I just rearended someone. Some lady stopped in the middle of a tunnel for no reason, wasnt even any traffic. And i couldnt stop in time. Went right into the back of her and smashed up my whole front end. Its pretty bad. Radiator got pushed in and my windshield cracked a little. Everyone was ok, but of course the lady tells the cop that her kneck hurts, of course. i just want to make sure that my frame is ok and that its fixable. I know a guy that has a part car, that i can take what i want from. Is there somethings that i should check to make sure my car is ok?? Is this job something i can do myself??? The radiator is pushed in and i basically need a whole new front end. Are there things i should look for?? Thanks guys.

Chris

 

If your car is still drivable, drive it through a puddle of water with the steering wheel straight and if the tires don't match up ( Like the lines go kind of crooked) You might have damaged the frame and the insurance company might total your car. Heck you could even push it thru if it's not drivable. Other people might have some more ideas!

 

Good Gosh ....my neck is hurting ....sounds like Louisiana drivers to me !

Well that will teach the dumb bitch to stop in the middle of the freakin tunnel again huh ?

 

I've never done it , don't even know how its done , but I bet you can fix it ! atleast the front part and the radiator , the fenders might be a little harder .

 

SO EASY.
BUT,
Let's get one thing straight first.
You caused the accident.
And NECKS DO HURT!
I was once rear ended by the CLAIMS ADJUSTER FOR HERTZ RENT A CAR CO.
I just had a Bi-Lateral Hernia Opertation, 3 weeks prior to being hit.
This accident didn't help my body, at all!
NOW, the whole nose is removable.
Easy. Fenders front ends, several bolts go top to bottom-10mm
Below, straps to hold front soft nose.
Behind that plastic egg crate grill
Behind that steel beam.
ALL IS REMOVED!
I have on my 1985.
I run nothing between radiator & end of the 85 nose.
Nothing
I **** up, I fukc up.
I use coat hangers (bottom side) to keep tension on the nose piece to hold shape.
This is such an easy job.
I replaced the nose in about couple hours.
Will do it again, too.
I do not like the wrecking yard nose I got.
Gonna swap it.
EASY EASY EASY JOB!
Honest.
Be brave, buy all you can, use a 5 pound hammer and have at it.

 

I am guessing that the police agree with you karl, but IMHO if she stopped in the road in the middle of a tunnel for no reason it should be her fault. But hey, like I said, thats just my opinion.

 

To save you some money also , if the parts car you might get does not have a radiator , go to the boneyard and find one ! I bought one , almost like new for $50 ! Karl got one for $35 ...Its a cakewalk to put in ! I kinda had fun with it ! Just make sure you check it out good before you get it , look on the inside and see how dirty it is . And of course dont forget to look for rust .

 

Seriously I agree with you Crazy. But the way most cops look at it, if you rearend someone, it's your fault. If that lady came to a complete stop you should be traveling a far enough distance behind that you can stop in case she decides to do that. I think the lady should be beat with a pole for doing that. There have been PLENTY of times here in Tucson where people just stop or do stupid crap for no reason and I have avoided it all. (Knock on wood) Did you know Tucson is in the top 10 cities in the U.S for the worst drivers? I think we're number 3 or 4. See the cops tell you that you should travel a safe distance from the person in front of you but nobody EVER does. Especially in Cali! Good luck with your car 88maro. If you have questions just post away. Eric

 

Down here , you can get ticketed for slamming on the breaks . In most states , your at fault . I hate to tell you that bud . But here in Louisiana you would both be at fault .Thats why I travel a safe distance b/c some people slam on the breaks for no apparent reason did you ask her why she stopped ? atleast you weren't hurt though bro !

know what really takes the cake ? Is when a person is merging on the interstate and they're suppose to yield , and instead , they come to a complete stop ! and there is no traffic in that lane on the interstate !

 

'88, sorry to hear about the accident. Glad everyone's alive & still moving. Hopefully the cop (or judge) will decide in your favor. If not, hey, that's what insurance is for!

But since everyone's okay, cars can always be fixed, so: Radiator supports can be straightened on a frame machine... how fast did you hit her? If your windshield cracked, you might've done the same kind of "hit" that I did.

I should try to get my "crash" pics up this weekend; then you'll see that anything's fixable. A $250 parts car donated it's front clip (including front subframe) to my car. And dammit, I wish I took the 1/4 panel off that parts car... I need one soon.

 

Thanks for all the replies guys. Yes i do know that it is my fault for this accident. But i mean who stops in a tunnel in the left lane for no reason?? The cop was really cool when i talked to him, i still got the following too close ticket because he said she reported injury, but if she didnt then i wouldnt have, he said. I dont really know how fast i was going. I wasnt speeding, just moving with traffic. And i really wasnt following too close either. I dont even think that my brakes slowed my car down when i stepped on them, i skid pretty far. A lesson to be learned though, when you think you need new brakes get them done ASAP, dont set up an appointment to have them done next week, have them done next day. I'm sure if i had my brakes done i would have been able to stop. But i guess they were worse then i thought. So you think this is an easy job for me? I put in an engine last summer with the help of someone that knew what they were doing. And i think that i can do this, but i just dont know if there is more than it looks. thanks for the help guys.

Chris

 

That sucks.I was in a simialar accident only not nearly as bad and it was my fault cuz i got distracted.The nose of my car got smashed in but that was easy to fix cuz there made of rubber, it just needs painted now and i have to get a new hood it would'v been fixable but i was driving down the road after it happened with a bungee chord holding it shut and it came undone and the hood flew up!!! It was straight out of that movie tommy boy. I'm hopi'n to get all that fixed soon though....Andy

 

The only way you'll find out if it's more than just looks is to start taking panels off... the radiator cover would be the first one I'd pull.

Welcome to the board, Andy!

 

do you have an auto or stick? in a stick if you leave it in high gear and do not use the clutch you will stop much quicker, this works great in the snow. cause your front tires do not lock and you can still steer, just the rear end drags.

 

I have gotten very sarcastic about people like that lately. I purchased 3-dollars worth of boat letters and on my front window of my firebird I wrote “THIS IS CALLED DRAFTING”.

 

Even if you buy a $1.00 swap meet ratchet set, you can fix this car of yours.
It sucks, as I've done my share of rear enders, & I'm being honest, too.
Get hood open/off car (two 10mm bolts perside, unbolt at FENDER, not hood).
Then stick your neck into the front.
Inner fender, again is a stack of 4-6 10mm bolts, too.
Follows fender contour.
It is truly easy to remove the panels on these cars.
SAVE ALL OF THE STUFF you toss out.
Wrecking yards take them as "cores" for scrap metal.
I've swapped everything, from wecking yard cars.
It's truly easy.
Time consuming, but easy.
Bolts are all 10mm deep socket, a few stray 13mm.
COUNT the SHIMS, save mark them, before you toss aside, from removal of old fender.