Good site for fixing collision damage

DJHA90 · Feb 22, 2008

After all this time of trying to get my car running (it WAS the distributor) My son rear ended a car while driving it. (Stupid me for letting him when I only had liability coverage).

To make a long story short -- is there a site that talks about repairing 95 mustang damage? He took out the radiator, fan, radiator support, all the plastic that holds the lights in, and everything in between, No damage to wheels, fenders, and apparently none to engine. Radiator support looks like it got pushed in about 5 inches in the middle. Looks like it is all welded to other pieces. Can it be easily replaced from a junk yard -- or will it require welding?

Send me off in the right direction please

earleys94gt · Feb 22, 2008

Sounds like you are talking about the core support.

That will need to be cut out, which may require removing the fenders, and a new one welded in. Atleast 10 hours of labor at a shop.

If only the middle is bent, you may be able to get a "power puller" or somethingof the like to bend it back. However, if it is badly damaged a new one would be the smart way to go.

autumn_again · Feb 22, 2008

a cheap way to do it =

slide hammer and pull it out.

but the right way would be to cut out the old one and replace it.

i helped my friend louis with his, it wasn't bad, but it wasn't too fun.

cut out the old one, made sure everything was straight, and welded the new one in, grinded the welds down painted it. and then put in everything else.

are you talking about the header panel for the lights?

the header panel and most of the cosmetics you could get from a junkyard.

i wouldn't want to take off the radiator support at a junkyard, too much work for something i could just buy a new one and feel better about it.

i got a brand new radiator for 148 i think it was, delivered to my house that day.

edit, with the slide hammer, you also risk bending the other parts that its connected to.

metal stretches, and if you try to pull it out you'll probably making the front end like a V. instead of a ^

Bosko5.0 · Feb 23, 2008

Accidents always suck I had one in mid dec. It cost the $2,500 for insuraunce to cover. They only replaced the bumper cover, hood, and hood latch, And pulled the radiator support out bondoed it so it looked new It pissed me off. I wanted them to replace the whole support !!!!

But I bought from LRS A new bumper support, bumper reinforcement( styrofoam piece) , and new rad support, It cost me like $350 shipped (they said it weighed 202 lbs more like 30-40 lbs if that) And I have to get the rad support welded in That should fix my drooping lights.

if you want I can give you the part #'s

Zero_chance · Feb 25, 2008

Similar thing happened to my 88 and after I bought a new radiator I just wedged it down in there and ran it for two years with no problem because I didnt have the time or space to fix it right. In my opinion, this is something youll want done professionally as youll want things to line up right and body shops have factory spec measurements so they can get it where its supposed to be. Just my two cents. On my 88 though there was no major damage to the front end stuff, just the core support pushed in.

DJHA90 · Feb 25, 2008

The crash took out the header panel, radiator support, condenser, radiator, fan, etc... Maybe I should just part it out

Zero_chance · Feb 25, 2008

I dont know your situation so I couldnt really say. Lot of engine work done to it? Mostly stock? Whats the cost of fixing versus the cost of buying another subtracting what youd make from parting the old one out off the new car? Insurance a factor? I mean, lets face it our cars are pretty cheap Ive seen good mileage unmolested GTs going for around 3K locally.

autumn_again · Feb 25, 2008

i'd say post some pictures of it to give us a better idea of how bad it is.

the front end of our cars are designed to crumple to save the passengers in the event of a crash.

it may look worse then it really is.

zero chance brought up a good point with how body shops have measurements of what your cars supposed to be, and what it is currently.

i'd say leave it to a body shop to get everything straight, and then maybe see if a forumite is selling some stock body parts, and put them on yourself, and drive like that until you get the money to do the cosmetics how you want them, so this way its not a huge amount of money all at once.

i wish low mileage GTs were going for that in my area. high mileage V6 94-98s are closer to that price range.

i ended up getting mine for 2500 including taxes with real high mileage and pretty shot paint.

Zero_chance · Feb 26, 2008

Oh trust me, I didnt find good prices till after I bought mine BUt back on topic, I bet you could find most of the parts you need for the repair on Corral or even maybe on our classfieds. The core support I know you can get from Mustangs unlimited. Me personally, I wouldnt scrap the car unless the thing was seriously twisted beyond repair. Core support replacement isnt THAT bad. If you could get the old one out, have a shop just replace the support so its properly aligned, then do the rest yourself I bet youd save a boatload of cash. To get it out you need spotwell drill bits, chisels, hammers and a lot of patience.

DJiCE · Feb 27, 2008

2 sites I visit alot:

http://autobodystore.com/forum/index.php

http://www.corral.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=305

good luck

autumn_again · Feb 28, 2008

one thing you gotta check to see is if anything else is bent after its all ripped apart.

i helped my friend tom rip apart his car today, and we thought it would just be the radiator support, the bumper reinforcement, and cosmetic stuff basically. we get into it, the frame is bent pretty damn horrible in one spot. we're going to get it on the frame machine, but not sure how much we can do with this. its more into how much money hes willing to put into the car to try to make it right again.

but his is a 1985 monte carlo. yours has a lot more value then his.

you can pick up 3 monte carlos all for under 2 grand in this area, all of the same style, but with features his car doesn't have like T tops and such.

i dont know about your area, but there hasn't been any 5.0 sn95 verts for sale in this area, since before this time last year.

DJHA90 · Mar 1, 2008

Best price I can find for a shop to do it is $500 labor.

autumn_again · Mar 1, 2008

thats not horrible for what is involved.

the whole front end basically needs to come apart. and they may need to hook it up to the frame straightening machine in case anything else is bent.

they have books that they go by for how long a job should take, and thats what they charge by.

its hard to give a good estimate for what its going to cost you, until you take it all apart to see whats broken and such.

DJHA90 · Mar 1, 2008

The $500 is strictly for removing core support and welding a new one. Ive already removed all of the fenders, bumper, etc. If extra work is required -- it wil be more $$$

How hard would it be for me to drill out the Spotwelds and remove it myself? Are there any sites that have description, steps to do it, tools needed, etc?

Zero_chance · Mar 1, 2008

If you google youll come across SOME things on it but mainly pertaining to older stangs. I found one site when I was thinking of doing the same to my 88 that had pretty good details and pictures but it was for a late 60s stang. Same principles though. It can be done but at the same time you want it done to the extent that you dont cause more of a problem by damaging panels. Id suggest doing a little research and going from there.

reddy351 · Mar 1, 2008

Depending on how handy you are, you can drill the welds out, yourself. Carefully remove the CS. Then for the $500 you would pay, you could buy a welder and learn how to use it.

Outside of that, I think you'd be doing well to pay them to put it in for you. That way, you have someone other than you to blame, if it isn't right.

Zero_chance · Mar 1, 2008

Just like he said. I think itd be damn near impossible for a novice to put it back together and have everything line up right. Removing it yourself I can see. Good learning experience and all that. But putting the new one in... bite the bullet and have it done professionally. Youll be much happier and safer that way in case another incident occurs where your front end meets someones rear end... sounds kinda sick when its put that way...

DJHA90 · Mar 2, 2008

Bosko5.0 said:
But I bought from LRS A new bumper support, bumper reinforcement( styrofoam piece) , and new rad support, It cost me like $350 shipped (they said it weighed 202 lbs more like 30-40 lbs if that) And I have to get the rad support welded in That should fix my drooping lights.

if you want I can give you the part #'s

What was the part number for the Rad support?

Bosko5.0 · Mar 2, 2008

DJHA90 said:
What was the part number for the Rad support?

# LRS-16138B

Good site for fixing collision damage

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