Opinions requested

smokin joe

Founding Member
Sep 30, 2000
746
45
49
Dallas,TX
I bought my 93 LX 5.0 I have brand new. In 1996 it was hit down the left side and pushed into a pole. Both doors and the drivers side fender were replaced. The drivers side 1/4 panel was straightened. it was not fixed correctly as the gap between the fender and door on the drivers side is slightly in and it looks like the rocker is not straight either.

I do not have the body shop connections I used to due to a falling out. I can do the other paint and body work but have no way of pulling out the hinge area or replacing the rocker. I would have to take it to a body shop to have this done. It needs a driver side fender again due to a blow out while coming back from Colorado.

So, my question is this.... Do I keep the car and fix it or do I find a straight 93 four cylinder hatch and swap everything over? They are going for $600 to $1000 depending on the condition.
 
Swap over.. you might find a really clean 4 cyl notch for a cool swap. Having everything already will make it easy. Unless for some reason youre attached emotionally to it.

I am emotionally attached to it. It is the first new car I bought and paid for myself. I have seen some nice notches, but I am a hatch guy.

I don't ever plan on selling the car. It is not a salvage title either.
 
Kinda looks like you answered your own question. Take it and get it done!

+1 a good shop can get it back so the only one who knows it was done is you and them, plenty of so-so shops out there, a good one won't be cheap. The shop that is doing my car has done some real horror shows so it can be done, if you are willing to spend the $$ go for it.
 
+1 a good shop can get it back so the only one who knows it was done is you and them, plenty of so-so shops out there, a good one won't be cheap. The shop that is doing my car has done some real horror shows so it can be done, if you are willing to spend the $$ go for it.

Your car is looking fantastic from what I have seen. Finding a good shop is more of the problem.

Spending the money has been more of the question.
 
If you are emotionally tied to the car then do it. I always love seeing the guys with the 60s and early 70s cars that bought them when they were in school and still have them today. No reason why a fox should be any different.
 
if it were my car and i plan to keep it till its dust then i would fix it. there are good shops everywhere, find one you trust and transport it to them.
 
Thanks for the imput guys. I have decided to get it fixed. Even if I transfered everything to another car and painted it the same color in the back of my mind I would still know it was a different car. I will to have to let some of the others go to accomplish it.

Just find a good roller and swap it all over. You can find great rollers with every suspension part under the sun you could want for less than 3k and be gorgeous.

You are correct about rollers. Dallas / Fort Worth is crawling with them, but most are set up to be drag cars. I like turning.