Advice On Totaled T/a
09-15-2005, 10:37 AM
#1
Advice On Totaled T/a I just bought a totaled 98 T/A yesterday for a parts car.But when I went to look at it,Its not in that bad of condition.It runs,drives with no problems (except for the bent rims)and I was told there was slight sub frame damage.My question is if anybody has had experience w/this type of a situation because I would like to fix this car and use it if possible.?
09-15-2005, 10:39 AM
#2
It depends on if the frame can be pulled back to near straight. Take it to a body shop and see what they can do with the frame. They might be able to pull it back close.
09-15-2005, 11:22 AM
#3
where was the car wrecked? subframe damage if it's to far it wouldn't be worth fixing, but I've noticed alot of people mistake subframe for the 50 pnt radiator support, mine was all torn to hell but only ended up costing me 700 bucks, + some cosmetic ****, with no real damage to the actual subframe.
09-15-2005, 11:46 AM
#4
Originally Posted by MasterCraft
where was the car wrecked? subframe damage if it's to far it wouldn't be worth fixing, but I've noticed alot of people mistake subframe for the 50 pnt radiator support, mine was all torn to hell but only ended up costing me 700 bucks, + some cosmetic ****, with no real damage to the actual subframe.
09-15-2005, 03:07 PM
#5
Originally Posted by FH212
He hit a curb in the front doing about 50 miles an hour.Tore off the front bumper cover,bent the rims,cracked front fenders.The T-tops still come on and off with no problems,Doors open and close fine,back hatch,etc.It did not even look like the control arms under the car are bent.I can find very little scraping under the car.
09-15-2005, 06:07 PM
#7
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i bought my 00 WS6 wrecked in the front from driver to passenger side, easy fix it was tottled and i got it for $5,000. i dont know why whoever wrote the estimate totaled it. it spent a little time on the frame machine, repaired the hood, bought a new fender, bumper cover, radiator, and some brackets. runs and drives great.
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09-15-2005, 06:18 PM
#8
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Slight subframe damage could mean alot of different things too. Were they bent or totally warped to unstraighten the car. It doesn't sound like it though. How does the car drive if you have driven it yet. If it drives straight, I would think that's the biggest test. Frames can be pulled back into shape by these huge electronic and computer controlled jigs. I've heard of it being done before on previously wrecked cars, it works like a charm but kind of pricey. You can fix a bent car though.
09-16-2005, 12:04 PM
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i got a 91 1LE that the kid hit a curb almost head on at 60. sounds similar to the damage you described, thought that it was just going to need front subframes, but the floorpans are all screwed up... take out the carpet and see if the floorpans are bent, if they are... its done
09-16-2005, 12:10 PM
#11
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Not True, On My Car The Floor Pan Was Buckled Up Pretty Good And I Pulled It Out On The Frame Machine At Work Just Fine. All Of The Innerstructure Of The Quarter Was Really Screwed Up And It All Pulled Out Just Fine, Some Of The Stuff I Had To Drill Out Spotwelds And Put It In A Press But It Straightened Out Just Fine. My Car Was 250 $ Short Of Being Totalled So It Can Probably Be Fixed Pretty Easily, but my car was hit in the quarter panel which I replaced that, the rocker panel, and the drivers side door but all the structural parts of the car pulled out and straightened up just fine and I know that it did because i did the work myself. I see stuff worse that that all the time that gets straightened and it is just as good as new
09-16-2005, 12:19 PM
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anything can be fixed, but 98 T/As arent anything special or rare really. im sure you would agree that it wouldnt be prudent for him to try to fix this car because there would be a ton of work involved
09-17-2005, 04:35 AM
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sometimes junk cars are bent back in shape and sooner or later have catastrophic failures. my buddy worked at a bodyshop for many years and would tell me that some cars would fall apart months later. he did a car for his mom once and the rear axle fell off the car on the highway. also a frame that is bent back to shape is weakened and thats bad for the people inside during a accident.