Front End Rebuild Project

[mikefocke]

I did exactly that with my '99. Dove under the rear bumper of a pickup. No damage to the pickup. My guess was $3-4k. They stopped estimating at $26k and totaled it.

The issues are insurablity, frame alignment check, and doing a repair that makes it as crash-worthy the next time as it came from the factory.

[78F350]

My standards are probably a lot lower than Mike's, but if I had that it would be a parts car. That damage is more than I'd want to take on with a BFH and more expensive than I'd want to pay a shop to fix.

Here's a recent repair job -less damage- on another forum. Porsch-Uh Oh Build...
I don't think Lemming's was nearly that bad. http://986forum.com/forums/show-tell-gallery/69277-98-project-car.html

I did have similar damage fixed on another car (Infiniti i30) many years ago. After I declined the repair at a reputable body shop, they recommended a guy who worked in a barn outside of town part time. What's your goal; good enough to have fun in, or restored value and safe for your loved ones to use?

Two of your pics:

[rexcramer]

From your pictures and my opinion, that car needs time on a proper framer rack. Otherwise, it will be next to impossible to get that front end close enough to do an alignment. That corner looks to be pushed in +/-6" and down +/-4". I second the notion of it being a 'parts car' unfortunately.

[MrBen]

Better Yee than me. I'd part it out

[9864ever]

Originally Posted by 78F350

My standards are probably a lot lower than Mike's, but if I had that it would be a parts car. That damage is more than I'd want to take on with a BFH and more expensive than I'd want to pay a shop to fix.

Here's a recent repair job -less damage- on another forum. Porsch-Uh Oh Build...
I don't think Lemming's was nearly that bad. http://986forum.com/forums/show-tell-gallery/69277-98-project-car.html

I did have similar damage fixed on another car (Infiniti i30) many years ago. After I declined the repair at a reputable body shop, they recommended a guy who worked in a barn outside of town part time. What's your goal; good enough to have fun in, or restored value and safe for your loved ones to use?

Thanks for the info... the plan is to have it as a weekend car, possibly track it as well. I have yet to have it looked at in person from a bodyshop so will be interested in hearing what they have to say. Parting it out would be a last case scenario but could be a possibility.

Two of your pics:

Thanks for the info... the plan is to have it as a weekend car, possibly track it as well. I have yet to have it looked at in person from a bodyshop so will be interested in hearing what they have to say. Parting it out would be a last case scenario but could be a possibility.

[78F350]

Originally Posted by 9864ever

Thanks for the info... the plan is to have it as a weekend car, possibly track it as well. ...

In most US states a salvaged car must be inspected to certify that the car is restored to safe condition to be back on the road. Find out Toronto's standards (Body shop should know) and you may be able to repair it to 'weekender' standard, but still 'not quite right' underneath. It could be a lot more affordable. I have one like that and it's a great car to drive.