Frame Is Bent: Fix or Part?

[IGSDann]

Well I got in a shitty accident a month ago and now that I've had some time to take apart my car I find that my frame is bent. The upper part where the fender mounts (no biggy, thin sheet metal) and the lower frame. Can I please get everyone's opinion on fixing this. The bend is in a spot where it doesn't seem like it would permanently affect alignment, it looks to me like it's fixable, but maybe it's just wishfull thinking, so that's why I am asking you guys.

Here's some pictures:


This is a top down view of the frame from the engine bay, it's close to the core support, that's why I think the frame is fixable: the damage is isolated there.


The core support ate most of the shit.


The rod got reallly bent, I haven't had a chance to take the boot off and see if something in the steering rack is broken.


Frame from the front.


Frame from the side.


The upper frame, core support and fender mounts, I'm not to worried about this, it's easy to bend back into place.

It looks like because of the bend in the frame right there that that's where alot of the shock was absorbed and the rest of the frame would be OK. The tie rod is also really bent but the rest of the suspension looks ok... I dunno, I'm still tearing it down but I'm just looking for advice. Thanks guys.

One more thing: The accident was relatively low speed, like around the 20's or so, the airbags did not deploy, just had to put that in.

[projectRDM]

If it's forward of the shock tower it's repairable without worry of further alignment issues, but as I always say it's best to part out, even if all it needs is a headlight. One less car on the road for the ethugs and more parts for the rest of us.

[spdfreek0o]

Fix it! Probably a little sectioning of frame rails and a new core support, not a problem. Easy fix for a body shop. I'd have to take a closer look, but it might even be able to pull back. Something similar happened to my car first of the month, except for it was isolated to the upper passenger side of the core support. I'm going in today to pull it. I hate to see a good car go to waist. The steering rack is most likely un-harmed. Tie-rods are supposed to bend pretty easily so that the damage is isolated to the tie-rod and not the steering rack.

[Wei240]

nothing will ever line up perfectly anymore,
i'd part it out...

irony of it is that a lot of my car doesn't line up perfectly anymore...

[drift freaq]

that does not look good. Like Russ said, if its forward of your strut towers then it is technically fixable. Though, if it were my car, I would toss that chassis and get another chassis. Your going to spend time and money to fix that thing and your body parts may never line up quite right. I would suggest getting another chassis. The money you would spend on fixing that one could be put towards a nice clean one.

[SirWarrior]

my advice
If you thinking of doing it yourself - part it out
if you are going to take it into a good shop to fix - ask them if its easily fixable.

[IGSDann]

Financially, I'm not in much of a situation to buy another one. Right now I'm going to school for automotive technology, and I figure this would be a good way to learn (from my mistakes... Hah.... ). Anyways. I would really love to keep my car, finding a nice S14 here in New England gets harder everyday...

Now that I think of it: If it's gonna take me a long time to fix my car, I might just do lots of things while it's off the road (chassis, turbo, suspension, another tranny + clutch) and get myself a new daily driver... Maybe a Miata. Still gimee your opinions!

[IGSDann]

Anyone else? Anybody? I'd like to get as much advice as possible at this time.

[sean350z]

it would be a learning experience no doubt...but a long, expensive, tedious one at that.

if you are parting out...shotgun on your driveshaft if it's for ABS/Manual

[Pacman]

Remove everything so a shop can repair just the frame and core support. You do everything else. That way your frame is done correctly and you still get to learn/do work on the car yourself.

[Rickrak77]

Body panels never line up perfectly anyway, not even on new cars.

That's why the manufacturer uses shims...


If you have the chassis stripped already, then a frame shop won't charge as much to straighten it.

Besides, if it didn't move the strut tower then from there forward is pretty much just support stuff.

If you're really worried about it though, then hit your local wrecking yard with a cutting torch and cut the corner off something that was rearended.

[nsany(atl)]

Originally Posted by R240NA

If it's forward of the shock tower it's repairable without worry of further alignment issues, but as I always say it's best to part out, even if all it needs is a headlight. One less car on the road for the ethugs and more parts for the rest of us.

2nd that

[SimpleSexy180]

my friends was worse on his s13...

he fixed it and it doesnt look bad at all...(it was done by a shop)

[projectRDM]

For further input, another forum member recently did similiar damage, though much higher up, on his car and I sent him an entire front apron/tower assembly from a parts car and he will be attempting installation of it soon. With the chassis stripped back enough it's as easy as one nice seam weld, but I would never rely on the section for anything more than support of the vehicle. In other words, hard driving, abuse, or using it as a tow/pull ram would not be ideal.

[TopClassGarage]

^ Yep Russ, thats me . By the way thanks for all the effort and the materal! Heres a couple of pics so far, It is being sent to a shop to be done the right way, with this area it must me its importain and should be done correctly, If you dont mind ill post a couple of pics that were taken and show you the damage, about a week or so it will be at the shop, in which i know and ill take some pics for you all. This damage is very freqent, and I will see how it will hold up to some abusive drifting after the repair :P

and no this wasnt a drift accident,..... me, going to work... bahhh

Picieeeeyss



The Day of ^



Front support off ^



Test Fit of s15 raditor support, thanks superior nissan for the hook up1 ^

and soon more pics of the arm repair, becouse of my damage, it was close to the tower, but no other damage, it was a 50/50 but i will fix it,

Hope it helps good luck mang!
-R

[IGSDann]

Lots of good advice. I am positive that I am keeping my car and follow closely to what Rickrak said, just take apart what I can now and when it comes time to fixing the frame find a shop to do it (unless I get really interested and learn to weld or something), but still sectioning a frame rail is a bit much for a learning fabricator.

Thanks for the help guys, I hope this topic can help some other people in a similar situation: May I suggest Stickying This?

[infinitexsound]

theres a chassis measurement picture in the FSM.. use that as refrence..

take off everything thats broken and clear the area... that would show u on the chassis what needs to be replaced and tweaked to get it back in the right way... i guess s14 sr front clip is a good option now if u were headed that route....take what u can off of the clip to fix ur car chassis wise.. its all spot welds and seam seal anyhow... good luck....

[TopClassGarage]

I be you can understand the frame welding, but when it comes to tacking the top bonnet, or fender support you need to be very carefull, the way that nissan makes this sheetmetal is very thin, Im talking like paper. So what you need to do is set you welder, tig, or what ever set up your using to a very Very low voltage, I would maybe recommend brazing.. what ever the case, its like a monster saving a spiderweb, very delicate. Good luck, Ill keep you guys updated on my project, and see if i can run over to the shop and take some inwork pictures.

Later

-R