Well heres the story. I am an first year autobody repair/refinishing technition and in my course we get to redo our own cars. So just recently we brought in my 86 SE V6. It has been hit in the front before and the frame is bent, the head light motors burnt out and the front facia mangled. So i had my instuctors take a look at it and i got the green light on it. The frame looks like an easy pull, the front fascia looks repairable and thank you SteveRossi for the headlight motors. Oh and i figured i would make a new Warber style hood scoop too for it. So the first day i disasemble the front end, and get my car up onto the big "CHIEF" frame rack. The car sits for a few days as i wait for a 3 year apprentice and a instuctor to start tuggin on it, so while im waiting i begin workin the the front fascia, i repair and paint some dust shield mounts and almost finish my new hood. (it looks good too!) Time goes by and finally they start working on my frame.....so everything looks good to start...its only down and back 6mm total on the driverside. should be an easy pull. BUT NO!!!!! Over the last few days all hell has broken loose...after a few more measurements and tests it apears the drivers side frame rail is lower than the passenger side one...one of the rad supports is also mangled beond repair. So now it seems that the mangled rad support is keeping them from pulling the D-side frame rail up and back into position, and that is keeping them from pulling the D-side forward.

I left class early today because i didn't take a lunch or coffee break (had errands to run) so my buddy that i have been helping, talked to the instuctor that has been working on my frame for me. The instuctor told him that tommorow is the last day that the 3rd years will be in the shop so i have a choice to make...i can either say screw it and put the car back together with the frame just a bit straighter....or i can go to the wrecker and pull the whole front end from another fiero and then install it on my car and finish the job myself. You see i would love to do that, but i am only a first year student. I know my way around cars pretty well, i can weld and all that stuff but this seems like a huge job to me....First i will have to disasemble the front end of the car at the wreckers...30min about, then i will have to un bolt the front frame section, another 20/30min if all goes well, then iwill have to drill out the spot welds that hold it to the frame rails...30/60min i figure...who knows how well that could go...and who know the price of that front frame section!?!?!?! Then i would have to rebuild the front end of my car, and pull the frame straight...WOW, this is tough...my course ends in june but i would like my car back before then...and to top it all off...I am not exactly loaded...funds are low as of late and school is expensive...

so this is my question...what would you do?
fix the car at all costs?
put it back together and fix it when i have the time and money?
put it back together and sell it?
or partially fix it and sell it?

oh and just so you know, it has no ICBC claims or history on it...according to them it has never been in any type of accident. Oh yeah the car is fully loaded with A/C and only 182,000 km on it

so let me know...i will try to post some pics at a later date...

thanks eh

-Phil

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86 SE V6 under constuction
Please rate me if i am of any assistance, thank you...

Well, as long as the camber, and toe on the front end can be set within specs, I'd say put the body parts back on, and later, when you are in a shop, or get the spare money (actually, as long as you've got spare money... send some of it this way ) try to get the frame staightened.

As long as the car doesn't have any really scary handling issues, you could get away with just putting it back togeather.

*****EDIT*****
Actually, my '87 (in my sig) has some damage to the rear frame, the trunk is slightly mangled, and the rear frame rails (behind the cradle) are kinda bent up... Nothing that affects handling, but it gives me a very annoying rattle from heat shields or something. One of these days, I'll get around to putting it on a lift, and finding the offending shield.

But, from looking at the car, nothing is noticeable.

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[This message has been edited by FieroJimmy (edited 04-01-2004).]

Well the car handles fine and drives straight so it would be no problem to put it all back together, but depending onthe price i thnk i am goin to section the frame and repair it...i will be good experience for me anyways...

thanks eh

-Phil

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86 SE V6 under constuction
Please rate me if i am of any assistance, thank you...