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Tried Fixing My Front End

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Old Jan 22, 2008 | 11:27 PM
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Bayer-Z28's Avatar
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Tried Fixing My Front End

I suppose this would be the better spot for this topic seeing as we don't have a body work section, and this isn't custom body work (not appearance)...

Hmm... It didn't turn out like I wanted.. I think I'll have to take the fenders off, pull it over by the rad support, and slam the other side w/ some dunnage and a sledge.. I REALLLLLLLLY don't feel like paying someone $1900 to fix it..

I slid into a snow bank 5 years ago when I bought the car, but never had the cash to fix it, or never tried myself. If I had more time this evening, I would have taken the fenders off.. .

Meh... Here's some pics.. If anyone has any tips, I'm open for suggestions.. I'm good w/ metal, but not the greatest w/ body work..

The hood alignment got worse.. and the headlight alignment is almost the same.. I needed to pull it by the RAD support, not the bumper connection.. I need to take the fenders off.. Or Pay $1900 to have it fixed. I'm not thinking I'll be able to do it, something is tweaked... The FT of the PASS Fender is out, and the rear of the PASS fender is scraping the hood, so it's pivoting on something.. That's why I have to take the fenders off, but I don't have a FT End machine to laser align it..




















Last edited by Bayer-Z28; Jan 22, 2008 at 11:48 PM.
Old Jan 22, 2008 | 11:36 PM
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I am confused on to what exactly your trying to fix on the front end.
Old Jan 22, 2008 | 11:42 PM
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I'm trying to pull the front end back over.. I slid into a snow bank 5 years ago when I bought the car.. Darn black ice.. I slid into it from driver's side.

Minor dammage, but I need a new bumper cover and I need to have the front end pulled over..

Sorry if I forgot to mention exactly why or what...
Old Jan 22, 2008 | 11:53 PM
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Ok, so you hit on the driver side, and you're trying to shift the whole front bumper back toward the driver side to straighten it? Sounds like you're gonna have to take it to a body shop. No amount of you hitting it is going to straighten it, the frame is most likely bent and needs to be straightened. Then you're going to need an alignment. If you ever want the car to drive like stock again, take it to a body alignment shop.
Old Jan 23, 2008 | 02:27 AM
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^ Darn... I fixed my firebird, but that was a rear end accident.. I just pulled the RAD support out..

I just don't feel like paying out the tail to have it fixed, but it'll save the headaches..
Old Jan 23, 2008 | 10:43 AM
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Yea, it sucks. Insurance doesn't cover it? Just make sure you find a reputable shop.
Old Jan 23, 2008 | 11:45 AM
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^ I COULDs tell insurance that I hit a dumpster or something, but then I'd have to cover the deductable and have to deal w/ higher rates..

Last edited by Bayer-Z28; Jan 23, 2008 at 11:48 AM.
Old Jan 23, 2008 | 06:22 PM
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Or lie and say your e-brake gave out and your car rolled down a hill .
Old Jan 23, 2008 | 07:58 PM
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have you asked at a body shop for an estimate if you strip the parts they need off to straiten it?
Old Jan 23, 2008 | 11:32 PM
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Someone used the excuse the car shut off while driving for no reason and ran into something. This way there is no fault. Maybe you can find someone that will just do the straightening without all the other stuff. We found a guy who did it out of his garage on the side and it was $500 and he replaced a few broken part also in that quote. We went to the wrecking yard and did all the running around for him.
Old Feb 1, 2008 | 12:30 AM
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^Hmm...

Originally Posted by Dave89IROC
have you asked at a body shop for an estimate if you strip the parts they need off to straiten it?
I can't take the frame apart.. The only parts I can purchase separately are the bumper cover and Fog light.. The Fender is cracked, but fixable.
Old Feb 1, 2008 | 06:51 AM
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Just take it apart take pics if you think you might forget how to put it back together, lable things, get the radiator battery tray, wire harness flopped up on the motor make it pretty much bare have it straightened the right way and then put it back together yourself, buy the fender there $180 new or get a used one. Actually I have a pass one if thats the one that is broke. You will NOT sway that front over w/o a rack. If you want a pic of what mine looked like when I strippped the front lmk. GL
Old Feb 1, 2008 | 09:50 AM
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^ I was thinking about stripping it down and driving it to the body shop like that.. Having my buddy in front of me that is. That way I can eliminate as much work on their part so all they have to do is straighten it. I'm thinking about painting the front end myself, I think I can do it but if I mess it up and can just sand it down and start over or bring it to the body shop.
Old Feb 4, 2008 | 06:56 PM
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I did this to a Neon once. Wrapped a chain around the 'frame rail' in front of the tire to a tree, then cranked the wheel and put the car in reverse. A couple pulls later and it was a lot better than it was. I went from a couple millimeters between the A/C pulley up to about a half inch. Of course this was a $100 car, don't know if I would try it on a nicer car...
Old Feb 5, 2008 | 11:47 AM
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You went 5 years like this!?
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