Well, work is slow so I am taking on side projects to help with my bills. This Lexus is owned by one of my clients personal friends. It was in a collision and it pushed the radiator support back 8" and pushed the upper frame rails out 1 1/2" on each side.





I pulled the frame back into square. Fitted the hood and adjusted the body lines to within Lexus specs.




Then I repaired the fender tips and painted the front clip with base coat clear coat paint. (hood is open in photos)




Tomorrow I will color sand a buff the front clip and it will look like OEM Lexus paint. Then I will do finial assembly (waiting on head lights to arrive), and return the car to customer. I will post follow up photos if people are interested.

Like I said things are slow, so this whole repair including paint I will only charged the owner $550.00. He did however provide the hood and headlights. If you are in the Sacramento area and have light/moderate collision damage I would be willing to take on another side job repair. I have 6 years of Collision Repair schooling, and 13 years of auto body experience.

So what do you think so far? I am pretty pleased and I the owner is getting a heck of a deal at $550.00.

------------------

[This message has been edited by DeLorean00 (edited 07-29-2009).]

That should buff right out.

I got a "little" job. I have kevin rye old car. I think you saw it at the tech days thing. I need the front cross member drilled out and a new one put in. I have the new front cross member. Email me and we will discuss further. Krisantuzzi@hotmail.com

This was not as bad as that lexus but the front frame rails are pushed a bit.
Is this something you can do. If so You got a job.

Oh yea. Do you paint also? Lemme know. I would like to get this done.

Did the airbag deploy?

quote Originally posted by 87antuzzi: Oh yea. Do you paint also? Lemme know. I would like to get this done.

Yep I paint, but I no longer have a spot to do complete paint jobs. I can only do spot jobs like on this Lexus. I can change you cross member if you like, but it will be about 2 weeks until I can fit it in. Probably cost about 200-300 to replace it. Its a time consuming job with lots of welding and drilling.

SOLD!! Let me know

quote Originally posted by 87antuzzi: SOLD!! Let me know

You got it!

Good work!! VERY good work!! Well done!
Nick

quote Originally posted by fierofetish: Good work!! VERY good work!! Well done! Nick

Thank you!!!

The Lexus will be done and delivered on Monday. I will take some good photos to show how it turned out! Its looks great!

PokeyFiero's Ford Expedition will be coming up on Thursday to get the front clip repaired, frame rails repaired, air bags replaced, and tail gate repaired and painted. Then it will receive a full detail. I will post photos of the progress if its ok with pokey.

And 87antuzzi I will let you know as soon as I get the time to do your car. I need a couple of free days because its a involved project.

[This message has been edited by DeLorean00 (edited 08-02-2009).]

Before

Alright. I've started drilling the spot welds a little

quote Originally posted by 87antuzzi: Alright. I've started drilling the spot welds a little

Cool! The more you do the cheaper the repair will be!

Seat belts didn't lock. I don't really know what you mean by that though. They work as far as I can tell.

I am shooting for Wed or Thurs afternoon to take it to you.

quote Originally posted by DeLorean00: Sweet. Well I will get your Expedition back together and looking new again in only a few short weeks. I have a couple of questions about it though, did the seat belts lock? Some cars when the airbags deploy lock the belts. If they are locked I will need to order them with the airbags. Also if you want I can order and pick up all the parts up here at the local LeVan, it might save you some time. I am going to try and make an appointment for Friday at the frame shop so we can hit the ground running on this project.

quote Originally posted by pokeyfiero: Seat belts didn't lock. I don't really know what you mean by that though. They work as far as I can tell. I am shooting for Wed or Thurs afternoon to take it to you.

Either day will work! If its Wed the later in the day would be better as I work out of state on Wed morning. But I am normally home by about 2-3pm. I will call around tomorrow morning and find your parts. Then I will call you!

-Chris

That will buff right out

[This message has been edited by Jake_Dragon (edited 08-07-2009).]

quote Originally posted by Jake_Dragon: That will buff right out

Thats Great!! LoL!!

quote Originally posted by Finally_Mine_86_GT:

Thank you!

Well pokey's Expedition arrived today. Its now at the frame shop, I will get some photos in the morning. We are going to get the frame corrected and then start on the body work.

-Chris

quote Originally posted by DeLorean00: I have a couple of questions about it though, did the seat belts lock? Some cars when the airbags deploy lock the belts. If they are locked I will need to order them with the airbags. .

There are a few ways a seat belt can "lock". Generically stating, without writing a book.

1) Mechanical damage pinches the belt somewhere. Anyone can figure that out.

2) Retractor mechanism (that spools excess belt material) can lock up. Easy to figure out.

3) The belt pre-tensioners were fired. These are part of the belt assembly and usually part of the latch side. These can be difficult to determine if they were fired if you don't know what they looked like before the crash, or don't have access to the vehicle airbag computer. They are getting more and more common as they were once reserved for high end cars. For those who may not know, they are "fired" by the airbag control module either with or without an airbag deployment. In other words, if the module senses the car is in a crash, it may fire the pre-tensioners, and ONLY the pre-tensioners if the crash dynamics don't exceed certain limits. They basically shorten the belt by pulling from the anchor points and thereby further limit the occupant from moving further forward. Do not assume that since the bags did not deploy that some part of the airbag system was not triggered. Manufacturers have different systems so there is no standard protocol for what may or may not have to be replaced, it can be vehicle specific. Some cars can have the pre-tensioners fired and the belt will still latch and move normally afterward, except it is no longer functional.

Just something extra to think about when repairing vehicles.

quote Originally posted by SCCAFiero: There are a few ways a seat belt can "lock". Generically stating, without writing a book. 1) Mechanical damage pinches the belt somewhere. Anyone can figure that out. 2) Retractor mechanism (that spools excess belt material) can lock up. Easy to figure out. 3) The belt pre-tensioners were fired. These are part of the belt assembly and usually part of the latch side. These can be difficult to determine if they were fired if you don't know what they looked like before the crash, or don't have access to the vehicle airbag computer. They are getting more and more common as they were once reserved for high end cars. For those who may not know, they are "fired" by the airbag control module either with or without an airbag deployment. In other words, if the module senses the car is in a crash, it may fire the pre-tensioners, and ONLY the pre-tensioners if the crash dynamics don't exceed certain limits. They basically shorten the belt by pulling from the anchor points and thereby further limit the occupant from moving further forward. Do not assume that since the bags did not deploy that some part of the airbag system was not triggered. Manufacturers have different systems so there is no standard protocol for what may or may not have to be replaced, it can be vehicle specific. Some cars can have the pre-tensioners fired and the belt will still latch and move normally afterward, except it is no longer functional. Just something extra to think about when repairing vehicles.

You are correct! I was referring to the pre-tensioners when I asked pokey about his Ford.

They are quite possabley one of the best cars lexus has ever made. My ex girlfriends dad had one ad he swore his life by that car we used to get into little babbels over whats better american engineering or import. i stand by the fact that german engenering is the best than followed by american. good luck I sure as hell wana see pics.

I explained that more for pokey since he may not realize why you might still have to buy some belts and possibly an RCM. Just because they "work" does not mean they will work.

Nice job on the Lexus.

Thanks SCCA

Pokeys Expedition is up on the frame rack. Hopefully next week the frame work will be done and we can start on the body work.

I am in nio hurry and yet seeing it on the frame machine makes me anxious!

quote Originally posted by pokeyfiero: I am in no hurry and yet seeing it on the frame machine makes me anxious!

Repairing cars is fun process to watch. I will keep this thread updated so you can watch your Expedition being brought back from the dead. Monday or Tuesday I am going to go get all the parts, as the frame shop needs them to check the alignment as they pull.

quote Originally posted by DeLorean00: Repairing cars is fun process to watch. I will keep this thread updated so you can watch your Expedition being brought back from the dead. Monday or Tuesday I am going to go get all the parts, as the frame shop needs them to check the alignment as they pull.

All the broken stuff is in the back. Maybe one of the lights is ok but it would look funny having one old one and one new one.

quote Originally posted by pokeyfiero: All the broken stuff is in the back. Maybe one of the lights is ok but it would look funny having one old one and one new one.

And the lights are fairly cheap, I think they were $75 a side (don't quote me, but in that range). So it would only make sense to change them both.

Crhis got me a super steal of a deal for the air bags. THe dealor wanted 2200 bucks and Chris got them for 375. Awesome!!!!!!!

I'm wondering with your connections are you able to upgrade the stereo?

The one in there is a 6 cd changer and it sounds great and works perfectly but it doesn't play Mp3 discs. I am wondering if there is a stock replacement that does this on newer models.

quote Originally posted by pokeyfiero: Crhis got me a super steal of a deal for the air bags. THe dealor wanted 2200 bucks and Chris got them for 375. Awesome!!!!!!! I'm wondering with your connections are you able to upgrade the stereo? The one in there is a 6 cd changer and it sounds great and works perfectly but it doesn't play Mp3 discs. I am wondering if there is a stock replacement that does this on newer models.

Speaking of the airbags.



Here are some updated photos. The frame had a 4" sway starting under the front row of seats extending forward. It took all the frame rack had to pull it around. But now the truck is perfectly square. The frame is within 5mm of distortion. The core support is still badly damaged and that will be the next project.

Looks like its been on the frame rack for 20 years! LoL!




Still damaged core support.



Not a great photo of the gauges but the are all in line expect the second one back and that one is attached to the top of the core support.

[This message has been edited by DeLorean00 (edited 08-28-2009).]

Awesome!

Lokks like you guys painted it the color DIRT! LOL

Ok time for a quick build of my car.

My Kia got bumped into on the front, slightly damaging the core support. But then it was serviced and the hood did not latch correctly and going down the freeway it blew up and smashed the windshield and damaged the roof.

Also the bumper was slightly damaged as well.




So I replaced the windshield and did a tear down and started repairs on the core support.




After I repaired the core support, I repaired the bumper and reassembled the car. Here it is in black primer.



Then I removed the hood and painted it.



I reinstalled the hood and color sanded and buffed it. Here it is in the first coat or cutting compound.



Here it is all polished and finished. My paint less dent removal guy says he can fix the roof on Monday morning.

I picked up the Expedition from the frame shop and started the repairs on the core support.

At the frame shop, core support still damaged and body gaps off.


Tail gate damage I will be repairing.


Interior got pretty dirty at the frame shop. But no worries it will be getting a full detail when I am done with the body work.


After lots of hours I got the gaps pretty close. Some small adjustments left and it will be done.



Test fitting parts, starting to look like a truck again.



Put away for the night because I was too tired to keep working.

[This message has been edited by DeLorean00 (edited 09-01-2009).]

Pokey Bump