Ok going to document my repair from the accident I was in back in February.
First the damage

Here is what it looks like after I cut out the damage





I left as much of the frame rail as I could so I could use it to lap the “new” frame rail.
I left the front of the trunk but had to cut out the back and sides.

[This message has been edited by Jake_Dragon (edited 04-02-2005).]

Where do you plan to get the replacement parts?

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Go here to see more of my Formula: " TARGET=_blank>http://www.cardomain.com/memberpage/430754

I "had" a parts car


I have to let the welder cool off then I can finish the rails
The trunk will get put in with some speed screws and sealer but I dont have that yet.
I hope the front turns out as good. Im very happy with the way the back turned out.

[This message has been edited by Jake_Dragon (edited 04-02-2005).]

Look a new trunk


Test fitting the bumper cover


That’s as far as I will get today, I still have to play with the lights to get them to fit right but I am close.
I hope this helps show that all you need to do is look at it and do what you need done.
Don’t be afraid if the job looks big, just take it one piece at a time.
I tried to make the pictures as small as I could if they are loading too slow let me know and I will make them into links

Lookin' good! I'm stuck on dial up and the pics came through just fine.
Hmmmm........wanna come to NC and help me fix mine?
I'm thinking it's just bolt on for me. I'm hoping anyway.
I can't wait to see my little car.

Keep up the good work Jake!

quote Originally posted by fierogirls-mom: Lookin' good! I'm stuck on dial up and the pics came through just fine. Hmmmm........wanna come to NC and help me fix mine? I'm thinking it's just bolt on for me. I'm hoping anyway. I can't wait to see my little car. Keep up the good work Jake!

Thanks!
If I was closer I would be more than happy to come over.
I was a welder for 15 years so the metal work was cake.
As long as they didn’t bend the top bar right below the lights you should be fine.
Mine was pushed back some but not bad I will have to get creative with the lights.
I messed with the lights some more after my last post and have them lined up better than when I first got the car.
It looks bad at first but once you get going its not bad.
The only thing I don’t like is how nice the car was before, no rust - none it looked like a new car only smashed.
It will look good but I will always know that it was messed up by someone that was not paying attention.

WOW looks good, great job,
im sure the car WAS totaled.. right ?

quote Originally posted by $Rich$: WOW looks good, great job, im sure the car WAS totaled.. right ?

I settled for $1475 they wont total it unless the value of the car is over $1500
I could have held out and got more but I wanted to save this car not build another.
Plus I already had a parts car and got good deals on parts I didnt have.
The only thing I dont have is side marker lights but I will probably get new from The Fierostore as all the used ones I have seen have cracks.

[This message has been edited by Jake_Dragon (edited 04-04-2005).]

You have a PM

Test fit to look for gaps
Not bad!


Getting the center gap in the lights was the hardest but it worked out.
A straight edge held at the bottom of the lights worked out well.
Then I shaved the mounting points till they were even.

That’s it for the back
It will have to come back off so I can put on the inner bumper part but I didn’t have the rivets so I left it off till I can get some.
Now I can turn it around and start the front.

Here is where I trimmed the mounting points to line up the lights

Its me again.
Going to post the front here as well.
Its not as bad as I thought and I don’t have to replace as much metal as I thought.
Most of it will bang out and weld back up.
The bumper is toast but I have another to replace it.
Here is the damage




I will post more later after I get some of the repair started
Thanks for looking.

Good work Jake, can't wait to see how the front turns out.

I have an 86SE that the previous owner had rearended a car with.

I will only have to replace the front sheet metal that the top of the front facia bolts to and straighten the hood mounts.

I already have the sheet metal from a donor car, pulled it by drilling out the spot welds, just don't seem to have the time to get to it.

Argh, too many projects.

Keep us posted.

I have the front end off my parts car, it has some rust that I will have to fix but nothing that I cant take care of.
The hood mounts are bent up too bad to repair so I will be cutting them off and welding the ones off my parts car.
I also have to replace the bumper bracket on the driver side and will do my best to get some good pictures.

Ur car looks just like mine! 86 silver se with rear end damage, wish I had a place to try and fix it. But seeing your thread gives me hope Nice work!

I think mines actually alittle worse tho. When I screw in the vents the screws go in at an angle and dont fit right.

[This message has been edited by JKobra (edited 04-10-2005).]

quote Originally posted by JKobra: Ur car looks just like mine! 86 silver se with rear end damage, wish I had a place to try and fix it. But seeing your thread gives me hope Nice work! I think mines actually alittle worse tho. When I screw in the vents the screws go in at an angle and dont fit right.

I dont have to have this car finished to drive to work so I have time to work on it.
A good parts car is the best place to start, mine had some rust on it but you don’t look a gift horse in the mouth.
The best advice I can give is don’t get in a hurry, look at it and think things out before you cut any thing.
I just lined up the new parts with the old parts over lapping and they came out great.
I have found that most of the non structural metal on our cars is as thin as an old Pepsi can.
Most of it can be moved around with a hammer and pry bar but you will know when you hit structural metal as it will not move and require cutting.
Drill out the spot welds and if your good you can pop rivet them back on and tack them.
I’m not making a show car, this is my fun a - b car so I didn’t try to make it look like it had never been hit.
Take your time and you can if you try.
Good luck to you I hope you can get your car fixed.

Test fitting

Look a big hole

I ran out of cutting wheels so I have to quit for the night.
I should have all the metal back on the car in the next day or two, I have some rust to fix but I have lots of scrap steel.

Test fitting parts
Radiator test fit

Driver side


Passenger side


Full frontal nudity

You can see the rust I have to fix in some of the pictures but I have plenty of scrap steel

My pictures are not turning out, I think its too dark out so no pictures.
The front bumper frames are welded on and the welds came out pretty good.
The part that the front fascia mounts to still has to be welded in but I should have it done by the end of the week, it has some rust that I will need to fix as well.
Thanks for looking.

It's looking good, Jake! Keep posting the pics of your progress...it's interesting to see a "buildup thread" on repairing damage, as opposed to a regular mod buildup.

Well the front is all welded up
No more hole


Not bad, I will wash it all down and paint it black.


Well that’s it for the metal repair.
The windshield still needs replaced but I got a quote for $180
So far I have $300 in parts and tools.
$200 buy back from the insurance.
$680 and I have $795 left to finish the body work and paint the car.

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Jake
Red 1986 GT 5 Speed Soon to be a V8
Gold1986 SE 4 Speed Wrecked
Visit my Fiero Page

Ok I have a bad short somewhere so I have to pull the wire harness and start going wire by wire till I find it.
Poo I had hopes of driving it next week and going by the guys house that hit me and thumbing my nose at him.
I have a line on a front wire harness and 87 headlights, if he still has them it will make this allot easier.
The back wont be so bad and if I have to I will just get a bunch of wire and run all new wires.
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Jake
Red 1986 GT 5 Speed Soon to be a V8
Gold1986 SE 4 Speed Repaired almost
Visit my Fiero Page

[This message has been edited by Jake_Dragon (edited 04-19-2005).]

Looks like the short was two bad bulbs and a very low battery.
I have to figure out why my head lights dont work right, the left one wont go up and down right. Its not the motor, I think its the relay.
Here is a picture of the hood, its just sitting on the car but it fits pretty good, I have to tweak it some but not bad.

Wow, you saved one!

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John DuRette
Custom 85 "The Eagle has landed" - All four wheels now on the ground; 87 Coupe in the driveway. "Kinda makes you nostalgic for a Members Only jacket"

Test fitting the front bumper
Pretty


I have to swap out the latch from the parts car as this one is messed up.
But getting closer, I may even put in flush lights and dump the popup lights.

[This message has been edited by Jake_Dragon (edited 04-24-2005).]

New windshield was put in today.
Lakeland Auto-Glass did a great job
look how clean it is

Ok here is the installed pictures

Jake,

Great to see your work. Thanks for sharing. I grew up in Lakeland (KHS grad) and I miss the old stomping grounds.

Thanks for the memories... I trashed a few cars there, too.

Andrew

thanks for saving one. oh yeah good job too.

Some cars you get in and just drive. I made a connection with this car and when I was told it was going to be totaled and taken from me it never entered my mind to let that happen. I don’t have it painted yet but driving it is like slipping on a favorite pair of shoes.
Thanks for the encouragement!

From what goes on around around here, I can certainly appreciate your efforts. A Fiero saved is a Fiero earned. Nice work!

Bump just to keep it out of archives so I can post pictures when I get it painted.