Lady decided to shoot across two lanes from a stop - slammed on brakes and collided with her (yea I know that's not the fastest way to stop, was panic braking) and got the below damage. Seems my car was too low for the SUV and my bumper didn't really make contact; though the top did. Looks like the frame (and thus the bracket holding the top of the bumper) is pushed back about half an inch to an inch and kind of squashed compared to the other side. I suspect insurance is going to total the car again (last time I got rear-ended and repaired the damage myself, I swear I'm a target).

How does one go about fixing something like this? Quality time with a sledge hammer? Or is it time to start over?

It's hard to say with all the body work on it still.but I had a similar accident which beyond the hood bumper and fender I had to weld in a radiator support and headlight bucket in the corner that got hit. If it comes to that Mike's fiero parts(mikesautodeals on ebay) saved my ass with a clean front structure cut and various bits a peices to get my car back to this....

In a Very Short story...
You or Her Insurance Co is likely to "Total" the car.
The car will be owned by the I-Co If you sign off any doc.

Because that may seem small to fix by many but Body Shop will want way over $1000 for car worth maybe $2000-4000 in NADA and other "books."
Most Body Shops won't touch anything > ~ 20 or older cars because very hard to get good parts that doesn't need extra work to use it. Most don't go to junk yards either to find parts and most Yards don't have old cars to start with.

You could "Buy Back" the "Totaled" car but in many states you will get a Salvage Title and Very Hard to get that on the road again. Example: Many states require you to Pass a Special Inspection that need all doc's for parts etc because often involves State Police.

So If you're going to fix it... make sure you read everything any I-co puts in front of you and understand State Rules to Restore a Total.

Many "BuyBback" a "Total" and use as parts to fix another car w/ Clean Title because of above but must have place to keep it. HOA, City, County, etc, often have rules on parked cars even on private property, more so when car is disable or not tagged for any reason.

You could refuse to Total but often have other problems and may include HOA etc rules for disable cars.

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Dr. Ian Malcolm: Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should.
(Jurassic Park)

The Ogre's Fiero Cave

[This message has been edited by theogre (edited 09-04-2022).]

at a quick glance, I would think a frame machine and a competent technician could fix it. but how much they would charge is a crap shoot. insurance totaled my Suburban what I was sideswiped by a drunk, florida issued a salvage title, when I moved to SC, I transferred the title to SC, and they didn't care at all, so location will make a big difference on whether or not it's going to require a state inspection to be road legal.

The Fiero Farm in SC has a ton of body panels available, Todd is also a super good dude to deal with. he's near Charleston, SC.

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"I am not what you so glibly call to be a civilized man. I have broken with society for reasons which I alone am able to appreciate. I am therefore not subject to it's stupid laws, and I ask you to never allude to them in my presence again."

I invited Lou Dias to trash me in my own thread, he refused. sorry. if he trashes your thread going after me. I tried.

quote Originally posted by Chaddiesel: It's hard to say with all the body work on it still.

IMG tag has the view with the bumper/hood removed. Doesn't look nearly as bad as yours.

How do the doors look after the accident?
(I.e. gaps/ spacing around the door opening)
Doors close ok?
How is steering and alignment now?
I’m not an expert in body damage.
Just trying to determine how far back the damage went.
Kit

quote Originally posted by Kitskaboodle: How do the doors look after the accident? (I.e. gaps/ spacing around the door opening) Doors close ok? How is steering and alignment now? I’m not an expert in body damage. Just trying to determine how far back the damage went. Kit

Tank, that is a shame, what happened to your car. But these are the exact kind of questions to be asking to determine extent of damage. I looked at your 'panels off' pictures, but it is hard to tell how much the areas are folded up. Perhaps someone on the Forum could post pics of what those areas are supposed to look like on a normal Fiero?? Another way is to ask for measurements: e.g. distance from this bolt hole to that end bracket, where you suspect something is crushed or bent.

As for pulling out minor frame/sheet metal damage, you can do a lot with a come-along and a tree. Stubborn bends can be pulled out adding some heat and a bigger hammer. I think everybody probably agrees that Insurance will total your car, otherwise.

quote Originally posted by Kitskaboodle: How do the doors look after the accident? (I.e. gaps/ spacing around the door opening) Doors close ok? How is steering and alignment now? I’m not an expert in body damage. Just trying to determine how far back the damage went. Kit

Everything else appears to be fine - doors close, side fenders seem to be aligned correctly, drove it home and the alignment seemed just fine.

By the time we hit I was probably down to about 15mph or so. I guess I'll just end up playing with the sheet metal to see if I can coax it all into shape - I really think the only thing out of alignment is the top of the frame that holds those torx bolts that fasten the top of the bumper.

Bambi got my front right headlight (was up at the dark time) and that corner of the "hood". The owner of the shop which fixed my 1988 GT said it was, for all practical purposes, impossible to repair the hood front right corner - the narrow margin around the headlight rectangle would never be the same strength. I looked around and found a junk yard replacement. Somehow he sanded, finished, did his magic and all's well now.

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John W. Tilford