bent frame options??

[Guest wildcat65401]

Okay ,

I know this is going to make me really popular . I hit a storm drain cover with my beloved '69 Electra ltd. I've bent the frame . I really love this car and do'nt want to crush it . What are the chances of the car being saved ? The body damage is minimal ! I was only going about 20 or 30 miles an hour . I broke a tie-rod end which took alot of the impact . The oil pan is pretty squashed in . I'm not happy about this and it's my fault but I'd still love to save the car . Any advise ?

Thanks. <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

[Matt Harwood]

A body shop with a frame rack should be able to pull it straight, or at least straight enough so that you dn't have to trash the car. Bent frames used to be a very bad thing, but with modern frame machines, many times they can be saved and pulled back into alignment. You might have to look for a while to find a good place willing to do it on an old car, but they're out there.

Hope this helps.

[BUICK RACER]

Go to HERE and go to the wanted section and see if anyone has an oil pan and the Buy/Sell forum here too. You can change the oil pan in the car, it's not fun, have to take the motor mount bolts out, and loosen the trans mount and jack the engine up with a board on the harmonic balancer and you should be able to get the pan out. Make sure you use a new oil pan gasket, preferrably a one piece version, if you can't find a one piece make sure you put some sealer where the pieces meet at the front cover. Also make sure that the gasket you replace is the same thicknest as the one that comes off, as I found that my Skylark race car had a thicker gasket than the one I used to replace and the engine builder had used longer bolts, Chebbie bolts, and when I ran the car had all kinds of oil leaks from the pan, because the replacement gasket was thinner than the one they used when the engine was put together in the shop. If you don't find an oil pan, please come back here and post on the buy/sell page! Sorry about your kaboom, but we can help!

[Guest wildcat65401]

Thanks Matt & Roberta,

I'm very happy to hear what you both had to say . I was so dissapointed when I wrecked my baby . I spent about two hours apologiseing to the car ! But all will be well again . I'll post some pictures as soon as shes straight .

Thanks, Paul.

[JohnD1956]

How about a parts car, which has a great frame, and motor. I had the entire suspension replaced 6 years ago, front and back, plus the car has factory Duals, and disc brakes. I even have a set of the disc brake road wheels.

The body is in okay condition, straight except for a slight dent in the front fender. And it needs a drivers door which I already have waiting for installation ( which came from Arizona. But it needs a paint job and a good interior. The ONLY reason I even consider selling this car is because just bought a skylark convertible, and now something needs to go.

If interested please contact me off line at jld1972@empireone.net . I think you'd find the price is right and your car and mine would make one nice car.

[rocketraider]

If it was either a raised manhole or open manhole due to street repair and wasn't barricaded, then I think you might have a substantial claim for damages against the local government. Of course, you should have brought it to their attention the day it happened.