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914World.com _ 914World Garage _ Not looking Good, advice wanted

Posted by: Eric_Ciampa Aug 17 2004, 12:58 AM

Background to Disaster-- I bought my first (and only 914) about 2 1/2 years ago at 19. I bought it knowing and actually hoping that it would need some work. I wanted to learn to work on it and start a long-lasting project. In fact my now fiancée was one of my first ride and the 914 was the means for most of our dates for the past 2 1/2 years. (we started dating the month after I bought the 914). A year ago I was driving at night around in beautiful northern cal (sac/Tahoe area) when a deer jumped in front of me while I was doing 50. AI thought the car survived the accident amazingly well. No real damage to fenders or any suspension or structural stuff. alignment was still perfect. Long-ways body looked perfect and the only damage seemed to extend onto the hood (completely smashed) and the front of the trunk that was pushed and folded in. Headlights needed work too.

My Situation-- I removed the hood, bumper and all the trim type stuff in front of the windshield and started removing paint and straightening what I could. I modified the hydraulic piston from my floor jack to push out and straighten most of the trunk area but then had to leave for college in SoCal. and it has stayed pretty much the same since I cant work on a car 400 miles away. In January I was engaged to my fiancée and sometime last semester she said that she wanted to drive away in the Porsche after the wedding. So, determined me started thinking how I could do it. I have no Body work experience. I was in summer school and just came home to work a few weeks straight to try to get the car in shape enough to make the drive to SoCal where she has a garage waiting. I was very exited. thought, with the right contacts I could straighten and get it done enough that only I would know seeing as once the hood and bumper are on no one can see the interior trunk.

Bad News--After getting a non op and driving all around I am now faced with pretty gristmill circumstances. the last body shop wanted 3,800 for everything. not in a college student price range. no body shop liked the idea of straightening the metal and leaving the rest to me. I have no equipment or real skills. The consensus was that the car was not worth fixing. A local mechanic suggested getting a rolling chassy and transferring or buying a good car with a blown motor and just swapping. either way I loose my car. and I don’t think i can realistically complete either other option within a year of week trips home. Bottom line… I can justify keeping one project car. But buying another, having two, swapping and building nearly a whole car just does not seem reasonable. Wow I talked a lot. Anyway’s I want your opinion and advice. I will let pic,s do the talking for me. I will take some tomorrow evening and post.

Posted by: McMark Aug 17 2004, 01:19 AM

I hit a deer almost a year ago. http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?act=ST&f=2&t=6018&hl=deer

Without seeing your damage it's hard to say if it's fixable or worth doing. With a year to work I'd say you should shoot for looking right from 10 feet away. You're not going to truly fix it in less than 100 days without experience.

We'll know more when we see the pictures.

Posted by: lagunero Aug 17 2004, 01:50 AM

It seems like you enjoy the challenge of a good project. So the transfer from your goodies to a roller seems like the easiest and safest route to go. If you are in NoCal you are in the best plaace to find a roller or have someone (from the club) help you find one. Once you have one throw a swing..er..I mean a swap party.

Posted by: Eric_Ciampa Aug 20 2004, 12:05 AM

Ok. I have finally got pictures I was a little disapointed in them. try to see them more in 3D. the pictures look so flat it is hard to see how the trunk is pushed in and how bad the damage is.

Her is the front of the car. obviously the bumper and everything but fog lights have been removed.

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Posted by: Eric_Ciampa Aug 20 2004, 12:26 AM

I have had some time to think about it and figured that all I really need is a plave to do some torching and welding on this thing. I just dont think banging t his metal straight is the right way to go I see three basic sections that could be cut from either a doner car or bought new and welded inplace of what I have. 1st I would want new headlight buckets (both). 2nd The front trunk molding in between the headlights and 3rd the supporting brace that forms to the spare tire. If i could get these in pieces or even better all in one piece then I might be able to find someone to just do the welding swap for me. ok that is my new idea. here are more pictures

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Posted by: Eric_Ciampa Aug 20 2004, 12:37 AM

I am using a gt type style front bumper to show the gap that still remains after I pushed most of it out.

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Posted by: McMark Aug 20 2004, 12:44 AM

I'd just go for the whole front clip. Cut off the first two feet of the car and replace them. If you're going to do cutting and welding make it all perfect and replace the whole thing.

Posted by: Eric_Ciampa Aug 20 2004, 12:46 AM

the fenders are still straight. The right side took more damage than the left. Here is the only place that i found damage. it seemed to slightly buckel but it is not bad at all.

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Posted by: McMark Aug 20 2004, 12:50 AM

Maybe cut along the seal channels. Sometimes you have to replace some good with the bad to keep things easy.

Posted by: Eric_Ciampa Aug 20 2004, 12:52 AM

you mean like cutting alont the blue line. also... how much will metal work like this cost? is this going to save me any money?

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Posted by: Eric_Ciampa Aug 20 2004, 11:18 AM

here is a good side shot too. I hate it. from a couple of angles (looking from the rear of course) you cant even tell their is any damage. pisses me off everytime I see the car. Hate deer. If I had a snow plow I would just go driving and pick off all the ones I found wondering in the road. then we will see who wins.

When I hit the deer i was doing about 50 and hit him dead on right between the fenders. In fact I hit him so hard he cleared the top of the car and didnt touch the windshield. I know becaue I had the hop down and saw his body fly over me. I will never forget that.

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Posted by: Jenny Aug 20 2004, 12:40 PM

For what it's worth, I don't think he meant for you car to hit him.

The feeling's mutual. Deers hate 914s too. They told me so.

Jen

Posted by: McMark Aug 20 2004, 12:48 PM

Yeah, you could cut it along that blue line to each seal channel and then down to the front. Call HPH for a price on the front clip or see if someone on here is cutting up a car.

Do you have access to a welder, or are you going to have someone do this work? If you replace one large chunk there is much less cutting and fitting than if you're trying to piece part a bunch of small areas. That blue line replaces all the bent stuff and all the welding seams are easily accessible. If I were doing the replacement, I would quote 35 hours for the large section.

Posted by: mikester Aug 20 2004, 12:57 PM

Sorry about the car luck but it seems like you have a supportive GF - that's certainly a good start.

Replacing the front clip sounds like the easiest thing to do - plus finding a good FRONT side of a 914 is easier than finding a good middle or rear.

Posted by: Eric_Ciampa Aug 20 2004, 01:15 PM

Thanks Jenny, I am sure that deer was not to happy getting its knee's taken out like that I would have felt bad but my car got all my sympathy.
I would not be doing the welding. I do not have the equipment or know how so this would have to be done by someone. I can do/learn all the bondo, primer, prep and paint but I cant do the torching and welding. Better yet I have gone to all the semi local places and not only do they not want to touch it (all insurance claims mostly) but they cant think of anywhere to send me. I got to talk to the owner of one and he is considering taking it on as more of a personal project. I will show him some pictures today.
What exactly is a front clip? I was quessing with that blue line. Does anyone have a picture? I also would like a couple good pictures of a good straight front end that has been striped. I am still trying to get an idea of my options and how bad this really is. thanks...

oh and the # for HPH? So I can introduce myself to brad.

Posted by: Eric_Ciampa Aug 21 2004, 01:25 AM

Ok... the only local body shop came in with an estimate of 2 grand to start for the metal work. not going to happen. I am now serriously looking for a roller with a good straight body. hopefully one that is semi-close to being paint ready. Not a huge budget so every $ saved is a $ that goes back into the car. Send out the word. I am trying to get her close to being done. I really need to have her in SoCal sometime in Sep. I start school on the 8th which means that work time is up so you guys can do the math. I have want ads everywhere so you can find me if you see something that would work