body damage

[j1rm]

heh heh, thanks, i went to the guy that originally fixed up my chassis

[Kenji Kamuro]

Idk I may just buy a new chassis off a friend. I was offered $700 for it and it's been pretty much completely stripped. Oh and thanks for the advice about the shifter knob, but it kinda doesn't do me much good, I have an "autotragic" x.x

[Z_Fanatic]

Its an autotragic?! All the more reason to get another different one, a manuel one... TT perhaps?

[dozug]

you can sell me your automatic shifter to me. i need them

[WAM_Z32]

wow! 1200. where did you get your car fixed, seems like you got played, my cousin crashed my 240 on the 22freeway into a honda accord, smashed my bumper in, bent the hood half way up, bent my intake, cracked my radiator, bent my head light and twisted the front frame for the hood latch, got it all fixed for 450, and if you read in the earlier part of this youll read my other damage to the 240

Went to the best body shop in the area. You can look down my Z and couldent tell its ever been damaged. And it was about the same price as all the others

[jdubs]

that's at least 1500 dollars of damage. I had a project car with the same damage, but less severe and that's what I was quoted by several shops.

I ended up selling mine after realizing it was too expensive, but someone else apparently fixed it.

They will have to cut and weld and the alignment might not be correct after. These cars are unibody and when you mess up the rocker/lower quarter panels they are tricky to get back in place.

Id say depending on mileage it is totaled and you're looking at 2K ,conservatively, to get it back to what it was.

[Kenji Kamuro]

Yeah, I figured close to 2k. I know a guy who owns a bodyshop, I'm gonna see what he says, see if I can get him to make me a deal. He does excellent paint and body, so I may see if he'll "sponsor" me in a sense. Basically see if he'll give me a discount by getting good paint and body work done and let him plaster a decal across my front and rear windshield. I'm also hoping he'll cut me a deal because I'll furnish all the parts for him.

Think it's a good idea?

[Sgt]

Worth a shot.

[Kenji Kamuro]

I dearly hope my shot in the dark will give birth to a new star to shine light down upon my darkened path....

[WAM_Z32]

I dearly hope my shot in the dark will give birth to a new star to shine light down upon my darkened path....

Dude...its kinda just some body damage...

[Kenji Kamuro]

Yes, but my z32 is one of the two most important things in my life. The first being my girl Emily, and the second being Eve, the car, I don't think I would last very long without either, besides, I recently lost my job so my life savings is going toward fixing my Eve.

[Kenji Kamuro]

Besides the damage is enough to keep the door from opening. So it is kinda serious, and without any income, $2,000 might as well be $20,000.

[NissanFairladyZ32]

I dearly hope my shot in the dark will give birth to a new star to shine light down upon my darkened path....

Dont go emo on us

[Kenji Kamuro]

Yeah, sorry 'bout that, I've been getting a little too poetic here lately, but still this is very upsetting for me. I've just lost my baby (car). Like I said she is the second most important thing in my life, I'm even considering trying to get a loan to get her fixed. x.x

[j1rm]

Its an autotragic?! All the more reason to get another different one, a Manuel one... TT perhaps?

i didnt know they had a Mexican Z, hahaha!

[Kenji Kamuro]

Lol, least someone brought a little humor to this thread. ^.^ Well, I'm calling my body shop tonight, hope they can come out and take a look. Would drive her there, but I've got a large hole in her radiator (more damage from the crash), and a dead battery.

So now that everything is set in motion, I just have to wait and see what life throws my way.

[danielraul1989]

Guy if your still suffering about this, buy a Z Shell, with a decent exterior pay little mind to the interior ($1000) I found a 2+2 91 for 800, Spend a nice weekend or two swapping the interior including steering and dash as these components are the ones you develop the most sentimentality to. a good engine swap N/A I'm hoping should run 850. Any other part of the car that you can salvage and move over to the shell do it, Exterior body parts especially hood, fenders, bumpers, and tail lights whatever was not damaged in the accident. If you park the cars side by side you'll notice that your car needs a paint job and has a perfect frame. On a plus side it's not a rebuilt. If it's a TT you're screwed

[Kenji Kamuro]

Yeah, I'm still suffering from this. I lost my job a while back, might be getting hired on at a local Kroger (don't want to work there but I need money). Yeah you are right though, if I could find a nice clean workable shell in my area for under a grand I'd have it in a heartbeat, swap out my interior, engine and mods, as well as my kit (which needs some repairs). The kit swap would be the worst for me though, as it was a custom job, seamless fender/bumper. I may have to kiss my 1/4 windows good bye if I'd get a shell and swap though, something I'd rather not but they are a pita to swap out. Thank you all though, Nico is a wonderfull place, with many kind hearts.

[nissanracer300zx]

Your car does not look that bad just replace the door and take it to a body shop they will take out the damage out. If I were you I would not involve the insurance they will give it a salvage title and or make it worse. Is there a pull when driving your Z32 on the road? You said you were in the accident at 30 mph and hit the other car, at 30 mph that is not bad at all if it was 50 mph or more the car would of been worse. On my Z32 it was hit from the back which damaged the rear bumper and the tail lights and the frame was damaged near it, the damage was fixed which was not that expensive. What you need is get estimates from your local body shops. Then your Z32 will be rolling again.

[Kenji Kamuro]

Yeah, I suppose it doesn't LOOK too bad, until you try to open the door and realize that you can't. I'm not sure how badly the frame damage is, but I can't involve insurance anyway, I had liability, and technically it was my fault since my car collided with his. Soon as I can make some cash and replace the radiator (also damaged due to a loose secondary radiator unit) I'll have her mobile again, and get better estimates. Right now though from a friend of mine I'm looking at roughly $1200+ for body without paint, but I know some people who can do the paint for a decent price. (I've got friends at many local body shops)

As far as swaping out the door, would it be possible for me to swap the lock cylinder only, seeing as how my door handle assembly was damaged in the accident.

[nissanracer300zx]

You can swap the door lock cylinder from that defective unit to a door that is not damaged. Is there a pull when you drive your car in the road?

[Kenji Kamuro]

Yeah she pulls, to the right a bit, I have to turn the wheel about 1/16-1/8 or a turn to the left to keep her straight, I'm pretty sure the upper rear control arm is bent, I'm not sure though.

[nissanracer300zx]

If its bent just replace it and get a alignment to correct any errors.

[carcrazyguy]

Yeah she pulls, to the right a bit, I have to turn the wheel about 1/16-1/8 or a turn to the left to keep her straight, I'm pretty sure the upper rear control arm is bent, I'm not sure though.

If you have even slight pull, you are talking big $$$ because Z32's come from the factory without front camber/caster adjustment...and have a totally "fixed" rear. In other words, you can't "cheat" using alignment tweaking to eliminate slight pulling as you would in most vehicles. Of course some (redneck) shop might resort to slotting techniques, bending of the strut towers, etc. Such techniques are usually done by "rebuilders" and often employed by used car lots...but not a good idea if you actually want to keep your car indefinitely. So expect to fix anything bent or out of spec...and expect frame time too - if there is any damage to it. In other words, BIG $, as any frame shop worth it's salt is $175-200 per hour...and it usually takes them two hours just to get started...

Also, I am sure this will be an unpopular statement, but if you are still unemployed, and at best are expecting to get, say, a sub $12 per hour job, a Z32 isn't a good choice. But if you feel you must stay with your Z...I second what some of the others touched on, you could just buy a typical (less than perfect) 90 NA for $2000-3000, part this one out, putting anything the new car needs from the old car on it...and come out fairly close to breaking even. Then you will only need to worry about how to pay the new insurance premiums or how you will fill the tank with 93 when it hits $4 + this summer, lol.

[Kenji Kamuro]

Aye, I'm fully aware of the z32 suspension, but I don't plan on fixing the alignment anytime soon, just body work. I'm getting powertrix adjustable control arms before I even think about alignment (but in due time). I'm sure I'll have to pay out the *** for this to be fixed, but seeing as I have absolutly no other bills to pay, this job I'm supposed to be getting will help tremendously. I have no problem with gas right now, seeing as the local QT's 93 octane is still under $2.00/gal. I am aware that summer will drive up prices, but I'll manage as long as I can get my car fixed before then. Oh and when it comes time for alignment, I will be doing that myself, I have access to high quality equipment for that sort of work (Thank you Auto tech.). As far as the money goes, if I can work it out with my possible future employer, I'll be working the night shift which comes with a decent raise(~$11.00/hr). Oh and I've already had all my insurance issues dealt with, since it was a weather related accident and my first one, my premiums are not raising, and I do not have to pay the deductable. Only thing I have to pay for is the damage done to my vehicle.

[carcrazyguy]

1. I don't plan on fixing the alignment anytime soon, just body work. I'm getting powertrix adjustable control arms before I even think about alignment (but in due time).

2. As far as the money goes, if I can work it out with my possible future employer, I'll be working the night shift which comes with a decent raise(~$11.00/hr).

1. You will likely be running through tires quickly. On top if that, there is nothing more annoying that a car that pulls. In other words, I would fix the mechanical damage well before cosmetic if I had to choose (but would do neither in this case, to be honest). Also, a control arm will not be able to cure the problem (most likely)...and would be the last thing I would be considering at this point assuming you are thinking of getting one for the purpose it was meant rather than a band-aid for suspension damage.

2. What I meant was that you will still not be able to keep the Z up properly (true Z32 preventive maintenance on top of operating costs) assuming you actually do others things with your potential/future $400 net a week (like eat, go out, buy clothes, etc)....especially after you dump $2000-4000 to get it back as before. But then again, some just drive their Z and fix things when/if they break...not before. If that is your MO, you may prove me wrong and sneak by Murphy's Law...but I feel for the next owner of the car.

In hindsight, the best money spent would have been a $1000 winter beater and this all could have been avoided...which would have paid for itself in fuel savings...and the Z would benefit from it too. But I was young once too, and I remember that logic was no fun, and I wanted nothing to do with it at the time, lol.

[Kenji Kamuro]

Yeah I realize that it will be hell on my tires at first, but if it is just a bent control arm that I can replace with an adjustable, then I can wait another month after fixing the body damage and making it to where it doesn't rain in my car (seeing as how I have no garage, it sits outside with a bag on the window). And yeah I know you are right about getting a winter beater, which I may do after these repairs, and saving a little cash, but as I said all in due time. Right now I have reliable transport, so the tire wear is pretty much nonexistant. But I'm focusing mostly on the body work, due to the fact that I have sharp edges exsposed to the tire as well as no window, and no possibility of a new window without a new door (window tracks are bent too badly on the inside), as well as the fact that the door is permanently stuck until I can repair all the damage. At that point I may begin driving her again, but most likely not until I fix the suspension, which hopefully is just the control arm (positive thinking FTW). Once all is fixed, I'll then begin preventative maintainance. As for right now, as I stated earlier, I have absolutly no bills other than that for the work to be done on the car (Ie. I don't spend money on clothes, I wear what I have and do not need new clothes, I don't go out to eat, and still live with parents, therefor I have no utility bills or food bills) so all in all, every last red cent I earn is going toward the car, whether it be maintainance, gas, or insurance (which I also do not have to worry about for another year).

[carcrazyguy]

I guess times are a little different: The bulk of my funds when in high school/college/early 20's went for girls, beer, or anything indirectly related to those things. In other words, the last thing I would have needed at that time was a money-pit / time-hog car like a Z32. Actually, in retrospect, I am glad they were still too expensive for me high then, lol...as the things took my time and money then were "priceless".

To put forward a "glass half full scenario", at least you will be keeping one more Z on the road. Just ask those old timers about all of the 68 Camaros they wish were still around. Bet the Z will be the same way...especially considering their current rate of demise.

[flashstar]

These cars are perhaps one of the mostly costly types to maintain. Just preventative maintenance (like replacing o2 sensors) adds up really quickly. If you aren't spending thousands a year on maintenance (assuming you have much of the work done at a shop), you are not keeping up with wear and tear. For example, on my Z I thought that I had fixed my idle problem when I cleaned the IACV valve, but it turned out that the fuel filter was incredibly clogged. Even after changing that, there are still some fluctuations in idle speed and my gas mileage is really poor so I know that there are still some problems left. Before this, I noticed that my radiator fan had a ton of cracks in it so I needed to replace that really soon. You should be constantly fixing/ maintaining things on your Z. You can't rely on a shop or dealership to diagnose and fix everything.

[Kenji Kamuro]

Yeah, at first I thought that all throughout highschool I'd be spending cash nonstop on chicks and parties too, lol but I learned quickly that not everyone is reliable. Chicks will come and go. And you only borrow beer, so I decided to spend my money on something that will be more usefull and hopefully stay with me for a long time. So I got the car that I fell in love with. She's been my family and friend since I got her, and she's been more usefull than just a vehicle. And since I have access to an excellent auto shop, I do most of my maintainance and mechanical work.

Thank you though, I don't plan on letting another Z leave the road, not as long as it is in my hands. These cars are too beautiful to be lost in the sands of time. The least I can do is revive some of her dead friends by putting parts of them back on the road when one of her parts breaks.

To Flashstar, did you ever completely fix the problem? My Eve had an eratic idle while coasting to a stop near the 15-20mph range. I cleaned my intake piping, air filter, and throttle bodies, and it stopped for a little while, but came back shortly before the crash. If you fixed it can you tell me what the problem was so I can fix that when I get her body work done?

Oh and BTW Eve has gotten me some priceless moments and great memories, I thank her everyday for how happy she's made me. She helped bring me my girl.