Well i'm back from the frame shop. The tow and camber are out due to a bent "knuckle" (spindle) and lower control arm combo. I will also need a passenger side door and the 1/4 straightened out with a frame straightener. I have locally all the parts I need for $750, that's a lower control arm, a knuckle, a complete door and a phone dial rim. Is this a good price? I'm thinking I could get the lower control arm/knuckle some place cheaper but this is local and he's givin me a killer deal on the rim. If I pick up the front end like I had planned I'll get an even better deal. With the straightening and painting I'll need and all that it seems I'll be in at $1500 and I'll be 100% fixed. That's what I'm figuring on, we'll see how it goes.

 

that will be great if you can get it fixed without spending more than the ins. co. will give you!

 

Quarterpanels are very tough to fix on these cars. I didn't see a pic of the damage in your album, but if the quarter took a good whack, it's a very tough job to get all of the creases and compound curves right. I hate to say it, but I'd be skeptical that all you described can get done at that price. If you decide to go ahead, be sure that you get a look at the body work before the bondo "skim coat" goes on and that you have confidence in the prep work and products used, or you may have to contend with significant cracking and rust issues.

 

If you're not sure, I'm probably being sarcastic. It's my default.

 

Well I got back from the body shops. Quotes ranged from $5000-9000 depending on whether I supply parts or not, that's the frame and everything else getting fixed. Damn that seems like a lot. Well in any event I promised pictures so here they are ...

http://photobucket.com/albums/v479/mango83/Accident/

and a pic or two

 

Are you fixing it, or have you not decided yet?

 

Why does that car have an early dash and late offset phonedials? Are there spacers on there or do the wheels really recede into the wells?

 

Good question tifo. I didn't look at the interior pictures. I thought it was a late car based on the wheels.

That's sad, your car gets 5000-9000 in damage, and theirs needs a new bumper!

 

very sad, whoever says plastic is crap... can just look at this result! I have spacers on the front and rear, the studs are jusssssssst long enough (8-9 turns on the nuts) that they work. I haven't decided if I'm gonna fix it or not, the local used euro parts dealer whom I'm good buds with said he couldn't give me more than $1500 for the entire car. To fix the thing right it's going to be a minimum $5000, 2500 of which min. will be outta my pocket. Where do you stop with a car though? I've got about $1000 into it and it cost me $3000. So I can take a 2500 dollar loss now or a 3000 dollar loss when i sell it after the fresh paint and all that in about a year or so, or do I fix the bent suspension, pull everything so it at least works.. and call it my "beater" ?

 

Take the loss now and move on. take the 1500 plus the 2500 you would have to add and get a clean 4000 car.

 

Tom, I appreciate your input.. a lot of ppl will tell you to fix the car no matter what but on my modest, starving-student budget it's going to be tough. IF insurance decides i'm 100% liable then looks like it'll be that route. if it's 50/50 I think I might just take the cash and sell the car anyhow. I'm sure for $4500 u.s I can find a decent 944 no?