Accident -- Bent frame... UPDATE: Got an estimate!
05-31-2003, 11:57 PM
#31
Three Wheelin'
Sorry to hear about your accident Adrial. That damage really does not look to bad in my non professional opinion. Either way I hope it works out for you and you get back on track quickly.
06-01-2003, 12:05 AM
#32
Good thing the insurance is covering it, and that there's hope of no major damage. Most importantly, good thing noone was hurt!
Just looked at the pictures...yeah, I'd say those tires were pretty darn bald...
Just looked at the pictures...yeah, I'd say those tires were pretty darn bald...
06-01-2003, 05:53 AM
#33
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<img src="http://boards.rennlist.com/upload/oops.jpg" alt=" - " />
If this is the passenger rear of the sunroof (the roof is stronger than I thought) it looks like you have bent the passenger side rear half of the car over towards the drivers rear side of the car, while in front of the middle of the door it's still straight.
Measure the gaps at the rear of the doors while closed, if the passenger side gaps are larger than the drivers side gaps the rear half of the car has been knocked over towards the drivers side.
As far as the hatch, I'd just try to eyeball it for the same problem, if it bent to that side the hinges won't let the pins line up correctly (still lined up in the front but not the rear), or maybe (but not likely) the impact caused the rear at the hatch pin area to be squeezed together so that the pins won't line up to the holes.
Another thing to look for even though it's a lot of trouble is a wrinkle in the floor/hatch area.
I think that Shaun would have a good eye for this.
HTH, it shows how bad things can go in just split second.
If this is the passenger rear of the sunroof (the roof is stronger than I thought) it looks like you have bent the passenger side rear half of the car over towards the drivers rear side of the car, while in front of the middle of the door it's still straight.
Measure the gaps at the rear of the doors while closed, if the passenger side gaps are larger than the drivers side gaps the rear half of the car has been knocked over towards the drivers side.
As far as the hatch, I'd just try to eyeball it for the same problem, if it bent to that side the hinges won't let the pins line up correctly (still lined up in the front but not the rear), or maybe (but not likely) the impact caused the rear at the hatch pin area to be squeezed together so that the pins won't line up to the holes.
Another thing to look for even though it's a lot of trouble is a wrinkle in the floor/hatch area.
I think that Shaun would have a good eye for this.
HTH, it shows how bad things can go in just split second.
06-01-2003, 06:14 AM
#34
Nordschleife Master
Unibody design, not frame; may be okay, with the right people doing the work.
Best of luck and just good mechanics on this.
- Julie
Best of luck and just good mechanics on this.
- Julie
06-01-2003, 12:42 PM
#35
Looking at your pics, yours is a lot worse than mine, and I think you are going to have some problems with your insurance adjuster. Be prepared to fight for it... Its not that the car can't be saved, but I bet the adjuster isn't going to want to deal with it, and you WILL need a top notch shop to get the car properly straightened.
Go in with some documents that show what your car is worth ahead of time, it will make it a lot easier.
Good luck!
Go in with some documents that show what your car is worth ahead of time, it will make it a lot easier.
Good luck!
06-01-2003, 02:23 PM
#37
Nordschleife Master
Thread Starter
Triscadek, that was actually a picture of the driver side by the sunroof. But thats not a big deal. I would say the back half of the car is bent towards the driver side.
The photo that shows a little dimple type dent is of the passanger side, which is the side that it hit on.
I'll try to accurately measure the door gaps.
sh944, Again, at least I know where I stand. I will go in with receipts for my recent $7,000 service as well as the huge book of receipts from the PO...and the Excellence value guide.
Everybody, I've heard of people here having their cars totalled by insurance and then buying them back and keeping them with a salvage title?? Is there any problem to keeping this car as a street/track car with a bent chassis if we can get a good wheel alignment on it?
Thanks for the kind words everybody!
The photo that shows a little dimple type dent is of the passanger side, which is the side that it hit on.
I'll try to accurately measure the door gaps.
sh944, Again, at least I know where I stand. I will go in with receipts for my recent $7,000 service as well as the huge book of receipts from the PO...and the Excellence value guide.
Everybody, I've heard of people here having their cars totalled by insurance and then buying them back and keeping them with a salvage title?? Is there any problem to keeping this car as a street/track car with a bent chassis if we can get a good wheel alignment on it?
Thanks for the kind words everybody!
06-01-2003, 02:40 PM
#38
Rennlist Member
Adrial, sorry to hear about this. I have a good friend who owns a reputable body shop in kearny. He was the body shop manager for JMK BMW for 11 yrs before he started his own business last yr. He is very very good and has the same people from JMK working for him.
Mention him that I sent you and he will take care of you. He is currently working a 996 as well so he knows Porsches. He has a jog and should have no problem doing this.
Send me an email offline and I will give you his contact information. Email me directly and I will give you my number and call me.
Raj
Mention him that I sent you and he will take care of you. He is currently working a 996 as well so he knows Porsches. He has a jog and should have no problem doing this.
Send me an email offline and I will give you his contact information. Email me directly and I will give you my number and call me.
Raj
06-02-2003, 02:02 AM
#41
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i know you probably wont want to come out to the island but there is a good body shop that does frame straightening etc. in huntington. they do alot of high end cars bmw, porsche, mercedes etc. they are the guys painting my bmw this month and doing all the body work for my shop from now on.
06-02-2003, 03:26 AM
#42
Three Wheelin'
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ugh, i dont really come here daily anymore but sheesh, its never a sunny day on the 944 board is it?
sorry to hear 'bout your accident Adrial, hope you get it all straightened out (pun intended?) . Seriously, im sure itll be fine.
And.. just like a few other people said, it has motivated me to change my tires, cuz.. yea.. in the wet im pretty much at the mercy of the rain gods..
good luck.
sorry to hear 'bout your accident Adrial, hope you get it all straightened out (pun intended?) . Seriously, im sure itll be fine.
And.. just like a few other people said, it has motivated me to change my tires, cuz.. yea.. in the wet im pretty much at the mercy of the rain gods..
good luck.
06-02-2003, 10:41 AM
#43
Race Director
Adrial, I am saddened by your accident: I know how much this car means to you, and how you enjoy it.
Powertech in Rockaway has a alignment machine: I don't think they have a frame machine, but they can recommend a good shop that can help you.
Good luck! Let us know the prognosis.
-Z.
Powertech in Rockaway has a alignment machine: I don't think they have a frame machine, but they can recommend a good shop that can help you.
Good luck! Let us know the prognosis.
-Z.
06-02-2003, 11:55 AM
#44
Adrial,. Real sorry to hear about this. Why do bad things happen to good Porsche owners?
Anyway, you can try to look at the bright side. Now you have an excuse to go with all fiberglass panels, it may even be cheaper then having someone straiten them out.
And if your chassis is bent, then that makes two of us. I just hope we’re bent in opposite directions, so we don’t run into each other at the track.
Good Luck
Anyway, you can try to look at the bright side. Now you have an excuse to go with all fiberglass panels, it may even be cheaper then having someone straiten them out.
And if your chassis is bent, then that makes two of us. I just hope we’re bent in opposite directions, so we don’t run into each other at the track.
Good Luck
06-02-2003, 12:54 PM
#45
Nordschleife Master
Thread Starter
Dan, whats the name and number of the shop?
I dont think I'll end up going there, but its always nice to have options!
I'm gonna bring the car by the shop that Raj (968turboS) recommended.
Simon, yeah...it stinks...definetely go ahead and change your tires!! thanks
Zoltan, Thanks...yeah there were plenty of good times sideways around the autocross course...and plenty more doing it the right way with a lot less sideways. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" /> Can't forget the Drivers Ed either! Or cruising on the streets. Hopefully the cost to repair will be minimal, insurance won't be too happy with paying $10,000 to repair it...Thanks for the shop recommendation, but first I'm gonna see how it goes tomorow with Raj's guy.
I'm glad I had the autox/DE experience to at least have a chance at saving it...I dont remember if I did the right thing. All I can clearly remember is clutch in and hard on the brakes at some point, I believe it was after the car was most of the way around. Anything before that is fuzzy. So at least my experience in spinning allowed me to get on the clutch and prevent the engine from getting spun backwards. But I can say this much...it's a lot different when it suddenly, unexpectedly happens compared to at an autocross or DE where I'm kind of expecting it.
John, Well, bad things happen to good Porsche owners that drive with bald tires in the rain.
Either the chassis or the suspension is bent enough to the point that the passanger side rear tire was rubbing against the wheel well...I hope its the suspension and the dents on the body were caused by the bottom of the quarter panel by the valence smacked into the angled part of the divider. We shall see!
How badly is your chassis bent? If mine is indeed bent, we may just fix it enough to get a good alignment on the car and be done with it...but we'll see.
I'll post tomorow after I know more...
I dont think I'll end up going there, but its always nice to have options!
I'm gonna bring the car by the shop that Raj (968turboS) recommended.
Simon, yeah...it stinks...definetely go ahead and change your tires!! thanks
Zoltan, Thanks...yeah there were plenty of good times sideways around the autocross course...and plenty more doing it the right way with a lot less sideways. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" /> Can't forget the Drivers Ed either! Or cruising on the streets. Hopefully the cost to repair will be minimal, insurance won't be too happy with paying $10,000 to repair it...Thanks for the shop recommendation, but first I'm gonna see how it goes tomorow with Raj's guy.
I'm glad I had the autox/DE experience to at least have a chance at saving it...I dont remember if I did the right thing. All I can clearly remember is clutch in and hard on the brakes at some point, I believe it was after the car was most of the way around. Anything before that is fuzzy. So at least my experience in spinning allowed me to get on the clutch and prevent the engine from getting spun backwards. But I can say this much...it's a lot different when it suddenly, unexpectedly happens compared to at an autocross or DE where I'm kind of expecting it.
John, Well, bad things happen to good Porsche owners that drive with bald tires in the rain.
Either the chassis or the suspension is bent enough to the point that the passanger side rear tire was rubbing against the wheel well...I hope its the suspension and the dents on the body were caused by the bottom of the quarter panel by the valence smacked into the angled part of the divider. We shall see!
How badly is your chassis bent? If mine is indeed bent, we may just fix it enough to get a good alignment on the car and be done with it...but we'll see.
I'll post tomorow after I know more...