Wrecked front end... looking to repair myself

[eemichael83]

Ok, here's the scoop. I've been trying to find a close replacement to the '88 I had about 9 years ago. The hardest part has been trying to find one in the Dark Blue Pearl that is also 5spd and targa. Well i've found an '89 that fits the bill (turbo) within a couple hour drive. The problem is that it has a damaged front end. The great news is that I think it is mostly cosmetic... it still RUNS AND DRIVES, still holds all fluids, etc. I'm not 100% sure if it is straight but the guy says that it seems to drive straight. I've asked him to steer in both directions to see if it steers the same both ways and to try and jack up the front end and take a few pics underneath and am waiting to get that info this weekend.

So the question is really coming down to how to begin replacing the body panels. I've located another '89 that is a diff color with a blown headgasket nearby that I could go pick up and swap body panels and maybe some other things like the radiator, fan, etc. I was wanting to know some opinions on this job and where a good place to start would be... whats the best way to replace these panels? Things like that. I'll get some pics of the damage up shortly. Thanks in advance.

 

[hvyman]

i think you should buy one in good running condition with bad paint and just re-paint to the color you like. dark blue is kinda rare to me as i never usually see that color.

 

[eemichael83]

Here are the only pics I have at this time of the car. It is still high gloss, its just got a lot of dust and dirt settled on it.

 

[eemichael83]

i think you should buy one in good running condition with bad paint and just re-paint to the color you like. dark blue is kinda rare to me as i never usually see that color.

Well I've been looking at that option too, but the tempting part is that I think I can pick this thing up for ~$800 and the one I saw with a blown head gasket is white with same color interior and are only asking $600 (could probably pick it up for $400-500) then it would cost much to have the hood, bumper and front corner panels repainted to match.

 

[hvyman]

if you can fix the damage more too ya but i for one would rather have a zero accident car than a totaled car cause basically all they do now with our cars is total them if they have a accident.

 

[eemichael83]

if you can fix the damage more too ya but i for one would rather have a zero accident car than a totaled car cause basically all they do now with our cars is total them if they have a accident.

I dont really have a problem with the salvage/rebuilt status. I had a '99 Solara that was totaled 6 months after it was produced... we drove it for 9 years with zero problems... just had to change the oil.

 

[*james*]

Is the radiator support bent in that picture it's hard to tell, if so I would wait for one that has less damage or none at all. If I remember right our cars are worth around 2-4k in good condition. At a shop, to change a radiator support it is an 8hr job, anywhere from 50-70 dollars an hr. for labor. The part itself, I'm not sure. Then you have paint, paint labor, and the rest of the parts damaged can add up fast. It looks like it could be totaled from the pics. Can you get any better pictures of the damage? If you know what you are doing, then go for it. We can't make decisions for you, only our opinions! Save yourself time and money and buy one with less damage. Other things could be damaged also, you can't just take his word for it unless you have seen/driven it.

 

[hvyman]

what pics? lol i havnt seen anything or is t just me? look for a good car, basically and crash on our cars = total and for the money you can find a clean stock mk3 for the same as a restored crashed mk3.

 

[karlmk3]

idk if you know body work but that car is a night mare and honistly i would not do that let alone touch that car to restore . your looking at dumping alot of money into that car before even doing and upgrades or basic mait on the engine buy one prep it and paint it. if you do the prep work yourself you will save a ton ofmoney on the paint. i myself have spent the last few weeks preping my car for a moter swap and new paint my lady dad does paint. i am going black and using a great clear coat and making sure it will be brand spanking new with paint and all the materials and clear coat cost is only 450. but if you dont know some one that can paint add labor. but what i am trying to say is get one good body moter then paint with a lil work and lots of sanding youll have your car

 

[*james*]

what pics? lol i havnt seen anything or is t just me?

He did include pics in post #3.

look for a good car, basically and crash on our cars = total and for the money you can find a clean stock mk3 for the same as a restored crashed mk3.

I agree, you will end up regretting that, you get what you pay for. You could be lucky like my friend and spend 450 (the guy didn't think it started). All he did was plug in the coil and it fired, it had bhg though, and some body work gone bad on the qaurters, everything else wasn't too bad for the price. I bought mine for 1600, supposedly had a rod knock, drove up to WI paid cash, drove it home, raced an eclipse also. No rod knock, bhg though, the rest is pretty clean. You get the idea, spend 3-4k (what you will end up putting into a wrecked one) and you could find a really good deal.