Patrick Wheeler wrote:
> My wife was parking the car at work this morning when an East Indian gypsy
> cab driver smashed the front end of our little red Alpine. It is the red
> one in the calendar that Photo Grafx did. The cab driver was trying to pass
> into oncoming traffic as she was swinging over into a parking spot across
> the street. The front fender is totally smashed, but surprisingly the
> driver's door, bonnet, and most of the front end seem OK. The most damage I
> think has happened to the suspension. It was a big American behemoth that
> hit the front tire and drug her a distance. The stearing ball is sheered
> off and the swingarm (I think that is the correct item) has been broken at
> some welds and there appears to be more damage, dings, and dents to the
> front suspension. The tire is at a most cock-eyed angle. Other than a
> slight springing around the windshield, the car otherwise looks OK.
>
> I called the only body shop that I have any trust in and they were not
> interested in even looking at it. Other than just sharing my misery and an
> unsubtle search for sympathy, I have a few questions.
> * How to difficult is it to replace the front fender? I assume that it will
> have to be cut off the
> * What to do about the suspension? If the welds just popped, can they be
> re-welded or do I need an entire new set depending upon other damage?
> * How to find if there is frame damage other than just looking at it?
> * How do I know if this is 'totaled' or if it can be brought back to safe
> driveability.
>
> -Patrick
> '67 SV, Red w/ White top,
> Richmond, CA
>
> p.s.: WAAAAAA-A-A-A-H-H-H-H ! ! ! ! ! !
Patrick:
Sorry to hear of your loss. With regard to steering and suspension parts, no
reputable welder should or would weld them!
(these parts are usually heat-treated during manufacture, and welding destroys
the heat-treating and builds in internal stress
that can lead to cracking, fracturing, and sudden failure). This also applies
to brake parts.
Ron Tebo (journeyman weldor)
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b30 : Tue Sep 05 2000 - 10:35:05 CDT