Pics and proof that S-10's dont like Z's

[ZmeFly]

So why do dogs like trucksROFL

well here are the pics it hurt to take them and look at my poor poor car.

anyways heres the link view at your own descretion(sp?)

http://groups.msn.com/240Z1972/damage.msnw

[kmack]

Sorry to hear about the accident James. And it always hurts to look at any wrecked Z. Even in the junkyards!

The damage doesn't look that bad, but it will take some work. Lots of time involved with a spotweld cutter and a hammer and dolly.

My suggestion would be to take it down to a shop that specializes in old car restorations. Your insurance company won't like it because of the money. You won't like it because of the amount of time that'll be involved. To do it right, won't be a quick process. But it can be fixed.

There is a light at the end of tunnel, it just might be a slow walk to get there.

Best wishes....

[EScanlon]

Sadly, there is some hidden damage there that MUST be replaced if you're going to enjoy that car again.

In front and above the bumper mounting bolts there is a rectangular cavity that runs the width of the car. This goes from the right most seam between the cargo floor and the side panel where the plastic interior part mounts to all the way to the left side. This is strictly a reinforcement strut for the cargo area, but it also provides some critical sice to side structure for the Gas tank and rear end mounts.

It is not difficult nor even hard to fix, but you have to know it's there. You can see it's presence and condition by looking at the damage to the spare tire well.

The bumper can be replaced, although good re-chromeable blanks are getting scarcer.

I would definitely take it to a specialty body shop. They'll be the most expensive, but they may be the only ones that can REALLY fix this car.

[dohc]

That's harsh man, but it could be a lot worse. You could have been pushed into another car or even got hurt yourself!

As kmack said, it'll take a bit of time to repair, but it's still definately possible...

Cheers,

R.

[ZmeFly]

that it may not be able to be properly done??

this worries me now becuase i want it to be right and if this guy cant do it right then i dont want the car anymore.

should i take it to a really good shop and have them pay there. i know of a really good shop that does excellent work and have seen several older cars there.

i know the owner personally also. should i go there. is the damage in this area to serious or??

[dohc]

Hey Kmack,

I'm not an expert on body repairs, having only done small work and hidden welding (floor pans of course myself, but I do know from others experience that the rear quarters are the hardest part of any car to repair.

I don't doubt you could find someone who would do a good job and fix her back to new but it will take time, and probably a bit of cash as well. The rear quarters on any car have a stack of spot welds that hold them all together and my understanding is that htey all need to be picked apart, panels straighened and then rewelded together. This is a painful process by all accounts, and then it all has to be smoothed over and painted.....

Good Luck with the repairs, my only advice is to make sure the shop you go to knows what they are doing as this isn't extremely hard, just time consuming and you don't want them cutting corners.....

R.

[2ManyZs]

Being able to do the repair isn't the problem, it's getting it done properly in the first place. If it were my car, I'd take it somewhere that knows what they are doing. Don't take it somewhere that has never seen a Z or worked on older model cars.

The person responsible for the damage should pay for every cent of the damage with no reservations, or else it's time to get nasty!:devious: Two little words will open a lot of checkbooks when you get rear ended like that, and I think you know which ones they are. :classic:

[ZmeFly]

the guy that i know actually has that rear panel. he was going to use it on a repair of a 72 but his damage wasnt as severe.

so he has that rear panel. hes done work to a Z too.

i know this other guy is good but i dont know his knowledge of Z's

seeing a Z's in pa is like seeing a yugo. you just dont

[EScanlon]

Which panel did the guy have? I see 1 panel that definitely needs replacing, the one from the light indent all the way to the valance. The light openings and the top panel for that are possibilities but they look saveable.

The one that will need to be fabricated is an L shaped piece that will go between the spare tire well and the back of the bumper mounting plate. Both of those will need to be pulled back and fix or replace the mounting beam(s)

Mind you, I'm quoting real worst case scenario because I haven't looked at the car proper, just your pictures.

Since the guy you took it to has a correct panel for your vehicle is a good sign but only if he was the one to get it and not by the owner of the other car that was in there getting fixed. Why not ask the shop for the number of the guy who had the 240z fixed and ask him his opinion of the shop? That might be the best clue and / or information. Don't feel bad asking for references, you ARE hiring him to do work for you, that makes you the boss.

The key thing is that it IS repairable. Is it a nasty hit in a hard to fix area, unfortunately yes. A good body man can either straighten or replace the metal involved. A good chunk of it just needs straightening, but again it depends on the skill and time available from a good body man. So the key question in all this, is who is paying for it?

Keep us posted.