Anyone good at fixing this??? Sad end...

[Sigma Projects]

Damn that sucks, even with the police report saying it's not your fault?

If you have the space doing the painting on your own can be fun and rewarding. The body work looks like it needs a professional.

[1933beer]

If the tapped you from behind he is at fault. You should get something from his insurance company. If you can find a donor it would've the best fix but much more than having the panel pulled. What makes the repair more complicated is it is on the side of the gas filler. A local guy is selling a car identical to yours for 9k with a 100k on the clock. I don't know where you live but a Celica in nice condition that is rust free is rare.

I would say with a full respray and work 7 to 9k to fix and you find the parts.

[cknowles3]

Just a quick update... the folks that have been looking at it.. ever so slowly... told me that the frame is bent near the front right tire and it will have to be pulled.  I haven't even looked at it since the wreck really, but will get over there to take some pics.  I don't know what's involved in pulling a frame or how bad off it is, but it's gotta be fixed.  Anyone here ever fixed this issue before?  Would like to know how fixable something like that is...  also, should be getting a list of parts I will be needing shortly.  Would like to get it back to a driveable condition soon... I really miss driving it, and the empty spot I made in the garage for it is really hard to look at!

[ozzie]

Pulling frame rails happens all the time, I've done it myself on a few race cars using trees and chain falls, body shops have MUCH more advanced/precise equipment to get it back to perfect.

[Sigma Projects]

make sure a good shop does it. I would get cars into the shop for alignments and couldn't align them. I would see some body work on the undercarriage and ask the owner how bad the damage was (they look at me surprised) and even though they said the frame was straightened it was bad enough to not be able to get the alignment within spec. I would tell them go back to the body shop and complain.

[cknowles3]

Finally, an update!  This had to move down the list behind replacing the A.C. at the house... There ARE a few things that get a higher priority on the fixit list... 

So... I have finally been able to bring myself to visit the car at the shop and get the full run down of what I need.  I even found a donor car that someone locally is going to let me come get the rear quarter from.  However...  it's a big price difference if I cut it or if they do it for me.... 

Again, not having done body work before, can you guys give me an idea how difficult it is to cut up our cars?  I'm not afraid of tools and demo... but I have never cut up a car!

I also need to replace the metal across the back behind the tails (I believe this is called the tail light surround??)  The shop suggested that it might be better to follow the manufacturing seam lines and cut at the bottom of the door jamb and across the top to possibly take the whole back right corner intact. There appears to be a seam in the corner where it attaches to the rear quarter.  I just don't know how much cutting is involved or how much other stuff has to be cut/disassembled/removed to get to the parts I need.

How much else is involved with actually extracting these pieces successfully? 

More pics included for reference... I put some yellow lines on the pics where it looks like I would want to cut based on the discussion at the shop.  He showed me the seams at the jamb and the rear, but I forgot to ask him how to cut the top part away.

Thanks for all your help and feedback!

[Sigma Projects]

I'm no expert, but I'd figure you'd want the whole panel to where they join to another panel.

[cknowles3]

I'm no expert, but I'd figure you'd want the whole panel to where they join to another panel.

Thank you!!!  I was looking for just this very thing!!  Now if I can just find the button that makes it all come apart like the picture I'll be in good shape!

[ozzie]

You will need a spot weld cutter (probably a few of them) and a drill, and probably a few extra batteries.

[cknowles3]

Well... been a while since I updated this, but progress has been happening!  Found a donor car for the parts I needed... then over Memorial Day me and a buddy took a generator and a Sawz-all out to the woods to cut the back end off and bring it home...  that was a bucket-list adventure in itself! Glad we did it, hope I never have to do that again!  And, just for the record... in case anyone else wants to go do this kind of thing for the first time one day...  here's a tip...  when you cut 1/3 of a car off, it's gonna weigh about 1/3 of what the car weighs!!!  Think ALL the way ahead...   

I'ver never done that kind do of demolition before, but it's not that hard... the magic is made by people who can RE-molition it back together!  I''m gonna leave that to the professionals...   

Here are the spoils of our adventure!

[cknowles3]

Yes... that's a small oak tree growing out from under the fender I needed!  We didnt think to bring any wood blades for the Sawz-all, but the metal one took care of our lumberjacking needs...  And, if you look closely enough you can probably see a couple of the 6 ticks I took home with me as a bonus... still itching from those... (yuck!)

[cknowles3]

All the crazy adventuring was worth it... I got these pics on Friday from the guys who are piecing her back together...   

There were almost tears...    this is probably the only forum I would admit that too... I am sure there are a few of you here who get it...  or, maybe it's just me!

[twotone_ra64]

I totally get it. It makes me happy to see her slowly become resurrected! Awesome to see the updates.

[silverliftback]

Wow, that car has come a long ways!

Fun pictures extracting the replacement body panels

[ozzie]

Holy crap, that's amazing!