ebud

My Daughter rear ended a car on the weekend messed up the front to her 94 CX pretty good. The car is drivable, but the bumper, hood and drivers side fender are damaged, as is the structural piece that holds the lights, hood latch...etc. Hit was on the drivers side of the front end.

Of bigger concern - I think the subframe on the drives side is bent, pushed in and down ( see attached pic comparing the car with a red one I found online ). I have read you can attach a chain to the tow hook and something solid and give it a good yank or 2 and maybe get it straightened up. Currently the front drive side is sitting lower by maybe 1.5"

Thoughts... worth it?

ezone

That (unibody?) frame rail kink looks like it started to buckle a crumple zone.
I'd say talk to someone in a body shop for a pro's opinion.

ebud

Yup Unibody and Yup started to crumple... If I get a shop evolved the cost would out way the value of the car ( 1994 CX ).

I found a few threads out there on straightening option and was hoping others may have a similar experience to share.

ezone

I meant talk to a bodyshop pro (or research) to get an understanding of what's involved in a good repair and how they would go about fixing it right if it were in their hands.

You know they aren't going to chain it to a big tree and back up fast a few times.
They aren't going to fill the frame buckle with Bondo and paint over it.
(Some might, but that ain't right)

Would they get a straight front clip and weld it on? Something else?


You know you can stand all of your weight on an upright soda can if you are careful......But if the can is already dented and you try to stand on it it's gonna fold up like a cheap lawn chair before you get all your weight on it.

Assuming your daughter will continue to drive the car ....she may very well get into another crash..... Do you want the crumple zone to do its job to absorb a significant portion of the impact force (and keep some valuable distance between the hit and the passenger compartment), or do you want it to crumple like a tin can that already had dents in the sides?

ebud

Thanks for the feedback... totally get it!

A clip would be the way to go no doubt ... sounding more an more like the car is done.