bent chassis
 

I recently hit some ice, slid off the road and hit a rock. The chassis is
damaged under the passenger side door hinge mount. The passenger door
doesn't close properly. The door comes to rest about 2 centimeters off the
body at the front, it is against the roof and the back is bent inward. This
is the only observable damage. The door itself is fine, it's just in a wacky
position. However, at more than 15 mph, the car requires a lot of driver
input to stay in a lane.

I am looking at two options. I could take it to a shop to get straightened
out. My concern with this is that it will be rather costly and that the car
will never track properly. My second option is to get a 4 cylinder car and
just move my drivetrain, suspension, interior, etc. over to that car. I am
rather happy with, and have a lot of money invested in my current setup.
There just happens to be a '92 four cylinder with a descent body for sale
for $500 near me. The only problem with this option is that, unless I cut
out my Capri's rear fenders and weld them on the new car, I won't have a
Capri anymore.

Advice anyone?

Jim S.
'82 Mutant

Get it straightened.

Jim S. wrote:

> I recently hit some ice, slid off the road and hit a rock. The chassis is
> damaged under the passenger side door hinge mount. The passenger door
> doesn't close properly. The door comes to rest about 2 centimeters off the
> body at the front, it is against the roof and the back is bent inward. This
> is the only observable damage. The door itself is fine, it's just in a wacky
> position. However, at more than 15 mph, the car requires a lot of driver
> input to stay in a lane.
>
> I am looking at two options. I could take it to a shop to get straightened
> out. My concern with this is that it will be rather costly and that the car
> will never track properly. My second option is to get a 4 cylinder car and
> just move my drivetrain, suspension, interior, etc. over to that car. I am
> rather happy with, and have a lot of money invested in my current setup.
> There just happens to be a '92 four cylinder with a descent body for sale
> for $500 near me. The only problem with this option is that, unless I cut
> out my Capri's rear fenders and weld them on the new car, I won't have a
> Capri anymore.
>
> Advice anyone?
>
> Jim S.
> '82 Mutant
>
>
>

Why do you suggest straightening?

It seems like getting it fixed will be costly, and I won't know if it'll
come out right until after I pay for it.

The effort and time of swapping stuff over really isn't an issue. I've
taken my car apart so many times and customized it so much that pulling the
drivetrain isn't a big deal to me. The only reason I don't just go the swap
route is because I prefer the looks of the Capri to a 92 Mustang.



"Joe" > wrote in message
...
> Seconded.
>
> Joe
> Calypso Green '93 5.0 LX AOD hatch with a few goodies
> Black '03 Dakota 5.9 R/T CC
>
>
> John Smith > wrote in
> :
>
>> Get it straightened.
>>
>> Jim S. wrote:
>>
>>> I recently hit some ice, slid off the road and hit a rock. The
>>> chassis is damaged under the passenger side door hinge mount. The
>>> passenger door doesn't close properly. The door comes to rest about
>>> 2 centimeters off the body at the front, it is against the roof and
>>> the back is bent inward. This is the only observable damage. The
>>> door itself is fine, it's just in a wacky position. However, at
>>> more than 15 mph, the car requires a lot of driver input to stay in
>>> a lane.
>>>
>>> I am looking at two options. I could take it to a shop to get
>>> straightened out. My concern with this is that it will be rather
>>> costly and that the car will never track properly. My second option
>>> is to get a 4 cylinder car and just move my drivetrain, suspension,
>>> interior, etc. over to that car. I am rather happy with, and have a
>>> lot of money invested in my current setup. There just happens to be
>>> a '92 four cylinder with a descent body for sale for $500 near me.
>>> The only problem with this option is that, unless I cut out my
>>> Capri's rear fenders and weld them on the new car, I won't have a
>>> Capri anymore.
>>>
>>> Advice anyone?
>>>
>>> Jim S.
>>> '82 Mutant
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>

Depends on the condition of the car, otherwise... if there's little or no
rust, shop around for a good straightener.

They CAN get the car lined up better than SOME came off the line.


But if there's a lot of rust or other damage, sell the parts.
I wouldnt go to the trouble of swapping a bunch of 82 drivetrain and trim
into a 92... It wouldnt be a Capri anymore even IF the rear sheet metal was
the same...the real intrinsic value would be lost anyway.

Believe me, I've done a lot of swap-ins and swap-outs ..and that's too much
work for the satisfaction later

--
- Yes, I'm a crusty old geezer curmudgeon.. deal with it! -

True, part the car out and get something a little more modern.



"Backyard Mechanic" > wrote in message
...
>
> Depends on the condition of the car, otherwise... if there's little or no
> rust, shop around for a good straightener.
>
> They CAN get the car lined up better than SOME came off the line.
>
>
> But if there's a lot of rust or other damage, sell the parts.
> I wouldnt go to the trouble of swapping a bunch of 82 drivetrain and trim
> into a 92... It wouldnt be a Capri anymore even IF the rear sheet metal
> was
> the same...the real intrinsic value would be lost anyway.
>
> Believe me, I've done a lot of swap-ins and swap-outs ..and that's too
> much
> work for the satisfaction later
>
> --
> - Yes, I'm a crusty old geezer curmudgeon.. deal with it! -

The car is perfect other than the damage I mentioned. I spent 2 years
restoring and customizing the car. There is no rust.
Aside from the body panels, nothing, not a fuel or brake line in the car is
of '82 vintage. I have a built 93 5.0. a well built AOD, rear-end is 95 GT
disc, 98 Cobra front brakes and lots more.

The parts that are on it and the Capri look are the valuable things to me.

I guess I just need to decide how much the Capri look is worth to me.

"Backyard Mechanic" > wrote in message
...
>
> Depends on the condition of the car, otherwise... if there's little or no
> rust, shop around for a good straightener.
>
> They CAN get the car lined up better than SOME came off the line.
>
>
> But if there's a lot of rust or other damage, sell the parts.
> I wouldnt go to the trouble of swapping a bunch of 82 drivetrain and trim
> into a 92... It wouldnt be a Capri anymore even IF the rear sheet metal
> was
> the same...the real intrinsic value would be lost anyway.
>
> Believe me, I've done a lot of swap-ins and swap-outs ..and that's too
> much
> work for the satisfaction later
>
> --
> - Yes, I'm a crusty old geezer curmudgeon.. deal with it! -

Jim S. opined in :

> The car is perfect other than the damage I mentioned. I spent 2 years
> restoring and customizing the car. There is no rust.
> Aside from the body panels, nothing, not a fuel or brake line in the car
> is of '82 vintage. I have a built 93 5.0. a well built AOD, rear-end is
> 95 GT disc, 98 Cobra front brakes and lots more.
>
> The parts that are on it and the Capri look are the valuable things to
> me.
>
> I guess I just need to decide how much the Capri look is worth to me.

Then you just answered your own question... get it straightened

The CHASSIS is a Capri... If you weld the sheet metal onto a Mustang, the
chassis is still a Mustang.




--
- Yes, I'm a crusty old geezer curmudgeon.. deal with it! -

In article >, Backyard Mechanic wrote:

>> I guess I just need to decide how much the Capri look is worth to me.
>
> Then you just answered your own question... get it straightened
>
> The CHASSIS is a Capri... If you weld the sheet metal onto a Mustang, the
> chassis is still a Mustang.

And if one is going to cut and weld, wouldn't it be easier just to weld
and/or bolt in donor bits under the car to replace what's bent?