Poor Bird

[nvycpt]

I have a 99 trans am that was recently wrecked and it is a sad site to see but I would like to fix her back up better than what she was before. Anyone know how easily these cars can sustain frame damage? Where is the best place to start on fixing the body? All the damage is to the passenger side of the car. It was hit right on the rear wheel an right in front of the front wheel? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[pajeff02]

Sorry to hear... Pics would help with an assessment.

[nvycpt]

http://s1212.photobucket.com/albums/cc453/nvycapt/

if you need to see more let me know.

[nvycpt]

http://s1212.photobucket.com/albums/cc453/nvycapt/

if you need to see more just let me know.

[Z28_Driver]

Start pricing parts for the obvious damage.
1. PS rear quarter, PS front fender, Nose/ bumper, headlight, ground effect moulding.
2. Is the tarp covering more damage?
3. The hood is misaligned. Is is bent or is the car beneath it bent?
It might make more sense financially to just get a different car.

[SMWS6TA]

Where you T-boned?

I see a lot of damage. Looks like the entire passenger side was hit. The one thing about F-bodies is that they are uni-bodies. There is no solid frame that the body sits on. It has a front and rear section of framing that is part of the cabin.

If your car has been T-boned it is impossible to straighten it out.

I would seriously think of parting it out. You can make quite a bit over time to add towards another.

Hope everyone riding in it at the time of the accident is ok.

[nvycpt]

The car was not t boned family member put into a small tree (rear) and some low growing bushes (front). I do not know what is bent underneath yet. I just started at a mechanic shop as an apprentice and we do have some body guys that i might be able to get to do the work for cheap im just looking to see if the ppl who know something bout these cars think its worth getting looked at based on what you guys can see in the pics.

[67CamaroRSSS]

If they have a frame machine then give it a shot, otherwise TOTALED (depending on insurance company but due to age...)

Moral of the story: Let NOBODY (and that means nobody!!!) drive your car.

If they want to know what it's like then YOU drive or they buy their own.

Sorry if I seem harsh but that's the facts....

[SMWS6TA]

If they have a frame machine then give it a shot, otherwise TOTALED (depending on insurance company but due to age...)

Moral of the story: Let NOBODY (and that means nobody!!!) drive your car.

If they want to know what it's like then YOU drive or they buy their own.

Sorry if I seem harsh but that's the facts....

every young persons seems to have to learn this, I know I did.


OP, it can't hurt to have them look at it. We can only give you so much advice based on what we see in the pic and our experience in this matters.


Good Luck and post up what they find, I hope you can save her.

[nvycpt]

ok so speaking hypothetically... if the frame is not bent to much or they are able to pull it back out, any quess to the cost to fix her up? Is there any place that sells just the frame for these cars may think of just swaping everything i can over an making a completely new car?

[thechad125]

awww that'll rub out!!

[Z28_Driver]

If they have a frame machine then give it a shot, otherwise TOTALED (depending on insurance company but due to age...)

Moral of the story: Let NOBODY (and that means nobody!!!) drive your car.

If they want to know what it's like then YOU drive or they buy their own.

Sorry if I seem harsh but that's the facts....

This!

[LoneGunman]

ok so speaking hypothetically... if the frame is not bent to much or they are able to pull it back out, any quess to the cost to fix her up? Is there any place that sells just the frame for these cars may think of just swaping everything i can over an making a completely new car?

You'd be surprised what a frame shop can straighten. I've seen cars almost folded in half, and be pulled out to perfection. As far as parts go, new GM stuff is pretty much out of the question as mostly everything has been discontinued. Find yourself a Firebird on Craigslist or Ebay with a blown motor or something, they usually sell pretty cheap, or check the classifieds in this forum. Don't be quick to assume it's junk. If you can't fix it, sell it to someone who can.

[Zabo]

You'd be surprised what a frame shop can straighten. I've seen cars almost folded in half, and be pulled out to perfection. As far as parts go, new GM stuff is pretty much out of the question as mostly everything has been discontinued. Find yourself a Firebird on Craigslist or Ebay with a blown motor or something, they usually sell pretty cheap, or check the classifieds in this forum. Don't be quick to assume it's junk. If you can't fix it, sell it to someone who can.

Actually, I had mine take a hit right to the axle. IE dead on to the hub. Long story short, clipped a wall on a day of bad traction at the strip. Went 180 from the right lane to the left and contacted the wall with the nost/marker light. Physics forced the rear to smack my bum right around where yours got hit. Didn't look bad but once we tore the interior out there were wrinkles and dimples on every frame component behind the console.

Unlike you, I paid mine out of pocket (almost bankrupting myself in the process) because the car was cherry and only had 38K miles. All Right side damage like yours too.

- Front clip and fender repaired, along with inner fender well
- Front Spindle assembly replaced (bent on impact)
- Rocker trim filled and sanded, new clips ordered to replace broken ones (14 bucks a pop!)
- Rocker spliced and sleeved for reinforcement
- Rear frame rails straightened
- Rear 1/4 of the car spliced from a donor T/A
- Rear end torn down and PHB/Axle replaced
- Salvage Door
- Salvage Mirror
- 4 new wheels/tires (right front rim CRACKED from impact)
- Drivers seat got a new frame since the old one bent from impact forces
- No airbag deployment
- No broken glass
- Total paint job afterward

Total cost: $8,100.00+

To me, it was worth the cost by a mile. I had a sentimental attachment to my car and after almost a 2 weeks of thinking about it pulled the trigger to fix it. By the end of this week she should be done.

I've included a picture link to the car and the few photos I've taken during my build. It's fixable.. but good god is it costly.

http://photobucket.com/2000MapleRedTransAm

[transamgirl89]

I know it's a long drive but there's a salvage yard in Alabama that deals with nothing but Camaro and TA's. Ghrams Camaro salvage yard. Guys name is Billy. He's got everything you could think of. He's in Calera AL.

[nvycpt]

do you know if he has a website or number i can contact him at?

[transamgirl89]

do you know if he has a website or number i can contact him at?

http://www.hagerty.com/lifestyle/res....aspx?id=31672

He's really old fashioned. Only thing is he doesn't ship so you have to go get it but I've gotten several things from him. Start making a list cause he'll want you to fax it to him. Good luck!

[Z28_Driver]

I know it's a long drive but there's a salvage yard in Alabama that deals with nothing but Camaro and TA's. Ghrams Camaro salvage yard. Guys name is Billy. He's got everything you could think of. He's in Calera AL.

Sounds like a nice destination for a road trip.
98-02 4th gens are pretty scarce in the junkyards around here.
Wonder if he sells whole cars?

[pajeff02]

Trans Am Creations is another great place for F-body parts.

[transamgirl89]

Sounds like a nice destination for a road trip.
98-02 4th gens are pretty scarce in the junkyards around here.
Wonder if he sells whole cars?

Yep he sells rollers to! Has a whole warehouse full of Fbody parts. It's fbody heaven!