Fix or Not - Another Wreck

Ron Meier · 03-10-2003, 09:13 AM

The story:
After about 8 months of tweaking, tuning and waiting for the smog laws to change, I decided to take the '74 for a shakedown run.

Cruising at about 80, I entered a blind, off camber transition curve in downtown LA. Slowing to 60, for the corner, I turned in, only to find that CALTRANS had flooded the corner with about 2" of water from broken sprinkler heads. Went around quicker than a top and slammed backwards into a concrete wall on the exit of the turn.

Question is - fix it or part it - '74 2.0 with the good stuff? Images attached:

Major Bummer (no I wassn't toking).

Zeke · 03-10-2003, 09:47 AM

Sorry for your accident, Ron. With all the rear quarters that Glenn has had (or has, I don't know the status of his deal right now), I would think you'd just section one in and that's it. doesn't look like as much work as parting out is.

karlp · 03-10-2003, 10:40 AM

Fixing it looks like a better option than parting it.

Bruce Allert · 03-10-2003, 11:08 AM

I've never had the "pleasure" of body work & repair but I'd think that yours looks easier than 73/2.0 9forteen's in one of the other posts. He's attempting to fix his front end and his front looks twice what your rear does.... (well, you know what I mean [I hope]

Anywayyyy...... it looks like too good of a car to part out.
bruce JM2CW

karlp · 03-10-2003, 11:13 AM

Actually, I'd probably drive it as is for a long time

M. Hendrix · 03-10-2003, 11:17 AM

Dood, that sucks, are you ok?

Fix it, it's not even as expensive as it looks.. look at it... it looks cheaper all the time..

Fix!

M

Ron Meier · 03-10-2003, 11:23 AM

Thanks all, I rang my "bell" real good against something. Probably set me straight again as I bought two more 14s the next weekend figuring it would not be good to fix it.

The real pisser (kinda of) is that the bumper and top were NEW. I'm gonna fix it (I have a donor car and a friend is going to loan me a Lincoln Wirefeed Welder - I'm all thumbs).

red-beard · red-beard's Garage

Damn! I just cut up the 1971 and you could have used that rear quater.....

I may have the rear light for you....and a crappy bumper.

James

73/2.0 9forteen · 73/2.0 9forteen's Garage

Ron - Like Bruce Said I did this : Wrecked 914 Pics . It's pretty bad but I really love the car, and hopefully can get it fixed for a reasonable price. If I was you I would fix it , especially if you have all the good stuff in side. That rain really get's ya dosn't it

. Very similar story for me. I was pushing the teener through the twisties down hill, went through one switchback and gassed it, handled great, I thought " Hey that was fun, let's do it again " . Went through the next turn came out of it in a full on 4 wheel drift. Thought I could handle it nailed the breaks(I kick myself for that!) Spin the ass around , and plow the front end into a tree. I had some choice word's and, soon enough I was towing it home. Well I guess **** happens. Good luck with your car, it really depends on how much you like it, but If it were me I would fix it.
Eric

red-beard · red-beard's Garage

I'm surprised that no one has said:

"My Dad, he's a TV repair man. He has an awesome set of tools. I can fix it."

Ron - I am glad you're ok, and obviously you didn't hit your head hard enough as you bought 2 more!

I have seen much work. That is very fixable.

James

Biggy72 · Biggy72's Garage

it appears that at some point the same kind of thing happened to my car. I'm repainting it right now and from about mid door jamb on the drivers side to the rear passenger side corner is all a different section. You won't be able to tell it was ever done once I'm done repainting it but when I got it it was structurally sound, just not completely hidden. Looks like alot of work, but it has been done before.

Ron Meier · 03-10-2003, 06:31 PM

Bummer Eric,

The only thing I really remember was being headed backwards at a high rate of tilt. I knew I was going backwards because the view in the windshield changed radically and tire smoke was blowing the wrong way. I was able to drive it home after prying the bumper/body away from the tire, although the engine latch thingy busted off so I had a spoiler on the way home. Drove straight as before with a 3 degree tilt on the steering wheel. IT DIDN'T BREAK THE TRANNY EARS - way cool.

I like the car and the "Decision Maker" likes the color (so do I). I am gonna fix it.

I suppose the real kicker is that an CHP stopped to see if I was alive. Asked if I could drive and if I hit anything. I said, Yeh - That concrete wall - See the black and green mark? He said, " Great, you didn't break anything you would have to pay the State for. " I found it humorous

peter carroll · 03-10-2003, 06:32 PM

Glad to hear you are ok. Sorry about the car. Start taking it apart and it will look better with every damaged part you remove. It looks like it is very fixable and you can be glad of two things. One-you are ok and two- it is not rust! Good luck, Pete

73/2.0 9forteen · 73/2.0 9forteen's Garage

Ron - LOL. Gota love the state. In my case I had no insucrance, so luckely the cops didn't happen to see anything

Good to hear your getting it fixed. Keep us updated with pic's on the progress.
Eric