Repairing a damaged Porsche 944

[PreciousPorsche]

Hello Pelican Parts! I've owned the same 1987 Porsche 944 N/A for 25 years. Sadly, however, the car got rear ended and sandwiched. So it has both front and rear accident damage. The rear tail light panel is crumpled and the front bumper is pushed in so the hood won't open. The rear hatch also won't won't open. I think the rear bumper is pushed in a bit as well. Bummer.

Insurance company declared it a total loss and paid me for it. But I decided to buy it back and keep it as a project toy. It owes me absolutely nothing...it is basically a free car sitting in my driveway. Only goal is to make it drive safely and pass inspection. No time frame. No budget.

So I am seeking some advice. Biggest damage seems to be the rear end. So I'm starting there. I have attached a photo. Any ideas how to best fix this if I don't care about aesthetics? Maybe cut out the whole tail light panel and replace with a rear panel from a junkyard car? Maybe apply ten pounds of bondo and a rattle can paint job? Or maybe just leave it alone and simply replace the broken tail light? It would be nice if the rear hatch could open - but probably isn't strictly necessary.

[FrenchToast]

Find someone versed in Porsche body repair with access to the 944 body dimensions. They can place the car on a Celette bench with the 944 fixings and see if the frame rails and major chassis points are in alignment. Align those, then have a professional repair the crumple zone areas and any other critical areas. Then fix the cosmetics.

I would leave welding of critical areas to a professional. You can do more damage than good even if you are a seasoned welder.

You also need to inspect for any damage that may not be apparent; for example, tears in sheetmetal, cracks in suspension components, etc. Generally I would replace any critical components that could have been affected by the impact, and have a professional inspect the unibody and all critical components - suspension, brakes, steering, etc.

[Monkey Wrench]

what I'd do is watch for others, maybe advertise too. If you can find a car where they smashed up the valve train by breaking the timing belt, that might be a perfect candidate.

I dont think it's so bad that you can't repair it, but maybe that's just an easier path , If you find the right deal.

check any you can find locally where they are wrecking the car, these aren't always body damaged.

you could probably flatten things out and put truck tail lights on it, they come as a rectangular bar. that might be legal, although not very pretty.

maybe re- watching a mad max movie can bring inspiration for something more artful ? ;-) I got working on my beater and have been thinking about what I could do to make it a bit more fitting to that sort of scheme. It might make lane changes easier ;-)

[TibetanT]

Sorry, but that is a "parts car" now.

[mikepellegrini]

A good body shop can cut off the damaged portion and weld on a rear clip from a donor car. That's the proper way to repair damage like that.

[Monkey Wrench]

it can be fixed. If they write it off and pay you out maybe it needs mechanical inspection to insure again? that's how it is here.. Now if you found the right car that needs the parts it has, that might come with papers, is that easier? Just thinking that N
an engine swap or even changing the whole driveline and interior might be easier than fixing that body damage.

for a guy with his own shop and a bit of time, its becomes perhaps more economically feasible.. for him.

here an option is go rent a booth where they supply the tools, the help the shop space and you pay by the day.. its still not cheap but some you tow it home and do some on your own too..

[wildcat077]

That is repairable,even more if you've owned the car for 25 years.
My SP2 car has suffered similar wounds and it always survived a bit of surgery...

[grendiers]

Had a slight fender bender on the passenger rear of my 951. Insurance company recommended three shops to fix it. They all declined. Finally found a Porsche shop to fix it. $5500 to fix it! Covered by insurance company that the other driver had.

[PreciousPorsche]

Thanks very much for the replies! It is genuinely appreciated.

Originally Posted by wildcat077

That is repairable,even more if you've owned the car for 25 years.
My SP2 car has suffered similar wounds and it always survived a bit of surgery...

Thanks for the encouragement. It needs other work. But the rear end is the worst part.

Originally Posted by TibetanT

Sorry, but that is a "parts car" now.

No argument here. I see it as a pile of free Porsche parts in my driveway.

Originally Posted by Monkey Wrench

what I'd do is watch for others, maybe advertise too. If you can find a car where they smashed up the valve train by breaking the timing belt, that might be a perfect candidate.

Yes! I am very open to this idea. Aside from the automatic tranny, which was my least favorite part, it was solid before it got hit. If I can find a rolling chassis with a five speed, that may be the Willie Wonka Golden Ticket.

Originally Posted by Monkey Wrench

it can be fixed. If they write it off and pay you out maybe it needs mechanical inspection to insure again? that's how it is here.. Now if you found the right car that needs the parts it has, that might come with papers, is that easier? Just thinking that N
an engine swap or even changing the whole driveline and interior might be easier than fixing that body damage.

I will be the first to admit that it is a piece of junk. It had over 180k miles before the odometer broke and that was over ten years ago. So it definitely wasn't worth fixing. And still isn't. And it will definitely need a new inspection to get registered again.

Originally Posted by Monkey Wrench

for a guy with his own shop and a bit of time, its becomes perhaps more economically feasible.. for him.

No shop, but plenty of time.

Originally Posted by Monkey Wrench

here an option is go rent a booth where they supply the tools, the help the shop space and you pay by the day.. its still not cheap but some you tow it home and do some on your own too..

Was there a link? That sounds like a great idea.

Originally Posted by Monkey Wrench

you could probably flatten things out and put truck tail lights on it, they come as a rectangular bar. that might be legal, although not very pretty.

Bingo, yes. I am contemplating buying a big "bridge" dent puller like this https://www.tool.com/bridge-dent-puller tool and using the car as a learning tool. If I can pull it out enough to close the hatch and install a cheap light bar, then I will declare victory. If not, can always sawzall it off and replace with a part from a junkyard.

Originally Posted by wildcat077

A good body shop can cut off the damaged portion and weld on a rear clip from a donor car. That's the proper way to repair damage like that.

Yup, that's what I will do if I can't pull it myself. I know of a nearby puck-a-part junkyard with a few old 994's which would probably let me pull off parts. Indeed, the existence of that junkyard is a big reason why I am contemplating this idea at all. I know there are cheap-ish parts nearby.