Frunk alignment and gap question

[bleek]

I've been looking at some cars that are claimed to be accident free. I know typically, gaps are a good way of determining prior damage, especially if repair shop did a bad job, but is it common for the frunk lid not to have even gaps on both sides or is this another sign of something fishy. Is this just an adjustment issue? All of the other gaps on the car look perfect.

I'm mostly talking air cooled cars here as most water cooled cars seem to not have this issue, maybe due to mass production changes in production?

Are there other things to look for in terms of damage to front without being there in person with a paint meter?

Thoughts appreciated.

[christiandk]

Often what looks like misallignement is actually because the car has had a charger to the battery for some time. Many garage queens "suffer" from this.

[christiandk]

Trickle charger gap on Kermit here.....

[bleek]

is this easily addressed?

[christiandk]

Just muscle it back No, take it easy.....very very easy and not in the winter time - dont want to crack the paint. If on doubt take it to s pro...and I dont mean a hooker

[ficke]

I like to look in the trunk area underneath where the spare tire goes and I look for wrinkled sheet metal or anything not like from factory work, pop rivets, bead welding where there should not be, etc. and look in the engine compartment especially back around the engine mounts. Look also under the deck lid. Most repairs are done to look good from the outside and not inside and the bottom inside of the deck lid is hard to make look right after a hit.

[techweenie]

Originally Posted by ficke

I like to look in the trunk area underneath where the spare tire goes and I look for wrinkled sheet metal or anything not like from factory work, pop rivets, bead welding where there should not be, etc. and look in the engine compartment especially back around the engine mounts. Look also under the deck lid. Most repairs are done to look good from the outside and not inside and the bottom inside of the deck lid is hard to make look right after a hit.

+1

I'll also add that the best 'history evidence' of prior front end trauma is the channel for the hood seal. It is very difficult, if not impossible to re-straighten after it's bent. It's easy to check. A big left side hit will also put a bend in the tube carrying the hood release cable.

[bleek]

good stuff! Thanks all!

[christiandk]

Originally Posted by techweenie

+1

I'll also add that the best 'history evidence' of prior front end trauma is the channel for the hood seal. It is very difficult, if not impossible to re-straighten after it's bent. It's easy to check. A big left side hit will also put a bend in the tube carrying the hood release cable.

Agreed, but pretty common for all cars. Our cars often have a crooked smile when stored with wires out of the frunk

Cheers from CPH to LA

[MichaelUD]

Where is "Ribbit" now?

[SCadaddle]

In my opinion, the "line" or "gap" to look at on the front end of a 911 is the line/gap between the edge of the hood and the edge of the fenders. A car that has done a lot of hard cornering over the course of it's life and is suffering from metal fatigue at the strut towers will show a narrow/uneven gap on one or both sides.