Bent frame update
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 16,100
Likes: 17
Originally Posted by bb69
I found a shop that is willing to look at the car and give me an estimate. It turns out a guy I work with knows someone at the local GM dealer. I called them, and they agreed to work with me. The bumper and all associated hardware is off, and the radiator comes out tonight. I am going to trailer the car down to the shop on Thursday. Hopefully, they will be able to get is done. I'll let you know.
Ken
Ken
Just get the right shop.
Pro
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 508
Likes: 1
From: Maplewood NJ
Originally Posted by bb69
I have the AIM, but it's at home. The pic I sent is from the service manual. It had the dimensions they needed apparently, because they just called and left a message with the quote.
Labor for pulling the frame came to $450
With parts (I don't know yet, I need to call) the total came to $612.
I am going to call and try to get some more details.
Details:
Frame is kinked behind right wheel opening. They will have to make two pulls, one to lengthen the frame rail, and another on the crossmember to get it to the correct width. They will need to pull the right headlight to get at the frame rail. Due to some damage caused when the first shop tried to fix it (before me) they have to make some tie downs. The parts are clips and other small pieces that hold lines and hoses on.
What do you guys think?
Labor for pulling the frame came to $450
With parts (I don't know yet, I need to call) the total came to $612.
I am going to call and try to get some more details.
Details:
Frame is kinked behind right wheel opening. They will have to make two pulls, one to lengthen the frame rail, and another on the crossmember to get it to the correct width. They will need to pull the right headlight to get at the frame rail. Due to some damage caused when the first shop tried to fix it (before me) they have to make some tie downs. The parts are clips and other small pieces that hold lines and hoses on.
What do you guys think?
Although, now that I've taken the body off I've found a lot more wrong with the car that needed fixing along with a whole lot of "while I'm at its".
Good luck,
Matt
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 40,338
Likes: 786
From: Redondo Beach, California
Another data point for the bent frame problem.
In the 1970's I had a problem with what I thought was an alignment problem. Chevy dealers and franschise alignment shops willingly accepted my money to "align" my 1969. None of these alignments worked. In addition to the alignment problem, heavy breaking would cause the car to get sideways.
I took the car to Guildstrand. He told me he took it to an unused section of freeway (under construction) and ran the car up to 90 mph and slammed on the brakes. Sure enough, he said the car went sideways! Later at his shop, he weighed the car at each of the wheels. The weight on the right rear wheel was about 200 pounds less than the weight on the left rear wheel. He replaced the spring on the car at no cost (he had a bunch of stock springs as people were changing to racing springs) and the weight problem was still there (actually less weight problem which tends to suggest the car had been hit on the right rear and the spring had been bent also.)
Bottom line: If you think you have bent frame, weighing the car at each wheel is a good diagnostic.
In the 1970's I had a problem with what I thought was an alignment problem. Chevy dealers and franschise alignment shops willingly accepted my money to "align" my 1969. None of these alignments worked. In addition to the alignment problem, heavy breaking would cause the car to get sideways.
I took the car to Guildstrand. He told me he took it to an unused section of freeway (under construction) and ran the car up to 90 mph and slammed on the brakes. Sure enough, he said the car went sideways! Later at his shop, he weighed the car at each of the wheels. The weight on the right rear wheel was about 200 pounds less than the weight on the left rear wheel. He replaced the spring on the car at no cost (he had a bunch of stock springs as people were changing to racing springs) and the weight problem was still there (actually less weight problem which tends to suggest the car had been hit on the right rear and the spring had been bent also.)
Bottom line: If you think you have bent frame, weighing the car at each wheel is a good diagnostic.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 1,651
Likes: 13
From: Holly MI
The shop confirmed the frame is bent. They have the car now, and it should be done by early next week. They are also going to align the car.
It had the same problem with pulling when I hit the brakes. I can't wait to drive the car after all these issues are resolved.
Ken
It had the same problem with pulling when I hit the brakes. I can't wait to drive the car after all these issues are resolved.
Ken
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 6,134
Likes: 46
From: Raleigh North Carolina
I just had a 90 Mustang pulled and it was about $700.
They just cut everything off with a sawzall and I have to repair it... including a new welded-in radiator support.
Wholesale prices (between shops) are a lot less on frame pulls, but in our situation, that seems to be the going rate.
e.g.- recently I rebuilt the carb (including throttle shaft bushing) for a friend who is a bodyshop & frame technician, and he pulled another Mustang unibody for me for free.
You got a fair price and can feel good about it. IMOP
Pat yourself on the back.... good deal.
Tom
They just cut everything off with a sawzall and I have to repair it... including a new welded-in radiator support.
Wholesale prices (between shops) are a lot less on frame pulls, but in our situation, that seems to be the going rate.
e.g.- recently I rebuilt the carb (including throttle shaft bushing) for a friend who is a bodyshop & frame technician, and he pulled another Mustang unibody for me for free.
You got a fair price and can feel good about it. IMOP
Pat yourself on the back.... good deal.
Tom
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 1,651
Likes: 13
From: Holly MI
Thanks Tom. I felt better about taking the parts off myself anyway. I found a lot of little problems that need to be fixed I would not have found otherwise. I figure I saved myself about $900 for taking a few parts off and learning more about the condition of my car. Now, as long as the job is done correctly, everything should pan out. We'll see come this Tuesday.
Ken
Ken
