Tubular front end
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From: Mr. Worldwide
Tubular front end
Got into an accident in January when I hit black ice and went under a box truck next to me traveling at the same speed. I believe the front end may be bent slightly because the front left fender is pinched at the top where it meets the door and has a bigger gap at the bottom. The crash was "tame" around 35mph and damaged the front crash bar slightly but that was about it besides the obvious body damage. I did make contact with the box of the truck with the passenger side A-pillar but should be fine after replacing the trim and windshield.
My main question is has anyone had their frame bent back? And on the opposite side, has anyone had the front end cut off at the firewall and replaced with a tube chassis front end frame? Trying to figure out my best option. I know the frames are hydro-formed and cannot be heated up to be bent back but also am not sure how much strength will be lost in the bending of the frame originally and after being bent back if that's the route I choose.
Thanks.
My main question is has anyone had their frame bent back? And on the opposite side, has anyone had the front end cut off at the firewall and replaced with a tube chassis front end frame? Trying to figure out my best option. I know the frames are hydro-formed and cannot be heated up to be bent back but also am not sure how much strength will be lost in the bending of the frame originally and after being bent back if that's the route I choose.
Thanks.
Le Mans Master
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If the frame is actually bent, there's a good chance that insurance will total it. Personally, I certainly wouldn't feel at all comfortable with just bending the frame back into place. Again, I doubt insurance would pay for you to get a tube chassis, although that would be interesting idea. It would be both light and strong.
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From: Mr. Worldwide
If the frame is actually bent, there's a good chance that insurance will total it. Personally, I certainly wouldn't feel at all comfortable with just bending the frame back into place. Again, I doubt insurance would pay for you to get a tube chassis, although that would be interesting idea. It would be both light and strong.
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I’ve never heard of anyone doing that, but you never know here? 
Maybe someone has?
At that point, knowing myself pretty well, I’d probably also consider just doing a complete aftermarket chassis. It would at least be interesting to know the difference in cost between the two.
Maybe someone has?At that point, knowing myself pretty well, I’d probably also consider just doing a complete aftermarket chassis. It would at least be interesting to know the difference in cost between the two.
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From: South Hill Wa
2022 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2021 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Do a search on YouTube for Rob Dahm C5 Corvette. He has several videos of a badly bent front frame section being repaired on a frame machine. It was truly impressive and depending on the severity of the damage it can be done totally safely.
It was easy enough to find it for you lol.
It was easy enough to find it for you lol.
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From: Mr. Worldwide
Do a search on YouTube for Rob Dahm C5 Corvette. He has several videos of a badly bent front frame section being repaired on a frame machine. It was truly impressive and depending on the severity of the damage it can be done totally safely.
It was easy enough to find it for you lol.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=buoHiFC0UuM
It was easy enough to find it for you lol.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=buoHiFC0UuM
No Hostility Be Happy
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From: South Hill Wa
2022 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2021 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
why don't you expound upon what you are actually looking for?
Maybe even post some pictures of your actual damage.
If you want to cut the frame off at the firewall and build a tube front end with a mystery suspension I think you are going to be on your own for this one.
Maybe even post some pictures of your actual damage.
If you want to cut the frame off at the firewall and build a tube front end with a mystery suspension I think you are going to be on your own for this one.
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Joined: Oct 2020
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From: Mr. Worldwide
why don't you expound upon what you are actually looking for?
Maybe even post some pictures of your actual damage.
If you want to cut the frame off at the firewall and build a tube front end with a mystery suspension I think you are going to be on your own for this one.
Maybe even post some pictures of your actual damage.
If you want to cut the frame off at the firewall and build a tube front end with a mystery suspension I think you are going to be on your own for this one.
"My main question is has anyone had their frame bent back? And on the opposite side, has anyone had the front end cut off at the firewall and replaced with a tube chassis front end frame?"
I'm not sure how you're confused at what I'm asking or why I'm getting any answers other than what I'm asking for? I didn't ask for comments to do with insurance nor did I ask for links to a 2-3 year old Rob Dahm video showing him getting his c5 frame bent back within spec. I'm looking for people who have had their frames fixed, either by a frame shop or cutting the front frame off and welding an entire tube front end on, and what their opinions are in hindsight. I'm looking to learn from other who've either had success or made mistakes and what they'd do differently if they knew then what they know now. I hope that breaks it down Barney style for you, and possibly others to understand what I'm asking.
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Unless I'm missing something here, didnt the OP ask for info about someone who had had frame damage and had their frame 'bent back, i.e., straightened? Did you not try to help out suggesting the Rob Dahm video? I guess I don't see the reason for the OPs frustration. Like I said, maybe I'm missing something here. I once had an IROC-Z frame straightened on a frame rack, with a very good body man at the controls. When he finished my car, you'd never know there had been any damage. But, this frame, a unibody 3rd Gen Camaro, was12 years before hydroforming came into vogue, so.....
Last edited by grinder11; Apr 5, 2021 at 03:35 PM.
Team Owner
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St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11
I once broke the cross frame in half and twisted and cracked the K frame on a 1971 Road Runner with a hard launch (paper clip syndrome). Frame shop welded it back together but I had to install an 8 point cage welded to the frame rails to continue racing it. On the plus side, the car really started to hook up nicely after the cage was installed. Made the car difficult to get out of though and I was driving it to work Monday through Friday at the time. Drove that car for about ten more years with that cage in there. Got 5 mpg on the highway. 
Last edited by tikiman; Apr 6, 2021 at 04:14 PM.