Frame Repair
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 370
Likes: 0
From: Orlando FL
Frame Repair
My car's still in the shop from my Aug. 27th accident, and is JUST NOW finally being torn down. The most recent update is that they'll be sectioning the left frame rail midway back on the driver's door and attaching the new rail from there forward.
I ran a thread back in Sept. and I'm comfortable that hydroformed rails can be repaired this way if done right, and the shop seems qualified.
Trouble is, the right rail is moved far enough to the right that it buckled a bracket and the RF fender popped out in front of the passenger's door. The shop says they can pull the right rail back into alignment.
Question is, is bending a hydroformed rail in this way approved procedure and safe to do? If they need to section and weld on the left, why is bending ok on the right? How much derangement is the cutoff for sectioning versus bending, and should I still feel confident it'll be straight and true afterward?
Here's a few pics of partial teardown, and I'll be checking in again to see if I can snap a few more later today.
http://web.rollins.edu/~jspitzer/teardown_110404.htm
Man, is it tough to drive a rented GrandAm and be happy after 3+ years of daily C5 driving. I miss my baby!!!!
At least I'm walking again with only some residual soreness from the shattered bones in my foot. Could be worse...
I ran a thread back in Sept. and I'm comfortable that hydroformed rails can be repaired this way if done right, and the shop seems qualified.
Trouble is, the right rail is moved far enough to the right that it buckled a bracket and the RF fender popped out in front of the passenger's door. The shop says they can pull the right rail back into alignment.
Question is, is bending a hydroformed rail in this way approved procedure and safe to do? If they need to section and weld on the left, why is bending ok on the right? How much derangement is the cutoff for sectioning versus bending, and should I still feel confident it'll be straight and true afterward?
Here's a few pics of partial teardown, and I'll be checking in again to see if I can snap a few more later today.
http://web.rollins.edu/~jspitzer/teardown_110404.htm
Man, is it tough to drive a rented GrandAm and be happy after 3+ years of daily C5 driving. I miss my baby!!!!
At least I'm walking again with only some residual soreness from the shattered bones in my foot. Could be worse...
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 7,370
Likes: 8
From: Slave to the evil empire
Cruise-In V Veteran
St. Jude Donor '04
Glad to hear your ok 
The left frame rail is buckled and cracked so thats gotta come off. It's hard to see what your talking about with the right frame rail but I'm sure your body shop knows what they're doing.
BTW- there is a GM procedure for sectioning the frame rails so you can ask if they are using the approved GM procedure.
The left frame rail is buckled and cracked so thats gotta come off. It's hard to see what your talking about with the right frame rail but I'm sure your body shop knows what they're doing.
BTW- there is a GM procedure for sectioning the frame rails so you can ask if they are using the approved GM procedure.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
I hope it gets back together straight and correct! Do you have any pictures of the car before it was taken apart? How did the accident happen?
Glad to hear that you are healing!
Bill C
Glad to hear that you are healing!
Bill C
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 1,173
Likes: 1
From: Aguila AZ
I have completed numerious C5 frame repairs of the type shown in your pic's. First, your frame shop will drasticly increase the difficulty of the left side repair if they go aft of the firewall with the new frame section. There is no need to start at the middle of the door. This side should be repaired by replacing the front frame starting ahead of the firewall and verticle firewall/windshield support member. Also, it is best to remove the engine to gain access and accuracy in measurements and to do inboard frame welding. If the right side is pushed out but not deformed, you can pull it back, but this usually requires some judicious slicing and welding to get it back in place... Good luck
Shirl
SDRE
Shirl
SDRE
