Here’s the background.

While driving my GS at about 40mph in traffic I was ‘forced’ out of my lane by another vehicle. My right rear wheel contacted the left front wheel of a box truck. The interaction lifted my right rear off the ground and spun me sideways. Somehow I recovered the car with no further contact.

Fast-forward after the police report, I return home and start to assess the damage. Surprisingly, my run-flat tire is tore-up, the rim has about a 6” gash along the edge with no other apparent damage to the car. Then my wife asks why the removable top is popped up. The driver’s side rear corner, where the removable top anchors into the halo, was sitting about 1/2inch higher then the halo.

It took a lot of “wrenching” to remove the top, so there was considerable force placed on it to make it pop up like it was. As you might imagine, it will not go back in. With 3 people there is no way the top will align to get it back in.

Car drove home with no noticeable alignment or suspension issues. I’ve not pulled the wheel to see if any of the suspension components appear to be damaged.

So, could this be frame damage causing the top to now not align with the 2 anchor points in the halo? There’s no damage to the top, both of the anchor pins are straight from what I can see.

Less than 1,000 miles on her, good grief...

 

 

Jeez sorry for your accident with only 1k on your new car. From your description of the accident it seems your lucky the box truck didn't run you over!!
The top popping up like that "sounds like" maybe there might be a slight twist in the car? I would sure have it measured and looked at carefully during the repair. Not long ago a post of one of our forum members had a very small crack (1/4 to 1/2") in the sub frame that was not repairable and ended up being a total of the car. Definitely don't ignore the popped top.

 

I'd put the top back in place and see how the pins line up and if it'll latch as before the incident.
The force of hitting another vehicle may have simply jolted it loose. I'm basing this on your comment about the car driving straight following the incident. For sure I'd take the car to an alignment shop for a checkout.

 

I think he said in the post the top wouldn't go back on.

 

how are the rest of the body gaps doors to 1/4 and fender

 

Yes sir - with 3 people I could not get the top on, and you guys know how easy it is for 1-person.

 

Just watched a History Channel program called Man Made, IIRC.
Detailed the complete construction of a C6 Z06, starting w/ frail rails, end connectors & passenger cab structure. All aluminum.

While what I watched was for a C6, C7 has to be very similar.
If so somehow, someway the cab structure was/is bent and if that's the case can't imagine how it could be repaired.
Not that it can't, just don't know.

Some bent frames can be straightened, relatively easy to access.
But from what I saw 'straightening' this enclosure, box, which is welded in place before anything else?
Would require nearly entire car be disassembled to affect repair.

Find the best shop possible experienced w/ C7 chassis et al to thoroughly inspect & confirm what is/isn't happening, here. A major misalignment like this is not good, this we know.

1K on a beautiful new C7, so sad.
Only upside's no injuries; but, honestly this car may be totaled.
G/L

 

Good question, doors to quarters and fenders look AOK, upon closer inspection, quarters to the bumper cover and I believe there is a misalignment. Appears on the drivers side the bumper cover is sitting lower then the quarter about 1/8”.

 

Many thx for all of the feedback.

I will keep you posted on outcome of damage assessment...

 

The "How It's Made" TV program has a similar program on C7, and if that core is skewed I suspect it would be a total. At 1:30 of you can see that central structure being built up in a robotic welded fixture.

 

Do you have a 2nd top to try, or a friend with a C7 that can try their top on your car? The impact could've bent a pin, which would explain it.

Edit: if you're close to Forsyth county you can try mine...

 

I am a auto adjuster for an insurance company. Replacing a frame does not total a car, it comes down to value vs. cost of repair, with the limit in most states at 80% to consider a total loss.

New Grandsport with 1k miles... going to guess 60k value or more. Cost of a frame replacement(not considering any other damage), maybe 7-9k(25 hours labor, 4-6k for part).

 

" Passenger cab structure" ?

 

The frame may be bent at the site of the right side B pillar (or the B pillar itself) where the impact took place. That could cause the halo to deform thus forcing the targa to lift on the left. A body shop will need to take a look at it. The cost of repairing could be extensive as something on the right side of the car bent enough to tweak the B pillar/halo enough to push the targa up on the left side of the car. The door opening panel/rocker is glued to the frame and to the B pillar and would need to be removed to gain access to the parts behind it.

Bill

 

A C7 isn't a body on frame like a truck. The frame is part of the car.

 

^^^Correct^^^ AND a wheel alignment isn't going to tell you if the structure is damaged. You'll need a VERY ASTUTE PROFESSIONAL who can take exacting laser measurements to determine:
*Exactly where there may be section(s) of the car that are not within spec
*How much it is out of spec
*What it will take (parts, specialized machinery, specialized talent/experience) to correct it
*How much it will cost
*How long it will take
When you are comfortable with their answers then get your insurance company involved. And decide if you want to fix it, keep it, or if the ins co will total it.

 

The top sound very serious......
It is not very unusual for the bumper to be 1/4 inch
away from flush on many new Corvettes according
to what I have seen.

 

Again thanks to all that have provided feedback!

I should have shared this earlier, but here’s what the roof panel looked like when I got home from the accident:

 

Excellent and thanks.
Thought HC might've done a program detailing C7 construction similar to C6 and they did.
These programs are a must-watch for C6/7 owners.
An in depth step-by-step look at how these specific cars are built, especially what's behind the body panels, is invaluable.

Yup, car's literally built around AL cab structure welded to AL frame.
Unfortunately, this top misalignment is not as 'simple' as a bent frame.
I suspect/guess this much more serious by looking at top, now.

OP has to wait for a final verdict from an expert, expecting the worse & hoping for the best.