1974
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 3,181
Likes: 732
From: Texas City, TX Texas
1974
My car was in a hit and run recently, I will be getting an estimate from my insurance company soon. I will enlist the help of a local Corvette guy to help me fix it and save a few bucks and do some other repairs. I noticed the gap around the headlight(which no longer closes; I will be converting to electric while we have it apart)gap is bigger on the wrecked side, as if the structure underneath is pulled down. Will I need to remove the entire front clip to repair?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 3,181
Likes: 732
From: Texas City, TX Texas
1974 Collision Repair
My car was in a hit and run recently, I will be getting an estimate from my insurance company soon. I will enlist the help of a local Corvette guy to help me fix it and save a few bucks and do some other repairs. I noticed the gap around the headlight(which no longer closes; I will be converting to electric while we have it apart)gap is bigger on the wrecked side, as if the structure underneath is pulled down. Will I need to remove the entire front clip to repair?
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 19,294
Likes: 2,753
From: Charlotte NC
I do not know what you are calling the 'front clip'
The front bumper cover needs to come off...that is a fact. This will allow you to get a better look of what is going on and THEN when you post good photos and a good description of what you can see that will NOT show up in a photo...then a determination can be made.
I SERIOUSLY doubt that the entire front end needs to be removed. That's from what I can see....that is MAJOR OVERKILL.
DUB
The front bumper cover needs to come off...that is a fact. This will allow you to get a better look of what is going on and THEN when you post good photos and a good description of what you can see that will NOT show up in a photo...then a determination can be made.
I SERIOUSLY doubt that the entire front end needs to be removed. That's from what I can see....that is MAJOR OVERKILL.
DUB
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 3,181
Likes: 732
From: Texas City, TX Texas
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 19,294
Likes: 2,753
From: Charlotte NC
If the damage and repair times can reflect that 5K figure..than it should not be an issue.
Make sure you look at it like a HAWK so you can see if you have fine stress cracks in the finish and body.
Depending on the insurance company adjuster who is looking at it. Keep in mind that what is written is NOT the end of the claim...and 'supplements' can be written to provide more money to fix it.
As for friend will tell you...the entire front clip will need to be cleared...but the color may not need to be shot on the entire front end clip. The reason for the full clear coating of the front end clip is due to there is NO point where you can successfully stop the clear and NOT have a line show up in time...just in case you did not know this.
Keep in mind....the photo you posted is just at the point of impact...and I am not there pulling on panels to see if you have panel separation..which can not be detected in the photo you posted. SO...anything is possible. but I have seen this type of damage MANY TIMES and it visually does not look that bad...even though it is bad.
DUB
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 3,181
Likes: 732
From: Texas City, TX Texas
Thanks Dub you are one of the most helpful members of this forum, I wish you were within a few hundred miles of me, the car would be at your shop! The car already needs a paint job, it is terrible, I was just about to start stripping it when this happened. It is dusty as Hell right now; I'll keep it that way and MAYBE the adjuster won't notice it already needed a paint job. Maybe I'll throw a tarp over it and just peel back enough to show the fender? My dad is my agent, been with State Farm for nearly fifty years, and my sister wrote the policy so hopefully I have a little pull when it comes to claim approval...
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 19,294
Likes: 2,753
From: Charlotte NC
Thanks Dub you are one of the most helpful members of this forum, I wish you were within a few hundred miles of me, the car would be at your shop! The car already needs a paint job, it is terrible, I was just about to start stripping it when this happened. It is dusty as Hell right now; I'll keep it that way and MAYBE the adjuster won't notice it already needed a paint job. Maybe I'll throw a tarp over it and just peel back enough to show the fender? My dad is my agent, been with State Farm for nearly fifty years, and my sister wrote the policy so hopefully I have a little pull when it comes to claim approval...
NOPE....TRUST ME...the adjuster WILL NOTICE the current condition of the car because it is a PART of the 'general condition' of the car that the adjuster HAS to make mention of.
SO..if it is REALLY needing a paint job.,..then there is NO WAY you can demand the paint to be on the SHOW QUALITY level when completed IF it is NOT at show level at the time of the incident.
Because it also works in the SAME manner IF you car got hit AFTER you got it looking like it was dipped in baby oil....the adjuster would make it KNOWN that the paint is flawless...and added time for wet sanding and buffing/polishing would be added....and the estimate and times to repair 'things' would reflect that.
DUB
Last edited by DUB; May 4, 2016 at 06:22 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 983
Likes: 35
From: Redding California
I hope the claim goes well for you Richard and what I'm about to say is not meant to be negative towards you at all... some just don't know... this is just FYI so take it for what it's worth. I'm sure you've heard the 'ol Miranda Rights being read to someone, particularly the part of "anything you say can and will be used against you..."? Well, the internet is the same way, only it's what you type that can and will be used against you. And it's a permanent digital record. With that said, I'm sure most of us have been in a similar insurance "situation" and did what we had to do to get the best outcome for ourselves. I'd just hate to see someone do a quick Google search on you prior to payment and have what you've written here on the forum pop up. Might not help your case much. Just be careful about what you say on a public forum. We are all on your side... just be careful!
Last edited by 13611; May 4, 2016 at 11:55 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 19,294
Likes: 2,753
From: Charlotte NC
I hope the claim goes well for you Richard and what I'm about to say is not meant to be negative towards you at all... some just don't know... this is just FYI so take it for what it's worth. I'm sure you've heard the 'ol Miranda Rights being read to someone, particularly the part of "anything you say can and will be used against you..."? Well, the internet is the same way, only it's what you type that can and will be used against you. And it's a permanent digital record. With that said, I'm sure most of us have been in a similar insurance "situation" and did what we had to do to get the best outcome for ourselves. I'd just hate to see someone do a quick Google search on you prior to payment and have what you've written here on the forum pop up. Might not help your case much. Just be careful about what you say on a public forum. We are all on your side... just be careful!
I read that also and it seemed a bit 'questionable'.Some things just do not need to be written out to full clarity.
DUB