Date: Sat, 17 Oct 2009 14:10:28 -0700
Reply-To: neil n <musomuso@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: neil n <musomuso@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: more collision damage found
In-Reply-To: <m1ljj9hk17.fsf@cs.indiana.edu>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
On Sat, Oct 17, 2009 at 12:56 PM, Allan Streib <streib@cs.indiana.edu> wrote:
.....
> I also found out why the steering is
> binding. Right behind the area of impact is the steering box. This was
> shoved back and the force transmitted along the shaft back to steering
> rack. The crossmember where the rack mounts has been bent back, causing
> the front of the rack to pivot down so that the U joint is now down
> against the sway bar, catching on it as it turns.
>
> I think I can borrow a hydraulic spreader or ram to push that
> crossmember back where it belongs. I'm not sure what such an impact
> might have done to the rack. I don't see it leaking anywhere and it
> looks OK -- anyone know if the internals would be shockproof?
>
> The other idea I'm now considering is to resurrect the parts van I got.
> It's a rolling chassis, the paint is tired but it looks rust free even
> around the window corners and seams. It looks like it was undercoated;
> mine has not been and while it's largely rust free the parts van is in
> overall better shape.
>
> The prior owner kept the motor, transmission, and a lot of interior
> pieces. I could swap all that over from my van... the one big
> difference is that mine is a manual and the other van was an automatic.
> It's probably a bigger project, but it would be largely just be bolt up
> and hook up stuff, no frame straightening, welding, etc. which I have
> never done to any real degree.
If it were me, and I knew how to use the ram, I'd try it and see if it
would move the cross member. If brought close to spec, (does Bentley
specify this?) and safe to drive, I'd go to an experienced front end
shop and see if ram correction brought all concerned close enough so a
proper alignment could be done. If so, hopefully, it's just my
time/sweat, possibly a new used rack/other front end parts and
whatever $ for temp insurance. Bear in mind though, I don't have any
real experience in body work and I would be curious if there are other
structural parts affected by impact.
Re: the rack. Since there are bushings at the bolts holding it to the
crossmember, I wonder if that helped protect it from any stress from
impact?
OTOH though, swapping parts has benefits. You would be in for a fair
amount of work but at least you are "hands on" and would know what's
been done. You would have a chance to really assess what other parts
may be due for replacement. And, assuming the recipient Vanagon is
straight and has no other weirdness, it would end up being a Vanagon
w/o the "has been in an accident" stigma or status. One would think
that would help resale value should that time arise. As for the body
of the recipient, assuming it's straight, not too much rust, maybe the
paint could be buffed up. Try a test spot first.
Tough call. I'm sure there's info in the archives here on auto to
manual swap. IIRC, there are useful threads over on the samba.
Like this
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=283352&highlight=auto
Neil.
--
Neil Nicholson '81 VanaJetta 2.0 "Jaco"
http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/
http://groups.google.com/group/vanagons-with-vw-inline-4-cylinder-gas-engines
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