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Date:         Sat, 17 Oct 2009 15:56:04 -0400
Reply-To:     Allan Streib <streib@CS.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Allan Streib <streib@CS.INDIANA.EDU>
Subject:      more collision damage found
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

It's been a few months... for background, my wife hit another car while driving my '91 GL. Due to different bumper heights, the impact was just above the bumper on the drivers side.

After the wreck, the steering was binding and the drivers door was cocked a little bit. It does open and close but it definitely drops a bit when I open it.

A few photos here....

http://picasaweb.google.com/allanstreib/VanagonDamage

Insurance totaled the van and I bought it back for $250 with plans to repair it.

In September I picked up an '87 parts van from another list member, intending to use the front sheet metal and possibly other parts for repairs.

Meanwhile, I borrowed a slide hammer and pulled the sheet metal above the bumper back to an approximately correct position. The radiator and condensor appear to be undamaged. 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.

So, I'm leaning towards swapping my motor, transaxle and interior to the parts van. Will the manual/automatic issue be any concern, given that the original automatic isn't there anyway? Any other incompatibilites between the '87 and the '91 years?

Allan -- 1991 Vanagon GL


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