Date: Sat, 17 Oct 2009 15:26:13 -0500
Reply-To: Tom Hargrave <thargrav@HIWAAY.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Tom Hargrave <thargrav@HIWAAY.NET>
Subject: Re: more collision damage found
In-Reply-To: <m1ljj9hk17.fsf@cs.indiana.edu>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
These insurance folks are actually pretty smart. They total a vehicle when
the repair estimate crosses bout 70% of the value knowing that more often
than not, there will be hidden damage not reported on the original estimate.
But they don't factor in "free labor" which is why it's usually cost
effective to fix it yourself assuming you have the skill.
My biggest concerns with your situation would be the final position of the
rack assembly once repaired and the strength of the cross member where it
was bent & you are about to straighten. Every time you over stress steel it
softens or hardens & gets more brittle.
Thanks,
Tom Hargrave
256-656-1924
Our Web Sites:
www.kegkits.com
www.stir-plate.com
www.andyshotsauce.com
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM] On Behalf Of
Allan Streib
Sent: Saturday, October 17, 2009 2:56 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: more collision damage found
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
