damage inspection

jpk · #1 (**permalink**) 03-02-2003, 04:44 PM

I took my car to Elliot's after breakfast yesterday. He looked it over, put it up on the rack, and pretty much checked it out. He is convinced that the visible body damage is all there is. Aside from the crushed quickjack mounting bracket, which is bolted on, he believes there are absolutely NO frame issues. The missing paint at the welds that Tony noticed are in fact from the tire rubbing at extreme position. The same weld is polished on each side, and there are corresponding marks on the inside of each tire. It is still true that some of the pieces mounted to the frame underwent stress. Thanks to Tony for readjusting the high idle, which was caused by some linkage distortion.
I will start the repair process ASAP. I am planning on going two places for estimates. TOYWORKS in Concord, which comes highly recommended, and TESTA'S in San Jose, recommended by Elliot. Any further comments regarding either establishment, or additional recommendations, are welcome.

thanks,

joe kennedy

gary289fia · #2 (**permalink**) 03-02-2003, 09:59 PM

Joe, that's good news. I'm sure it will be ready for Ohio.
Gary

jpk · #3 (**permalink**) 03-03-2003, 08:05 AM

Thanks Gary,
Did you make it to Elliot's on saturday?
If so, did he have any further comments
regarding my damage?

thanks,

joe kennedy

LETSRCE · #4 (**permalink**) 03-03-2003, 10:31 AM

Joe, what happen?

Tony Ripepi · #5 (**permalink**) 03-03-2003, 01:20 PM

Hello Joe,

Great news......Glad there is no frame damage and the two shops you are going are top shelf. When they get done you will be as good as new.....if only we could get a refurb on these 50+ year old chassis we live in the same way !!!

You are welcome for the minor effort that I put in to your car to get it where it was easier to drive.

Tony R.

gary289fia · #6 (**permalink**) 03-03-2003, 07:12 PM

Joe, I took my car to Elliott today. He thought the damage to be superficial.
My two weeks has officially started.
Best to you.
Gary

jpk · #7 (**permalink**) 03-03-2003, 08:48 PM

Joe,

Had someone pull out in front of me,
collission unavoidable. Here's a pic:

jpk · #8 (**permalink**) 03-03-2003, 09:00 PM

Tony,
Thanks again for the help. The frame inspection was visual, but encouraging. I will have whomever does the work provide official verification. I am going (weather permitting) to Toyworks and to the Allstate adjuster tomorrow. I will be going to Testa's and to Automotive Enterprises, in San Carlos, on Wednesday. Two of the body shops that I called today recommended Automotive Enterprises. They seem to specialize in corvettes (fiberglass work & demanding customers). If anyone has any comments, I'd be glad to hear them.

Gary,
Thanks for the feedback. Hope two weeks isn't any more than 14 days!

thanks,

joe kennedy

computerworks · #9 (**permalink**) 03-03-2003, 09:04 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jpk

...Thanks to Tony for readjusting the high idle, which was caused by some linkage distortion.

Joe... this one thing you said earlier bothers me.
If you suddenly had a big change in idle speed after the impact...
...if the linkage is fixed on the footbox, then something must have shifted in relative position further back...
...make sure they check that out.

jpk · #10 (**permalink**) 03-03-2003, 09:37 PM

Ron,
I share your concern. As I mentioned, there was no visual frame damage. However, some parts mounted to the frame moved very small amounts. I hope this is just a result of temporary flexing, but I will definitely ask whomever does the work to check this out. All input is welcome at this point.
More to follow.

thanks,

joe kennedy

crillyiv · #11 (**permalink**) 03-04-2003, 01:05 AM

Joe,
I am very sorry to hear of your collision. I hope you get back on the road soon. Here's a photo of recent happier times. We look forward to seeing you again soon. IN YOUR CAR OF COURSE!

jpk · #12 (**permalink**) 03-04-2003, 08:01 AM

Jim,

Thanks for the mail. I'm off now to get my first professional evaluation, and have an appointment with the Allstate adjuster this afternoon. I should at least have some idea of the extent of damage by then.

With any luck we'll meet again sooner rather than later. If there's anyone looking at the picture Jim posted who doesn't know either one of us, I'm the handsome one.

joe kennedy

Turk · #13 (**permalink**) 03-04-2003, 08:23 AM

If you are the handsome one, you must be the one with the fuel cap.

That is the only thing I see in the picture that is attractive. The two dorks with red caps, are um...well...just couple of dorks!

The one with the roll bar is OK!!

TURK

jpk · #14 (**permalink**) 03-05-2003, 07:23 AM

Turk,
You've got me there!

joe kennedy

jpk · #15 (**permalink**) 03-05-2003, 07:30 AM

I got two estimates and saw allstate yesterday, have a final
estimate scheduled today. One place wants to cut in most
of a new front clip. This will involve lots of disassembly, including
engine and interior removal. All fiberglass seams will be worked
on from both bottom and top, and any areas where the frame
to body bonds occur will be rebonded. The frame will be
measured on a laser device, although this persons opinion
after a visual is also that there is no apparent frame damage.
The estimate includes subcontracts for engine removal/replacement,
and full alignment afterwards. This comes in at about
$20K, and 3-4 months, with all the fiberglass work being done by
the person who gave the estimate. The reason this person
gave for replacement over repair was that, given all the stress
cracks, it was less work to replace the clip. He said it could
be repaired, but a significant amount of original glass would
be ground away when dealing with the stress cracks.

The second person insisted that it could be repaired, and that
was less work than replacement. He said all areas of stress
cracks would be taken down to the base of the cracks and
new fabric would be laid. All work would be done from the
outside, with no disassembly. This was a pretty large shop,
and had lots of techs running around. Although the appraiser
had done fiberglass work before, he would not be actually
working on the car. They did have a lot of corvettes in the
shop. He will fax me an estimate today, but his guess was
that it "could get up to $10K", and take 1-2 months.

When I went to allstate, the guy looked at it, said he didn't
even know what he was looking at, and just simply copied
the first estimate as his own. Done deal.

My big issue now is whether to go the repair route or the
replacement route. Which will give me the higher quality
result? Is all of the disassembly involved in the replacement
a good thing or a bad thing? Am I better off with mostly
original glass with the repair, or could other potential issues
go undiscovered since there is no disassembly?

I would value all opinions. I will be posting these questions
in a coulple of other forums as well, and would like to decide
on a course of action by the weekend. I'm hoping to get
Craig to look at it after breakfast on saturday and get his
opinion.

thanks,

joe kennedy

crillyiv · #16 (**permalink**) 03-05-2003, 09:22 AM

Joe,
I like the first option. It is more of the ins. co's money and your time, but repairing the glass from both sides and getting rid of the old possilby damaged part sounds better in the long run.

Hate to say it, but be prepared for this to take much longer than initially quoted no matter who does the work. Best of luck whichever way you go.

SFfiredog · #17 (**permalink**) 03-05-2003, 01:22 PM

Joe,
Give me a call at the Fire Shop. The head painter here at my shop owns Broadway Auto Body in Burlingame. I showed him your photo and he can take care of this easily. He did some repair work on a friend's SPF that was rear ended by a motorcycle and it came out perfect.
--Mike
(415) 550-4626

SCOBRAC · #18 (**permalink**) 04-14-2003, 12:39 AM

Likely the damage to the linkage was caused by his foot coming up behind the throttle during the impact..

I think there is an aluminum body for sale on e bay for 12k.. Just my .02

Randy Rosenberg · #19 (**permalink**) 05-15-2003, 08:17 PM

Joe, any update??? Last you told me it was headed to the painter's... Is it still on schedule? Hope so!

Regards,
Randy R...

Neal Jackson · #20 (**permalink**) 05-15-2003, 08:35 PM

Joe,

Unless there is more glass damage than what is shown in the photo - that left fender is an easy fix. Any competent glass person could have that in primer in a week or less and it would be as strong, if not stronger, than it was to begin with.

If you clip that car, you'll likely end up with just about as much glass work being done and hopefully you'll have only minimal headaches in dealing with the new clip fitting as precisely as the current clip, not to mention other surprises you'll probably encounter when half the body of that car is replaced.

oops! I didn't realize this thread is about a month old - Joe probably has the car fixed by now or at least in a shop.