W'rectum?

[Jam Clich]

I danged near... well you know.

It was raining last night and some fool had his hi-beams on in the opposite lane... I was blinded, I missed a turn and hit a mailbox along with some cinderblocks doing about 25 mph.

I went to the Fiero Club meeting back in July, and I was pleased with the reception I got and I felt very encouraged to join. However, the car began acting up many a time between then and now (drive belt, tensioner, battery, cooling fan, headlights, muffler aaaand oil pan) and I spent my time working on it instead. And just went I got her into pristine running condition this last week, tragedy struck.

On the passenger side, the door panel and possibly some mechanics underneath operating the auto windows are damaged. The frame on the door may also be misaligned. The front end of the car is torn to bits. The radiator seems to have taken minor damage, but the condition of everything else under the hood is yet to be determined. The hood itself is also damaged, unable to be lifted, and the roof panel, windshield, and of course the front bumper and the passenger side panel that goes over the tire well are all pattywhacked. A lot of plastic to be replaced. However, the back of the car is completely unharmed, aside from the damage from a cinderblock wedged into the air scoop panel on the driver side (and the corresponding GT trim running along the panel and the door) that also ties in with the rest of the replacements I need.

Basically I took a lot of body damage, but if all looks well under the hood and the frame is unharmed, the car will live on.

February 28th is my birthday. As a present to myself I intend to work and pour my paychecks into my savings account and, depending on how much I have by then, either get the car completely repaired and add a few accessories here and there (scoops, custom hood, paint job, rims, speaker system) or go all out and get a body kit for it.

It's a gold '87 GT. I'll post up some pictures of it (both pre-crash and post-crash) when I can. I'd love to hear some recommendations on accessories of kits (A Ferrari kit would be great. 5 grand by February will be a tough mark, though. I got 600 $676 now. )

P.S. if anyone, by chance, has considered selling a cheap donor car, let me know.

[Tha Driver]

Post pics. I can tell you more of what you have to do with them. Or, if the car is driveable bring it by.
I just got a rust-free '88 ('88s have the good suspension) that you may want to swap your running gear/interior into, if you have a lot of suspension & spaceframe damage. Will need paint & some of the body panels, though - it's a PRIME candadite for a rebody.
~ Paul
aka "Tha Driver"

Which do you most can't the least?
What I most can't the least, would be do not a bad job but always a good.

[Jam Clich]

The car is driveable. She was still running after I plowed into the ditch and cranked back up today like nothing had happened. The alignment on my wheels is, of course, screwy, though, and I am still a minor - thus under the authority of my folks. I may not be able to drive her anywhere. Where would I be going, might I ask?

[Rat Pee 86]

Glad to hear that you are unhurt.  I was driving in that rain last night ,too, just imagining what could possibly happen.  It kept me on my toes, boy howdy I tell 'ya. Sorry again about your car.

Tom
Rat Pee 86

[Tha Driver]

[quote author=Jam Clich

[Jam Clich]

I apologize, but I know for sure I cannot make that trip from Stockbridge, an hour and a half away. I'd have to get a better diagnosis of the problem here before attempting a trip like that. I don't even have access to my own garage right now. The car is in my yard, and I can't open the hood or get a good view underneath to see what's what.

For now, I have some exterior pictures. Took a little too much time checking out my sunroof, so each of the three tears got photographed.

[Tha Driver]

Did the top get cracked in the wreck? If so, not good. That means the spaceframe got twisted pretty badly - although it may have sprung back (but would be weakened). That's a lot of damage. I'd start pulling damaged parts off of it. You may be able to get to the hood bolts through the headlight openings. If it's broken, just rip it off. I have most of the body parts you'd need to repair it, if you decide to do so. I also have two '88s that you could transfer your parts to: the T-Top & the parts car I just got. I'll take $1500 for the T-Top - you could transfer your engine, trans, interior, & fastback clip to it. You'd still need to replace the GT front bumper & the broken ground effects (I have them) to complete the transformation. But in the end you'd have a T-Top & the good '88 suspension.
Email me at ImThaDriver at yahoo & I'll send you my phone # & directions.
~ Paul
aka "Tha Driver"

I checked today and... this is the oldest I've ever been.

[TopNotch]

[quote author=Jam Clich

[Jam Clich]

[quote author=Jam Clich

[Fierofool]

What Pat's referring to is a keyhole type slot on the underneath of each rear corner of the hood.  There's a big pin with a star shaped top on it, on the body.  That pin fits up into the keyhole slot, and if the hood gets shoved back, it locks onto the pin.  You should be able to see both on the right side to give you an idea of how they work.  If the hood is broken, just pull it forward with whatever works.  Hoods can be had easily.  There's probably one on the Fieros at the pullapart. 

[Fierofool]

Don't know if you've decided to repair your car, or not, but if you are going to, the 85GT at the North Yard Pullapart has everything you need to rebuild it.  All of the body panels are there and in good shape.  The fender well liners and everything underneath the front end are there.  Both the front and rear fascias are in great physical shape with no damage.  Of course the moldings are ribbed, but that can be filled in to make them smooth.  I think the lower rocker molding on the drivers side was already removed. 

Upper intake and most of the pieces on the top of the motor are gone.  Middle and lower intake are still there, instrument panel is gone, automatic shift surround isn't in very good shape.  All 4 brake calipers are there and have good pads on them.  Also looks like it has had the steering rack replaced. 

This car had 103,000 miles on it and it had never had any of the recalls done.  It has the original intake snorkle and the PCV valve still hooked onto the bottom of the snorkle.  It also had the decklid weatherstrip.

[Jam Clich]

I've been talking with Tha Driver about going to see his 88, but I am for sure about repairing it. I will go look see if I can.

Thing is, I have no truck to move parts. And I don't know the extent of all that I'm gonna need to pull off.

[Fierofool]

You may be better off transferring your engine and driveline over to the 88 that Paul has.  I would be very concerned about the integrity of the framework of the 87 with the way it cracked the top around the sunroof.  Pull the ECM and wiring harnesses and put it into the 88. 

[Tha Driver]

Sold the T-Top yesterday. Sorry, no longer have any '88s for sale. My helper is going to sell/part out his '86, though. It came with a 4-speed & V6 (engine & trans don't go with it).
I too am worried that the spaceframe is toast on your car, Allen. No way it could break the roof panel without severely tweaking the spaceframe.
Humm... I just remered where another '88 is - if it's still there. I'll try to check into it for you when I get a chance.
~ Paul
aka "Tha Driver"

To resist the influence of others, knowledge of one's self is most important.

[Jam Clich]

Congratulations on the sale!   Like I said in my email, your assistance has been valuable to me, and it gave me some perspective on my options. Glad to hear you got some money out of it. Meanwhile, I wish I could know for sure the extent of the damage to the car, but I'm far too novice. Originally I attributed the cracks in the corners of my sunroof to the fact that it flew up in the collision and even broke off of the release handle.

If I have to buy a new model to transfer parts, it will cost me quite the penny. While I was joking about saving up for a body kit, I am still paying out of my own pocket, and that will take time to acquire. I am still checking the market for any sales. Once my father arrives home, I can push for a decision to be made on bigger spending, and any more sightings of replacements at the pullapart will be greatly appreciated, as I won't have to wait for him to go there and have a look.