Thread: Bent Frame - Reality Check

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I wouldn't pull on it. They are always damaged. Like trying to make a piece of wadded up aluminum foil flat and shiny again. Impossible. I'd replace the frame, clip it or buy another car.

Originally Posted by Corvette64

I wouldn't pull on it. They are always damaged. Like trying to make a piece of wadded up aluminum foil flat and shiny again. Impossible. I'd replace the frame, clip it or buy another car.

Being a Nova it's a unibody car, so putting it on the frame machine is about the only option.... That or cut and remove the bent structure with the car on a good chassis table, measure a bunch and put it back together square.... Unibody's are usually a bit lighter and cheaper to build....but repairing them is a bit more difficult....

Originally Posted by Corvette64

I wouldn't pull on it. They are always damaged. Like trying to make a piece of wadded up aluminum foil flat and shiny again. Impossible. I'd replace the frame, clip it or buy another car.

This is a popular misconception that is reinforced by the reality that there are a lot of hack body shops out there. I used to have to convince my customers that in fact a quality shop could very easily return a unibody car to original specs, often times better. All it takes is a commitment to doing the job right, and the right equipment.

Just to add emphasis to Darrel's comment, get the chassis straight before cutting anything, otherwise you're just chasing your tail.

When I worked at the body shop we pulled cars on a daily basis, some with frames and some unibody versions. All of them can be done sucessfully in the hands of a knowledgable tech.

A combo of heating and pulling is sometimes reguired, but we did everything from trucks to Vipers. Once it was done the panels and other stuff like doors would start to fit better.

Don