94GA post-accident

[RazorDX]

This weekend I was able to use my day off to make some major headway on my rebuild. Here is the current state, with more pictures to come this weekend:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v691/razordx/IMG_0061.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v691/razordx/IMG_0062.jpg

The hood and drivers side fender are painted and clearcoated, but still need buffed. The bumper needs sanded and new primer, then paint and clear.

Here are the pics from the accident:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v691/razordx/DSC00033.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v691/razordx/DSC00031.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v691/razordx/DSC00034.jpg

Back story: Last August I was on the interstate heading to a meeting about 2 hours away. 20 minutes out from my meeting I came into a construction area on the interstate where traffic funneled from 3 lanes at 60mph to 1 lane at 10mph. My brake line was rusty enough that when I applied the brakes a pencil-lead sized hole burst and my brakes completely disappeared. I had the help of a Dodge Dakota coming to a stop. The brakes slowed me by about 5 mph before cutting out, leaving the impact to take me from 55mph to 0 rather instantly.

Two things worked to my advantage:
1) The truck was still coasting at about 10-20 mph and didn't have his brakes entirely applied.
2) The truck's bumper was high enough that it JUST missed my bumper, allowing the radiator support and hood to take the brunt of the damage.

Disclaimer: Although I don't mind giving hope to anyone who has an accident and doesn't want to get rid of their car, I don't condone a repair like this unless it's a safe thing. Mine is fortunately a conditional scenario where it didn't alter the bumper or frame in any way (I had it checked).

[sunrunner_pei]

Looking much better, but things don't appear to be lining up right yet on the front end. The headlamps and side marker lamps still look out of place.

[RazorDX]

The bumper is not properly secured yet; there is just a bolt and clip on each fender and the three snaps on the top of it. The sidemarker on the passenger side isn't secured either; it's just resting on there. I misplaced the screw for it and need to get a replacement. I actually have a lot of missing screws, regardless of how anal I was about bagging and tagging everything properly.

The bumper (replacement from Certifit) seems to line up well with the exception of the turn signal lamps beneath the highbeams... the opening is either too wide or my replacement housings are too narrow.

[sunrunner_pei]

I was hoping that was the case. :) Lookin' good. :)

[RazorDX]

Thanks! I had the stuff attached just so I wouldn't feel so depressed looking at it anymore. :lol:

I took it down our road to see if it still felt alright... I honestly can't tell a difference. The engine is running a little rough, but I think I just got some water under the IDI cover while cleaning it off.

I still need to get it aligned and legal, but I've changed the shocks in the rear and added a strut tower brace up front, and next weekend I hope to have the front struts changed out. KYB all around.

[Gagt518]

Ouch, Glad to see her pull through

[GMFWDFAN]

Great work. :) I admire the dedication, and it looks like it's coming along quite nicely.

[ManktheTank19]

Happy to see it coming back together.

My car was that exact same color and I love that gray :)

[RazorDX]

Ouch, Glad to see her pull through

I can think of about two dozen little variables that would have made this car a vegetable for the rest of it's junkyard life. In fact, it very well may have if I had better insurance.

Great work. :) I admire the dedication, and it looks like it's coming along quite nicely.

Thanks! It means a lot to me to hear that.

It's been over 10 months since I've been able to drive it, but I didn't want to rush anything. The car was in spectacular shape before the accident, so I intend to have it as close to normal as I can.

Happy to see it coming back together.

My car was that exact same color and I love that gray :)

Thanks! I also really like the grey. There is one other 4th gen GA I've seen around here in that gray, but it looks worse than mine before I rebuilt it. The rear bumper is almost two entire pieces and the paint/clearcoat is rediculous. I'm quite happy with the paint match; you can only tell in certain lights... I'm hoping it is even more inconspicuous once it is detailed.



I have a lot of work to do yet...

Sand/primer/paint/CC front bumper
Adjust headlights
Sand/primer/paint/CC sideskirts
Sand and repaint the spoiler
Fix/replace the fan (the housing is cracked, so the fan rubs it in one place)
Wash and detail (while in the garage it got bondo dust and other crud EVERYWHERE)

[Big Joe]

ouch that looked like it hurt. but dam, it looks great now!

[AtomicPunk]

lookin great! im glad to see a wrecked GA saved from the dreaded junk yard! the more i see them, the more i like the 4th gen GAs...

[RazorDX]

Thanks to all for the comments! I'll be sure to post more pics this weekend, so long as I can make the trip to my parents' to do some work.