Frame Damage - Need Opinions!! January 24, 2007, 09:06:36 PM OK, well to start it off, read my sig. The driver's side frame is pushed in about 1" into the floor pan. I had a quote of $400 to pull it back out, if I take the fender and header pannel off myself. I just want to know if it is a good idea to fix the frame on this car. It is just a base V6 Cougar with a few options. It is almost rust free except the rear quarter pannel? and a spot above the rear wheel. Other than the frame, it is in great condition. The car has about 175,000 miles. Just want opinions on weather I should fix the frame or not (I already have all the parts to fixed the damaged ones). It's very hard to find a decent Cougar or Thunderbird in good condition in eastern Iowa. Thanks Quote Selected
Frame Damage - Need Opinions!! Reply #1 – January 24, 2007, 09:57:20 PM Hello,If Your car is rust free (or near) and You like this car, I guess You will paid $400 buck to redress the frame, As You stated in Your message, the car clean like Your is very rare...If this kind of sh*t arrive on Mt bird I'll don't hesitate a second, and fix it...Regards,Dom. Quote Selected
Frame Damage - Need Opinions!! Reply #2 – January 25, 2007, 03:02:53 AM I agree, if you really like this car $400 is a small amount of money to pay to fix something like that. I say go for it. the engine might only be a v6 but that is nothing that a little time and money cant fix Quote Selected
Frame Damage - Need Opinions!! Reply #3 – January 25, 2007, 02:44:12 PM Wooops!,Are You sure the frame is completely back on Your car???, I'm not good in english and made My possible to write right, but, if Your car have a 1 inch back the car was not driveable or very not well, are You sure it's not just the floorpan frame (underbody frame) was just pushed up in the floor???, if Yes it's not a $400 or if You paid 400 for that okay the garages don't work for notning, But I guess You just bumped Your underframe when You falled in...Cauz if Your frame is really back off of 1" your front fender back up too into Your door, anmd Your windshield cracked a lot on the impact, the shock absorber apr0n backed up too, the firewall too, ect, ect...I guess You just bumped under the car, and this is not a great damage, maybe, You will be redress with a litle floor jack, and make a pressure on the rocker panel a lot and You will redress, it's an easy way to describe, but not to do...I guess You just good bumped Your underframe (the part from the firewall go under Your seat) and this make a "bump" in Your floorpan...Ohh gosh!, I'm in dann Quebec and Your in the USA, but if You will be near from Me, I'll be curious to see that, it's an hour job, and cost nothing except a bit of time and some work, no more...Regards, Dom. Quote Selected
Frame Damage - Need Opinions!! Reply #4 – January 25, 2007, 02:48:28 PM Yes, the floorpan is just pushed up, my windsheild didn't crack at all, the driver's door is a little crooked, but other than that, your right abotu the floorpan. There is a bump under the pedals. How would I go about fixing this myself? Quote Selected
Frame Damage - Need Opinions!! Reply #5 – January 25, 2007, 04:19:06 PM Oh well, I have a 4-5 lines to explain this in French, but in english ishhhh!, ok, I'll try...I have two different solutions depending of the floorpan/underframe worp...The first is a little bit "garbage" job (I dont have the words to do other).1: jack Your car on a strong place like a frame where the lower tab bolted here, jack just the wheel over, then put out trim, seat, and the floor pan carpet, and roll over the non damaged side, then take a 2x8" or 2x10" wood piece cutted around 12" long, place where the floorpan is bumped, take a 8-10pounds mass, and try a couple of strong bump on the piece of wood, check Your floorpan if it look better before, if Yes, continue to hamming like the floorpan see correct, check under the car too, Your Underframe was probably damaged, but do this at the end of all...If this "rough" solution does'nt work, jack the car like above but in a garage with a STRONG ceiling, like a steel beams or a bigger wood beam, then take a 2 tons oil jack (cheap at any stores like walmart), place again a large wood like 2x10" on the damaged/bumped area, put the jack here, the place a good 4x4" from the jack to the SOLID ceiling area, if the 4x4 is not vertical try as possible to make this 4x4 vertical, if not I guess the 4x4 is near the top, so, put a lot of clothes over the 4x4 and push to the top (over the door close), and block as possible the 4x4 at the ceiling place to prevent his slip snd go out, then jack SMOOTHLY until You see the floorpan replace smoothly, stop a couple of minute, take a smoke or other if You don't smoke...Then jack another 5-6 times and check the floorpan, and under too, if You jacked safely and the oil jack on the floorpan is secure (the 4x4 is vertical as possible) this will be redress Your underframe, but pay attention, this describes aboves is VERY dangerous, if the 4x4 slip You will be killed, and I dont want this MY GOD!, but I guess Your not stupid, and You will see if the "gimmick" will slip...If one of these two tricks make a good job on the floorpan, go under the car securely jackstanded on this side, and You will see whereYour subframe was kinked, or bumped, take a good piece of steel like a 6" of railroad track or whatever, a piece of 4x4 will be good too if You have nothing more, place the steel or 4x4 block on one side of the subframe, and with Your other hand, with a 3~5 pounds hammer, bump the frame firmly then the subframe is looh equal on both side (change the side of hamming if needed), if You see it's good to eye that's finished, Your subframe will be probably curved inside, but leave this curved, it's not very important for this kind of car unless You plan to make a drag with a 300 and more HP engine:hick: But I say again, the jack trick need a vertical at 360` as possible, it's VERY VERY dangerous, and don't try this if You don't have a helper, but the floorpan and subframe of theses fox bodu is not strong like a 1975 Continental, it's just a 16 or maybe 18 gauge steel, and not strong a lot, I hope the 1st trick will be a success, cauz I hate the second jack/4x4 trick, In My basp00get garage I made this a lot of times, but I'm installed for that, and anyway I have a air body jack here too expressively made for that...To finish, Your car is not very damaged, the frame is straight, it's just the subframe/floorpan bumped and worped, that's all...If You near Me I'll fix it in a hour, or less, this frustrate Me a bit...Hope this help and again GO SAFE!!!! and take care...Hope this help You fix Your car:D Best regards, and have a nice Day,Dominique, Quote Selected
Frame Damage - Need Opinions!! Reply #6 – January 26, 2007, 01:27:38 AM not bad english tbirdmainiac:D Quote Selected
Frame Damage - Need Opinions!! Reply #7 – January 26, 2007, 01:30:07 AM Hey, Thanks alot Dom. That helps me out a lot. I still don't know if I want to try it yet, or just pay someone to do it. I have to decide soon though. I want to move it up here to college with me so I can work on it at the shop that I work at.Sam Quote Selected
Frame Damage - Need Opinions!! Reply #8 – January 26, 2007, 10:10:19 AM Of course, our cars don't have an actual "frame", just a couple of stubby looks-like-half-a-frame things welded to the outside of a big sheetmetal box. Quote Selected
Frame Damage - Need Opinions!! Reply #9 – January 26, 2007, 12:19:45 PM Yea, Dam Uni Bodies Quote Selected
Frame Damage - Need Opinions!! Reply #10 – January 26, 2007, 12:56:12 PM Look around for a donor body.I found my Sport,very solid car,for $350.00.Needs interior work and paint,but that's not a big deal. Quote Selected
Frame Damage - Need Opinions!! Reply #11 – January 26, 2007, 01:04:26 PM Yeah, vinnietbird, I've thought about that, but there aren't any rust free or nearly rust free bodies around where I live Quote Selected
Frame Damage - Need Opinions!! Reply #12 – January 27, 2007, 06:24:54 PM Quote from: jcassity;125820not bad english tbirdmainiac:DEhehehehheh! :hick: , I guess You need to guesses a bit to undertand what I saw a bit:hick: Regards,Dom. Quote Selected
Frame Damage - Need Opinions!! Reply #13 – January 27, 2007, 06:27:47 PM Quote from: Sduneman3;125821Hey, Thanks alot Dom. That helps me out a lot. I still don't know if I want to try it yet, or just pay someone to do it. I have to decide soon though. I want to move it up here to college with me so I can work on it at the shop that I work at.SamI tryed to explain at My best in English the "how to", but if You search a bit, You will found another place to redress this for 200$ or maybe 100$ if You don't want to do Yourself...Have a nice Day...Dom. Quote Selected
Frame Damage - Need Opinions!! Reply #14 – January 28, 2007, 06:37:54 AM if it is just pushed up (towrds the dash) i dont see how removing the carpet and using a small sledge wouldnt "restore" the floor pan. JMO Quote Selected
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