It's Happened - 3Gee in an Accident

[gyates93]

This Saturday while driving in to work my 3G was hit by an oncoming vehicle when she skidded out of control on a slippery snow-covered road.. Front drivers side fender, door, and mirror are damaged. Trim is beat up too. The door drops a bit when it's opened so I'm assuming the hinge is damaged as well.

While the insurance company is currently dealing with this, I have a pretty good feeling that I'm just going to get a write-off and not actually have the body work paid for. I figured I'd post some photos of the car and ask some opinions around here for the most cost effective way to get my 3G back to normal! I've pretty much accepted that I'm going to need a new fender, but I haven't decided if I should get a door as well or not.

Luckily nobody was injured and there was only body damage done to the vehicle as far as I can tell.

[charliekuney]

If you just get the fender, will the door still be able to open? Make sure there will be clearance.

[Dr_Snooz]

Doesn't look too bad really. Check it out and see what you'll need to fix it. It might be a lot less than you think.

[gyates93]

If you just get the fender, will the door still be able to open? Make sure there will be clearance.

Right now the door doesn't open properly, if I'm reusing this door I'd be trying to shape it properly.

[gyates93]

Doesn't look too bad really. Check it out and see what you'll need to fix it. It might be a lot less than you think.

The fender is for sale on Rockauto for 50 bucks or so, it would need to be painted but I know some guys locally who'd do it.
A door, on the other hand, would be an interesting one to try to find up here. I'm going to be keeping this car on the road regardless but I'd rather not be driving around in my once-mint 3G which is now all banged up.

[Dr_Snooz]

Well, Plan B looks like this, Ultimate Paint and Body Guide Part 3 - Got Dents? - Hot Rod Magazine (http://www.hotrod.com/howto/hrdp_0607_dents/). It's not very expensive, but gawd is it a lot of work.

[gyates93]

Arranged to buy a parts car today, 1988 Honda Accord Limited. Not sure where the limited trim level fits in, but that's what it says on the back of the car. It's being delivered on Tuesday or Wednesday, haven't decided what I'm going to do because the thing is pretty mint.. Apparently the (auto) transmission has some grinding, is this a common sign of failure on these cars?

[Dr_Snooz]

As I recall, there wasn't anything special about the "limited" edition. For the trans, start with the basics: fluid condition and color, TV cable adjustment, etc. You may save it, but don't count on it.

[gyates93]

Well, I ended up purchasing the parts car for 400 dollars, delivered to my auto club from an hour away. It's 'Limited' model, with a weird combination of LXi/EXi and LX features.. It's carbed, has cruise, rear folding seat, AC (ice cold), power windows, locks, mirrors, no sunroof. I am going to scrap it I believe, since it needs brakes all around, alternator, ball joints, exhaust and has a very loud grinding noise in the transmission when in first gear.

Does anybody know what kind of work it is to take an AC system off of a car and put it into a Non-AC car? I've noticed that mine has the pulley for it on the crank, but that's all. 6096

[Dr_Snooz]

Does anybody know what kind of work it is to take an AC system off of a car and put it into a Non-AC car?

A lot. Thumb through the A/C section of the manual and see how many parts are involved and where they are buried. It's totally worth doing if you have all the parts right there, but it isn't a Saturday job.

[gyates93]

http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o183/gyates93/IMG_0682_zps32a6af0e.jpg

Got the new fender and door on yesterday, I transferred the original door handle (Plastic, the donor car had metal!) but I haven't had the time to transfer over the speaker and interior panel yet. The door also needs to be adjusted so that it doesn't drop when it's opened. This was a pretty involved process because the donor car had power windows and my LX does not, I had to change the window regulator so I also changed the glass since the glass in the red car was brand new after the car was broken into last year. It feels good to be able to open the door without the fender sounding like it's going to fall off.