accident, help please
Discussion
Hi,
I have just had the misfortune of having the rear end of
my 97 Chim 4.0 overtake me and then proceed with going over a traffic
island with 2 signpost.
The damage is considerable and I´m looking for some advise regarding parts etc.
Where is a good place to get parts and what is the extent of the body damage
Now I live abroad and will have to order everything from the UK
Basically the rear right wishbone and front left wishbone are broken along with damage to the body
I also need one 15 inch and one 16 inch wheel, I think they are called Imola
To see the extend of the damage here are some pics, just hope they work.
If not they are located on http://snaebjorn.mysite.com/
Here is the rear right wheel
front left wheel
right door
rear
boot
rear wishbone
front wishbone
Chassis next to rear wheel
tear damage in body underneath the car
Also there seem to be a lot of rust on the chassis (left side)
I have just had the misfortune of having the rear end of
my 97 Chim 4.0 overtake me and then proceed with going over a traffic
island with 2 signpost.
The damage is considerable and I´m looking for some advise regarding parts etc.
Where is a good place to get parts and what is the extent of the body damage
Now I live abroad and will have to order everything from the UK
Basically the rear right wishbone and front left wishbone are broken along with damage to the body
I also need one 15 inch and one 16 inch wheel, I think they are called Imola
To see the extend of the damage here are some pics, just hope they work.
If not they are located on http://snaebjorn.mysite.com/
Here is the rear right wheel
front left wheel
right door
rear
boot
rear wishbone
front wishbone
Chassis next to rear wheel
tear damage in body underneath the car
Also there seem to be a lot of rust on the chassis (left side)
Edited by icebear on Friday 28th July 16:12
Edited by Gazboy on Friday 28th July 19:37
Apologies I can't help with where to source the parts from (I'm sure someone will be along in a minute to help with that), but I can tell you that you have a serious outrigger problem there.
It looks as if the outriggers have rust holes in them which if true is going to be fairly costly to fix - that in combination with your accident damage my well mean you would be better off walking away and sourcing a new car.....IMO.
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.
Matt
It looks as if the outriggers have rust holes in them which if true is going to be fairly costly to fix - that in combination with your accident damage my well mean you would be better off walking away and sourcing a new car.....IMO.
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.
Matt
Ouch, so sorry to see that.
If it helps, the rust doesn't look too bad to me, have seen much worse. It might just be cosmetic surface rust. Poke it with a screwdriver to find out.
Wishbones are cheap, only about £60 each but it looks like the chassis is damaged and will need new wishbone brackets welding on at least. Hope there is no more damage to the chassis as that will be expensive.
It also looks like the body has cracked in a big way which i'd have thought would be a body off job to repair. Also expensive.
However look on the bright side, all the cost looks like being in labour not parts so if you can find a garage with cheap rates you will save a lot. Secondly while the body is off you can properly sort out that rusty chassis with some POR15 and some hard work.
Maybe give TVR Power or Austec a ring for the Wishbones and wheels or for second hand parts then try www.douglasvalley.co.uk/. There is another TVR specialist breaker who's name escapes me at the moment. I'm sure somebody will come along and post soon.
If it helps, the rust doesn't look too bad to me, have seen much worse. It might just be cosmetic surface rust. Poke it with a screwdriver to find out.
Wishbones are cheap, only about £60 each but it looks like the chassis is damaged and will need new wishbone brackets welding on at least. Hope there is no more damage to the chassis as that will be expensive.
It also looks like the body has cracked in a big way which i'd have thought would be a body off job to repair. Also expensive.
However look on the bright side, all the cost looks like being in labour not parts so if you can find a garage with cheap rates you will save a lot. Secondly while the body is off you can properly sort out that rusty chassis with some POR15 and some hard work.
Maybe give TVR Power or Austec a ring for the Wishbones and wheels or for second hand parts then try www.douglasvalley.co.uk/. There is another TVR specialist breaker who's name escapes me at the moment. I'm sure somebody will come along and post soon.
Edited by Al 450 on Friday 28th July 18:26
Hi Icebear
Thats a bummer,have been in the same position with the arse getting in front of me,its the luck of the draw what evolves from there.
If I can add my 2 cents worth,depending on your policy and what you want to do i'd say it's a write off.
Doe's your insurance cover replacement inclusive of shipping another car from the UK?
If you want to keep it and have it repaired,i'd get on side with your friendly repairer(GRP specialist is a must) and get them to insist to the insurance company that the nature of repair requires a body off job,then you can get the chassis rust seen too at the same time,I can guarentee from looking at the bottom of the outriggers,that rust on the bodyside especialy at the body mounts will be twice as bad.
I'd be very suprised if the chassis has sustained any damage,the U shape front wishbones do a great job of taking alot of the impact,a quick way of telling if its gone further is to check for flakeing paint on the chassis around the wishbone pick up points.
The rear is a bit more of a worry,and I can't make out whats happened to the chassis besides the wishbone pick up point damage,this has taken a big hit for the boot not to spring back into alignment again,this area I believe is the stongest part off the chassis.
The other thing to remember is stress fracturing of the fibreglass will be alot further back than the impact area and will continue to show and grow for some time yet.
As for parts try the links that have been posted above,I can highly reccomend for second hand parts Tom at Bell Hill Garage.
Feel free to mail me for any info,we get in the same type of position here in NZ where its a case of repair against write, off due to geographical logistictics.
Thats a bummer,have been in the same position with the arse getting in front of me,its the luck of the draw what evolves from there.
If I can add my 2 cents worth,depending on your policy and what you want to do i'd say it's a write off.
Doe's your insurance cover replacement inclusive of shipping another car from the UK?
If you want to keep it and have it repaired,i'd get on side with your friendly repairer(GRP specialist is a must) and get them to insist to the insurance company that the nature of repair requires a body off job,then you can get the chassis rust seen too at the same time,I can guarentee from looking at the bottom of the outriggers,that rust on the bodyside especialy at the body mounts will be twice as bad.
I'd be very suprised if the chassis has sustained any damage,the U shape front wishbones do a great job of taking alot of the impact,a quick way of telling if its gone further is to check for flakeing paint on the chassis around the wishbone pick up points.
The rear is a bit more of a worry,and I can't make out whats happened to the chassis besides the wishbone pick up point damage,this has taken a big hit for the boot not to spring back into alignment again,this area I believe is the stongest part off the chassis.
The other thing to remember is stress fracturing of the fibreglass will be alot further back than the impact area and will continue to show and grow for some time yet.
As for parts try the links that have been posted above,I can highly reccomend for second hand parts Tom at Bell Hill Garage.
Feel free to mail me for any info,we get in the same type of position here in NZ where its a case of repair against write, off due to geographical logistictics.
Hi Snaebjorn,
Are you the same Snaebjorn at Samfilm in Iceland I've been dealing with at work for the last few months? Can't help noticing the Disney "Cars" logo in your window which we've been working on together.
If you're not, just ignore me.
But if so, hope this little crash wasn't after one of Bjorn's drinking sessions! Great to hear you're a fellow Chimerea owner.
Cheers,
Graham Edmondson, Dolby UK
Are you the same Snaebjorn at Samfilm in Iceland I've been dealing with at work for the last few months? Can't help noticing the Disney "Cars" logo in your window which we've been working on together.
If you're not, just ignore me.
But if so, hope this little crash wasn't after one of Bjorn's drinking sessions! Great to hear you're a fellow Chimerea owner.
Cheers,
Graham Edmondson, Dolby UK
cln1 said:
tvrcarparts, gets my vote
. Give then a ring and speak to Richard, 
I repair composite bodies and the fastest way usually is central tvr/fibreon,they make up to order but are much quicker than the factory,and they make excactly what you want.
www.damagedtvrs.co.uk
www.damagedtvrs.co.uk
Edited by dickkark on Saturday 29th July 13:12
Edited by dickkark on Saturday 29th July 13:13
Thanx guys, its great to get your advise as I am the only TVR owner here in Iceland.
And yes Graham, I am the Snaebjorn of SamFilm that has been speaking to you on the phone.
Its a really small world isnt it
(no drinking involved, the chim is hard enough to drive without that)
The insurance is giving me a hard time as they belive wreckless driving was involved and I due to
enormous taxes here, the 97 Chim 4.0 is actually a 25K GBP car so I would like to get it repaired if possible.
I gave Bell Hill garage a call and they have been very helpfull.
Can anyone tell me if taking the body off can partly be done DIY, just to save on labour costs?
Best regards
And yes Graham, I am the Snaebjorn of SamFilm that has been speaking to you on the phone.
Its a really small world isnt it
(no drinking involved, the chim is hard enough to drive without that) The insurance is giving me a hard time as they belive wreckless driving was involved and I due to
enormous taxes here, the 97 Chim 4.0 is actually a 25K GBP car so I would like to get it repaired if possible.
I gave Bell Hill garage a call and they have been very helpfull.
Can anyone tell me if taking the body off can partly be done DIY, just to save on labour costs?
Best regards
icebear said:
Thanx guys, its great to get your advise as I am the only TVR owner here in Iceland.
And yes Graham, I am the Snaebjorn of SamFilm that has been speaking to you on the phone.
Its a really small world isnt it (no drinking involved, the chim is hard enough to drive without that)
The insurance is giving me a hard time as they belive wreckless driving was involved and I due to
enormous taxes here, the 97 Chim 4.0 is actually a 25K GBP car so I would like to get it repaired if possible.
I gave Bell Hill garage a call and they have been very helpfull.
Can anyone tell me if taking the body off can partly be done DIY, just to save on labour costs?
Best regards
And yes Graham, I am the Snaebjorn of SamFilm that has been speaking to you on the phone.
Its a really small world isnt it
(no drinking involved, the chim is hard enough to drive without that) The insurance is giving me a hard time as they belive wreckless driving was involved and I due to
enormous taxes here, the 97 Chim 4.0 is actually a 25K GBP car so I would like to get it repaired if possible.
I gave Bell Hill garage a call and they have been very helpfull.
Can anyone tell me if taking the body off can partly be done DIY, just to save on labour costs?
Best regards
I know plenty of people have done it, I guess it depends on your expertise with the spanners! I don't think getting the body off itself will be a massive labour cost as it's only a few bolts to somone who knows what they are doing(?) but more the bodywork and chassis work. If I was you I'd get someone in a friendly garage to lift the body off and weld on new wishbone brackets e.t.c. anything else to the chassis then get going with the bodywork whilst you attack the chassis with scrapers and paint.
I would have thought you would need someone with expertise and experience with GRP, maybe you could find a boat repairer? Should be plenty of those in Iceland...
What are the local TVR club meets like with just you there?
That is heartbreaking, commiserations to you. Looking at the photos (rust apart, which may or may not be a major issue) the things that worry me are, as has been said, the misalignment of the boot lid and the pic of the rear chassis joint between the outrigger and the diagonal brace, its a bit difficult to see but it looks as if the joint has torn, which would mean all the alignment of the rear chassis is out and probably explains the boot misalignemnt. Having said the it could be that once the damaged sections are cut out the rest may spring back in line and then new sections grafted in but that's speculation. Clearly the body will have to come off but that would have to happen at some time in order to do the outriggers etc anyway, so why not now and consider it anticipatory maintainance. Good luck!
Alan
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