Ran off the road. Any advice for my next step?

[alexx933]

Today was going well: got off work, went for a run, it was raining so I could slip the back end out a little bit. Until on my way home, I took a detour in order to drift a little. Nothing crazy. Well go figure, I hit a super slick spot on a semi-narrow road so I spun completely around after counter steering. I ended up slamming into the curb, which was about 6 inches high and wide, while still spinning. My back two tires and driver tire were over the curb in the ditch. 

 

Cops showed up to make sure I was okay and access the situation. They didn't do anything except tell me to stay out of the road and give me a break on my ticket. The officer could have cited me for negligent driving ($500) but instead only gave me driving too quick to conditions($175) as the road was fairly wet and nobody was hurt. Tow truck got there and pulled me out after dragging me along the curb for almost twenty feet until I showed him the better place to pull the car from. He ended up charging me $271 after also giving me a break because I didn't have more than $261 in my bank account. The actual price would have been over $300 without taxes because the car was in an "accident".  I actually just couldn't move my car because the rear wheels weren't on the ground. It did drive though. 

 

The total damage that I could assess in the dark while the car was pretty much bottomed out was overall fairly minimal. The engine compartment seemed fine besides the battery flying over and disconnecting. The fuel tank had a dent in the bottom about eight inches in diameter. The rear driver wheel was definitely not in its correct position, and the entire rear end was squatting. The rails are my main concern. While not in the greatest shape when I acquired the car, it looked like I bent them on the curb pretty bad. The damaged portions were flat with the body and possibly a little above the bottom of the car. The passenger rail split open in a very small spot. 

 

So my options are to fix what I broke, swap everything into a new shell, or just part with it all which I truly do not wish to do. Fixing it could require straitening the rails, pulling the dent out of the tank, and possibly getting new suspension components. Swapping my parts into a shell could require any where from just the motor/tranny to almost everything. So what would you do? What are some pro's and cons of each? 

 

I have attached a couple pictures of the crash at the scene. I will take better pictures tomorrow in the daylight to give a better understanding of the damage. Sorry for some of the blurriness as I was fairly cold in awkward positions to get the camera under the car. On the last picture, I was shooting blind. So the damage is on the left edge.

 

Thanks!

Alex

[alexx933]

Also at this time, I don't have a shop/garage at my house to work on this. Nor do I have any fabrication skills with welding, cutting, etc. A friend would probably let me use his shop that he works out of again (he helped swap the motor in) but I'd prefer not to do that long term as that is his lively hood and he could use the space in the two car shop with one entrance. 

[JMortensen]

Check the suspension pickups, and if they're OK, beat the floor back with a BFH. Finding replacement struts or arms if you need them shouldn't be hard. I have some RUSTY 280 arms you could have if you want to pay for shipping, or come pick them up.

[alexx933]

BFH as in a reference to Doom's BFG? haha Big F**king hammer instead of gun?

 

The suspension pickups are where? I searched on here and found your drawings of a possibly roll cage which attaches to the pickups here. Looks like they are at the back of the tranny tunnel to each side. My suspension already needed upgrading and I had planned on selling my honda for funding, but I now need the CRX until this can be sorted out. The struts are already pretty much worthless and I was thinking about Techno's rear LCA's. Thank you very much for the offer of the arms. If I think I will need to arms to get me on the road, I will contact you as Seattle is only a couple hours from Sequim. 

[JMortensen]

Yes on the BFH. 

 

Just look at where the suspension bolts on underneath and check for bent frame rails in those areas.

[alexx933]

Thanks Jon! I will jack the car up and get under there in the morning. Should I be weary of driving around with bent rails?

[JMortensen]

If the frame is bent where the suspension attaches, the alignment will be screwy and it might be unsafe to drive. If it looks OK underneath but the floor is and rail is dented in the middle, that's not a big deal.

[NCchris]

If the frame is bent where the suspension attaches, the alignment will be screwy and it might be unsafe to drive. If it looks OK underneath but the floor is and rail is dented in the middle, that's not a big deal.

What Jon said and, if your alignment is too screwy, you could chew up one or a pair of tires pretty quick.

chris

[HowlerMonkey]

Fires up win98 partition to play some doom2.

[alexx933]

So I went to look at the car today while it sat at my uncle's house. I lifted the back up and got these pictures. As you can see by the wheel, I hit the curb fairly hard. The fact that the tire hasn't tried to remove itself from the rim is surprising. The control arms seemed to be fine except for where the sway bar attaches to. I didn't spend much time in the back before this so I'm not sure if where the sway bar bolts to is supposed to be crooked or not. You can also see the amount of rust on my rails. The holes weren't there before this incident. The rust hadn't eaten all the way through at that point. Or it seemed that way. Doesn't matter now anyways. 

 

The suspension pickups seem to be completely fine though. The only indication the suspension was damaged, aside from the sway bar bolts, revealed itself in how the wheel sat with weight on it. The passenger side rear had a lot of toe in both jacked and on the ground. The driver rear tire had more negative camber than the passenger side. 

 

 

Overall, it seems as though the damage was not too extensive. Seems is key. I wouldn't drive it very far (more than 100ft) without being inspected by my mechanic. He is some what a mentor as my his experience level far exceeds my own. 

 

Anybody change their mind about the advice Jon gave me? Should I be looking for a different shell or just replace the rails and move on?

 

I realize the pictures don't offer a great overall picture, but I thought most of you would have a good idea of the original. 

 

Once again, thanks!

 

Alex

[stravi757]

There are some pretty cheap 280z shells in california. would probably be easier to just buy another and swap all the best parts from you're car onto one.

[alexx933]

I was thinking about getting another shell but to ship one from Cali would pretty much double the cost. On top of that, I don't have a garage for storage, and I'd feel pretty bad about giving a z cancer. This body already was rusty when I picked it up so I never felt as bad about driving in the rain.

[johnc]

At least on lower control arm is bent and you have structural damage to at least one front frame rail. It's also a moderately rusty car.

[BluDestiny]

The gas tank may also give false readings because of the dent. I'd buy another running car if you find your shell is tweaked.

[alexx933]

Thanks for the input guys! This will definitely require some thinking as to my lack of finances at the moment and where I want to go with this project. I went turbo because it was cheap and a direct swap without fabrication (plus my NA was going out.)

 

If I got a new shell, I'm not sure if I'd want to be using the same L28et as my daily driver. I love the torque, but I was averaging 11-12 mpg. I was also in the process of converting to MS but even then I'd be looking at 20ish mpg's (not bad). Using the Mckinney kit, a SR swap would be just as difficult as moving this engine over into a new chassis and provide the 20ish mpg right off the bat with a small power bump. 

 

I just have a lot to think about with this. It's what I get for being stupid.

[NewZed]

Maybe, subconsciously, you were just looking for a reason to build another car.  You crashed on purpose.

 

Do the doors and hatch open and close properly?  If not, you'll always be reminded that the car's not-quite-right.

[alexx933]

My other car is a CRX that gets 35 mpg. I wasn't daily driving the z to crash it and build another. $7000 is too much to throw away like that!

 

Both doors and hatch open and close better than when I bought it (couldn't even open the passenger door and the driver door handle was broken.) They also sit straight in their positions. 

 

I actually get slightly upset driving the honda now because it's not the z. 

[RebekahsZ]

I was thinking about trying to tease you, but that would be hypocritical. I too, have made an off-road excusion going backwards into the trees. Luckily I missed all the trees (and it was all luck), but I broke two rims and my airdam when I smashed into a curb on the way to the woods. Also snapped the rear cast iron strut off below the hub in the webbing near the spindle pin. I replaced the broken strut, had the wheels straightened fiberglassed the airdam back together. Still driving it-evidently the chassis wasn't hurt. Your biggest problem is rusted frame rails. If I were you I would replace anything visibly bent and get back to driving it. Start budgeting for some rust repair. Now about that wreckless driving. I'm older now and I get my rocks off driving on the track. In fact, my street tires are so skinny that I'm afraid to take a corner any faster than other folks in traffic-I just sort of putt around driving to and from work-any more than that brings out the guys with the blue lights. "Drifting" is for guys who really don't care about their cars. If you want to jeopardize your nice antique car, think about getting a clapped out Ford Escort-they do great handbrake turns, and you won't lose anything you cant live without. With street drifting, it isn't a question of "if", it is a question of "when" and "where." You are gonna wreck.

[alexx933]

I appreciate the tact, and you're right. It definitely isn't something I should be doing with a car I really care about. I had on the original rims and semi-bald tires on the back to have a little fun but took it too far. I had planned upon going through the suspension after selling the Honda and knowing my ship date for the Air force. At the moment though, I can't fix the bent pieces until I save up some more money. I think I will just put it in storage for now until I know what's happening in my future.

 

As for rust repair, I think replacing the rails would go a long way. There are only a couple spots that need attention without going over the entire body. The rails and control arms seemed to be the only important pieces damaged that will affect it driving. I also havent looked over it with my mechanic yet. I want to get his opinion before anything as well.

 

I wish there was a local track here! That would certainly alleviate my need for speed.

[RebekahsZ]

I got my parts from a junkyard for a grand total of $300 on the repair.  But, I had a lot more energy then.  Perhaps the Airforce will ship you off to Japan and you can ship a nice JDM Z car home for free?!!!