Got into a front end accident with my s14. Fix it? Tube chassis? - Zilvia.net Forums | Nissan 240SX (Silvia) and Z (Fairlady) Car Forum

NissanRWD · 01-12-2016, 02:51 PM

I got into an accident last night. I don't know the extent of the damage but from what I saw: the apron is damaged, core support probably too since my radiator was leaking a bit. My driver fender seemed misaligned with the A pillar. Hopefully the shock towers are fine.

Anyway, I don't wanna just write it off so I wanna see what my options are. I have another daily driver luckily so I need to decide what to do next.

Should I fix it with the frame straightener and all that shit? Or should I go tube chassis?

I have a coworker who grew up with Matt Fields and was all up in the drifting scene with him so I'll be hitting him up to help me find a shop to tube it. But should I?

I want to go tube because I had always considered it anyway and it'll make the car stiffer and better than before. But I'm worried about designing it with the crumple zones and doing it right.

Would it be weaker in a way? Should I just fix the apron and move on? What'll be more expensive? Will the car look like factory with gaps and all if I go tube chassis?

Pros? Cons? Help me Zilvia

I just wanna know if this accident provided me with the opportunity to make my car better than before and better than stock. Pretty fucking bummed.

Only took one picture atm because I was too bummed. The driver side fender was pushed back very slightly. Strut towers seemed fine from what I saw but I'm worried about the driver side tower

PS If anyone has a zenki or kouki front end complete, hit me up. Anywhere in socal is fine, even higher up I'll drive for it. 714-858-2470

Gingersmurf · 01-12-2016, 02:59 PM

One is forsale now in Palm springs
http://zilvia.net/f/showthread.php?t=603443

NissanRWD · 01-12-2016, 03:29 PM

[QUOTE=Gingersmurf;6002749]One is forsale now in Palm springs

He's sold everything except the hood but thank you

jr_ss · 01-12-2016, 08:00 PM

How about you post some pictures so people can give you an accurate suggestion.

NissanRWD · 01-12-2016, 11:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jr_ss

How about you post some pictures so people can give you an accurate suggestion.

Fsho. I only have one since I wasn'tin the right state of mind to take more and my car is in a yard right now.

Croustibat · 01-13-2016, 05:39 AM

Pros: none, except if you'd need tubing the arches to get more lock.

Cons: no crumple zone, meaning on the next hit the rest of the car and your body will take all the energy (so that's injury/death for you or the poor guy you just ran over/hit), expensive, lots of fab work involved, won't be lighter, and of course forbidden on the road.

collegekid · 01-15-2016, 10:33 AM

I was in a similar situation as you. I don't know what the prices of doing all that tube frame shit is around you but for me I was quotes 1000-2000 and it depended on a lot of factors. First thing I would suggest for you to do is to pop the hood and take some pictures then people can tell you more.

You will need a new front end regardless of what you do.
You can take it to a frame shop, have them check the dimensions and straighten it
from there
-get it tube framed which is overkill unless you plan on doing a lot of drifting and road racing. You SHOULD look into the proper way to building a road racing car before speaking with a fabricator (who is gonna sell you the idea of making a tube frame front because he wants money DUH)
-just replaced whatever you need to which will be cheaper.

I do have a complete JDM zenki front end. Rad support, radiator, lights all the panels and misc stuff. Im on the east coast though so I doubt you will want to pay for pallet shipping for all the stuff.
I think bardabe is closer to you and has a zenki front end too

Whoever you buy it from, you should just fix the rad support and get new panels. I dont know the prices off hand but it shouldnt cost more than 2 grand painted and all. My frame straightening cost me $350 and it looked pretty good but my ocd tendencies made me get a new frame piece welded in with reinforcements.

zenkicpe · 01-22-2016, 12:09 PM

Take your chassis measurements that are in the FSM, that will let you know if you are out of square. It doesnt look TOOOO BAD to me, but looks can be decieving. Try to post a pic with the hood up...

harrypotter · 01-22-2016, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NissanRWD

I got into an accident last night. I don't know the extent of the damage but from what I saw: the apron is damaged, core support probably too since my radiator was leaking a bit. My driver fender seemed misaligned with the A pillar. Hopefully the shock towers are fine.

Until you find this out you are just wasting time.

derass · 01-23-2016, 12:34 AM

Why did you crash into the other car?

Kingtal0n · 01-25-2016, 08:46 PM

plenty of shells still. Its only 2016. If it was 2026 I suspect there might be a shortage... (start saving away those clean title shells)

01-12-2016, 08:00 PM	#4
jr_ss Post Whore! Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Pa Posts: 6,410 Trader Rating: (35) Feedback Score: 35 reviews	How about you post some pictures so people can give you an accurate suggestion. __________________ My SR20VET Does your VTC gear rattle in your S14/15 SR? PM me.

01-12-2016, 03:29 PM	#3
NissanRWD Leaky Injector Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: San Diego/Fullerton Age: 30 Posts: 87 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	[QUOTE=Gingersmurf;6002749]One is forsale now in Palm springs He's sold everything except the hood but thank you

01-13-2016, 05:39 AM	#6
Croustibat Nissanaholic! Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: France - Toulouse Age: 43 Posts: 1,851 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Pros: none, except if you'd need tubing the arches to get more lock. Cons: no crumple zone, meaning on the next hit the rest of the car and your body will take all the energy (so that's injury/death for you or the poor guy you just ran over/hit), expensive, lots of fab work involved, won't be lighter, and of course forbidden on the road.

01-15-2016, 10:33 AM	#7
collegekid Zilvia Addict Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: In my house Posts: 853 Trader Rating: (4) Feedback Score: 4 reviews	I was in a similar situation as you. I don't know what the prices of doing all that tube frame shit is around you but for me I was quotes 1000-2000 and it depended on a lot of factors. First thing I would suggest for you to do is to pop the hood and take some pictures then people can tell you more. You will need a new front end regardless of what you do. You can take it to a frame shop, have them check the dimensions and straighten it from there -get it tube framed which is overkill unless you plan on doing a lot of drifting and road racing. You SHOULD look into the proper way to building a road racing car before speaking with a fabricator (who is gonna sell you the idea of making a tube frame front because he wants money DUH) -just replaced whatever you need to which will be cheaper. I do have a complete JDM zenki front end. Rad support, radiator, lights all the panels and misc stuff. Im on the east coast though so I doubt you will want to pay for pallet shipping for all the stuff. I think bardabe is closer to you and has a zenki front end too Whoever you buy it from, you should just fix the rad support and get new panels. I dont know the prices off hand but it shouldnt cost more than 2 grand painted and all. My frame straightening cost me $350 and it looked pretty good but my ocd tendencies made me get a new frame piece welded in with reinforcements.

01-22-2016, 12:09 PM	#8
zenkicpe Zilvia Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: NEPA Age: 43 Posts: 267 Trader Rating: (1) Feedback Score: 1 reviews	Take your chassis measurements that are in the FSM, that will let you know if you are out of square. It doesnt look TOOOO BAD to me, but looks can be decieving. Try to post a pic with the hood up...

01-23-2016, 12:34 AM	#10
derass Zilvia FREAK! Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Toronto, ON Age: 36 Posts: 1,182 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Why did you crash into the other car?

01-25-2016, 08:46 PM	#11
Kingtal0n Post Whore! Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: South Florida Age: 41 Posts: 4,828 Trader Rating: (17) Feedback Score: 17 reviews	plenty of shells still. Its only 2016. If it was 2026 I suspect there might be a shortage... (start saving away those clean title shells)