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View Full Version : S14 Body Repair


StickShiftDrifter
02-24-2008, 07:55 PM
I bought an S14 with some damage to the rear. I'm not a body guy but I'll be doing this along with some friends so I'm just wondering if you guys have any suggestions as to how I would go about fixing this.
So far I'm planning on clipping a rear off a junked S14 and welding it on.
Any help would be much appreciated.
`Solomon`

http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh204/kon_jesse/100_0908.jpg

MikeisNissan
02-24-2008, 07:57 PM
looks like alot of work.

DaPCWiz
02-24-2008, 08:04 PM
That's all unibody repair. Not sure that's very easy unless you have experience with repair work and/or experience welding. Cutting out a straight panel and welding a new one on for the 1/4 panel should work - you will also have to bang out the whole rear end of the chassis and hope everything lines up.

nissanguy13
02-24-2008, 08:07 PM
part it out and make your money back. It will never look/drive right unless you dump more money in it than the cars worth.

OfourTHREEfive
02-24-2008, 09:43 PM
Your pretty fearless to tackle that with no experience.

lazy240
02-24-2008, 09:53 PM
body guy with a frame straitening machine

NI_YON_Zenki
02-24-2008, 11:54 PM
part it out and make your money back. It will never look/drive right unless you dump more money in it than the cars worth.

I concur, You'd have to take that apart, check for additional damages, the passenger door, the under-carrage, coming toward the rear of the car, there are fatigues that will create more of a bother, I got fairly luck w/ my salvage, good eye I guess, but I ended up moving more into it to fix specifics that my better judgment failed victim too!

BUT!

there is hope. all you need to do, is check for the specifics detailed B4, then go into locating a 5-lug swap, if you're local, I can provide some info to that.

meantime, look into a replacement deck lid. then the rear bumper fascia, check into professional suggestion for the welding spots, some of that CAN be pulled back out, the only situation serious, is the upper right side of the panel, this certainly calls for wide fenders, a good pair of M/Sports or some version selects should do the trick, or origin. if you honestly can locate the rear end of another crashed 14, hell yeah! on that, anything is better than nothing.

GO FOR THE BUSTED/LIPS!

GL.

StickShiftDrifter
02-26-2008, 08:36 PM
I live in Canada, Ontario so it's hard to find these cars. I called at least 15 scrap yards and found only one scrapped, not too far from where I live. I have a trunk lid already. Oh btw, this car is auto...soon to be swapped and oh btw, I got this car for $1100(CAD). I'm starting this project on the tenth of March. An experienced welder with 4 years offered to help me on this which I'm very grateful for. It's an LE and it's got 5-lugs already...not really sure what you meant anyways Ni yon, but you're right...I haven't checked the other spots you mentioned yet.
To be honest I hadn't really thought of banging it out as a realistic possibilty but I'm going to give it a try before I throw a whole clip on.
(This is happening; no turning back now)
`Solomon`

eek
02-26-2008, 08:49 PM
uh, well ur gonna need the rear skeleton for sure, deff needs to be put on a frame machine and have a pull. your also going to need a new rear passenger 1/4 panel which can be cut off another car at the junkyard if u can find one. In which you will need to have yours cut off, then have the replacement one welded in place. there's Quite a bit of work involved. Honestly like everyone else said above. Scrap the car, make ur $ back by parting it out, save yourself the TIME and $ and just buy a straight clean car to begin with. Putting a car on a frame machine is $$$ FYI. It probably be the same price or even cheaper to just buy another s14 thats clean than fixing this one. Anyhow goodluck.

Naughty240
02-26-2008, 09:22 PM
Some states thats illegal. If you do it wrong someone could die in an accident. Dont clip the car.

KA-T_240
02-26-2008, 10:55 PM
^there are lots of clipped cars in the US. Sometimes the clip can be redone and be stronger then OEM. One of my old Hatches was rear clipped and the body seam that runs right behind the seats. You would never have know it. Was totalled with 11 miles on it in back in 1993.



However, I would just part it out. I know S14s are hard to find up north. Starting with a clean shell is WAY easier then a wrecked one.

driftage240
02-27-2008, 12:28 AM
if u were in so cal take it to my dads body shop and you would be pimping again!!

WagDatto
02-27-2008, 12:32 AM
As it's been said, chances are, there's some major structural damage going on under that car. Fool around with it if you want, but you're probably not going to be able to buff that one out, lol.

Snag what parts you want to hang on to, sell the rest and buy yourself a nice shell. You'll kick yourself later if you start building this car.

Naughty240
02-27-2008, 08:23 AM
^there are lots of clipped cars in the US. Sometimes the clip can be redone and be stronger then OEM. One of my old Hatches was rear clipped and the body seam that runs right behind the seats. You would never have know it. Was totalled with 11 miles on it in back in 1993.



However, I would just part it out. I know S14s are hard to find up north. Starting with a clean shell is WAY easier then a wrecked one.



I know what your sayin. Its actually petty quick to do condsidering its a lot of car. Ive seen them done at some shop Ive worked at but.... He said " I'm not a body guy but I'll be doing this along with some friends" that doesnt sound reassuring to me. Unless he friends can weld like a pro and have done it before I wouldnt trust it in an accident.

Im just sayin. lol

StickShiftDrifter
02-27-2008, 03:09 PM
I hear what you guys are saying...this is more about the learning experience for me. I want to learn how to work with engines in terms of tuning. The rear is just kinda something I kinda have to do. This car iwill be track use only and I don't know if I forgot to mention...I got this car for $1100 CAD. So fixing it up is IMO worth it.
`Solomon`

Naim
02-27-2008, 03:16 PM
I would fix it, I now people who have repaired cars with way worse rear end damage. The only problem is people are saying it may not be worth it because its an older car. From the looks of it(what I can see) it shouldn't be too hard. But than again you don't have much experience.

I need to find before/after pics of the cars with the same or worse damage that my dad has fixed to new again.

pwhitersxs
02-27-2008, 06:32 PM
That does not look bad at all. If those cars are really that rare up there and you don't think you could find another one that is clean to start with, then why not. You only paid 1100 CAN for it. I bought an altima that was smashed in and fixed it. It's not that hard as long as the frame was not damaged. That car looks like the frame "should" be ok. Good luck.