Frame straightening

Hey guys, crashed my Riv 2 weeks ago Does it look like the frame can be straightened? Has anyone ever straightened the frame on a Riviera?
Thanks for your advice
you can see the pictures here:
https://rivperformance.editboard.com/t8775p15-i-killed-my-riviera

Its a lot easyer than you think. the frame pros can straighten out allmost anything.ive seen some pretty bad bends straightened out. Have a frame specialist drop by and give you an estimate. A buddy of mine had a brand new civic that caught a nasty bender.the front end had been bent out a good ten inches out of wac. the frame guy got it sorted out in an afternoon for only a few hundred bucks.

..oh and yes..Rivs straighten out as well as any other car provided the kinks are repairable ,as with anything

I have 2 Rivs now so my plan is:
Get the framed straightened.
Repair the radiator and all the dings in the engine bay.
fabricate/find/fit/whatever it takes, front fenders,headlights, hood, and bumper

I have never done anything like this before and I know almost nothing about cars.
This project is the kind of pipe dream I dream about but is never realized.

I really hope to come out of this with a one of a kind Riv that makes you all go

Hope & a endless supply of caSH and all dreams will come true

Sounds interesting to me, specially if you want to make a custom job like the Russian Riviera that you posted about before that was an awesome job and I know it can be done, once I saw a Cavalier with headlamps from a 2007 Camry and a total custom front bumper, fenders, etc.

robotennis61 wrote:

..oh and yes..Rivs straighten out as well as any other car provided the kinks are repairable ,as with anything

Isn't the frame weaker afterwards?

Not if the frame hasn't exceeded the allowable amount of bend. A good frame shop with have the specs for what is repairable and what isn't. If a frame member is bent too far, it would need to be replaced. The frame straightening process can get the car back amazingly close to OEM specs, too.

Yap.all that AA sed. The bender will know whats acceptable to repair. They wont repair something thats all fatigued beyond its limit. I think?

# charlie Robinson, Why dont ya give BigDave,here on the forum a shout? he's a body shop guy.he might be able to throw you some good advise?

I guess that's reasonable. I would have thought any amount of bending would affect the strength.

It does, but remember the steel was formed at the factory, which is essentially a bending process. It can be bent again if done properly. Our Rivs used a hydroforming process for some parts of the chassis, which might be a good thing (hydroformed parts are stronger), or a bad thing (could be harder to bend).

The steel unibodys of today are made from a more ductile steel than those of yesterday.They would have to be because of the modern forming technology.
It would be interesting to see what the experts think about attempting to straighten a 45 Ford coupe chassis,for example?

Even though the steel might be thinner and more easily bent in material stock form, the hydroforming process results in a more rigid part with less weight. I don't know how that compares to an old Ford, but I do know the Riv's chassis is mucho stiff.

I found a couple of guys who said they could make a long term project out of the Riv. They said I could park her in the garage next week. We are going to do a pay per checkpoint payment plan and I am looking at a budget of around $1500 to get the frame pulled and the radiator replaced. After she can make it back on the road ok I will make a decision to stay there with those guys to do the body work/ take her to someone else/ or take her back home and see what I can do.

I will let you guys know how the frame straightening works out. stay tuned.

Hey Robo,thanks for the plug. These guys are correct in saying a good frame man can straighten a unibody that to the average person looks doomed for the scrap yard. Cars are designed with crumple zones in the structure to bend at that point. This absorbs alot of the impact to keep the passanger compartment intact for safety. This also isolates the damage and makes it easier to repair. I cant tell from your pictures if the rail is repairable or not. If you could post some pics of the left rail and apron after the air cleaner is removed I could maybe tell you if they can be saved.

bigdave wrote:

Hey Robo,thanks for the plug. These guys are correct in saying a good frame man can straighten a unibody that to the average person looks doomed for the scrap yard. Cars are designed with crumple zones in the structure to bend at that point. This absorbs alot of the impact to keep the passanger compartment intact for safety. This also isolates the damage and makes it easier to repair. I cant tell from your pictures if the rail is repairable or not. If you could post some pics of the left rail and apron after the air cleaner is removed I could maybe tell you if they can be saved.

Hey BigDave,
what exactly do you need to see? the drivers side rail where its bent in? What is the apron? and by air cleaner do you mean the air intake tube and box?

If you can, remove the air inlet tube and box and the radiator overflow bottle.The apron is the inner fender well. If you can post some pics of that area I may be able to tell .

If you trust the guys you found near you, and they are confident that they can straighten it PROPERLY, then hopefully they can. You should also check the engine cradle for damage. It is very common for them to bend in crashes like you had. Not a big deal to replace. Just might want to be prepared.

Good luck to you on this project. I hope it all works out well for you. By the way, I love your new Riv.