bodywork

[Madbradthe2nd]

Hi folks, not sure if I picked the right forum for this but I get a free 98 Grand Voyager LE as long as I fix the body.
It is my parents', it was replaced by an 08 Grand Caravan SXT, and it is really mint. No rust, only 130000 km, everything works like new, all perfect etc.
It has minor front right collision damage. It has had an estimate done and my own inspection agrees with it in that it needs hood, fender, bumpercover, mirror or at least a trim piece at the bottom of it, washer bottle and headlight. The estimate also says a fog light, but the van never had them, and what's more, it's a non fog light bumpercover. I suppose they needed to pad their wallets. It also needs the right apron and headlight box hammered back into shape. My inspection assured me I can do that myself.
I have been to the wrecker's UPIC lot and I can find the parts in great shape, even in the right colour. But I must wait for warm weather. Of course it will be different vans then but I'll gamble on the colour popping up again. The wrecker market for these vans is fantastic, unlike that for my Mazda MPV. To make sure of the colour, I will bring in a swatch from the old bumper cover, but where is the paint code and from that how do I know the name of the colour?
Does anyone have any tips in case I miss anything in the job?

[acton mike]

If you are going to attack the body work yourself, you might consider taking the vehicle put the van on to a trusted body shop (ASK AROUND) and have them put the vehicle on the frame rack and have the unibody alignment checked.

Because it is a unibody, the shock towers and the frame rails, which are a part of the unibody tub, set the location the suspension.

If they are knocked out of true, the handling goes to hell and you will chew up tires like there is no tomorrow

Get the unibody alignment checked and have them pull it into spec; there is no way you can properly do this yourself.

Also, if the apron is bent out of spec, it is a real bugger to align the sheet metal

The you can carry on with the Body work

Body work can be rewarding and you can save big $ doing it yourself but do your self a big favour and get the unibody checked and straightened if required by someone without he skill and equipment needed to do it properly

[Madbradthe2nd]

True true, but you'd have to see it, IMO there's no movement aft of about a couple inches from the tip. I can take measurements and compare them to another 98 in the family if necessary.

[acton mike]

you need also check to see if the rail/apron is pushed down (known as sag) ar moved to the side in either direction ( sway)

[Madbradthe2nd]

Yes I will. The bodyshop that did the estimate said no pulling was necessary but maybe they don't care too much about other peoples' cars? Then again as the hood is shut, the gap is stock and it all looks like it's fitting right, the latch works perfectly etc.

[Vistal]

If you just dented the hood and bumper and fender it shouldn't effected the shock position . I would check the junkyard for pieces and see if they have a 1/2 price day.Go their and play around see how hard it is to remove these pieces.This will tell you if its worth doing your self or have a pro do it. The color code should be in the passenger door.It doesn't take much speed to do this kinda damage. You would be able to tell right away something wasn't right while driving the van damaged or not if your shock was a few inches back forward or left to right.

[Madbradthe2nd]

I haven't driven it yet. My dad drove it home from the accident site and he said he detected no difference in the way it drives. He should know, it's his. What I hear is my neice hit a parked car at very low speed. The damage is more over top of the bumper than in it. Right now the fender stick out sideways 90 degrees so it is impractical to drive, and also it's parked right where it will have it's work done. - in my parent's garage. OK perhaps in spring I will move it to my garage to do it. I won't be getting any parts as long as it's cold out. It would be GREAT if I didn't have to do any painting.
The wrecker I was at has good prices. The total for all the parts I need as per the price list on the wall came to about $210 IIRC. They cut some off if you buy all that stuff at once. Furthermore, they have free parts days where you pay $45 for all you can carry. They are 5 weekends a year beginning in spring but they haven't posted when they will be in 2009. I once turned a Topaz L into an LS that way.

[Vistal]

Then all i would do is Go to the junkyard's and see if you can find the parts their. Shouldnt be to hard to find a color to match.I do it all the time.