PontiacBonnevilleClub.com

Gotchya, was just wondering if you were close to MN or the Twin Cities up here, I could look at it and/or I'm sure Andrew would maybe come and take a peek at it depending on where you were.

Nevermind.

is it fixable at all ? could i pull the sub frame out ?

ITS a total shame Because it DRIVES GOOD and the a/c is still ice cold . the wheel does not rub at all .

At some point you have to throw in the towel and say "it just ain't worth it".

Ask yourself this...if you do happen to straighten that out, and put new fenders, hood, bumper, etc...would you trust that car to protect you in another front-end collision, knowing the crumple zones on that side are compromised? Do you have the consceous (spelling, I know) to sell that car to someone else, knowing what you know about that car?

Part it out.

Ya sorry to say, its done. If it was about 6-8 years newer, and you were able to replace that whole section, it would be worth it. But on an 11 year old car, worth $5000 max, its just not worth it.

On the bright side, if done right, you could easily quadruple your money by parting it out.

well at least the Tires are brand new uni-royal tiger paw tires . and there is probaly $50 bucks worth of fuel in it : )

it has 3/4 a tank of gas . WOW copart was slacking

I understand the safety factor and no i would never sell it . i would part it out first .

even if is was able to pull it out some , could it leagaly driven on the road . or will like the inspector say it has to be fully fixed ?

i see worse cars drive\ing around here with no bumpers and should all smashed in and they still drivem around ?

Think about this: If you were to get in an accident with a couple of buddies in a car, and your insurance knew your car was compromised structurally, they could deny your claim, and you'll be stuck with tons of medical bills to pay. It's not worth it....

well i plan to part it out . i just need to look for another sle or ssei that needs some parts maybe i already have .

Anyone need any parts LMK .

Well , i was out of town for a bit and i told my buddy that owned a repair shop . he could pull out that fender the best he could and see how it comes and go from there . It looked good enough to buy a fender and see how it would fit . I bought one in Joplin Mo was a 115 round trip to get a silver fender for $100 bucks. I also bought a Headlight for $60 shipped on ebay .

I switched out the wheels and tires with my mothers 1998 bonnie and i have her old rims and tires . I test drove the SLE last night and got it up to 45 on a residential street and it felt fine . braked great . front end feels tighter than the 98 SE . no tire rub at all . pulls very slightly to right after 30 mph ( could be the level of the road idk )

ok let the picture's begin :



First Look Before any repair




After first day of Light pulls






Some more Pulls





all pulling done , rest was done by hand and tools which i did not get pics of before i put the fender on






Fender Installed and head Light !





inner fender well still more i can do but everything is working and back in place .




















Next i will get a Hood , But first i will buy a new windshield and radiator . Again i/m just gona drive this around for a bit . I know the reprecustions . and No i will never sell it . it will be a parts car after i drive it for 20-30 k . till i find another 2000-2003 SLE or SSEI

I don't think you're going to win anybody over in this crowd, but if I needed a car bad enough and found something similar dirt cheap that I could half-ass put back together, I'd take the risk. Sure it'll crumple up like a soda can if you ever hit anything on that side, but at least it's not on the side you're sitting . Maybe carry a liability release form for your passengers

Idk if all of Missouri requires safety inspections, but I know in St. Louis it's required and that car would fail miserably... That could be the deal breaker. Luckily over here in IL we can drive anything that rolls.

jedwards83 wrote:I don't think you're going to win anybody over in this crowd, but if I needed a car bad enough and found something similar dirt cheap that I could half-ass put back together, I'd take the risk. Sure it'll crumple up like a soda can if you ever hit anything on that side, but at least it's not on the side you're sitting . Maybe carry a liability release form for your passengers

Idk if all of Missouri requires safety inspections, but I know in St. Louis it's required and that car would fail miserably... That could be the deal breaker. Luckily over here in IL we can drive anything that rolls.

i iam a HWY inspector at my local lube shop . there is no where in the book that u have to check for frame damage . trust me i looked over the book 10 times . and asked a tropper and he said as long as it appers safe and nothing is stolen on the car it will pass the hwy patrol inspection for a rebuildable tilte branded PROIR SALVAGE .

i just wanted to show everyone my progress . and i have questions ?

are there two types of radiators ? when i search for radiators it says check fitting type ?

only mention of it in the MSHP Book


"The vehicle is being purchased for
junk, salvage or rebuilding. I understand that the vehicle cannot be operated in its present
condition; therefore, I agree that the vehicle will either be towed or hauled from the place of
purchase. I further understand that the vehicle cannot be registered and operated upon a public
highway until I have the vehicle inspected. If any defects are discovered in the vehicle's brakes,
lights, turn signals, steering mechanism, horn, mirrors, windshield wipers, tires, wheels, exhaust
system, glass or fuel tank, during the inspection, they must be repaired at my own expense."

Don't have to check for frame damage? What's the point of a safety inspection then?

jedwards83 wrote:Don't have to check for frame damage? What's the point of a safety inspection then?

nope just :

"vehicle's brakes, lights, turn signals, steering mechanism, horn, mirrors, windshield wipers, tires, wheels, exhaust
system, glass or fuel tank "

O and for the STATE to MAKE MONEY

We don't haha bs yearly inspections in Iowa, but in order to get a previous salvage title instead of a salvage title you have to get an inspection. That car would not pass in Iowa.

I think you'll be surprised when you go to get it inspected. Do you think they would pass a car that had the roof cut off? They don't say anything about that in the MSHP Book.

It's actually pretty sad that you plan on driving this. If you were to get in an accident, and your insurance finds out its a salvage vehicle that wasn't properly repaired, they might deny all coverage.

It also looks like the passenger wheel is set too far in, did you check the subframe? It didn't need an alignment after that?

And no one here is trying to pick on you or put you down, we just don't want to see you get hurt.

sethjamesrimrodt wrote:And no one here is trying to pick on you or put you down, we just don't want to see you get hurt.

THIS.

Don't take it offensively.

You couldn't pay me to drive that car across my yard.