Astra GTE convertible, front damaged, advice for repairing please

[Begbie]

Hello all,

I wonder if anyone could help me out with a plan of attack on repairing this car. I know we all like pics, so theres plenty of car-damage pic-porn A few months ago, someone pulled out on my GF (its her car) from a side street. Result, car written off, with light damage to the front nearside quarter area and is thus the perfect opportunity to begin my first serious body repair:

















So, how would it be best to approach this?

Overall, the damage is 'not too bad'.

Over the past month i have got myself to a reasonable standard with Mig welding with a view to using it for this repair, to the point where ive got as good as practising will allow. So im reasy for the next step: cutting into the damage!

However, 1st im interested in opinions for what i could do to bend as much as possible back. Is it really feasible? I know a little physics, and its my view that metal itsnt elastic enough to bend that easily. It wont want to help me by bending back miracuously where i want it to along the folds, instead it will bend along the point of weakest resistance and i can easily end up making it more bent. Would you believe though, ive come across this in the family and im hoping it will provide me some help. Its a car body hydraulic repair press:



Has anyone got experience of these. Ive had all the bits out for a play and i can see a fantastic range of uses for it. I think that with a bit of patience and planning, some of it could be pressed or pushed back into a roughly original position.

Where the inner wing has been folded down, can that be pressed up in any way to return the inner wing/ front crossmember to its original line? As you look down the length of the car, fortunately it seems it hasnt been moved transversley (left to right), well not that i can really see.

Or, should i try cutting along the 'folded seam' to ease the strain on the uppermost wing area before pushing. Would it be feasible to try making 2 or 3 cuts along the 'folds' return as much of the pieces to their original position and then weld them back?

I could do with a bit if a more experienced eye on the job, as obvioulsy what i also need to be aware of is that it will have to pass muster with a VIC check due to the cat c status.

Any help, advice etc would be gratefully received,

thanks
Mark

[wayne451]

Inner wing is kinked, it isn't an economical repair. I would personally cut my losses unless it held some mega sentimental value.

[ashtal]

Get a clamp a chain and a soild post and just pull it out. Dont drive the car backwards tho just a nice push backward should get that out after a few goes. Try to fix the clamp where most of the impact was taken.

[neo1]

That should pull out no problem mate, i would fix to metal at front panel end under headlamp, the lowest point secure the car and as the metal is pulled forward it go upward pulling it up and forward, oposite of whats happened, you could warm the crease with oxy equipment to make it easier to pull, i would hire the proper kit unless you can rig the tool you have to pull instead of push....

[dave's.cavy]

that portapower tool wont really sort that tbh

ive one of them at work (work property) which we use to remove artic trailer wheels when they are stubbon