help...Front suspension/frame bent?

I am feeling really stupid. My project that I have been working on for 5 summers now has a problem that may scap the whole thing. I got the car free from my uncle who was in the body repair business. The car had been a customers who I thought had passed away before the car repairs were paid for and it sat for 20 some years. He got the title and gave it to me. I assumed (yeah I know what that means) that it had been just normal repair and paint or just paint or whatever and that all I had to worry about was all the rust and issues from a car sitting 20+ years. Well when I received the car we did a very quick look at how clean the interior was, got it started then started tearing it apart. I never really looked under it much except for rust.

Jump ahead to yesterday. I have the car almost ready to paint and hung the fenders back on by 2 bolts just to get them out of the way and noticed the right side wheel seemed to sit back further then the right. I measured from center of wheel hub to fender opening and with the wheels straight it seems to be 2" difference between the right and left side. I just did a quick check and will make sure the wheels were actually pointing straight this morning but I feel sick. I only have a few minutes before I need to leave for an out of town job and it will be wed before I get to get under and really look at things. If the frame/unit body is twisted I may just scrap the whole thing. But any suggestions on where to look at suspension parts for likely bends that may not be so obvious? There was no indication that the car had had any serious damage. It's a 74 big bumper and I suspect the right side as the left wheel seems pretty centered in the wheel opening while the right looks to be further back.

I am kicking myself for not inspecting the car for this type of thing BEFORE I got into rust repair. I did convert it to front disks 2 summers ago and didn't see anything obvious. Of course I wasn't looking for anything and with the fenders off it wasn't obvious. Now I wonder if the reason no one in the family ever picked up the car was because it had frame damage and my uncle just forgot why it was there after 20+ years.

Yes I know I am stupid and you all can have a good laugh at how I worked on a car 5 summers only to sell off parts and scrap it. I hope it doesn't come to that. But ya'll can laugh at me anyway. Hopefully I made someone feel better about their project.

 

If you have a lot of time and $$ in it ... why not just bring it to a body shop and have them put it on a frame machine and put it back to spec?

 

If you really have a 2" difference I would guess that the frame damage would be pretty major to where you would have probably noticed it. You may have other minor issues such as a bent lower control arm or upper A-arm. Keep in mind too that measuring from the fender is not exactly the most accurate way to measure distance, between this and the strut rod adjustment you may be fine.

 

I always think the worst. I agree the measure to fender isn't the best plus when you figure the fender isn't fully bolted on, just hanging by 2 bolts that adds some play as well.

As with a lot of people money is very tight. I have no idea what a body shop would charge to bring it back to specs on a frame machine but I can't imagine it being under 500.00. Not sure where my cutoff as to putting more money into this would be but 500 is close.

 

it should be under $500. it would be a shame to quit on it now after all of the work that you have put into it

 

check the strut rods. they are the rods tha go from the lower controle arm to the front crossmember. look at the nuts on the end of them in the crossmember to see if they are adjusted the same. also look to see if one is broken right behind the crossmember. the upper controle arm could be loose also. check its nuts on the inside of the shock tower and see if there is play in the bushings.

 

I would agree with what the others have said. Get the specs and have them put it on the frame machine and check. My cousin had his 65 Mustang in the shop for a repaint and they found that it had been hit lightly in the front end. They put it on the frame machine and found it out by 1" on one side. The car was in alignment but they fixed it and didn't run him that much in labor. Definitely was less than $500. Don't give up since you've done alot to the car. - Matt

 

I agree here. More likely that you have damaged suspension parts rather than bad frame damage. You may have to do some pulling but maybe you'll get lucky here. Suspension parts get bent very easily even in minor collisions. Straighten the front wheels and measure the wheelbase on each side. You'll get a true reading that way. If it's an inch or two off you certainly should be able to see a damaged part.
Good luck with it. :Handshake

 

you would have seen something if you did the swap...
have you driven the car after the swap?

......

 

The car hasn't even been together since before the swap. so no I actually have never driven it except around the block once before dissasembly. Don't remember any pull. Tomorrow I will take a better look. I have calmed down some and thinking in a more positive manner now. First thing I will do is measure wheelbase on each side then crawl under and look

 

check the strut rods as suggested ...

 

what a day. Heat pump died, fixed that then call from wifes jazzersize she got hurt and were calling ambulance. Some wierd accident hurt her back. She's home now and on muscle relaxers.

Now Thunderstorms, but I had to know so under her I went. one slightly bent strut rod. Looks like someone strapped it down using a strut rod. Wheel base measures 1/2" difference so I am sure all will be well. Thanks everyone!

 

Man, seems like a bad day. Hope the wife is doing ok. Those muscle relaxers can put you out of it.

 

Maybe while she's taking them I can get her ok to build a garage or let me bring the Comet in the house to work on it.

She seems to be getting better. of all days for it to happen, yesterday was the best, it was the only day this week I had off. I'll be working down in Newport News the rest of the week. I leave in a few hours. My son only has one class today so he can help around the house as needed. Heatpump just needed a new fan relay so that was easy fix yesterday morning.

 

a little over reacting...

" My project that I have been working on for 5 summers now has a problem that may scap the whole thing."

......

...glad all-is-well...