bent chassis! (front cross member) how can i straighten it??

[jacko]

had a front ender!

the cross member behind the bumper is bent, nealy touching radiator....

how do i straighten it?

best idea so far (on my own) is to wrap a tow rope around it and then a lamp post & do some reversing!!!!

or i have a concrete drive with a lip.... wedge a bar behind the rad, over the lip & lever the dent out? think its gonna be a bit too tough for that though....

 

[Neil]

Don't do the lampost solution - they aren't fixed that well into the ground!

 

[Supersonic]

Or you could get a new cross member? I don't think they're actually structural?.

 

[Anonymous]

get a new cross member mate... mine well fucked on my old puma, cut a straight one off and welded it on... job done

 

[e3silversurfer]

i dont think the reversing technique is going to wor as you need to take into account whether the bolts holding the front member is strong enough for those forces. Would suggest getting it replaced (courtesy of your friendly neighbourhood scrapeyard) or getting the professionals to do it.

 

[e3silversurfer]

i thought the cross member is bolted on.... hmmmm need to check the etis....

 

[roadrally]

Crossmember is spot welded on, complete pattern front panels are only cheap about £20. If you tie it to anything then I suggest a tree, worked for me before.
http://bap.dominohosting.biz/member.../30-23-110FORDPUMA05-97x!EditDocument&Ret=ALL

 

[Dogsbody]

I pulled mine out with a mates Lada :shock: Found something good to do with one.

As you have the kit available Jacko, just replace the cross member.
Drill out the spot welds and MIG back though the holes to reattach.
Remember to spray it black under the bonnet, or someone might think its not a real FRP :wink:

 

[warrenpenalver]

remember to have the front chassis legs measured as sometimes the crossmember bending pulls the legs in slightly, but often they will spring back or only need very slight pulling out!

what other damage have you got?

 

[jacko]

cheers guys, thanks for the link...def do that over xmas hols, for now im going reversing!!

damage so far....

cracked frp bumper (fixable i reckon)
bonnet; fubar! carbon one already on
drivers headlight supporting plastic cracked (ford)
passengers headlight rear casing broken (will replace asap)
front grill fubar (ford)

 

[warrenpenalver]

got a spare front grill you can have for free.

 

[bucky]

Hi Jacko, i had the same problem with my fiesta last week. Now sorted after atching a rope strop to the bumper and other end to telegraph post (very low down) just kept reversing and pulling till it was more or less in line.

 

[jacko]

sweet!!! cheers mate. iv still got a bonnet alarm for you somewhere....! still want it?

got the chassis sorted. aint the prettiest thing in the world but with spare bumper on at least im mobile.
will be spending a few nights etc adjusting panel gaps for a while.

will also be trialing my ali bonnet hinges and 40g ali bonnet support this week.....

broken bumper is going to school workshop mon for some tlc, along with some ali honeycomb to replace the rotting plywood under the carbon splitter!

 

[warrenpenalver]

sweet!!! cheers mate. iv still got a bonnet alarm for you somewhere....! still want it?

yeah cool!!

how much has the honeycomb cost?

 

[jacko]

havent found a cheap supplier yet.....!!!!

you want some?

 

[warrenpenalver]

if its affordable yeah!!

The wooden plank under my bumper is hardly light!!

 

[hotrodspike]

Which part of the headlight casing's broke? I've got one I use for spares, no lens but I think everything else is there.

 

[jacko]

the rear section... might be useful... how much do you want for it?

 

[jacko]

@warren; £400 for enough to do us both one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

looking into alternatives!!!!!

 

[hotrodspike]

Tenna to you mate.