[zed]

Someone slammed into me and destroyed my ‘92 wagon. It had the 5.7 TBI, a brand new transmission, the tow package, all the best stuff, and 102k miles. The junkyard wants to buy it, but this car is my baby. I am a college student and have no way to fix it myself, but I really don’t want it to die. Is anyone interested, or does anyone have any suggestions for where to find a replacement? Really want another with the tow package and everything. Attached below are all of the pictures, including the front frame damage. If someone who actually has the time and money to fix it were to buy it, I would be much more pleased than just junking my poor ol’ gal.

It’s already been taken to the junkyard, but I haven’t given them my title yet. Have like 20 days left.

Located in Indiana

 

[96Lt1civi]

Man, that really sucks! I do wish I had the money and wherewithal to take er' off your hands and bring it out to AZ.
If there's not frame or major firewall damage, that's totally fixable IMO. The whole front clip (fenders, core support, hood) can all be unbolted, removed, and replaced with some from another junkyard car (maybe with rear-end damage).

Unless you have space constraints, I say keep it. It could be a fun project and a good learning experience.
The junkyard will probably give you chump change for it anyway.

Edit; I do see the frame now, sorry. I'd still work with it personally, but I totally understand if that would be something you wouldn't want to deal with. It's not a crazy amount of frame damage anyway, there's a good chance that a good collision shop could take care of the frame.

 

[Caddylack]

@Fix Until Broke @vautsmeier

 

[Fix Until Broke]

It's probably fixable at a frame shop, but likely financially unwise for a typical college student. Guessing you'd have $10k in making it like nothing happened.

Hopefully someone can make it functional again or at least make use of enough parts so that other cars may continue to live on. No specific interest in this car on my end.

 

[Sinister]

Oops. Just had a wagon with a perfect frame hauled off to the crusher this morning.

 

[91-Long Roof]

Wow - that really does suck. I spent my earlier life working in body shops and I can tell you by the pics that it is a pretty significant bend in the frame - the bumper / absorber took the hit directly and it looks like it's back about a foot. That is the purpose of those parts to keep the occupants safe, but it looks like either a ton of time on a frame machine or a replacement frame to save this one. As posted, the sheet metal parts are easily replaced but the frame makes it a game changer . . .

Sorry Zed

 

[Caddylack]

It looks like a nice parts donor to me.

Not worth fixing for anything other than sentimental value.

 

[storm9c1]

Another option, since you are a college student.... that's a hard hit but it may not be the end.
Ask a guy with a derby car how often they straighten out rad supports. LOL!

Here's a story from back in my college days, which was quite some time ago, a friend had a 280Z that he cherished. At least 3 wrecks happened. Once he flipped it. His fault. We pounded out the roof and rattle-canned it. LOL. Then two other accidents followed with front hits, both not his fault if I recall. And both times we pulled out the rad support and frame with a come-along and chains. Basically disassemble everything and start pulling. We've also used scissor jacks in the engine compartment to push things around back into shape on other cars. LOL. It's metal. It will move with persuasion.

He drove the Z car for years until it rusted out. Then I convinced him to get a '96 9C1 from auction. But being a manual transmission guy, he grew bored of the Caprice after a few years and sold it.

Anywho, once you get the rad support mostly straight, hammer out the fender and hood.

I mean you could also get a rad support and other parts from a JY as much as budget allows.

Give it a try. Won't be perfect. But might get your baby back on the road until you figure out next steps. Save money to get it professionally fixed, etc. These cars are tough. A rad that's not sitting straight will still work as long as there's no tension/bend on the rad itself and it's far enough away from the fan. Most of the 9C1 cars I've owned or worked on over the years never had straight front ends. They all had tweaked rad supports but drove just fine. A lot happens in police service. LOL. I've seen bent frames with wheels that would still align. So that's all that matters in the grand scheme of things.

I lost a '95 wagon a few years ago from a guy running a stop sign. T-boned me in the quarter panel and bent the whole back end so bad none of the doors closed right. Roof creased. Door jambs creased. Windows broke. No amount of hammering would fix all that. So I had to make the hard decision to scrap it but I saved the drivetrain and interior. And used the insurance money to get my next one which turned out to be much nicer. Albeit more expensive.

 

[96Lt1civi]

At the very least, please save as many interior parts as possible. They are getting near impossible to find in good condition and could be swapped over to a new one if need be.

 

[gbhs72]

Wow, I wish I wish you were closer. I have a white 95 I bought for $200. I would give you a hood, fender, bumper cover & rad support. I even have a new radiator I would sell cheap. The rad is in the box. The rest is pull it yourself.
Mark: Snowman33

 

[Sinister]

At the very least, please save as many interior parts as possible. They are getting near impossible to find in good condition and could be swapped over to a new one if need be.

I’ve tried that more than once, it never works out. People won’t buy anything and there is nowhere to store the massive pile of parts. It all ends up in the trash.

 

[storm9c1]

I’ve tried that more than once, it never works out. People won’t buy anything and there is nowhere to store the massive pile of parts. It all ends up in the trash.

Storage is cheap when you have it and expensive when you don't. Bottom line.

"Never" is a long time.
Guys who tossed all of the late 60s and early 70s Mopar parts are kicking themselves now.
Same goes for Pontiac parts of the same era. And Ford. And so on.

Could the 90s B-Body be that someday? Maybe? I can't predict the future. It has a good chance. People are much more accepting of 4-doors these days. LOL. And the B-Body wagons were the last of an era.

However, if a guy (or gal) plans to drive B-Bodies for the rest of his life (like I plan to), maintaining a cache of parts is key. Wagons are rare enough and prices are high enough to justify saving parts at this point ---- if you have the means, passion and ability to keep these crazy 30 year-old machines on the road.

I've always had a wish of working with a team to re-pop parts for these cars. I'd donate an entire interior. LOL. But the time still isn't right yet. They just aren't old enough (or popular enough yet?) to be interesting to companies like OPGI, Classic Industries, and so on.

 

[Sinister]

Storage is cheap when you have it and expensive when you don't. Bottom line.

"Never" is a long time.
Guys who tossed all of the late 60s and early 70s Mopar parts are kicking themselves now.
Same goes for Pontiac parts of the same era. And Ford. And so on.

Could the 90s B-Body be that someday? Maybe? I can't predict the future. It has a good chance. People are much more accepting of 4-doors these days. LOL. And the B-Body wagons were the last of an era.

However, if a guy (or gal) plans to drive B-Bodies for the rest of his life (like I plan to), maintaining a cache of parts is key. Wagons are rare enough and prices are high enough to justify saving parts at this point ---- if you have the means, passion and ability to keep these crazy 30 year-old machines on the road.

I've always had a wish of working with a team to re-pop parts for these cars. I'd donate an entire interior. LOL. But the time still isn't right yet. They just aren't old enough (or popular enough yet?) to be interesting to companies like OPGI, Classic Industries, and so on.

They never will be either. Too low of production numbers and too many different parts. Each wagon has it's own tail lights, grill, bumper covers, etc. I have a wagon that I bought in 17 and will be driving it until I die. Folks can have their fancy new muscle cars and plug in bullshit, lol. I am collecting and keeping certain parts that I may need in the future and have plenty of room for them. That is it though, I no longer care what other people may need later.

My comment was more about keeping parts in the hopes that others may buy them. I've done that and no one ever buys ****. They talk a good game but rarely follow through. Have been waiting four years now for a member here to "get home and make a Paypal payment" for some parts that I actually still have, lol. Those parts sit in my way until I get tired of looking at them and toss them out. Those include the ultra rare OCC parts. I've bought several parts cars and the story is ALWAYS the same but I kept trying. I recently acquired a cheap parts car and made a post (Facebook which I know is the wrong place to ever sell anything) and was immediately hit with insane messages from people wanting to trade, asking for stuff I didn't have, etc. After the third one I removed the post, took what I needed from the car, tossed most of the interior (highly coveted Gray no less) right into the dumpster. Cut up the car and sent it straight to a crusher. Learned my lesson after a decade and a half. Take what I need and toss the rest.

Eventually only those of us that really care about/enjoy these cars will own them and the parts. I'm fine with that because the number is small anyways. Lots of sedan folks **** talk these wagons and the majority of people that like Station Wagons don't really like THESE Station Wagons. They only have slightly elevated levels of interest currently because of the hype being generated by millionaires paying heavily inflated prices for White Buicks with those tacky wood stickers on them