Crashed Vega

[rjones35]

Hi, first post.....long story short, I'm trying to buy back a Vega I had years ago. I tubbed it and made it a prostreet car, then sold it. It was turned into a race car, and at some point a few years back it was crashed.


I tried searching but didn't come up with much, has anyone repaired a crashed Vega? Specifically, front end crash. Wondering how big of a deal it actually is.

[rjones35]

Here's a picture of the crashed part.

[Smiley]

Probably better off starting with another car.
Maybe use the back half parts in a good shell.
What does the rest of the car look like ?

[rjones35]

Probably better off starting with another car.
Maybe use the back half parts in a good shell.
What does the rest of the car look like ?

The rest is pretty good. I don't have any good pics, but it'll need rewiring and seats added on the inside. Then besides the obvious body stuff outside, I would want to replace the fiberglass hatch with a steel one. Haven't seen underneath, but I'm under the impression it's in good shape.

[classic_cruiser]

Ultimately anything is repairable, it just depends how much money you are willing to spend...
If you have a parts car to fix this one, you'll likely be ok if you have weld skills or someone you know does. Body parts for these are getting harder to find. If you have to fab replacement parts, then you're going to be in it for some serious cash. Looks like that crash tweaked the firewall, window channel, rocker, door, and wheel well at least - not going to be cheap!
Check the a-arms and attaching points too.

[rjones35]

Ultimately anything is repairable, it just depends how much money you are willing to spend...
If you have a parts car to fix this one, you'll likely be ok if you have weld skills or someone you know does. Body parts for these are getting harder to find. If you have to fab replacement parts, then you're going to be in it for some serious cash. Looks like that crash tweaked the firewall, window channel, rocker, door, and wheel well at least - not going to be cheap!
Check the a-arms and attaching points too.

I am going to get (if the whole deal works out) the front end parts off of a wagon from the guy that has the car now. But yeah it did get into the window channel and firewall. I was hoping to find a frame shop that would be able to pull it out to at least get that part back in shape. I do have a couple friends with the welding skills to replace things, since I dont.....

Thanks for the response!!

[Monza Harry]

Ultimately anything is repairable, it just depends how much money you are willing to spend...
If you have a parts car to fix this one, you'll likely be ok if you have weld skills or someone you know does. Body parts for these are getting harder to find. If you have to fab replacement parts, then you're going to be in it for some serious cash. Looks like that crash tweaked the firewall, window channel, rocker, door, and wheel well at least - not going to be cheap!
Check the a-arms and attaching points too.

I am going to get (if the whole deal works out) the front end parts off of a wagon from the guy that has the car now. But yeah it did get into the window channel and firewall. I was hoping to find a frame shop that would be able to pull it out to at least get that part back in shape. I do have a couple friends with the welding skills to replace things, since I dont.....

Thanks for the response!!

Your fiends are going to eat and drink you out of house and home you know the beer, Pizza, and steaks are going to cost $$$$, then there is the transport of the welder to the car or car to the welder, maybe buy a welder and have friends help teach you and have them do the more important welds(?). just some things to consider. You may be better to take the whole front clip from that wagon [Smiley is the wagon windshield (and surrounding steel) the same as the Notch or HB? I can never remember that!] It might be easier to swap out the whole front clip than repair the existing, you have to determine if the donor is sound enough and matches up properly (years involved body style etc.). and your collective group of volunteers skill sets, neither of the approaches will be trivial. Harry
Edit: I went back and reviewed the original Pic's I'd bet that whole body is twisted the windshield surround looks kinked in the center! That will carry some distance back, I would go with Smileys first response:

Probably better off starting with another car.
Maybe use the back half parts in a good shell.
What does the rest of the car look like ?

[rjones35]

Yeah I was wondering about the whole thing being twisted or tweaked a little. I'm going on the assumption that the cage and rest of the added frame would have prevented it, but it took a hard hit, so maybe not. My thought was that worst case is I take the rear parts for another car and trash the rest of it, or part it out altogether. Probably would be a good time to learn to weld!!

[hammerdown7]

Harry, the wagon windshield area is the same as the notchback, the hatchback is different.

Dick

[Monza Harry]

Well that kills the donor clip from his wagon.

Harry, the wagon windshield area is the same as the notchback, the hatchback is different.
Dick

Harry

[rjones35]

Well that kills the donor clip from his wagon.

Harry, the wagon windshield area is the same as the notchback, the hatchback is different.
Dick

Harry

I picked it up last night. Just got the fenders, upper valance, and core support from the wagon. Plus the suspension stuff, if I want to go take the engine and trans out. Which I might do, we'll see how things work out.

[Monza Harry]

Well that kills the donor clip from his wagon.

Harry, the wagon windshield area is the same as the notchback, the hatchback is different.
Dick

Harry

I picked it up last night. Just got the fenders, upper valance, and core support from the wagon. Plus the suspension stuff, if I want to go take the engine and trans out. Which I might do, we'll see how things work out.

I should have worded that differently, I meant windshield AND forward, [ie; cut roof and floor section but there are differences unfortunately], yeah fenders and grill are a good score and are getting scarce(r), they look pretty good in your pic'. Harry

[rjones35]

I never did post up a pic of the other side of the car. I just stuck a fender on to see how it would look.

[rjones35]

Been a while, so I thought I would add a little follow up. Been gathering parts and doing a little here and a little there on the car. Got the front frame stub pulled out. Seems like its usable, needs little TLC, but not terrible. I'm going to cut out the right half of the firewall and replace it. Need to add a tunnel back in it and I've got another inner fender for the passenger side. Then build some sort of core support and figure out how to mount headlights. After all that, the rest will be easy peasy!!

[74_Vega_GT]

Where are you located? If you are in Fla, I have the front window channel and door frame hinge mound area that I would be willing to part with.