96 850R what to evaluate for potential bent subframe?

[camjohns]

Thanks all for the additional thoughts!

Spent several hours on it over the weekend.

1. Used a couple of available steel drifts to get the rear control arm tab bent close enough (measured on my donor car for accuracy)
2. took on the good parts from the donor car that I know are not bent to install on the R (control arms, steering knuckle, axle, and strut)
3. Had to purchase a new hub due to the other coming apart when removing the axle nut and installed on the donor car steering knuckle
4. Put all the donor car suspensions back together and the tire is straight again!

I think the accident twisted the tire, broke the rim, bent the end of the axle end ever so slightly and broke the original hub. I can't imagine what else would have caused the axle bolt to strip the end of the axle the way it did unless it was just bent enough. all the other suspension parts look good and not noticeably bent.

Now I'm at a crossroads,

This car sat in a barn for the last 4-5 years and I was hopeful that rust wouldn't be a major issue, but....

As I have been working on this car I see that the rocker panels may be a major issue, I attempted to look under the rocker plastic as i noticed some rust and I got a pile of rust that dumped out. I have absolutely no experience with rocker panels, is that an easy fix or should I now consider an alternate option and consider using my donor car as a future swap? ( I have a 97 n/a)

Should i focus my attention on removing the plastic rocker panels to see what the extent of rust is?

OR

Move on to the rear driver tire? If i find that the rear axle stub is bent am I correct in assuming that I'll need a replacement trailing arm for that side?

abscate Thanks so much for offering, I do have a donor car that I've owned for 11 years and kept running with no accidents that I may use should I need to.

[scot850]

I have been helping a young guy over the last year to get is bog standard 96 850 10V base model running again. Mileage is unknown as the milometer broke several years ago at 470,000km. It has been owned by his uncle from new and it was passed to him as his first cat about 3 years ago. It was written off mechanically by a missed diagnosis. I got the car mechanically sorted, but noticed while it was on my hoist the plastic rocker covers were barely held in place. Looking closer there were holes at the rear of both rockers and most of the tabs that the plastic fittings use to hold it i n place had rotted away. It was a crossing point.

The owner and his mother asked for advice and so we talked to a automotive body repair shop. The cost of repair was about $600 US to repair the holes and make good enough so the covers could be refitted. They did not need to be perfect, just strong (you need to watch at the rear as it is very close to the rear axle mounts).

Realistically it makes little sense for most of these cars at this point to spend the money unless:

1) The car has a lot of sentimental attachment (your first car, belonging to a much loved family member, etc). In these cases, the cost of repair while not small, the memories are priceless.
2) The car is a rare or sought after model (seen the price of 850 R/T5-R's??). If the car is not of sentimental enough value, then you have to weigh the potential value of the car after repair costs v's the cost of repairs.

Personally I got into the rabbit hole and have spent way more than the car will probably ever be worth over the last 12 years and 10k miles.

It got me into the ' If I don't fix this, then it is junk and worth nothing', and the ' Having spent all that money I need to get some of the money back through using it...'. Neither are smart decisions, but over the years it has become a point of challenge to me so it continues to get fixed. Heck, I don't even drive the car any more, my wife uses it in the summer and it has become her car.

It is all a very difficult decision. I would suggest having a very close look at the rockers along their lengths and get quoted for repairs if you can find or know a trustworthy and good repair shop. Also decide the quality of repair you want. Pristine, or solid but as they are hidden by the covers, good enough. Less house involved and therefor more affordable. With those numbers in hand, and the value of a solid car if you decide to sell fixed, do the numbers make sense?

I wish you luck. Tough call.

Neil.