I was recently involved in an accident just wanted to know if this can be saved without having to replace the fender. Radiator support is pushed in a little as well but not bad

 

Dang, sorry to see that.

Not sure if there is a body work specific forum should be moved to the 73-79 section.

I think the fender is junk, with some effort you may be able to straighten out the core.support and reinforce it but it may be gone depending on how much pushed in a little bit is.

You could hammer the fender and maybe get it back on once the rest is fixed but it will be ugly. What's the goal? Fix her or just get it driving?

Right way is new/used core support, fender (s) bumper grille etc whatever is damaged

Edit.....is the cowl pushed back over the passenger side door?

 

Thread moved.

 

The goal is just to get her back driving and fix as I go,which it is my daily driver.

 

No the cowl is not pushed back over the door

 

D8TZ-16138-A .. Radiator Support - Use with rectangular headlamps / Obsolete

1978/79 F100/350 & Bronco // No Ford dealer or obsolete parts vendor has any NOS

Front Fenders are the same: 1973/79 F100/350 & 1978/79 Bronco

 

Yes sorry to see that happen.

I hate to say this but .......
That dose not look like your yard / house and if not every day it sits on the tow lot it gets storage $$$.
Between what it would cost to just fix the truck it is most likely totaled then add the storage fees and you can kiss it good by.
Total was around 75% of book so what is book on the truck?

I am also guessing you have normal insurance if you were driving it as a DD and that make it even worst.
If you have old car / truck agreed value insurance you may be in good shape.
Also depending on the insurance even if totaled you get to keep the car / truck.

As for if it can be fixed, anything given enough money & time can be fixed.
Look over the radiator support is it rusted at the mounts? If so then a re-popped (if they make them) or good used is the way to go.
Fender might pull out ok but the time it would take you would be better with new / used. Same with the hood & bumper.

All the grill stuff the same, see how the parts are going
I would also bet the frame horns are bent in and would need to be bent back out testing with a good bumper that it was pulled to the right place.
Horns you might be able to pull back into place with a tree & come-a-long.

Looking the bumper & frame over again, check the frame on the right side as it maybe kinked back farther.
I say this because the bumper is back in the center and the end but not where the bumper is bolted to the frame.
If it is bent it will need to go to a frame shop to have it pulled back into shape.
They should also have books to take measurements to make sure it is back in the right place.

Keep us posted on how it goes and good luck.
Dave ----

ps I have agreed value (12K) and get to keep my truck it is gets totaled

 

Sure it's a sore subject, but would you mind telling us what you hit/hit you and at what speed.

Were you ok from accident? No injuries?

 

i'm going to go against the grain here and say almost anything can be saved given enough time and money... but the question comes when you have to ask if it's worth it. you have creasing in both the hood and fender as well as stretching in the hood. if you can't do the work yourself, the hourly rate to repair those pieces could quickly become less than buying re-popped pieces (and likely much less if you have time to find decent used pieces)

re-popped fenders are like 150-200$ if shop rate is 80-100 an hour, you don't have much time in trying to fix it even if the new part fits like **** and they have to re-work it quite a bit.. re-popped hoods are like 650 so you have more time to spend before it doesn't make sense, but the shrinking part takes time and skill. most stretching i've seen, body shops typically choose to replace what they can over trying to repair. The core support I think is the most likely to be salvageable, but obviously we can't see much.

if you can do the work ignore all of this, but in that case, you are likely pretty equipped to decide what's salvagable

 

Thanks guys I appreciate all the information and tips . I sustained no injuries from the wreck a vehicle pulled out in front of me while pouring down raining, slammed on brakes and slid right into them , however; the only damage is on the passenger side. No harm was done to the driver’s side whatsoever.

 

Sorry to see that happen, glad you're ok, if it is your DD, and you need to get it back on the road, I would hook a chain to the pass side front and pull it out best you can to get back on the road, and then start your search for parts. Me and my 77 decided to dance with a pine tree a few years ago wheeling/playing in the snow/ice having fun, although not near as bad, but it did push the dr. side fender into the door, did some gentle tugging with my 02 F350 and pulled it back from the door so it could open and viola, still driving it today.
Yes, you need to check everything out to make sure it's safe and functioning, and it does suck driving it dented, but it will get you back on the road.

 

Yes sir, I’m leaning more towards a collision center as I’m driving the wife’s car for right now. I will upload more pictures when I get the bumper off , I don’t think it’s nearly as bad as it looks. The passenger door still opens and closes like new with no problems the fender is just slightly rubbing the tire . I’m thinking the fender with straighten back out for the most part at least that’s what I’m hoping for but other than that ,getting the radiator support pulled out , new grille shell, grille insert and front bumper should do the trick. I don’t know how to do it myself so it will have to go to a body shop anyway because I’m not allowed to work on vehicles in my apartment complex.

 

An independent shop would be better, though some of the big shops have laser frame machines, and once they can get to it, will have it out the door pretty quick. The main thing is getting a big shop to work on something that old since it would be hard to find parts for.

 

You should be able to get all the parts you need from NPD or another reputable supplier. Nothing special there. The quality varies, but you should be able to at least get it back on the road with stuff that’s basically bolt on unless of course the frame is bent up. Or, just pull and straighten the panels that you need to so it functions mechanically and drive it.

 

Reproduction parts are expensive and most are made in China. Chinese sheet metal (fenders, hoods, etc) doesn't fit very well and there is very little one can do to align it properly.

On steel parts like bumpers, Ford plated two coats of copper, followed by one coat of chrome. The Chinese don't use copper, plate chrome onto bare steel, it begins to pit very soon unless waxed constantly.

IMO, buying used Ford parts instead of Chinese repro parts is the way to go. Will be cheaper and the quality will be far better than made in China crap.