Fender/Hood misalignment, can it be fixed?

prochobo · 02-13-2012, 12:57 PM

Long story short, it looks like my fender and/or hood got bent a little from a front passenger side collision. The driver's side looks perfectly fine. I was wondering if it could be 2x4'd and rubber mallet'd back into place, but a good buddy who owns his shop said aluminum only bends once. . .

Anyhow, here are some pics. It would be great if it could be fixed by adjusting the hood, but from the looks of the driver's side alignment, it looks like adjusting it is a no go.

ShockWave · 02-13-2012, 01:08 PM

take it to a Nissan dealer so they can fix it right!! whoever hit you better have insurances!

kenchan · 02-13-2012, 01:48 PM

yah, that's not 'fixed' yet. tell them to do it right and talk to your insurance to let them know you weren't satisfied with the repair.

prochobo · 02-13-2012, 02:32 PM

I guess my post is a little unclear. . . I'm wondering if it can be fixed without replacing parts. It hasn't been officially "fixed" yet. I plan on doing the majority of the work/funding myself and not involving insurance b/c of a rate increase, time to fix, and an accident report on the Carfax.

I know a good man with a body shop whom I plan on seeing today to get his take on it, but I also wanted to pick the brains of Z owners here.

Ages · 02-13-2012, 02:44 PM

Looks like the fender is out of alignment from the front impact could be that the core support broke( you won't see that till the bumper is off) or could be that the right frame rails is swayed to the right. Either way the lines are easily corrected by loosening the bolts and moving it around as needed once the cause it repaired.

ShockWave · 02-13-2012, 04:35 PM

from the pictures yes it look like you can fix it without replacing parts. you need an alignment. You can do it if u have the right tools and the know how!!

prochobo · 02-13-2012, 06:21 PM

Thanks guys. Had my guy take a look at it and it's what you all say it is: it's just misaligned and I just need to loosen the bolts and move it around, or bore the bolt holes out just slightly if the fender still isn't right. I should have everything fixed by Friday, but man, it sucks driving in a busted Z.

02-13-2012, 12:57 PM	#1 (permalink)
prochobo Base Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 54 Drives: 09 370Z T/S 7AT Rep Power: 14	Fender/Hood misalignment, can it be fixed? Long story short, it looks like my fender and/or hood got bent a little from a front passenger side collision. The driver's side looks perfectly fine. I was wondering if it could be 2x4'd and rubber mallet'd back into place, but a good buddy who owns his shop said aluminum only bends once. . . Anyhow, here are some pics. It would be great if it could be fixed by adjusting the hood, but from the looks of the driver's side alignment, it looks like adjusting it is a no go.

02-13-2012, 02:44 PM	#5 (permalink)
Ages Base Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: MA Posts: 184 Drives: 11 370Z SP MT Gunmet Rep Power: 14	Looks like the fender is out of alignment from the front impact could be that the core support broke( you won't see that till the bumper is off) or could be that the right frame rails is swayed to the right. Either way the lines are easily corrected by loosening the bolts and moving it around as needed once the cause it repaired. __________________ F.I.CBE\|F.I.HFC\|20/25mm Z1 Spacers\|CS TypeN Wing(cf)\|CS Diffuser (cf)\|EvoR Fangs(cf)\|EvoR Type2 Front Lip\|Evor Side Blades\|Stillen Gen3\|JDM Fog\|

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02-13-2012, 01:08 PM	#2 (permalink)
ShockWave Enthusiast Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: houston Posts: 303 Drives: 350z Rep Power: 14	take it to a Nissan dealer so they can fix it right!! whoever hit you better have insurances!

02-13-2012, 01:48 PM	#3 (permalink)
kenchan A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: N/A Posts: 76,801 Drives: N/A Rep Power: 141521	yah, that's not 'fixed' yet. tell them to do it right and talk to your insurance to let them know you weren't satisfied with the repair.

02-13-2012, 02:32 PM	#4 (permalink)
prochobo Base Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 54 Drives: 09 370Z T/S 7AT Rep Power: 14	I guess my post is a little unclear. . . I'm wondering if it can be fixed without replacing parts. It hasn't been officially "fixed" yet. I plan on doing the majority of the work/funding myself and not involving insurance b/c of a rate increase, time to fix, and an accident report on the Carfax. I know a good man with a body shop whom I plan on seeing today to get his take on it, but I also wanted to pick the brains of Z owners here.

02-13-2012, 04:35 PM	#6 (permalink)
ShockWave Enthusiast Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: houston Posts: 303 Drives: 350z Rep Power: 14	from the pictures yes it look like you can fix it without replacing parts. you need an alignment. You can do it if u have the right tools and the know how!!

02-13-2012, 06:21 PM	#7 (permalink)
prochobo Base Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 54 Drives: 09 370Z T/S 7AT Rep Power: 14	Thanks guys. Had my guy take a look at it and it's what you all say it is: it's just misaligned and I just need to loosen the bolts and move it around, or bore the bolt holes out just slightly if the fender still isn't right. I should have everything fixed by Friday, but man, it sucks driving in a busted Z.