replacing my front end?!?

geezfoolsgeezfools Wagonist
in Bodywork & Cosmetic Modifications
This happened to my car tonight. Guy took off at a stop sign in front of me, I looked left as I pulled forward and dude had stalled his truck and I got fucked. Radiator is wrecked and there is some damage to the body. Car still runs, but I got a bit of work to do. This is a 91, but I have an 89 parts car at the parents house with a 100% intact front end. Now, I've done some searching, but I'm not sure how much I can actually swap out, just from turning wrenches and how much I'll have to do with welding.
In the last picture you can kinda see where I'm currently at. Bumper is gone, about to pull the radiator and if need be, fenders as well. The metal that's around the headlights and under the radiator, is that removable? I see bolts everywhere, but I have no clue if that's holding it all on there or holding other stuff on there.

Anyone got some advice or links?

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Comments

  • 503Wagon503Wagon moderator
    the metal around your headlights is not removable without cutting the spot welds and then sectioning the corner in. the center piece that bolts from headlight to headlight and then down to the lower support is removable and interchangeable with an 88. Your whole 88 front end will bold right onto the 91 wagon. the only difference between a 88 and a 91 is the corner lights. The corner lights on a 88 have a screw in them that goes into the fender. the 91 corner lights dont have the screw they just slide in and then there is the one screw on the inside near the headlight.

    i did this to my old wagon that got stolen a while back....i got it from my fiances dad after he hit someone with it...it was banged up way worse than yours!

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    If you can get ahold of a slide hammer it will be your best friend.

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    hook it into a hole and start yanking. it will pull it out pretty straight. once you get it straight just bolt the parts on and you'll be good to go! let me know if you have any other questions!
  • geezfoolsgeezfools Wagonist
    You make it sound easy, lol. But yeah, I'm gonna dig into it this weekend and see what I can get done. Thanks for the pics and info
  • 3rd4ce3rd4ce Council Member
    with the right tools anything can b done.... :!:
    keep us posted on parts U may need ....
  • 503Wagon503Wagon moderator
    geezfools wrote:
    You make it sound easy, lol. But yeah, I'm gonna dig into it this weekend and see what I can get done. Thanks for the pics and info

    lol its not to terribly hard...if you have any questions just ask them in here, i'll subscribe to the thread so i get updates on posts!
  • geezfoolsgeezfools Wagonist
    I'll be getting a hood from the parts car tomorrow, any reason I shouldn't be able to throw a hood from an 89 onto this car(I know nothing from any other civics will work)? I'll be pulling as much of the front end off that car to bring to this one, sucks they aren't at the same location, but this will have to do. I still need to get the radiator out of this car, but I'm gonna grab a couple beers and go do that right now. The smaller radiator in front of the main one is for the AC correct? Once I get that all clear, I'll throw on the replacement hood and start lining things up as best I can. Stoked the drivers side isn't messed up so I can eyeball everything...
    Thanks for the motivation guys, this is pretty lame, but doesn't seem as bad as it could have been. This will hopefully get me by until I can find the "dream wagon" we're all looking for...
  • rti intracrti intrac Senior Wagonist
    No reason, the 89 hood will fit good. Like 503Wagon said the only difference in front ends is the corner lights, the 88/89 have the screw holes and the rest don't. You can re use your original corners by swapping the sliders(if its 90+) or the plastic screw holes. I'm pretty sure they are removable if your careful
  • geezfoolsgeezfools Wagonist
    well, new radiator is in and car is running great. I messed up the AC radiator and while I do have a good one on the parts car, I don't have $100 to throw away on getting it re-pressurized, especially since I maybe use it once or twice a year. Anyways, didn't have a way to get the hood transported to my house, which means I'll have to wait to line up the lights and everything until tomorrow when the hood gets dropped off. This has gone pretty smoothly actually. I'll post some updated pictures in the next day or two...
  • 503Wagon503Wagon moderator
    glad to hear you're getting it figured out.
  • AlphaxomegaAlphaxomega Senior Wagonist
    Same thing happened to me but some drunk fat guy backed up on me, I just barely got everything to
    Get my car to look perfect the way it was, it just takes time and hard work.
    You'll be much happier once your done :)
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