Wrecked My GTP

**Bud** · 07-16-2019

Hi Guys!
First post here. Here's my story of what happened on July 11, 2019

Today, I'm taking my 83 year old mother to the heart Dr for a scheduled appointment. I'm driving on Ky 60 going to Owensboro. I'm following a Grand Am. Grand Am signals a left turn. I move over to go around them when she decides to turn right. I'm doing 55-60 mph. BANG! Launch into the air a bit and land in a muddy ditch. I'm driving my 98 Grand Prix GTP with 41,000 miles on it. Officer says it's my fault for going around on the right. Of course she doesn't mention the fact that she signaled left......which according the the sheriff's deputy doesn't matter. I'm wrong. She's right. She also doesn't have insurance. That apparently doesn't matter either. I don't carry collision on that car. Just comp and everything else. So I have another project. For sure it needs a drivers fender and door along with a left front wheel and tire. The rocker moulding is trash. Haven't been under it yet to see what that looks like. My big concern is where the lower door hinge mounts to the body. This was my nicest, favorite, ultra low mileage car. This car used to belong to my uncle who passed in 2014. I'm guessing by the time I get done fixing and a $220 tow bill, I'm going to be in the 2 grand range. What I can do myself, I will. BTDT on my Roadmaster. Thankfully nobody injured. I understand this could have been much worse. This was my baby...I'm just not having a good day.

Here's a link to the album on google photos. 1998 Grand Prix GTP Wrecked - Google Photos I'm trying to avoid paint work and am trying to find parts in the proper color. I've just started looking for parts. The rocker panel bracket that holds the ground effect moulding across the bottom seems to be a little difficult to find. A parts car of the right color would be great! Any and all advice welcome!

**Scottydoggs** · 07-16-2019

damn, you really sent it....glad mom was ok. shes pretty old for a ride like that.

no idea on body parts, but looks like you need a whole new front end under it, axles inner and outer tie rods. maybe bent lca. wheel maybe and tire.

**Bud** · 07-16-2019

I'm hoping the damage underneath is confined to the driver side, but, whatever is damaged is getting replaced. My only saving grace is that I can do the bolt twisting parts myself. I had been thinking I might be able to get by with $1500. Unless I find painted body parts, that's not gonna happen. Hoping for the best.

**BillBoost37** · 07-16-2019

Car-part.com and search for about 100 miles from your location or further if you are willing to drive. It'll list all the JY's with the parts you are looking for.... usually they list the color of body panels.

**tomsteve** · 07-16-2019

that was a heckuva hit. hopefully the strut tower and lca mounts didnt get banged up. that door hinge area- that got pushed in a bit. that youre gonna want to think about which direction that moved and pull it out the opposite direction. id leave the door on while doing it-the top of the door will tell when its good.
if youre able to find the body parts the same color locally-awesome! otherwise i could see shipping kill yer wallet. you might be able to pull/bang,tweak that door back but it will require patience. sure wish we live closer-id be more than happy to see what/how i could help with the bodywork and even turn some wrenches on the mechanicals.
good thing about body work is the WWW. theres some pretty good forums out there with knowledgable people. plus the YT.
heres one forum with a good knowledge base that might be able to guide ya on the door and if it can be salvaged
Index page • How to Paint Your Own Car, Auto Body Discussion Forum & Videos • AutoBody101.com
repop fenders dont cost that much,too. paint cost to paint door,fender, rocker, and(if ya need it) front bumper...... id say about $400. i think you might be pretty close in your estimate if its all DIY
1st things forst id say is get that front suspension/steering all fixed. you have a great knowledge base here to guide ya along through this,too

**FordMan77** · 07-17-2019

You should be able to find white GP's. As far as a good prof. paint job on things, well that could get expensive. I did a color change on my MPD F1 hood from white to blue to match my 00 GT and it was just a bit under $400 for that. You could prob. get a Maaco paint job on it but it may not look as good. I didn't want to skimp on the quality and this shop did an awesome job matching the old ass paint, lol..

Hit up RockAuto for the other parts needed, and also Craigslist. I've found quite a few GP parts for cheap there.

**Hurricane87** · 09-24-2019

RockAuto will be your friend for everything that is not sheet metal. My wife's SRX had a charging issue that turned out to be the positive battery cable. The stealer wanted over $400 just for the part. $71 on RockAuto, which you may think still sounds like a lot, until you absorb the concept of a $400 PIECE OF WIRE.

Had this happened a month ago, I could have helped you on the sheet metal--my wife was in Indiana for a week.

**ItHurtz** · 09-24-2019

41k on a rusted **** box LOL, OK

**Bud** · 09-25-2019

Originally Posted by Hurricane87

RockAuto will be your friend for everything that is not sheet metal. My wife's SRX had a charging issue that turned out to be the positive battery cable. The stealer wanted over $400 just for the part. $71 on RockAuto, which you may think still sounds like a lot, until you absorb the concept of a $400 PIECE OF WIRE.

Had this happened a month ago, I could have helped you on the sheet metal--my wife was in Indiana for a week.

Update. Car is still up on jack stands because I'm being stubborn about wanting to use a moog problem solver control arm as a replacement. Ordered one from amazon. Correct moog box with correct moog part number. Part in box is for the passenger side instead of the driver side. Sent that back. Ordered same part from walmart.com. Same deal. Correct part number on moog box. Part for wrong side of car. Sent that back. Called moog. They said they might have had a run of incorrectly boxed parts and suggested having the retailer check part before shipping. I called summit racing and told my story to the tech support agent on the phone. They didn't have the part in stock. Part was drop shipped from federal mogul, which I guess owns moog. Same deal as the previous two that I sent back. Rock auto shows they have one. If I get time today, I'm going to call them and see if it's possible to check part before shipping. I have my doubts that can happen, but I'm going to ask.

Once I get the suspension back together, it's going on a frame machine to get the door to line up again. I bought a driveable parts car in the correct color for 800 bucks a while back. Great tires. Probably going to strip that car down, keep what I want and sell the rest.

Parts to be replaced underneath are: axle assembly, outer tie rod end, lower control arm, link kit, knuckle, wheel bearing assembly, wheel and tire and quick struts for both sides. Passenger side doesn't appear to be bent. If anything is damaged on the passenger side when it goes for an alignment, it will be replaced.

Hurricane87. Thanks for the offer of help!! I really appreciate that! Next time you're in Indiana let me know!

ItHurtz. Yes it hurt putting that car in the ditch. Lots of sentimental feelings for that car. I always got lots of compliments on that car and how nice it looked. It's pretty obvious you don't give a rip. I don't know what you get by kicking me when I'm down. Hope it makes you feel good. I guess nobody told you that if you don't have anything good to say that maybe you should just keep the pie hole closed. I guess there's one in every crowd.

To everyone else, thanks for the support guys!

**ItHurtz** · 09-25-2019

My rights dont end where your feelings begin, thats where I stand. Button up buttercup and welcome to the real world!

**Bud** · 09-26-2019

Originally Posted by ItHurtz

My rights dont end where your feelings begin, thats where I stand. Button up buttercup and welcome to the real world!

Yes sir, you are absolutely correct. You have the right to show the world what a total JERK you are. The more you talk, the more you prove my point. Have a nice day.

It's a shame that this is how folks are treated for no good reason. I guess I shouldn't be surprised. This seems to be the direction the world is going these days. Guess I'm going to have to see if there is a blocking feature on this forum.