Busy Repairing A 1993

In case anyone is wondering why I have not been as prolific on the forum, it is because I am busy working a regular job 1500-midnight everyday.I am also repairing a 1993 that has been in an accident. The front end is damaged and I am working on repairing/replacing parts.

 

I also am selling a 1995 and a 1997, which still need minor repairs. THis keeps me busy most of the time.

Bikeman982

Good luck on your new project.

Here's some pictures -

Here's some pictures -

Sure looks fixable.

Here's some pictures -

Sure looks fixable.

The biggest repair challenge is the upper radiator support. It is bent in and twisted slightly.

 

I think I can get some way to pull it out a little. The fan is touching the exhaust manifold (or very close to it).

The upper radiator hose is crimped a little and needs to be cut, or stretched.

If I hook a rope or chain to my trailor hitch on my car and wrap it around the upper radiator support, I might be able to pull it out.

The rest of the car can be fixed fairly easily. I am going to replace the fender (I have one that needs painting to match the car color).

The hood may be salvageable, as well as the bumper.

I plan on straightening the upper bumper support bracket and replacing the broken or missing lights.

I have ordered another grille from e-Bay (I think I have the insignia for it).

The battery hold-down bracket is corroded and broken, so I will be looking for one of those.

After all the body work is done, I will change all the fluids (have not been changed in years and car has 124, 000 miles on it).

Air filter is packed with dust and will be changed. Entire engine compartment is dusty/dirty - oil leak at valve cover.

The windshield washer reservoir is broken (common for these cars), but I have a used one to replace it.

Lots of work, and so little time!!

I will let you know how it goes.

The biggest repair challenge is the upper radiator support. It is bent in and twisted slightly.I think I can get some way to pull it out a little. The fan is touching the exhaust manifold (or very close to it).

 

The upper radiator hose is crimped a little and needs to be cut, or stretched.

If I hook a rope or chain to my trailor hitch on my car and wrap it around the upper radiator support, I might be able to pull it out.

The rest of the car can be fixed fairly easily. I am going to replace the fender (I have one that needs painting to match the car color).

The hood may be salvageable, as well as the bumper.

I plan on straightening the upper bumper support bracket and replacing the broken or missing lights.

I have ordered another grille from e-Bay (I think I have the insignia for it).

The battery hold-down bracket is corroded and broken, so I will be looking for one of those.

After all the body work is done, I will change all the fluids (have not been changed in years and car has 124, 000 miles on it).

Air filter is packed with dust and will be changed. Entire engine compartment is dusty/dirty - oil leak at valve cover.

The windshield washer reservoir is broken (common for these cars), but I have a used one to replace it.

Lots of work, and so little time!!

I will let you know how it goes.

Bikeman -

Keep us updated!

I crashed my 98 Corolla a few years ago, and the damage was similar to the damage on your new project car. I think the shop I took it to gave up with the hood, but they managed to straighten out all the structural components necessary.

Are you repainting the fender yourself?

-srobins42

I plan on doing it all myself.

I am not a great painter, but it will pass.

My plan is to take a used fender from the local junkyard and sand it down, then paint it with a matching color (at least as close as I can find).

I did that with a fender, grille and hood on my last repair job. It was not great, but it was white and looked good enough.

I think the most important thing is to get the major dents out and the paint color fairly close.

Maybe the hood is not repairable, but I will try to straighten it. If not, maybe some body filler and paint??

If that does not work - I will look for one at the local junkyard that is not dented and paint it myself.

I tried banging out the bump in the bumper, but it didn't come out yet. I will give it another try tomorrow.

Today I used my car jack and used it to straighten out the upper radiator support.

First I removed the battery, coolant overflow container, air box and the fuse boxes. Then I positioned it against a block of wood and the strut area.

I cranked the jack until it pressed the support and pushed it out a little. Hopefully it is enough.

More to follow.

Good luck on the repairs - I do enjoy reading your posts!

Good luck on the repairs - I do enjoy reading your posts!

Thanks - I didn't know if anyone found any value in them.

 

It is kind of a Corolla journal and a way I can record my challenges and trials with automotive repairs.

I know there are others that would love to do the same, if they had the time or a little more ability (and confidence).

I am not a professional but I do try to learn as I go.

If someone else can benefit from my experience, then it is worth posting.

More posts to follow.

Today I painted the red fender light blue to attempt to match the color of the car.

I think it is a little dark, but it is as close as I could get it.

Tomorrow I can put some more clearcoating on it and then put it on the car.

I have to replace the bracket that holds the fender to the body by the driver's door.

The screw was stripped and did not come out (first time for a screw in that location).

I ended up taking the bracket off the car (it was only spot welded on).

I will probably get a piece of metal and put a screw thru it into the car.

A nut and bolt will hold the fender to the bracket and should suffice.

The hood and bumper still need straightening and installing.

After that will be corner lights, headlights and grille (from e-Bay).

I plan on changing the fluids (I changed the broken windshield washer reservoir and filled it with bug was today).

The oil (plus filter) and ATF and coolant need changing.

More to follow.

I put the fender back on the car and also the bumper (doesn't seem to line up well).

I also put the corner lights, and headlights on.

I still have to bang out the hood and put that on.

The grille has not come from e-bay yet.

Hopefully it will all come together soon and I can get it back to the owner.

More to follow.

I pounded the hood a little straighter and it is better, but not great.

The hood (and hinges) needs better alignment.

I have flushed the coolant and replaced with Prestone antifreeze.

I also changed the oil and oil filter.

Today I also changed the automatic transmission fluid.

What remains is to change the windshield wiper blades, install the climate controls (I replaced a switch) and the radio antenna (the old one was broken off by some hoodlums).

The grille has still not arrived and I am looking for the Toyota emblem for it.

More to follow.

i sent you a PM about that PlastX stuff, try it on this cars passenger headlamp lense and you'll be VERY happy.

i sent you a PM about that PlastX stuff, try it on this cars passenger headlamp lense and you'll be VERY happy.

Was that today?? I didn't get any PM.

 

I usually just get new headlights (from e-Bay) and pass the cost off to the owner.

I think I have that Plast-X. Didn't seem to work that great - maybe I need to get a good buffer??

Today I replaced the switch for the climate controls and also the radio antenna.

My friend from Midas had a customer come in with a 1993 Geo Prizm that had a bad engine (hole in the block).

He bought the car for $100 from the customer. I thought about buying the car from him (he wanted $150 from me).

The car ended up at the local junkyard and they gave him $315 for it.

It had custom rims and a good CD player and some other usable parts.

My friend needed the money right away and didn't give me a chance to get any of the good parts from it.

He borrowed my car dolly to move it around. Maybe there will be another deal like that soon??

The 93 Corolla in my garage is almost done. I still have a couple of things to fix, then I told the owner I can get it smogged (emission) tested for him.

After that I will get my 1995 back and plan on fixing a couple of items on it and then putting it up for sale.

More to follow.

i thought i sent you a message about it, maybe i'm going crazy....oh no i made a thread!

apply it 3 or 4 times after washing the lense really well with rubbing alcohol/window cleaner. i did the lights on my GF's new to her escort and they went from looking like the one lense on the project car to looking as clear as the other lense on the project car.

i thought i sent you a message about it, maybe i'm going crazy....oh no i made a thread!

apply it 3 or 4 times after washing the lense really well with rubbing alcohol/window cleaner. i did the lights on my GF's new to her escort and they went from looking like the one lense on the project car to looking as clear as the other lense on the project car.

Maybe the rubbing aclohol/window cleaner actually helps the PlastX work better?

 

 

I plan on working on the 1993 again tomorrow.

I have all the parts installed, but they don't seem to line up right.

The hood has a big gap on one side and doesn't contact the latch correctly.

The bumper has a piece missing where it attaches to the fender (driver's side) and has a gap between other parts.

The driver's side headlight does not seem to be pointed in the right direction.

The grille is painted and installed (no emblem yet), but seems crooked.

If I can get it all aligned, I will return it back to the owner (after I get it smogg'd).

More to follow.

Latest pictures-

As you can see from the pictures - it is not perfect. There are still gaps between parts and some things not lined up exactly.

The LH fender is still a little darker than the rest of the car (I painted it again today with a lighter color) and has no black pinstriping on it. I also have to put the little rubber door protector piece on it.

Compare to the first pictures and you will see the changes and improvements.

you'll need to take it to an alignment shop when you're done, theres a good chance the frame is tweeked and the alignment if off for atleast the front wheels.

you'll need to take it to an alignment shop when you're done, theres a good chance the frame is tweeked and the alignment if off for atleast the front wheels.

All the damage is to the top part of the car - the hood, fender, lights, grille, and upper radiator support.

 

The tires track straight and the lower radiator support was not touched.

The front wheels are good and there are no steering problems.

it looks a lot better than my junkers.I will post some pics of the tuner car soon. you'll see what I mean.

The car is going back to it's owner today - hope he is happy with it.

I didn't get it smogg'd, but he can do that on his own.

The car doesn't look great, but it looks better than when I started to work on it.

At least everything works and all the broken parts have been changed or repaired.

I will let you know his impression when he gets it back.

More to follow.

Got done from work early and brought the car back.

The owner would prefer I get it smogg'd (I have a friend that gives me a deal), since I can do it cheaper.

I will get that done before work tomorrow.

More to follow.

Back from work early again.

The car was smogged before I got to work and it passed with no problem.

The owner is happy with the car and has it back.

I will ask him again what he thinks after he has a chance to drive it to his home and then back to work.

I know it is much better, but I like to get the feedback on my work.

More to follow.

I see the car at work everyday and it still looks better than before I fixed it.