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hello, i have a question... i have a car that the frame got bent in an accident(what holds the axles and engine and the body in place) well i was wondering since it cannot be bent back do you think its possible and safe to cut the piece thats bent and weld it back on straight.  my question is would it be safe to cut the frame on a car and weld it back together without any issues and... do you have to be a professional welder for this.. what type of equipment would i need and can i just do this being a newbie without any prior knowledge on welding.... i ask this because i have been in other forums and have heard of guys welding up stuff without any knowledge... so im wondering what type of equipment would i need. all responses are appreciated.
Reply:i have a car that the frame got bent in an accident(what holds the axles and engine and the body in place) well i was wondering since it cannot be bent back do you think its possible and safe to cut the piece thats bent and weld it back on straight. my question is would it be safe to cut the frame on a car and weld it back together without any issues
Reply:I would say depending on how bad its bent it can be straightened without cutting it apart and a bent frame can be easely mistaken by worn suspension parts such as leaf springs front springs etc..anyways depending on what kind of vehicle it is if you wanted to straighten the frame you would probably half to remove the body to do so or you stand chance of destroying the body a friend paid 1400 $ to have his frame straightened reasonable for a rare corvette frame.
Reply:Depends on the car too, is it unibody with only a partial frame, or true unibody ? since you mention frame, I will assume its a true body on frame car, as others have said its a body shop with frame tools job, unless you want to strip the car down to its bare frame and work on the bare frame.  Then it is do-able at home but you had better be a better than average newbie welder or don't drive the car anywhere near me and my cars or family please.  Do you really want to spend weeks or months doing what will take a day in a frame shop ?  if the frame is bent so badly that it can not be straightened as you say, I would be very worried about other damage.  To answer your question, it can be done, I have done it but I would not consider it on a car I was going to drive regularly, I did it on a 70 year old car that I wont drive more than a few times a year, its top speed when new was 60MPH and that was flat out wide open, its not a safe car for todays modern speeds and I feel safe having done the work but a regular driver ? that is what body shops with frame machines exist for.
Reply:Being a bodyshop owner, I can tell you with experience. It is not advisable for you to section the frame yourself. Unibody sub frame or convential frame.  To begin with, I dont understand why it cant be streightened. It would have to be a severe collision for the frame to suffer that much damage. Either way, even if the frame or sub frame (depending on what your working on) is beyond streightening , because the metal is torn. The vehicle still has to be put on a bench(frame machine) and pulled back into shape, before the bad section is cut out. This will insure that all the surrounding panels are in alignment before the area is "sectioned"  In addition, you will need minimal measuring equiptment to complete the job. Possibly a Tram, Datum, and centerline gauge, or all of the above, if the damage is that severe. It will cost you more for the proper measuring equiptment, than it will to just have a bodyshop put the vehicle on a bench and make a couple pulls. My advise, have a local bodyshop make the measurements and pulls. Then if you want to pinch pennys, Buy yourself the replacement body panels and put them on yourself. If this damage is in the rear of the vehicle, and needs any of the following - quater panel,rear body panel,innerwheel house, trunk floor,etc. Id advise you have a bodyshop install that also. these are welded panels, and a structural part of the vehicle. IF YOU DO ANY OF THESE STRUCTURAL REPAIRS YOURSELF, and you get in an accident you can be sued if YOUR REPAIRS FAIL and someone inside is injured. It doesnt matter if its your own wife, or brother in the vehicle. YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY WILL SUE YOU FOR BODILY INJURY. Just as they would sue a bodyshop, if previously repaired areas failed in an accident and caused, unwarrented bodily injury. Insurance companys try every way, to avoid paying claims. Trust me I deal with them everyday. You should see what us shop owners go through to get paid for all are items on an estimate.   Keep on smashen those cars- show me the money.