Got My Celica Back...Sort Of. Options

[Lexicon_Devil]

Hey Everyone,
I sold my 94 Celica GT to a guy about a year and a half ago. A guy I knew
desperately needed a car and I was buying a Civic for a daily driver. I gave
him a hell of a deal on a GT that was in such good shape. And from the day
he bought it, he proceeded to trash the car. Mainly the front end. He had various
light collisions. Enough to really screw the body of the car up but he never deployed
the airbags. He called me about 2 weeks ago, told me he was moving and that
the car was sitting in a parking lot with no brakes. I went to his house, picked up
the title and had the car towed to my place.

I've made it my mission to get this car looking like it did before. I never wanted
to sell it in the first place but I really needed the money. But first things first, I
was wondering if you guys could take a look at the brace(?)..I'm not sure exactly
what the part is called but the hood latch and radiator connect to it (pardon my
ignorance). It is slightly bent. Probably about half an inch. I'm mechanically
inclined but I've never messed with anything like this. Should I pull this out with a
winch or replace it if possible? The radiator needs replacing as well.

I should also throw in that the hood is not bent back or crumpled. So damage
other than body damage is pretty much centered on that radiator area.

When I saw the car, I wanted to cry. Hah. However, there's a light at the end
of the tunnel. The back of the car still looks okay.

Thanks in advance...
-Jay

[ecaddiction]

Is all that crap coolant? Anyways, good luck with the restoration, and give us some pics when you're done.

[Lexicon_Devil]

Yeah, coolant and really crappy radiator "stop-leak" stuff he had poured all over it.
When I opened up the hood, I was shocked because I always kept the engine
super clean.

I got the driver's side fender off tonight as well as the front bumper cover. The actual
bumper is bent and the radiator brace is too. I believe the passenger side fender can
be coaxed back into shape. There aren't any creases. The bumper cover itself is in
remarkably good shape. There aren't any tears or cracks. So as of now I need

- Driver's side fender/quarter
- Radiator
- Both low beam lights
- Passenger side high beam

That's to get her road ready. Then eventually a new hood and driver's side door.

Thanks with the good luck. She's gonna take a lot of sweat, but I'm ready to get her
done and on the road again. She's gonna need a little engine work soon..but right
now the engine seems alright except for a slight oil leak.

[hellsyphon]

Looks like you're gonna need a new upper radiator support beam and radiator. If he put stop leak into the radiator, I'd also flush your cooling system as that stuff clogs everything inside your cooling system. On a side note you also might want to change some of those rubber hoses as they look nasty as heck.