Car Changeover

[Azid]

Hey guys

Question is, how many people have completely swapped parts from a crashed car into the shell of another and how hard is it?

As in, damaged beyond repair bodywork, but mechanically fine so buy empty shell of another car same model and swap engine box looms mechanics straight across?

Any info on this topic would be hugely appreciated thank you

[Azid]

nobody has changed everything over from damaged car to new shell?

Im interested in doing it as a project as 90% of my car is fine, its only the damaged front end that's obviously stuffed

[Never had any say Panda]

I did it in a cruiser once.. We took a written off turbo diesel 80 series with a ruined body and put all the components into another 80 series which had been written off due to flooding and sold off as parts.. Cost wise it was cheaper for my mate as 3 of us worked for beer.. But if you factored in the time we took it would've been cheaper to just buy another second hand 80 series.

It's a fine idea and it's not that difficult provided A) someone knows what they are doing and B) everyone is pretty handy with tools and you've got access to everything required.

In saying that I wasn't confident that the completed project was safe for driving on the road either.. It's a big task.

[Azid]

yeah fairenough well theres myself my old boy and a good mate keen and all know decent amount about cars.. sitting shell next to it and transferring straight across, I think as long as we take photos and label things as they come off I dont think it would give us 2 much grief, just a lot of time and patience I feel. As long as the shell is completely straight when I buy it, once finished I cant see if being unsafe?

How long did it take u to do the cruiser brenno?

Edited 25/09/11 11:12 AM by AzidRush

[Never had any say Panda]

Well we only worked on it on Saturday's and some Sunday's and usually mixed it with beer. Ended up taking about 6 months to get it drivable then another month to get it to a standard where we could put it on the road. But we wasted alot of time with the interior as the flood damaged stuff had to go and for some reason none of the brackets lined up. It's also worth noting that the shell we used was a petrol cruiser so engine mounts and stuff had to be made but those got done by a professional.

Do you have a shell lined up already or still trying to source one?

But don't take my times as a given either cause it was a very steep learning curve for most of us.. We probably took way longer then we should have.

Edited 25/09/11 12:02 PM by Brenno85

[Azid]

yeah fairenough mate we will only get probably weekends and sum days off as well so probably take a while but getting another car so wont b a huge rush, my main worry was there was something I wasnt thinking of that would stop us from doing it but from what ive heard around from sum different ppl is it is quite doable. I havnt got a shell yet, planning on ringing around today to try and find one

[Henz]

A mate just did this, he has a workshop so he has access to a hoist and all necessary tools.

A customer came brought in his wrecked Bf, and a ba he picked up, and they transferred it all over only to find out the car was flood damaged write off.

So the customer brought another one and they did it again. He said it took roughly 40 hours all up. This includes doing the zf conversion as well.

[Azid]

That is awesome to hear only 40 hours with necessary stuff. Can u ask him if it's a straight swap over there are no dramas a part from making sure shell is straight? How much was in empty shell or did he have to swap absolutely everything?

[234Fpv]

Three of us did a vn Late model camira in three days. Motor, gearbox, diff, all suspension, all interior including adding cruise control and power windows and main wiring harness, exhaust, extractors and a few other bits and pieces. That was done in a very cruisy, beer drinking few days so if you have a bit of experience and somebody to give you a hand it should be an easy job. If it's a complete bare shell it'll be ask the fiddly bits that take time.

Sent from my HTC Desire using Tapatalk

[Azid]

Well I found a bare shell to use but that's all it is bare lol roof and frame bout it so I think hardest part will b bloody roof lining thinking maybe an upholsterer to do that. Bit nervous bout the situation but should b fun just need to get an engine lift/stand