frame sectioning

[luvlegs]

Hello all,

First post -My apologies for it being long, just have to set the stage.

I have checked the site over but was unable to find anything related to frame repairs. I've done quite a bit of searching the net, again with no results.

I have a '99 Avalon that has been a fantastic vehicle. Last month, the wife hit a woman that turned in front of her. Speed was 45 - no brakes applied - woman was lost and made a panic turn. The car handled the impact stellarly (sp?) as far as I am concerned - wife, mother in law and baby girl suffered no injuries. The airbags did not deploy (lots on the web about that).

Anywhooo, I have removed all of the damaged front end, fender, bumper, etc. The radiator core support is fairly mangled. The insurance company totalled it and I got to keep it. The pass. frame end (horn?) is crushed in about 5 inches and severly skewed off to the side. The dr. side is only slightly twisted. In the old days, I'd have cut the end off and welded on a new piece and it would have been put back together by now.

I searched the web and found that this type of repair on the newer vehicles is referred to as "sectioning". Apparently there are a lot more considerations when doing this - primarily related to the airbag sensor system and restoring the impact absorbtion of the [accordian] portion(s) of the frame.

I am looking for a) any links to actual photographs of "sectioning"

B) any first hand experience you can relate

c) information related to companies that might actually market repair parts for this area.

d) perhaps some recommendations for any aftermarket front ends (not stock)

I am fairly competant around vehicles (actually restoring a couple right now) but want to make sure I go about this the right way.

Any and all information is greatly appreciated and I look forward to being active on this site (I will get the pics on hopefully tonight)

[Leighcm]

Welcome! Sorry to hear about your accident, but glad to hear no one was hurt.

Stevelaw? This is one for you...