possible frame damage?

[crasher]

Ok about a year or so ago I got into a lil fender bender I didn't really think much of it at the time since it really didn't do that much damage to my car apperance wise. But now that I'm getting closer to geting it painted and replacing some of the parts that have gotten messed up over the years. I'm noticing seems and lines that are lining up correctly. Like the hood and the fends. On the passenger side the distance between the hood and fender is exactly the same all the way down, well except for like a 16 or 32 of an inch but on the driver side it increses as it does awya form the windshild. So my question is are there any points on the frame I can easily measure to determin if my frame possible got twisted or bent out of shape. I don't blieve the frame is messed up and I think its just the hood that god waped out of shape form the crash but I would just like to know before I go start buying new parts for my car.

Thanks

[hockeyman]

We will need more info on the crash. A fender bender can happen at speeds up to 50mph +. If two cars rub-paint (and not much more) at those speeds, I would consider it a fender-bender.
How fast were you traveling when the two cars met? Was it a rearend hit, sideswipe? Where was the initial point of impact? What was damaged? etc.
Body parts can be bend somewhat easily and lose their original shape, making certain parts not line up like they had before.

[crasher]

ok I'll try my best to describe the crash. It was in my school parking lot where it happen was where 5 lanes of trafic converge into 1 at the same time. I was in one lane and this dodge truck was directly to my right. I was trying to go right and he was trying to left. So my right front fender gets wedged under his left fender. It bent the hood, right near the front by the head light down about 90 degrees but only a tiny bit like 2- 2 1/2 inches, bent in my right fender in by the front bumper cover in a tiny bit and cracked my bumper cover by the front marker/blikner lense and cracked the lense. And a lil bit of paint go swaped between our cars, and nearly no damnage was done to his truck. The whole thing only took about a second to happen and we couldn't have been going no more than 5 mph at max.

[FlyBoy9994]

It's very difficult to accurately measure your frame in the driveway. If you want an exact measurement, you are going to have to take it to a body shop with a frame rack and the proper tools to do a frame assesment. Some of the newer ones use lazers and are very accurate.

I honestly don't think your frame is bent from what you described above. I'm not sure what year car your driving but Camaro's and Firebirds are not known for their fit and finish. In other words, it's very common for the body seams and gaps to travel a little over time as the car ages. I really think your hood and front fenders were knocked out of alignment and will be corrected when you install the new parts. Be advised that this is NOT an easy process to re-align the front fenders and hood. It requires a basic understanding of how they are mounted in relation to each other and you will become VERY frustrated if you try it by yourself. Definitly try and find some help from somebody who has done it before. Good luck...

[ September 04, 2004, 10:51 AM: Message edited by: FlyBoy9994 ]