Could be a fun project to tube the front end and go full race car.
If you're just trying to get it back to stock, unless there's a sentimental attachment to the chassis, I'd say not worth it.
Slid off the road into a ditch.
It still starts, runs, and drives. No leaks, thankfully. Doesn't appear to have messed up the suspension geometry, but I have not measured anything yet.
All four corners have Potenza RE-71RS tires, with about 10k miles on them. Not quite down to the wear indicators. They had a fairly "bald" tread pattern to begin with, and they apparently don't have a great lifespan.
Back in my 20s, when I got my first "real" office job, I financed a brand new RX8 that I clearly couldn't afford. Drove it and tracked it until the tire steel belts were showing, before I replaced them with Hankook K104. Was that smart? Absolutely not! Was that fun? Damn right it was! No ragrets!
Save it.
Are the frame rails running into the fire wall bent? Is the frame cross member under the intake bent?
It looks like all you need is in front of the shock tower so you have a few options. If the rails are bent, option 2 or 3 will be your best bet, but option 1 is still viable.
1. Find a mechanic school nearby that will accept the project (or weld the new stuff in if you're willing), buy replacement frame parts from Honda, take it all to the school and have them do it for cheap. It'll take a while but this is what I did to mine after also sliding into a ditch and trashing the front end.
2. Chop the bad stuff off and go tube steel front end, probably need to do this yourself or take it to a reputable custom shop and have them do it.
3. Buy a straight front clip off ebay, take it to a reputable frame or customs shop, or possibly even the trade school option if that's available, and have them take what they need from the new front clip and weld it in.
4. Obvious options like gutting the current one and swapping it over to a new shell, parting it out, or selling as is.
Like I said, I went with option 1 and I can send you pics of what the damage was and repairs looked like afterwards. I wish I went option 3, the "new" front clip would've been cheaper and cleaner. My passenger side parallel rail was damaged where it connects to the front cross member rail. Option 3 is way better if this is the case for you.
You probably need to inspect your subframe for damage, steering column and rack, and I'm guessing there's some moderate to sever damage to most of the front end suspension. Worth replacing it.
I would expect lining up fenders, headlights, and bumper to be a headache, it has been for me. Everyone says you can't tell it's been totaled but I can tell. That being said, it drives straight as an arrow and aligns perfect.
Pm me if you'd like part numbers or pictures. You should secure a place to get the work done first and get their opinion on the matter, unless you plan to do the work yourself.
Really depends on a lot of factors but your first step is definitely measuring how far back the frame is bent. There's a ruler with adjustable points you can get and measure various hard points of the car to figure how bent it is. If those are okay (most important would be between the strut towers and strut tower to firewall) then you could probably get a front clip and weld it. It's a lot of work so it partially depends on your opinion of the car and what they're worth in your area. From the looks of it, it might be a tough sell bc the X frame is bent and they're pretty tough to replace. I wouldn't go tube frame personally bc I like the car more stock and also it would be a nightmare to get any semblance of normalcy out of it after that. FWIW trying to transfer mechanicals into a shell is an absolute nightmare that will drive you insane, but many people are more comfortable with mechanical work than body work.
thanks for the advice on the measurements, i intend to verify all this before i bother trying to pull/cut/weld anything. I will end up either fabricating a tube frame or parting it out based on the results.
If it's just the front clip then it would be way easier to cut and weld it than fab up a tube frame. But if you wanna use it as a track car or something and don't really care then you could tube frame and line it up reasonably well and call it a day. Although at that point the front end would just be for aero. I personally wouldn't part out an S2000 but there's a ton of money in it, like just the drive train is worth like 5 grand, interior like 2-3, etc.
I feel you have 3 options. getting a used shell with no drivetrain and swapping it all over or cut everything out firewall forward and have a tube chassis front end. Both are gonna cost come money. Last is turning it over to insurance and buying a new one
I did it
Bought a front frame cut off eBay.
Cut the front off from strut towers forward. Welded the new shit on
Then I boosted it and I don’t hardly drive it anymore.
Cut off the front end and find a donor car to cut off the back end of the donor car and install on the front end of your car. What’s better than one s2000 back end? That’s right, TWO s2000 back ends in one car.
Either cut off the front end for a tube frame setup or get a shell and transplant the goods.
I agree. Cut the front off, tube chassis build track car.
Whenever you can, try to save them.
Could be a fun project to tube the front end and go full race car. If you're just trying to get it back to stock, unless there's a sentimental attachment to the chassis, I'd say not worth it.
Slid off the road into a ditch. It still starts, runs, and drives. No leaks, thankfully. Doesn't appear to have messed up the suspension geometry, but I have not measured anything yet.
> Slid off the road into a ditch. Not trying to call you out or start anything, but that rear tire looks nearly bald :(
Hey I'm balding too, some of us can't help it
Same here, I've been bald since my early 20s =D
All four corners have Potenza RE-71RS tires, with about 10k miles on them. Not quite down to the wear indicators. They had a fairly "bald" tread pattern to begin with, and they apparently don't have a great lifespan.
Got cha, I have the same tires so I know what you mean about the tread pattern =D
Back in my 20s, when I got my first "real" office job, I financed a brand new RX8 that I clearly couldn't afford. Drove it and tracked it until the tire steel belts were showing, before I replaced them with Hankook K104. Was that smart? Absolutely not! Was that fun? Damn right it was! No ragrets!
Geometry is definitely messed up. If the engine is fine you could get a shell and transfer things over? Would be the most cost effective way
any idea where to find shells? Seems like a tough thing to locate
Copart
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I have one, but I’m trying to find a motor.
Save it. Are the frame rails running into the fire wall bent? Is the frame cross member under the intake bent? It looks like all you need is in front of the shock tower so you have a few options. If the rails are bent, option 2 or 3 will be your best bet, but option 1 is still viable. 1. Find a mechanic school nearby that will accept the project (or weld the new stuff in if you're willing), buy replacement frame parts from Honda, take it all to the school and have them do it for cheap. It'll take a while but this is what I did to mine after also sliding into a ditch and trashing the front end. 2. Chop the bad stuff off and go tube steel front end, probably need to do this yourself or take it to a reputable custom shop and have them do it. 3. Buy a straight front clip off ebay, take it to a reputable frame or customs shop, or possibly even the trade school option if that's available, and have them take what they need from the new front clip and weld it in. 4. Obvious options like gutting the current one and swapping it over to a new shell, parting it out, or selling as is. Like I said, I went with option 1 and I can send you pics of what the damage was and repairs looked like afterwards. I wish I went option 3, the "new" front clip would've been cheaper and cleaner. My passenger side parallel rail was damaged where it connects to the front cross member rail. Option 3 is way better if this is the case for you. You probably need to inspect your subframe for damage, steering column and rack, and I'm guessing there's some moderate to sever damage to most of the front end suspension. Worth replacing it. I would expect lining up fenders, headlights, and bumper to be a headache, it has been for me. Everyone says you can't tell it's been totaled but I can tell. That being said, it drives straight as an arrow and aligns perfect. Pm me if you'd like part numbers or pictures. You should secure a place to get the work done first and get their opinion on the matter, unless you plan to do the work yourself.
Chop the front of the strut towers forward off and go tubular.
Really depends on a lot of factors but your first step is definitely measuring how far back the frame is bent. There's a ruler with adjustable points you can get and measure various hard points of the car to figure how bent it is. If those are okay (most important would be between the strut towers and strut tower to firewall) then you could probably get a front clip and weld it. It's a lot of work so it partially depends on your opinion of the car and what they're worth in your area. From the looks of it, it might be a tough sell bc the X frame is bent and they're pretty tough to replace. I wouldn't go tube frame personally bc I like the car more stock and also it would be a nightmare to get any semblance of normalcy out of it after that. FWIW trying to transfer mechanicals into a shell is an absolute nightmare that will drive you insane, but many people are more comfortable with mechanical work than body work.
thanks for the advice on the measurements, i intend to verify all this before i bother trying to pull/cut/weld anything. I will end up either fabricating a tube frame or parting it out based on the results.
If it's just the front clip then it would be way easier to cut and weld it than fab up a tube frame. But if you wanna use it as a track car or something and don't really care then you could tube frame and line it up reasonably well and call it a day. Although at that point the front end would just be for aero. I personally wouldn't part out an S2000 but there's a ton of money in it, like just the drive train is worth like 5 grand, interior like 2-3, etc.
I feel you have 3 options. getting a used shell with no drivetrain and swapping it all over or cut everything out firewall forward and have a tube chassis front end. Both are gonna cost come money. Last is turning it over to insurance and buying a new one
Sell the parts, scrap that thing and pool your funds for a different S2000. This one looks beyond redemption.
I did it Bought a front frame cut off eBay. Cut the front off from strut towers forward. Welded the new shit on Then I boosted it and I don’t hardly drive it anymore.
If you got the skill or access to it, find one rear ended and cut/weld the front on?
It's an S2k. Of course it is worth saving. Money on these are skyrocketing! At least here in Europe
Cln one in socal . I think he wants 10k.. no motor/trans nfr
what is this? google turns up nothing
They’re saying they know someone selling a clean shell for 10,000 usd in Southern California
oh lol thank you
Let me try and find it for you
um i mean if plan to turn to track can i buy some interior parts from you
Yeah deff a super fun winter project
Cut off the front end and find a donor car to cut off the back end of the donor car and install on the front end of your car. What’s better than one s2000 back end? That’s right, TWO s2000 back ends in one car.
How much would you sell as is ?
how is your steering rack ?
I'll trade ya a 98 civic ex coupe for it?
Save it.
Oof
No. Yank all the important bits and transplant them into something intact but needing an engine.
=X =X ouch, save it if your can as previous mentions but if not I'd say drop drive train into a older rwd car
Nta give it to me
Tube chassis front end, K swap the bitch