Dear-strike damage help

[Sharkbite86]

I hit a dear a week ago driving home in my 1990 gen 2 and, obviously, there was damage. I am able to fix most of it myself but it looks like some of the framing got tweaked. Most of the damage was centered around the left-side headlight and the part of the body where the hood and the headlights merge (whatever it's called). Anyway, I was not able to open the hood until today and it looks like there was more damage than I thought. Some of the framing, just behind the left headlight, got pushed back. My question is, how hard is it to replace this part? It looks to me like its all part of the frame, but my neighbor thinks it can just bolt off somewhere, but I cant see where. Any thoughts? i can post some pics if needed.

[Sharkbite86]

Ok here are some pics:




Circled is where something is bent. The right headlight (left side from pic) I am not worried about, just the side where there are 3 circles.

[ThomasToTots]

Hey neighbor! Your just down the road from me! ( Live off the 101 near 156) any chance of me meeting up with you and taking some pics for my reference in the reassembly of my Camry?

[Sharkbite86]

Well at this point I think I might just hammer out the dents. I was hoping for a better option. It looks like it's too much of a pain to take it out and replace it. If anyone still has any ideas however...

ThomasToTots When I get everything fixed up I would be glad to help you out with your gen 2.

[es250nut]

I hit a deer about a month ago, fortunately the damage to my car was minimal. (Tuft of deer hair stuck between the sidewall of the tire and the wheel)

I don't think you should have any problem massaging that radiator/headlight support framework back into shape. To replace it you would have to break the spot welds holding it to the inner frame walls and weld a replacement in.

[Sharkbite86]

Originally Posted by es250nut

I hit a deer about a month ago, fortunately the damage to my car was minimal. (Tuft of deer hair stuck between the sidewall of the tire and the wheel)

I don't think you should have any problem massaging that radiator/headlight support framework back into shape. To replace it you would have to break the spot welds holding it to the inner frame walls and weld a replacement in.

Yeah thats what I was thinking. This weekend I will break out the hammer and have at it haha . I will let you guys know when everything is fixed up.

[jaduncan]

Tree, Chain, crossbar behind the headlight socket, put in reverse and slowly pull till it's back out to where it belongs. then massage dents out.


Good luck


Allen