X-22

[camaro41701]

I just bought a X-22 car.Matching #'s with POP.The car was wrecked early in its life and the left side of the firewall was bent.It is wrinkled pretty bad around the fender bolts and sunk in at the cowl tag.Fenders,doors,and hood aligns well.It has been pulled on but still looks bad.
I am going to change the upper cowl and outer left cowl panel.What would be the best thing to do with the hidden vin on the upper cowl?Should I take plenty of pictures to verify what has been done and section it back in or just keep the partial vin in the other paperwork for the car.
I know what I can do legally so I am not looking for a big discussion on legalities,just what would be correct as far as what would be the best for the car itself.This is not something I am going to try to hide if I decide to sell it.
Thanks

[Unreal]

I'd save the cowl, even if you have to disassemble the whole thing to have it straightened and reinstalled. I would not remove the cowl tag.

But if you insist, lots and lots of pics are a must. I would not weld the hidden VINs back on the new cowl. I'd save the whole cowl with hidden VINs and TT.

But again, I'd straighten the original cowl!!!

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

[ QUOTE ]
I'd save the cowl, even if you have to disassemble the whole thing to have it straightened and reinstalled. I would not remove the cowl tag. ....

But again, I'd straighten the original cowl!!!

[/ QUOTE ]

Ditto. It's more work to remove, straighten, and reinstall - but it will be the original cowl, no explanations necessary regarding a replacement.... yada yada. Take lots of pics of the removal, straightening & reinstallation.

[camaro41701]

I will try to post some pics as soon as I get the car apart.It is wrinkled pretty bad on the drivers side.If someone else had not been messing with it before I got it it would have made things a lot easier.
As far as being easier I can change the panel a lot quicker.I do this for a living.If it had been any other car I would not have second thoughts.I would just replace.
Thanks

[Unreal]

Oh, I misread your post...if you want quick and easy, replace it or fill it with bondo, and paint over it.

Just my opinion, but if your interest is preserving the integrity of the numbers, I'd straighten the original without removing the VIN tag or trim tag.

If that's not in the cards, I would save the entire cowl. If you section in the hidden VINs, the car will always be suspect as possible rebody.

[camaro41701]

I am not wanting Quick and easy.I am just wanting it to look good when finished,and not being critisized for changing parts.The person that fixed it last done more damage than good.After I get the fender off I can tell more about it.
I am normally not a #'s guy anyway.But,all the #'s are right on this car so I was thinking of putting it back.If it is going to turn out to being slammed every time I am out in it I wil just go ahead and build it the way I like,mini tub,4-bar,and 5-speed.
Thanks

[Unreal]

You are the one who made the point about being able to change the cowl quicker, not me. No one is trying to slam you here, but you asked a question, and got an answer.

When you cruise, you probably would not get slammed....very few folks check hidden VINs at the local drive-in. The advice was aimed at helping you preserve the value of a numbers car in the event you went to sell it, which if I read your post correctly was your premise.

Just my opinion, but if you want a pro street, you would be money ahead to sell the x22 as is (or restore it properly and sell it) then take the money and buy a nice rust free, crash free body (plain jane or NOM) and tub & 4-bar it.

In the end, it's your car to do with as you wish. Good luck with whichever approach you choose.

[camaro41701]

I was not saying you were slamming me.I really do appreciate your comments and most others on here.If not I would not ask.It is hard to know exactly what someone is saying on here without a tone of voice. I have just seen so many misrepresented cars out there and I was trying to figure out a way to fix this car without someone thinking I was trying to screw them if I did decide to sell.Which is not my intentions right now.I have been to quite a few shows and someone would be putting someones car down without even knowing why it is the way it is.
The car is really messed up about 18 inches over on the drivers side.Someone cut big gashes in the upper cowl section to get access for prying from what I can tell.They also cut the braces out in the upper cowl right where the wiper transmission goes.Seems like they are 3 or 4 braces.They have everything lined up real well.Theres not any more shims under the fender than you would expect.But, they did trash the upper cowl.I done a lot of measuring on this car before buying and everything seems to be ok.