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vwcorvette (Forum Supporter)
vwcorvette (Forum Supporter) GRM+ Memberand UberDork
10/28/22 7:22 p.m.

Long story short, the rear bumper and cover ripped out of the back of my wife's Smart Fortwo yesterday while pulling it up the driveway with my car. The car rolled down the driveway, across the road, and down an embankment. Needless to say I was not amused. It still runs strong, shifts great, and is a fun little runabout. Thankfully it was replaced with the BMW i3 a year ago. Now what do I do with it? I've thought about putting the drivetrain in an old Italian car like an Autobianchina (?) 

Stampie
Stampie GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
10/28/22 7:42 p.m.

In reply to vwcorvette (Forum Supporter) :

I've been looking for a cheap Smart chassis for a stupid Challenge build.  Just saying ... let's hook up.  Don't have to tell your wife.

Stampie
Stampie GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
10/28/22 7:42 p.m.

Also very glad one one was hurt.

vwcorvette (Forum Supporter)
vwcorvette (Forum Supporter) GRM+ Memberand UberDork
10/28/22 8:05 p.m.
Stampie said:

Also very glad one one was hurt.

Me too. Thankfully no one was driving up the road when the bumper shredded itself!

Stampie
Stampie GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
10/28/22 8:11 p.m.

In reply to vwcorvette (Forum Supporter) :

I can only imagine E36 M3ting my self as I quickly looked up and down the road.  Closest I've come was learning that a car in park doesn't hold it once you remove the driveshaft.  Lucky for us it didn't get to the steeper downhill part of the driveway before we stopped it.  Lil Stampie might think I'm anal about chocking but it's now a very real habit.

Slippery
Slippery GRM+ Memberand PowerDork
10/28/22 8:13 p.m.

That sucks but glad no one was hurt. 

Usually bumpers work better in compression than tension :6

vwcorvette (Forum Supporter)
vwcorvette (Forum Supporter) GRM+ Memberand UberDork
10/28/22 10:49 p.m.

In reply to Slippery :

Thing is, I was using the tow hook in its anchor point to the tow hook on my Mazda 2. Supposedly the sturdiest part. 

Streetwiseguy
Streetwiseguy MegaDork
10/28/22 11:42 p.m.

I believe the term is "Structurally unsound."

Gotta love the tinworm. 

dean1484
dean1484 GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
10/29/22 7:19 a.m.

This with out context was a "wait what???" moment.  Made me chuckle.  
 

let's hook up.  Don't have to tell your wife.

 

preach (dudeist priest)
preach (dudeist priest) GRM+ Memberand SuperDork
10/29/22 7:22 a.m.
Stampie said:

In reply to vwcorvette (Forum Supporter) :

I've been looking for a cheap Smart chassis for a stupid Challenge build.  Just saying ... let's hook up.  Don't have to tell your wife.

With no disrespect intended, you sir are as a trash can to leftovers. Omnomnom.

1988RedT2
1988RedT2 MegaDork
10/29/22 10:47 a.m.

Coulda been worse.

vwcorvette (Forum Supporter)
vwcorvette (Forum Supporter) GRM+ Memberand UberDork
10/29/22 3:18 p.m.

Do you think a person could adapt the drivetrain to a Vee chassis or other small chassis? Note: DeDion tube suspension, servo operated manual 5speed, 3 cyl 1.0L. 70 hp. Curb weight of a smart is 1800 lbs.

vwcorvette (Forum Supporter)
vwcorvette (Forum Supporter) GRM+ Memberand UberDork
10/29/22 3:20 p.m.

In reply to dean1484 :

But it's her car and the paperwork's in her name!

Maybe I'll make a speedster out of it?? Shhhh, don't tell her.

Stampie
Stampie GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
10/30/22 11:39 a.m.

Wow just looked at rear engine Fiats and they're expensive. How about an 850?

eBay 850

vwcorvette (Forum Supporter)
vwcorvette (Forum Supporter) GRM+ Memberand UberDork
11/4/22 5:42 p.m.

So I broke my pinky toe a week ago. Now that the pain is manageable I decided to diagnose the no start situation. Jacked it up, pulled the plastic cover off the solenoid, and found A LOT of rust and corrosion. Tried jumping the B+ to the start terminal. Mild sparking but no bueno.

While unbolting the battery positive from the solenoid so I could remove the starter the eyelet on the end of the cable disintegrated and the wire connector/spade terminal from the key lead came apart. 

Decided to just lie there under the car and ponder my options while looking around at what I could see of the undercarriage. (Come on, you've all done it!) Rust everywhere. The DeDion tube welds, the chassis reinforcement connectors, the brake lines, the rear subframe, and on.

Feeling defeated I packed away the tools, let the car down off the jackstands, and came inside to ponder. Oh yeah, and to ask y'all what you would do at this point. Part it out? Need time and space and the capacity to pack and ship stuff. Time's the tough one. It will be getting cold soon, I coach two activities, and I work additionally for my wife beyond my regular full time job.

I have two sets of rims and tires. It's got good interior, good exterior lighting, the exhaust (one piece) is decent if not perfect (had to weld in a replacement flex section), and the engine and trans run great.

Thoughts?

Dusterbd13-michael
Dusterbd13-michael MegaDork
11/4/22 5:53 p.m.

See what the high value parts are, sell them, scrap the rest.

Or, list it on Facebook marketplace as a part out, letting others name their price and remove their parts.

Either way, make it go away.

 

 

Sonic
Sonic UberDork
11/4/22 6:11 p.m.

Wow, that frame rail rot.  Damn. 

Mr_Asa
Mr_Asa UltimaDork
11/4/22 6:22 p.m.

In reply to vwcorvette (Forum Supporter) :

1) Sell to Stampie
2) .....
3) Profit

vwcorvette (Forum Supporter)
vwcorvette (Forum Supporter) GRM+ Memberand UberDork
11/4/22 6:50 p.m.
Mr_Asa said:

In reply to vwcorvette (Forum Supporter) :

1) Sell to Stampie
2) .....
3) Profit

laugh

Stampie
Stampie GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
11/4/22 6:53 p.m.
vwcorvette (Forum Supporter) said:
Mr_Asa said:

In reply to vwcorvette (Forum Supporter) :

1) Sell to Stampie
2) .....
3) Profit

laugh

I mean this is what I want.  It's aluminum right?

Stampie
Stampie GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
11/4/22 6:55 p.m.

Apparently it's "Tridion steel hemispherical safety-cell".  Whatever that means.

grover
grover GRM+ Memberand Dork
11/4/22 7:39 p.m.

Sell to stampie

-we all get to watch his rust frustration with this AND the queens auto. 

vwcorvette (Forum Supporter)
vwcorvette (Forum Supporter) GRM+ Memberand UberDork
11/4/22 11:38 p.m.

In reply to Stampie :

My understanding is high strength steel.

dculberson
dculberson MegaDork
11/5/22 12:42 a.m.
Stampie said:

Apparently it's "Tridion steel hemispherical safety-cell".  Whatever that means.

Marketing speak. Smart made up Tridion as far as I know to refer to the shape of the safety cell. 

clshore
clshore Reader
11/5/22 11:13 a.m.

deleted

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