I just bought a 2004 Subaru Impreza WRX sedan. As you can see from the pictures in the link below,

http://66.221.143.247/faisal/wrx.html

the car has sustained frontal damage to the body and frame, but is repairable. The front frame assembly needs to be replaced because it is bent from the front section. The only part that is hit bad is the passenger frame rail, the rail that runs across the car, is bent from the tip. A frame machine will be used to pull it out back to place.

However, a lot of parts where removed from the front. So, I am thinking it is best to buy a complete front clip, minus engine and trans, from another Impreza.

My question is, can I use the parts from a 2002 2.5RS front clip on my 2004 WRX?
I know that the skins will be different, but are parts such as
- The cooling system
• Fan
• Radiator
• Radiator and hood supports
• Cooling pipes
- AC system
o Condenser
o Compressor
o AC lines
- Front Frame assembly
- Bumper reinforcement
- Hood panels

Usable from a 2.5RS to a WRX? What are the parts that will be different.

Also, when the car hit the pole, it broke the cam gears and the timing went off.
Do you think the valves got bent because of the broken cams?
Does the engine shut off when the airbags deploy?

 

Is it too late to say, "never buy a unibody with a damaged frame unless you're scum and plan to cheap-o fix it to make a quick buck off another sucker."?

And judging by your questions (don't even know if the engine is ok or badly damaged) I'd guess you're way in over your head.

 

I purchased the car like this. It was sold by an insurance company. Because of the circular shape of the front frame dent, I am pretty sure it was some kind of pole or tree. I know a very capable mechanics and collision shop that will be working on my car. I have seen him repair extremely damaged cars and they turned out like new. I expect to be paying about $5000 to get the car in good shape. I think that is reasonable as I know my friend payed about $4800 for everything to his lexus sc300, which was in worse condition, and a full paint job!

 

I can say with great confidence it will never be like new.

Quote:

The unibody construction of an Impreza is designed to absorb the force of impact within crush zones with the point of impact sustaining the most deformation, with lesser deformation as it gets closer to the passenger compartment. There can be some minute buckling within other parts of the structure that can weaken it. It may not hold up as well in a subsequent impact, much like a motorcycle helmet that has protected the rider's skull once, but had the lining deformed as the helmet struck the pavement.

You'll have to put your faith in the experience of the repair facility to judge whether the car will be safe on the road.

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0==WW==0
"…axles of evil…" - george w. bush

In addition to the potential safety issue of another collision you will probably run into lots of other little things that will crop up over time depending on how hard the collision was. Fuel line from the tank ok, or perhaps there is a hairline crack somewhere? How about the electrical, tweaked frame could have pinched a wire somewhere... As you pointed out, there may be some engine damage. If you don't fix/replace everything that could have been damaged you might be running around with something with only very minor damage, but could lead to big problems later.

I had a neighbor who buys cars like this (illegally, but that's another story). He fixes them (his brother owned a body shop), and sell them for profit. Apparently he does quite well, but he told me he would NEVER own a wrecked car no matter how well it was fixed. Nothing but problems, and many of them are things that would seem completely unrelated to the damage such as electrical gremlins or odd uneven brake pad wear. I originally asked him if he could get me a Jeep I could fix up for trail rides, not even a daily driver, and he basically talked me out of it. Just too many potential problems that make it cheaper in the long run to just buy an unwrecked one.