I am in the prosses of examing my newly aquired progect (69 pontiac acadian) I have found that the rear sub frame has been slightly damaged from a rear end impact and has been folded down slightly infront of the rear spring hanger. I measured the subframe distance from the ground at different points and compared it to the non damaged side and they appear to be the same. I had it in for a wheel alignment and it wasn't dog tracking or anything so I"m woundering what you guys opinion on it is should i just ingore it or try to have it fixed. I though about using to steal to brace it just to make sure it doesn't bend anymore how ever I'm a little concerned about getting some flack about welding on the sub frame when safely inspection time comes. Anyway any suggestions would be much apprechiated

If you see a kink in the rail in front of the spring hanger it HAS TO me making a difference in height. I have a feeling you didn't measure all the way around the car. You would have to have a PERFECTLY flat floor. Then you would want to put the car up on jack stands so the height at each jack stand (car to ground) is perfect. THEN and only then can you measure the rear rail on each side and come up with any real results.

First off, if the rail is kinked in the bottom ahead of the spring perch, this would raise the car on that side. The spring perch would have to be bend DOWN to create that kink. That would RAISE that side of the car. So, it is likely raised a half inch on that side, AND the back of the rail could be down a half inch, thus giving you the same measurement as the other un-bent rail. smile.gif or :(

You need bend that rail up and remove the kink BEFORE you were to add any reinforcment, if you wanted to do that. If you repair the frame properly, you don't need to reinforce it, unless it is cracked or something like that.

If you are able to tie the car down somehow to the ground, then jack up the rear of the rail, then with that pressure on the rail, pull out the kink, while "massaging" the high spots of the kink with a flat hammer, you could do it yourself.