Salvaged Truck

So, my truck when I purchased it was with a salvaged title. I have not fixed it and have just set it off for some time now. Now, I want to fix it.

The frame of the truck is bent. front passenger side of the truck needs to be repaired. I wish I could show some pictures but cant at the moment.

The bet frame is messing with my alignment.

My question or you reading is:
Where can I get a new frame? What should i pay? Custom new could be better?
Im from Fresno California, is there a reputable shop around me?

 

Take it to a reputable bodyshop that has a frame machine. Ask for a quote for the repairs. With that information, compare it with the price of a new frame. Depending on if your truck is 4x4, extended cab, double cab, short bed or long bed, engine size the price of a new frame will be different. You can order the frame online from several places or you can order it from a dealership. http://parts.camelbacktoyota.com/pa...siteid=214329&vehicleid=78972&diagram=8510133

 

Thanks for your input. Do you know of any other sites for frames?

Buying a new clean frame would undo the fact that it is salvaged correct?

 

I really don't know. That would be a good question for the body shop.

 

Thanks again

 

no. once salvaged, always salvaged. at least here in california it is. also, whether you take the truck to a body shop or try and do it yourself, you have to take it to a body shop. reason being, your cab and/or bed is most likely skewered as well. so you'll have to take it for body pulling anyways. and if you swap it yourself, that's a HELL OF A LOT of work you gotta do transferring everything over to the new frame, AND THEN getting it pulled. may as well just get your current setup pulled and corrected.

wanna find a reputable shop? speak to your insurance company. most companies will only pay body shops for repairs if they have a complete body shop, as in, with a frame puller. you should find some good leads that way. you can also talk to some NAPA auto parts stores that supply paint and find a couple of their reputable body shops that way. just make sure these shops use their entire line of paint and aren't garage painters that come in for a half pint here and a pint there.

 

Good tip for the insurance company thing, I really appreciate the advise.

 

Depending on handy you are with a wrench and what kind of setup you have, I'd bite the bullet and go with a new frame. No matter what you do to a bent frame, it will never be straight like it was from the factory ever again. And those old bends and fractures it has in it now will be weak spots in the event of another collision. That's what I'd do anyway, I never knew the frames were that cheap to be honest. I had heard people saying they cost like 15k or some crazy shit like that..

 

I would like to say that I am pretty handy, I do not have my own shop or anything but, I would really like the idea of me doing something like that. I have time on my side since I would have another truck to use meanwhile the construction of my Tacoma.. Only thing I do not have is an engine hoist. that should not be to hard to get tho.
Getting it done by a perfessional would just be peace at mind and one less headache.

Thank you for your input!

 

I think the trickiest part would be getting the body off the frame without a hoist for it. Either way, it would be a fun project and since you can take your time and do it step by step you will learn a lot doing it.

 

My experience, it's a pain in the ass getting a salvaged title licensed in CA, but this may be because I was from out of state with a salvaged title. If I can save you the headache I'd like to let you know what you might expect.

Not sure if the CHP has to inspect it, I didn't, but I had to get a brake and lamp inspection done by a reputable shop, that's about $100 and if there's any burnt out bulbs or cracks in lenses or your brakes are too far worn thru fail you. I also had to take it to get it weighed on a commercial vehicle scale then pay the licensing fee based on weight. I was advised to keep as much weight off it before I put it on the scale, so I pulled skids, topper, anything from inside and it saved a little money. Also had to get it smogged.

I'd ask the dmv to clarify exactly what you need to do, if you can get a correct answer from those inept dipshits, any amount of time saved there is years on your life

 

First of all right now your going to have to wait till all the trucks getting warranty frames are done!!!

The frame builder can not keep up with demand.As I wanted to buy one.

Depending just how bad yours is it will be a lot quicker to just have it straightened if possible.

Pictures would be a big help.

 

I wish buying a new frame was as easy as buying something off ebay or Amazon..
It doesnt really seem that way for some reason.

 

Check www.car-part.comand find a used frame. .a frame swap is gonna be about 30 hours of labor at mechanic pay. Dunno how much mechanic pay is in your town but here its about 90$ an hour