Totaled!

Dang, bummer. Thank you though!!

 

It would be about the same cost to buy one here and ship it to you.

 

$100 or $400?

 

400

 

My guy usually wants half of what a new one cost. Plus crating and shipping.

 

That's reasonable, but yeah shipping would kill it

 

have you tried LKQ corp?
they have a nationwide inventory (i think) free shipping to the nearest location to you
no pay until part is delivered and inspected by you

 

I just looked for one and there's one in Rancho for me, the street is Dismantle Court

 

I keep watching for a second gen but so far no luck...

 

i actually saw a 2oo9 listed a few months ago, (south O lot iirc) must've been rolled or completely totalled!
it was not listed on the lot for long
i really wish they would post some pics so i know what I am paying the entry fee for if its worth it or not

 

I was not aware of this. We have an LKQ locally, I will look into it.
EDIT: went here: https://www.lkqonline.com/1997-Toyota-Tacoma-Quarter-Panel-Assembly/-hXFFmnKcnKj

Do not see a way to specify the fender apron. There is a selection for the fender liner, but that is the plastic crap that goes under the apron, and I don't want it. Anyone know their system better than I and can advise?

 

call or visit a sales rep, the guy here locally was happy to help me search their database for a part (not found) while i was in their office

one caveat that just came to mind with them though, is you may have to buy more than what you need
i was curious about a bezel for the dash and he said i would have to get the entire dashboard with the bezel in it!

 

www.car-part.com is your friend when looking for recycled parts in your area.

 

Yes, but I haven't had luck finding a 'fender apron'

 

car-part lists the apron as the inner fender. One thing you need to consider is that the apron is considered a structural piece and it needs to be installed correctly to get the fender/grill/headlight to line up correctly. I've been in the insurance and body shop business for a while now and my recommendation would be to take it to a local body shop and have them measure the truck and pull the apron back to where it needs to be. Then see if they can just repair the mount points for the core support so you can weld it in and complete the repair.

 

I'm aware of this, but not about to pay someone to do work I can do.

Additionally- the "fender liner" that car-parts (and most other sites) list... is a piece of plastic, that snaps into the actual steel understructure that is the piece I need.

It is never going back on my truck.

The frame is fine. Everything else is alignment. It's not severe damage.

 

I couldn't find one so I pulled out what I could and left mine in place. Just took these pics. As you can see, even though it's ugly, I still got good alignment on fender to hood and door. Three bolts installed across the top.

If I ever sell the truck, I had planned on letting people know it was wrecked, even though it has a clean title.

I know the paint match is bad. Factory color vs fade. I may paint the rest of that side next Spring...TBD. It is a 24 yr old truck, so...

 

Wsidr, that is pretty inspiring, but I went ahead and bit the bullet and bought the repair panel. $385 shipped to my door. That seemed pretty reasonable, considering some places want 500 for the part alone.
This will be the last piece I need, and once it arrives I will deadline the truck and start cutting apart the damage. I am trying to talk myself out of doing a SAS at the same time.

Also using this opportunity to go ahead and repair the AC system. It's just a bad bearing in the clutch, but since it's got a quarter-million miles on it and I have to open the system anyway (as well as the condensor and acumulator took damage), going ahead and forklifting the entire system.

 

Received the apron panel Wednesday, trying to get through the next week as I have some time to make up at work. I will deadline the vehicle next Saturday, and will start working by floodlights after I get home, drilling out the spot welds and pulling the radiator support panel, left apron, hood, passenger fender (unmarked, but will be in the way), and LF body mount (rad support) plan is to get the new bits all in, select areas held with throughbolts left snug but not tight to allow for adjustment. Test fit, and once it looks good with that, tack everything with the welder. Disassemble, burn in the body mount. Pop a light tack on all of the panels, reassemble for clearance check. That passing, burn in a couple of the tacks fully to lock it all in place. Disassemble one last time, while they are off the vehicle shoot them with smooth green Durabak and reassemble.
I anticipate this taking about a month due to work schedule. I'd starve as a body man.

Also, while this is apart, I will cut the sheetmetal 'crossmember' at the front of the frame and replace with a 2x3(ish) 3/16 rectangular steel tube, and will fabricate a front spring hanger/front hitch plate of 1/4" plate and angle) for a near-future SAS with a FSJ D44. Plan is to run 33s, maybe 35s, depending on how it shakes out. I may forego the Toyo rear axle regearing in favor of another D44 (I'm a big fan of the axle and standardization among my 'fleet', know it well, and stand a fair chance of scoring one with the proper gearing, cheap).

 

are you missing the rubber hood cushion thing or decided not to put it back in?