Copart bent frame replacement

I am truly impressed with OPs work ethic and dedication. This is probably something I'd consider doing as I love working on things and bringing them back better than when I bought them (whether its modifications or saving a car from the junkyard fate).

 

You can't finance a vehicle with a salvage or rebuilt title...and those are two separate things.

 

Very intersting project OP, good luck and welcome to TacomaWorld. Just want to say a good way to make Tacoma friends is posting in your regional sub-forum. Check out the Alabama one here - I'm sure if you provide some beers or BBQ you'd find helpers.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/forums/alabama.275/

 

Nice work!

 

I'm sure you'd like this thread if ya haven’t seen it.

 

nice

 

X2

 

Hey thanks a lot!

 

Your courage is coupled with ingenuity and determination, I am impressed.

 

Update: I just dragged the frame from the back yard. When I got to the front concrete I used my creeper on one end and a $14 furniture dolly on the other and if worked well. I went to harbor freight and bought an electric winch, drilled and put in a drop anchor in the carport to mount (drop ins allow me to remove the I bolt I used and put in regular bolts so it won’t be sticking up). On the way out with the frame I did pull the abs wires out and had to resolder, I broke the vacuum actuator and glued it with JB plastiweld (hope it holds, a new one is $300+). I’m going back to together with it now and everything is going good so far.
Things I’d do differently: If you have room use a picker to keep the motor lifted (I didn’t have room) because I come to find that the jack stands have to be at the very front of the body seem or it’s really easy to tilt forward. You have to hold the body up with jack stands, drop the frame, use the jacks further back on the seems to drop the jack stands in order to put your 2x6 in to hold the body while you slide the frame out. Can’t do it with jack stands on the body because the frame is too wide to get past them. 2nd- I’d get the body higher up. The old frame was more twisted than I though and I ended up having to jack the body up on those planks and the body weight was lop sided. The new one cleared with no problem.
It’ll be a few weeks before anymore updates. I’m about to go to Vegas and need to replenish my funds when I get back to buy the bed box, tailgate, bumper and left rear fender. So far I’m in $23,850 but it’s been fun.

 

Looks like its coming togather. FYI that's not a vacuum actuator, the actuator is electric think the vacuum is to help keep moister out

 

Great job OP. Glad I found this post while you're in process.

Cheers!!

 

little vacuum hose is just a breather. ADD is all electric. it'll be fine if its glued back together

 

That would be great news! Epoxy on those composite pieces almost never hold but it seemed sturdy. I won’t be taking this truck in deep water unless there’s a flood here so it should be fine. Thanks bro!

 

Just found this build/rebuild, I have to admire you taking this on without a lift or other heavy lifting equipment. Reminds me of my younger days when I had more energy than resources. (...now I wish I had the energy... )

Keep up the great work and the updates, excited to see you drive this out of the garage!

 

Ok I got it over to Maaco for the bodywork and paint (paint less dent repair wouldn’t work). They did an excellent job especially for the price but the color tone is a little off. I’m hoping this won’t effect passing the inspection, I can imagine it will. My question is does anyone have any experience in touch up paints like AutomotiveTouchup, Direct Touchup or ERA? I’ll probably wrap it after the inspection but I’d sure like to get that tone closer. The back door had only a little scratch that I told them if it wasn’t too much try to do something with it, I assumed buffing. If it was just the back it wouldn’t be noticeable but those doors are gonna drive me nuts

 

Shouldn't effect inspection, I wouldn't worry about the tone unless it bothers you that much. Only real answer is to repaint the whole thing at once, the different paint areas won't match up perfectly.

 

Honestly doesn't look like a super great job for a body shop. Paint doesn't even seem close based on those first two pics, painted right over the rubber grommets and the rear air vent things, and maybe got paint on the rear window molding (or maybe thats just dust?)

But either way as far as the color goes, if you are going to wrap it does a perfect base color even matter?

 

I would take it back, horrible job, but it was Macco. Can't expect much from them...