Cost to Fix??? Is it worth it??

run away.......I detect a money pit.

 

Just from the pictures what would a body shop do (keep in mind a body shops main priority is to get it done for as cheap as possible to maximize profit, in a reasonable time.)

-Everything on the passenger side looks like a keeper to me keep in mind this is never going to be 100% if the insurance company totaled it out. is the back window rolled down or blown out?
-front and rear bumpers look good, time for a certifit hood. order the cheapest grill you can or one already done by a member on here.
-the headlights look ok but the mounts need a hammer, and they will be way out of alignment. i would put a new driver side front fender on.
-the roof is your big big problem it will need to be cut off at the bottom of the windshield at the midsection of the Bpillar and at the top above the back window. the back glass and mount all look good they look like they took the hit well. i would cut all of this off and source a weld in replacement, you will have to take the truck to a bodyshop and have the door mounts put back into place they will have a machine that can bend them back into shape so that they will close.

Getting the roof and doors, wind shield to ever perfectly line up again so that wind noise is anywhere near stock will be next to impossible. im not sure what your fab and welding skills are like but i hope they are really good welding that sheet is going to be very hard.


If i had the opportunity you do I would break out the 5lbs hammer and go to town on all the sheet i would tear the headliner out and throw it away i would get a new windshield and have it installed with a few hours of a hammer and a few wood blocks you could have that thing looking ok and the doors shut able i would keep working the sheet untill it was the best i could get it then i would take it down and have it rhino lined this will hide a lot of the imperfections in the sheet metal. you would only have about 2500 in this plan and it would be an ok daily driver it would be a mad machine with nothing to lose on the trail.

I would drive it like that in a heartbeat. Its a reliable free truck with a good drivetrain and low miles you cant pass a deal like that.

Forget about the cab swap you have no idea what that will take.

 

If its free I'd take it and part it out or sell it whole to a salvage yard. This is a project you will certainly bury yourself in. Its not as easy as just taking a hammer and whacking everything straight. I grew up in the body business, my fathers going on 35 years owning his own shop. It might sound like a good idea to find parts in the salvage yard, but realistically these are current model trucks, salvers aren't going to let the parts go cheap. And I'm pretty sure your not gonna find a '05 up in your local pick and pull with $10 fenders/etc. Even if you do find a cab, your not getting it cheap, and don't expect it to come with any doors, interior,anything. Its a good truck to get for parts, but if its free I'd make the money off it by selling it. Theres not one panel on that truck that doesn't need work.

 

NOT false.....i personally had full coverage on a salvage title just a couple years ago through state farm.

 

Daily driver...no.

Trail rig...hellz yea!

 

ttt
Anyone else have any info or suggestions? I'm really leaning towards trying to find a cab and swap it....basically restore it as best as possible back to factory appearance....realizing it would be a ton of work.

Any helpful hints on where I could pick up manuals to help me through this route??? Pulling cab, panels, etc., etc.?? I have the time and the desire, but lack a little in the know-how dept. I know I could figure it out getting stuff off.....but getting it back together, especially re-routing electrical, hoses, etc. through the firewall is a little intimidating to look at.

Any help I could get in going this route would be appreciated! I think I've decided to go for it! I just don't see how I couldn't come out ahead.....Even if I drop $10k into it.....i would still be ahead, in my mind.

Thanks to all!!

Oh...BTW, I need an enclosed cab for those cold winter morns out yote hunting.

 

I'm sure someone can post links for you but not me. If I was going to do it I'd take plenty of pics with a cell phone or better a digital camera of each step or move you make. Label wires with tape and a permanent marker where they connect and disconnect. Get a 3 ring note book and keep lots of notes on your dis-assembly, then reverser the process. Work your pics and notes in reverse. Most important post pics of your progress on TW.

 

Regardless whether you fix it up or not, it's free. If you don't fix it. Part it out then junk it. Make some $$$$!

 

i would take engine and trans drivetrain and interior and sell it all i wouldnt bother fixing it id make money by scrapping it out. not worth it to fix.

Perhaps pull engine and trans and swap it into a single cab 2nd gen that would be fun.

 

For those that have followed this thread........How much do you think I could get from parting it all out????

 

I found a site called automotix. I took a brief glance, and I haven't compared to what they are selling on our forums, so you might take these with a grain of salt:

$2,500 on engine
$200 per headlight
$125 alternator
$290 A/C
$170 radiator
$60 MAF
$77 air bag computer
$230 engine computer
$500 front bumper (not sure I believe that)
$380 rear window
$600 rear bumper (undamaged)
$700 tailgate
$175 drive shaft
$1500 rear axle
$175 per fender flare

 

Hey All!
I just thought of a problem...... If I did a cab swap, how would we get it registered?? VIN's in the dash would not be original and would not match any that may be on the frame/body anywhere?? It would, on the outward appearance, possess the new VIN of the cab I chose to swap in....how to we get around that?
Or is this not a problem??? Help!

-Wrangler223

 

OK......SO.......IF I didn't restore it back to original OEM look.....What would you do to it?? I guess what I'm asking for is PICS of builds that my truck could accomodate. These "Half-yota" builds, "trail Rigs", etc.
LOTS of PICS PLease!!!! Thinking this cab swap may be more of a pain than what it's worth......
Would really like to be able to close it in though....for those COLD mornings out hunting.

Post some pics, any and all PLEASE!

Thanks!

 

Before you do anything make sure engine, tranny is in 100% workign order. When trucks roll they tend to run for some time with no oil. It would suck for you to put work just to find out that when you try driving, there is a knock or tranny does not shift to 4th... It happened to plenty trucks that rolled.

 

Not bad profit margin! WRANGLER part out this truck!!!! $$$$$$$

 

Anyone have a link to the "Automatix" website mentioned above?

 

sorry, it was automotix

http://www.automotix.net/

 

TOTALLY doable!! Go for it..keep us posted on the progress.

Talk to a good body shop on getting the front windshield in...then its drivable in my opinion. I see worse that that almost on a daily basis around here on the road now.

 

Thanks guys for all the encouragement!
Forgot to mention....the roof has a hole in it (deepest dented portion in the pics) from when the wrecker rolled it over, it hit his rig somehow(that's what they told us) upon coming back on its wheels. SO....I would have to scab in a new roof somehow. Suggestions there???
Thanks in advance.

 

Are you parting this out? I need a top to the storage compartment under the rear seat