NEED ADVICE! frame damage.. 98 xtra cab

Im going to apologize in advance, i know im not in a famous mood right now and havent been for a little while now.

My truck is a 1998 xtra cab, 2RZFE auto, 2wd (non pre-runner) with 250 000km
I purchased the truck last summer with the intention of keeping it for atleast a few years...making it more of a street truck.

Heres what happened:
During a crazy winter storm, on my way home for lunch driving about 30km/h a crazy gust of wind literally blew me into the median. There was about a foot of snow with crazy gusts of wind that day. The median/sidewalk was about a foot high, i came sooo damn close to hitting the pole on top of the median.... my mirror closed all the way. On this boulevard, there was a spot to do a u-turn. The wind blew me against the side of the median (no damage just rubbed a bit) and then i hit the median dead on because of the cut out section for the u-turn.
I called my roommate (tow truck driver) he came to the rescue right away and we dropped off my truck at my local garage.
At first glanced it didnt seem that bad, i blew out both tires and broke both wheels on driver side.

-So basically i jumped a high curb going about 30 km/h
-I have "one way insurance" so no help from them
-Garage told me i needed to get the parts listed below
-I went to a scrap-yard to get what parts i needed : Upper control arm, lower control arm, spindle/hub, sway bar, shock, tie rod end. Purchased brand new link kits all in all about 450$ of parts some used and some new
-Garage calls me to deliver the bad news, the frame is bent in/up 2 inches on the driver side nothing lines up...
-Usually costs 1000$ to straighten frame, my father knows the owner of the company that has and manufactures there mobile frame straightening machines. So i get a special price of 650$ for the frame job.
-So far, 450$ of parts 1000$ for frame job and labour to reassemble everything. I borrowed some 15" steelies with winter tires on em. I got the truck aligned yesterday 70$. TOTAL :1520$ ROUGHLY

So the truck is back on the road and drivable.
The frame is alot straighter than it was...
but its not 100%... on the damaged side i have 4 finger wheel gap, on the passenger side i have 5 finger wheel gap. steering wheel is a bit loose..

Im stuck with the truck...im not done paying for it. Im hesitant to do a frame swap and replace anything else needed (new suspension all-around, new steering components...etc) or just drive it "as is" till it dies..

Here are my questions. Thanks for reading so far and any advice would be greatly appreciated.

1) Is it worth doing a frame swap?
2) What frames would/could fit?
3) At a garage, roughly how much would they charge to do a frame swap?
4) Buy a cheap tacoma for the frame and parts?
5) If i could find a frame in good condition at a scrap yard for a decent price would it be worth it to swap?
6) Should i just sell the truck as is and maybe take a little loss?

Id feel weird about putting in more money into this truck knowing that the frame isnt 100%. If the frame was "perfect" i wouldnt feel bad at all about more money into it... thats my dilema

thanks guys

 

this is an interesting thread that got me thinking about the frame swap...

 

I think if it drives fine, you should keep it as is. My truck has never been in an accident, ant it's lower on the drivers side vs passenger side, "taco lean". You're steering is a little shaky, you said you borrowed some wheels with winter tires, that could be contributing to your steering problem. If they straightened your frame, they probably got it back to stock specs, they usually use a type of laser measurement to get it to spec. Also, your steering rack could have been bent, you just replaced the tie rod end. You might still need to do a couple things to get it back to normal. I think you're close to getting it right, if it alligned within spec, I don't think it's frame related.
Way to much work to switch frames, don't even think about that unless you love your truck more than you love a month of your free time, or you know someone that works for free, plus probably totally unnecessary.

 

thx Nickel

the truck does drive fine. they did a good job balancing tire/wheel and aligning the wheels. Lets just say the steering went from being 10/10 to like 8/10, Its still as peppy as it was... feels the same. It just doesnt sit exactly like it did. i dont think the steering rack is bent. the frame guy did use lasers and everything.. the truck drives straight but its clearly leaning

The more time goes on i think ill just finish paying my loan asap, not put in too much money into it and get something newer later on..
im just really bummed out knowing my ride isnt mint like it was when i got it i was lucku cuz it could have been alot worse..

i have a few buddies that are mechanics and could give a helping hand for a good price. my roommate is a tow truck driver...
i could do some of the the tear-down myself, and tow it to the garage where id rent a lift for 100$ a day. id either buy a cheap used tacoma or a scrap one ...