The insurance company considered my truck to be a total loss at the value of about $3,500. I told them I wanted to keep the truck so they gave me $3160 instead, which is about what it blue books for. I never got an actual quote of an estimate of the entire damage......or any actual paper work other than the check with a piece of paper saying total loss payment property damage 1992 dodge.... and thats it, which seems strange.

What do you guys think, I guess that isn't to bad not counting the time I put into it?

As for the truck I ripped the front off and straighted the end of the frame, the vibration dampener on the engine was cracked where the radiator and support hit it. I don't think it was too hard of a blow though, the crank seems fine. The intercooler is pretty tough, its bent but not broken. Any ideas of how to straighten that without tearing the aluminum? Somehow the hood latch still worked with the hood all smashed up, it would close and latch too.

The truck really isn't to bad, but with the front end off I might as well search for a PS intercooler and build it back right. Only problem is I don't have the time to do that so it will have to sit for a while.

 

Throw up some pics of the damage.. That isn't to bad they only knocked of 350 bucks... Would't bother trying to straightening the intercooler, I'm sure it has a leak now if it is all banged up..

 

Yeah, you oughta be able to fix it up pretty good for $3k. I'm with DNR, it's not worth trying to straighten the IC.

Have you checked end play on the crank?

 

I think it would just be best to do the 7.3 powerstoke I/C upgrade since it will be all apart. There selling for 150 at my local junkyard

 

I'd take the 3K and buy a good southern truck. Then part yours out and keep the good stuff for yourself.

 

Wow, 350.00 for the salvage is low! You did well. I assume no salvage titles there? Here in Commiefornia, you need a Brake and Lamp inspection, then apply for a new Title that reads "SALVAGE VEHICLE" in big letters. Most of my drivers have been salvage vehicles. Without seeing the damage, hard to say whether to fix or part out. I like to fix stuff. My Donor truck was a Total loss. Had the owner retain salvage and bought from him. It was sinfully cheap.

 

I would take teh money... Oart your out. And I mean EVERYTHING. Then find a good deal on a truck and mod the hell out of it!

 

Tater, Go over or call Greenpoint Auto in Brewer and see if they have a PS intercooler. I bought mine there last year for 150 ( same as stated above ) and they said they would stand behind it for like 3 months or there abouts. They can look on there computer system and locate one if they do not have one. I would worry about the crank if it hit hard enough to break the damper. I know you said it kept running after the crash so maybe it did not hit hard enough to hurt it. If your putting in a different cooler then that should make it easier to get sheet metal due to you can get a clip off a gasser. One more bad thing as you know is all the junk yards have just finished a crushing party. All the older stuff is crushed and gone. The only junk yard we had in town crushed EVERYTHING and closed. Totally cleaned out.

 

What has to be done to check that?

After 15 years you dont need a title in Maine anymore, so they didnt do anything.


Now what to do with the money, I am waiting to hear back from a guy with a 92 D250 extended cab auto with no rust for $2000. Hopefully it is as clean as it looks in the picture and that it has A/C, if so then that may be what I do. If I get that then next thing is the transmission, but I think I will save that for a new post.

Here are some pictures of the truck, they are from my phone so they arent that good, I still need to get some up close ones of the frame and motor.

Oh, I checked the KDP thinking that hitting a pole would probably loosen it up. It was still nice and tight but two of the bolts in there were just finger tight and one was out about two turns

 

On the crank I don't know how to check. I just wonder if it shocked it enough to weaken it or even bend a little. If you can get the 92 maybe just go that way and put your tranny and pedals in that one. Save the rest as parts.

 

Taterfarm sorry to hear about your truck. Bad things happen to good trucks. So I guess all the work you did to prepare for a Houston run is kinda down the drain. I've been kinda leary about driving mine lol, 2 or 3 people have wrecked real recently. RichieO is right the the junkyards/salvage yards have gone stupid on the crusher, they are crushing the older good stuff and leaving the stripped out front wheel drive "edit" on the yard. Wish you luck in whatever way you go about fixing it.

 

Set up a dial indicator on the end of the crank and pry back and forth. Should be under 0.012".

 

Thankfully the accident happened a week before spring break, so I hadnt done much work or ordered all the belts and hoses and stuff. If I had wrecked after break then I would have been real ticked, especially if I had the new ball joints in. I had changed the bench seat out for the buckets from the 1 ton, I didn't even get to put 300 miles on the new seats. So now I have less than 3 months to find a vehicle, get it ready for the trip, study for the FE exam, finish my senior project, graduate, move out of my apartment, put all my junk away, and hopefully put in some hours on the farm so I have some cash for the trip.

Sounds good, I will try that out.

 

your a senior too???, is this your first accident? i just got in my first wreck last week, i see we have the same taste in vehicles for high school students that is. just finished my senior project. its a huge stress releaver!!!!

 

He is a senior in college. Engineer I believe.