FZJ80 salvage?

[brucemc777]

I'm up a creek-

Last Thursday my wife was in an accident, ramming the front left quadrant of our 1994 FJZ80 series into a bmw, which in turn was rammed (lightly) into a police car (wasn't it nice to only lightly ram the police car?). Yesterday morning I got the bad news, they are calling our beloved LC a total loss. If I only knew that the news would get worse...

Late afternoon I was informed that since I didn't take the vehicle down to get photographed when we put it on the AAA policy three months ago, two months ago they dropped our collision. They advise the notice of such was a policy declaration that they sent to us (Who the heck reads those things???)(Now I will). btw, damage is front left, somewhat into the wheel well, driver's door won't open all the way without resistance. Main impact ends at roughly center front, but bumper damage, and the only fluid leak I noticed was radiator.

The vehicle now is sitting at a repair facility. I need to take personal belongings out. I figure it must (please, please) have some salvage value, as economics have been especially hard for us for the past decade (screwed by the Michigan economy, which is why we finally moved to Texas a year ago).

Before I just pray that the facility will call a trade for the vehicle vs. towing and storage, I wanted to get your input as to if I have any other options to squeeze an extra dollar out of it. Yesterday in an emergency measure we bought a used Bronco (1992) cheap (and deservedly so), so we are now driving two vehicles on death's door. And speaking of that, I spent most of the night in ER with my wife, for after the LOUSY job done at Cedar Park Hospital ER a week ago, she had increasing chest pain and we chose to take her to another hospital. The difference in treatment was like "night and day".

I have to run and take on a substitute teaching job this morning (they pay subs worse than they pay regular teachers, but at least it is pay), but ALL thoughts are greatly appreciated; God bless you folks for the help you have given me in the past, though I guess I won't be here much longer...

(I am in a rush and had very little sleep last night, most of my time was at the hospital, so if the wording here is not very good, please understand I do not have time to preview and review what I wrote).

 

[Bossman]

Sure it has some value but you are going to have to give a bit more information for anyone to help. What was the general condition before the accident? Miles, upgrades, issues, etc.

Sounds like you folks have had a rough go of it lately. Keep your head up and things will turn. Best of luck to you!

 

[firewalker]

Locked Axles? Even Unlocked the axles are worth some cash. Engine and Tranny in good shape? How many miles. What type of interior? Back hatches were listed for about 400.00 on the classifieds and tailgates were 300.00. Sure theres some money to be had by parting out. You have to be ready to pack and ship to sell to Mud people across the country.

Can it not be repaired? I know you said money is tight but it might be worth bringing home and waiting until you are in a better place financially.

Good Luck with your Cruiser and the Best to your Bride.

 

[Impreza]

Take some pix and throw it on here. You will get a better idea with experience people chiming in.

 

[Mr. Toad]

Why do you have to remove your personal belongings? If you didn't have collision coverage, no one's going to "total it" out. It's yours. Tow it home. Strip off the bumper and fender, and see if frame is straight and if the other stuff like the radiator is fixable. If so, start looking for junkyard spares and fix it.

 

[Grench]

Pictures of it as it is now are more important than before the accident. We'll need to see the front end, the underside, a picture from above with the hood up, etc... The more information the better.

Are you relatively handy? I.e. have you got tools and a knowledge of how to use them?

Exactly where in Texas are you? It may be possible that there is someone on here that lives nearby who can give you a quick idea of what it would take to make it road worthy again. Skip pretty. Pretty costs money. What does it need to go down the road safely? You may be able to get it going again and dump the Bronco for what you have in it.

We know it needs a radiator. Did the radiator crash back into the fan and pulleys or did it stay put and knock off the lower plastic? Lights? Battery? Stock front bumpers on these things are pretty weak. I've straightened one out quite a bit by just looping a recovery strap around it with a rag on the inside edge of the bumper and then pulling backwards against a stout tree - gently.

Get pictures.

Figure out -if- you're going to try to recover it. Find out how much storage is costing you daily. You may be ahead to have the storage place tow it over to your house just to end the billing.

For that matter, someone here may be willing to walk in with the cash to buy it, pay off the storage fees and take it away. This could be much better for you than just surrendering it to the tow company.

When my car spun out the towing company had whipped up $380 in bills for towing and storage in under 24 hours. They charged $150 for labor and rent just to put a tarp over it because it had a busted window.

So, lets see it?

 

[brucemc777]

Dang...

I went to clear it out of personal items and didn't take a camera. What I can say is that they said it needs a new quarter panel and front bumper, radiator and oil cooler, distributor cap (one terminal got cracked from the impact of the radiator moving back and then back forward), headlight, turn signals and I believe a tie rod (Air bags did NOT deploy). The hood was bent, but if it could be "banged out" I would be fine with that for now. The battery, that sits right where the impact was, is fine; the impact was into the rear of a 2002 745i so it went low. I asked them how much would it cost me to just make the vehicle legal and they are going to take a look, guessing from what they saw at about a couple thousand dollars. He said the biggest problem is that you just don't find these parts used, so you have to pay for the limited availability. Made sense to me, but I also got the feeling that when I speak with him tomorrow or Monday the figure will be up from that $2,000. That vehicle is certainly worth more to me than two or three thousand, but I will have to figure out how the heck I can assemble that in good time. I have had times of good income, and then I have had the last ten years. It reminds me of a poster I once saw: Poverty Sucks (To be fair, with my wife's work as a controller at a couple Harley stores here, we are no longer in poverty mode, but there is absolutely no cushion whatsoever - kind of break even. I should be thankful for that, for it used to be worse.).

I am shooting to resolve it Monday as right now I have my hands full with four daughters to look after and my wife in the hospital, but there is a chance she will come home today.

 

[azrider]

Dude, you a need a beer!!,....hell, a sixer to start. Good luck with everything man.

 

[super90]

Most importantly, I hope your wife makes a speedy recovery.

Where in Texas are you? Someone around will most likely be able to help with some local knowledge of good shops to sort things out or good Cruiser owners to assist.

All the best,

R.

 

[brucemc777]

Beer: May I take that I.V.?

Wife: Out of hospital - thank-you for everyone's kind words, thoughts and prayers - enjoying something they called "third layer bruising" and bone bruising, but thankfully no clots in her lungs!!!

Texas: Cedar Park, just northwest of Austin, where the sun shines, and shines, and shines, and...!