Random Things Happen. Be Safe.

[BlackPanzer]

I wanted to share this with you. It is a picture of a bad day that could have been worse. Today I was driving up Route 50 in Arlington with the flow of traffic, about 50 mph, when a contracting van flipped up a piece of debris in the road in front of me. That piece of debris somersaulted into my FJ60 and I heard the clunk. I thought it was going to be some scratches on the chrome bumper, or maybe nothing at all. It turns out it was much worse.

The first clue was the A/C turned hot. The second was the temperature gauge was rising and rising quickly. When I pulled over I found a broken piece of a road sign sticking out of my grill. It punctured my A/C cooler and radiator, bent the lower valence, and broke the headlight hood. I need to see if there is more damage once I get past the shock my baby was hit. It is being towed home where I will figure out where to take it for repair.

All in all it could have been worse. It could have gone through the windshield. Now comes the fun part (sorry my sarcasm key is stuck on this keyboard), dealing with the insurance company. On the bright side, I'll be driving my FJ40 a lot more.

 

[iptman]

That sucks big time.

 

[Stumpalama]

Yikes! Would have been cheaper if it hit the windshield, as long as it didn't injure anyone. I have the drier and maybe the fin cooler from an FJ62, if they will fit. Also, there are several later 60's being parted out in the classifieds that probably have AC parts and front end parts you seek. If your insurance company will pay you personally based on SOR prices, you could fix it and get some extra goodies with the leftover fundage.

 

[bkfj40]

you should end up ok on it I would think. When my 60 was totaled out, they used parts from M+M and other salvage yards to determine that it was totaled. Not that yours will be totalled (maybe it is if you don't have a stated value policy). If you want to sell it after you buy it back, let me know.

Glad that is the only thing it took out, that would've left quite a mark if it went through the windshield.

 

[Tikicruiser]

Wow! You might have lost your pole position as top seed for the Dewey Beach race too. You were fastest last year and you'll need every bit of the cooling system working tip top on the sand.

 

[BlackPanzer]

I spoke to the claims person on the phone. She said it was "maybe" flagged for total loss. The adjuster will come out later this week or next to make a determination. I have a few options non-of which include totaling it- just cannot bring myself to do that; I will pull the claim before that happens. As you all know a salvage title can remove a lot of value from any vehicle. Plus I'm still attached and not ready to sign it away yet. Here are a few options:

- If the 60 is totaled, ask the adjuster what the "totaled" value is and come under that with my own supplied parts and have the insurance company cut me a check (Stump's suggestion). Apparently, a lot of people/adjustors etc. just do not want to take the extra time to locate the parts. This was a problem my brother had with his 1970 Blazer. There are plenty of parts out there; finding them is the trick. He was able to find all of the parts (almost all OEM GM) and came in $50 under the totaled value. The insurance company cut him a check he made the repairs and a couple of other things. By the way that "value" number is about as fluid as a wave in a hurricane. Everything I've read is you have to fight for it... like go back- way back-- on Ebay and find a median price for similar optioned vehicles. They will low-ball. FJ60s are priced from $10k-14k in good condition right now. I doubt I get that, but then again I'm not totaling it.

- Pull the claim and relay on fellow Club and Cruiser-heads to locate the parts and install the ones I can. The lower valence looks to be the only bodywork that I can tell. I'll have an expert look at it.

- There is a chance that it is under the total loss so a repair shop may be able to repair it. Best case scenario there is a good repair & body shop around here that knows Land Cruisers and has access to parts... OEM parts.

Out of all of these Option #1 sounds best. Please correct me if my information and short-term research is not quite right. Especially if anyone has had a similar experience or been an insurance adjuster.

All this and I was planning to take it out to Ryan's for some work in a couple weeks. Maybe a little more work now?

 

[BlackPanzer]

Oh, and I forgot to mention my rental car replacement for my FJ60 is a Hyundai Santa Fe. It is freakin' replacement AWESOME!!!!

Damn, this stuck sarcasm key...

 

[Stumpalama]

If you need a trailer to get it to ryan's, drop me a line.

 

[bkfj40]

when my 60 was totaled out due to a fire and my 80 totaled out due to one of my interns wrecking it, both times I bought it back (from two different insurance companies) and neither has a salvage title. I would like to check the 80 to see if it even shows up on carfax.

The issue with #1 that you are going to be fighting on...the premium you were paying for insurance was probably based on a lower figure that you would've liked. You liked the low premiums, but now that might bite you in the ass. On my hilux, I asked my agent what the value he was using for it was and he said $2500, because that is what KBB's value was. I bumped it up to $12k on a stated value. My rate went up, but at least I know I'm covered. I did that because on my 80, I was negotiated a $5,000 value after it was totaled. Lesson learned

The buy back is typically 10%-20% of the value of the vehicle.

 

[Blue77FJ40]

Scott Simmons used to work for USAA. If you can located him, he may have some ideas on who to check with re insurance adjuster. Good luck.

 

[OTRAMM]

Scott is out somewhere past me nowadays. I see him at the grocery store every once in a while.

 

[Von Hayek]

Bad day indeed.

 

[Stumpalama]

I have an FJ62 lower valance in great shape, though I don't know if 60 and 62 valances are interchangable but if it wI'll work for you it's only a sixpack

 

[Stumpalama]

EDIT: apparently the FJ62 lower valance is not identical to the 60 valance. Sorry.

 

[Jakes40]

I have a 60 valance grill and headlight surrounds. Everything to do a 60 front convention but my core support is rusted out. I'll post up picks if I can find some. I have the AC drier and the rad but the rad. is in bad shape. I will check on the drier.

 

[BlackPanzer]

Awesome! That valence is just what I need. My core support is okay from what I can tell. I'll PM you for details.

Update to all: Insurance adjuster agreed it is fixable. The parts allowance is a little odd and low-ball for all used parts. The labor for install is also very low. For example: 45 minutes for a radiator removal and install. I'm thinking wow, that is Baja 500 fast! My record, admittedly not the fastest mechanic in the West is 2 hours and that is with all parts laid out and ready to go, with no unforeseen issues, i.e. stuck bolts, broken/missing parts, etc. I like to take my time because of Murphy's Law, "What can go wrong, will go wrong..." I like to add, and when it does take your time to fix it right, otherwise it will be worse."

Happy trails and thanks for the info.

 

[emorth]

I am a firm believer in Schneider's Law. Schneider said Murphy was an optimist.