Saving a BJ73: repair difficulty.

[Lachie]

Hi Everybody,
My first post here, though Ive been checking out the site a bunch lately as I was hunting down my first car and eventually went with a 1985 BJ73.
Found one in great condition, single owner, beautiful paint job , running nicely etc.
Then 5 days later someone drives into it while it was parked on my street early on a Sunday morning...
Luckily I had comprehensive insurance so I'm well covered. However, I get word from my insurers today that its gonna cost too much to repair and they want to write it off. Im pretty disappointed as I really thought it wouldn't be too much.
Basically it needs:
Rear Suspension replaced
Rear Axle replaced
1 Rear Wheel replaced
Front left panel beating/paint work
1 damaged rubber flare replaced

+maybe other stuff Im not aware of, I hav not received the itemized list yet.
So this all gets quoted for around 8500 to fix. More than I had bought it for/insured it for.

I could take (most of) my money and run, they deduct a bit so I would basically have lost almost $2000 for owning a car for 5 days.

Or, buy it as a 'wreck' from the insurer and fix it myself...
Id be left with around $4000 to do this. Im just wondering if its doable and how easy the axle/suspension work is going to be for someone with honestly little experience but a couple of friends with moderate automotive experience?

I would get the body/paint done by a shop and buy/replace the flares myself, they quoted $800 for one flare?!

Thanks a lot in advance, wish my first post was anything but this!

Lachlan

 

[rick_d]

Without photos it is impossible to call if it can be done within the budget. If the rear axle needs to be replaced and the hit taken in the rear body there are significant issues structurally with frame and body tub which may not be able to be overcome.

It looks like a buy back would cost you $4,500 which in north america is a deal killer for a truck with a bent body tub and tweaked frame.

I'd move on.

 

[cicak]

pics it sounds very bad sure chassis ok?

 

[Hulsty]

Pics, if the chassis is ok and its not on the written off vehicle register the repairs would be easy and cheap with used parts if your can do it yourself, the panel beating if you want looking perfect get some one to do it. Replacing the rear suspension and diff is pretty easy if you have some mates who have basic mechanical skills. Diffs pop up on ebay from time to time for around $100 complete, suspension (used) around $200ish with bushes bolts etc, new around 1K

 

[roscoFJ73]

I would get the body/paint done by a shop and buy/replace the flares myself, they quoted $800 for one flare?!

You can get australian made fibreglass flares from a company callled FRP in NSW for about $100 ea.They look very similar to the toyota type according to what I have read.

I suspect you could fix it yourself much cheaper that what they have quoted

 

[Lachie]

Well if $4500 is a bargain for a damaged BJ73 $1250 is more so.
Ive let this one go, taken the money and ran.
The RTA here in NSW has told me that I probably would not be able to register the vehicle again. There is a stipulation with re-registering a written off vehicle that you need to have owned it for 28 days prior to it being written off, seeing as though I owned it for 5 I don't count...
Total waste of a good car but if anyone is after one for parts the NRMA will be auctioning the wreck sometime.
Lesson learned, insure your car for more than you paid for.

The search for a decent BJ73 resumes. Thanks guys!

 

[JuanJ]

Hello,

What about buying the wrecked 73 from the insurer for parts?

Just saying.





Juan

 

[Lachie]

Hey Juan,
Yeah I thought about that too. Its a good deal for a whole parts vehicle but I lack the space for such a thing unfortunately.
Plus Im not sure a constant reminder of my shattered dreams is a good thing...!
But hey, I encourage any Australian Ih8mudders to get out to Milperra where I think the NRMA sells off their needlessly wrecked vehicles.
Lachie