Tree fell onto my FJ60. Worth parting it out?...

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fil1983

fil1983

10 Year 15 Year
Joined
Feb 27, 2009
Threads
16
Messages
61
Location
Sausalito, CA
I sunk some money into this thing thinking I would have it for decades. I started with all mechanical fixes/upgrade. All new suspension and engine rebuild along with anything else that needed work along the way. I was saving body and cosmetics for last but then this happened and besides the fender being smashed which I guess isn't that big of a deal to replace, the roof is caved in and I don't think thats a worthwhile fix. What might my truck be worth? I have less than 1k miles on the engine rebuild and not many more on the suspension. All steering components have been replaced or rebuilt as well. Is there even a market for smashed FJs with great mechanical?

This happened in Hollywood. Its a city tree but unless the city knew that tree was dead and needed to go, I got nothing to go after them for so it is what it is. My insurance won't cover this either.

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1st - sorry for your loss, man. Really - know that had to hurt and really, really sorry.

2nd - speak to an attorney. While what you stated about the city's knowledge of the tree may be correct, I'd want to know if they are supposed to inspect the trees (e.g., alongside roadways, that have potential to cause property damage and/or harm/death)?

3rd - huge pool of ppl looking for quality pieces. Parting your rig out won't be the problem; getting what you put into the mechanical repairs/upgrades will. But - the pool of resources is dwindling and 10x's that for excellent grade used parts.

Good luck and hope it all works out for you. . .

Shane
 
Uggggh, sorry man. I'm struggling with getting my heap up and running, can't imagine the heartache of doing all that work and then this....

The pics don't look as bad as I was imagining. I wonder if an auto-body student with a dent puller could do a half ass job of working on your roof. Won't be a purist restoration candidate, but damn...it's still a bad ass rig. A little more character...

If you do decide to break it down and part it out send me a pm. I'm facing an engine rebuild or swap at the moment and might be in the market for a quality block.

All selfishness aside though, I hope it works out. That sucks.
 
get another body and put it on the frame, if frame/powertrain are still good
 
Bummer...
But, 'tis but a scratch... in the bigger scopes of things. You've gotta keep it!
As stated, the bodywork / cosmetics was deferred in lieu of drivetrain. Now the exterior is due. X2 on thecity's responsibility if it was diseased, maybe suggest they pay for replacement fender and bodyshop time to RnR, and studgun / slidehammer that roof gutter?
 
If it was mine I would patch it up and keep driving, just added a little bit of character, and now you have no reservations about wheeling it...wheel it hard for a while and then if you want.to.fix it.up and make.it.pretty it's all repairable.....no way I would part that truck out....
 
Yes, unless there is some damage not show on those photos I say it is very fixable.
I dont see any big damage to the A-pillar for instance.
And a flat roof like a 60 can be corrected, just might need cutting and welding to make it perfect looking.

But if there is no hidden damage that you have not shown I would surely attempt a repair, sure might not look perfect, but I actually believe that can be done by people that know how.
But I dont see the need to part it out, or is the frame bend or something like that?
 
Where is the truck now?

Los Angeles City always says it won't cover 'Acts of God' ... That's usually B.S. but anyway it means you'd have to sue the City and that's certainly not worth the time or expense.

One option is to file in Small Claims and ask for the maximum and claim the City 'should' have known the tree was dead if the appropriate agency had done their due diligence and noticed the tree was obviously dead. If you know the prop owner they could say they had called the city to warn of the dead tree...

On another note, I have a parts 60 in my driveway (I'm in the SFV, a hop from H'wood), and would let the body go cheap cuz I want it out of my driveway. Not a spec of rust, but a scrape here 'n there on the body. It's a '87.

Lemme know if interested.

Also, if you're not interested in my body (that just don't sound right o_O), I might be interested in buying your rig as is. PM me and I'll shoot you my phone #

FWIW, not uncommon for LA City trees to fall with the drought and very very poor (i.e. none) maintenance from the city.
 
Keep the truck.. Go through the process to see what kind of money you can recover. Only at that time can you make
an informed decision. Emotions are high right now, accidents do that.
Spike has a body available, so make a response. As you go through the process, you might be able to say: Hey, I have
found a body, and this is the cost to replace/repair. That is a bargaining chip and the second place to start.
Don't give up, every truck on here has some kind of personal bummer attached to it. I know mine does.
Don't quit quite so fast. That is a nice truck as is. If it is drivable, then drive it. My .02, IMHO

PS Get a longer roof rack next time! ;)
 
Tree fell on mine in 2004. Still driving it!

Get a stud welder and slide hammer, pull the roof sent out, and get a used fender. The glass is all fine even!

Keep cruising.
 
Bummer but no total loss, my roof had some small cave down damage in the rear middle and I smashed it out from inside without removing the head liner, and primer it where the paint is damaged near the gutter.

Roofrack a bit forward and forget about it, gutter is not damaged.

Front window top just see if it leaks at the seal or needs some work or sealant.

The fender can be replaced later because you have years to go with this car so buy a rear locker to prove it :cheers:
 
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Wow, what rotten luck. Sorry.

It looks fixable; no broken glass, no water damage, doors still shut and latch. If you want to drive something nicer, sell it as is and find another project.
 
If the doors open/close OK I'd try to fix it. If the headliner is bad/damaged/missing I'd try to push it up from the inside. The dent above the windshield doesn't look bad but water could puddle in it and leak inside.
 
Drive it. Now you don't have to worry about it. If you want a nice fj60 but another one. Mechanically sound beaters are the best cars to have as there is no pressure to make sure they are pretty.
 
Easily fixable. It did not even pop the windshield out! Just a mere flesh wound!

Dyno
 
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