What to do with my 1981 BJ42

[lwheat]

What to do with my 1981 BJ42 - bent front frame

Had a little accident the other day with a taxi and bent the front end of my BJ42.

The front frame rails are bent out a bit to the right and the bull bar is a bit bent out of shape.

Assessors wrote it off.

The steering feels a bit off and the frame rails aren't straight any more in the front.

What to do?

1. Find another BJ42 and put the two together. (may take a while to find one)
2. Find an FJ40 and mix/match the frames to put the two together (easier to find, harder to do)
3. Find a semi completed V8 conversion and move my parts over (an interesting project, but not quite what i'm after)

 

[Ambrew]

That sucks. You could repair it by cutting back the frame and weld in some new pieces. Not all that difficult but would require quite some dismantling.

Good luck, hope you keep her away from the wrecking yard!

 

[thetoyotaman]

Why not put it on a frame machine and straighten it out?

 

[77 Mike]

Got any pictures of the taxi?

I like to see how these trucks handle impacts.

Do you think the bull bar helped protect your truck or did it make the frame damage worse?

Thanks and good luck!

 

[lwheat]

Why not put it on a frame machine and straighten it out?

Didn't know such things existed. On the hunt to find one in Victoria Australia. Anyone have any leads?

 

[Michael Hanson]

Doesn't look that bad ,but pics needed of underneath. Mike

 

[coinoperated40]

Unbend it. I've seen (had) a lot worse.
It was brought back to within 1/16 th inch or better.
Shane

 

[thetoyotaman]

Sometimes the insurance adjusters total it out or declare it a total loss because they think its a cheaper payoff than repairs. It's a numbers game more than the state of the vehicle.

My 40 was hit last month and it will go on a frame machine to get checked when I finish dealing with insurance.

 

[lwheat]

How hard is the frame swap? taking BJ42 parts and sticking it on a FJ40 frame? There are a lot for sale around here at the moment.

(if the frame straightening doesn't work out)

 

[cruisernerd]

x2 on finding a frame shop that can straighten in.

 

[Tin basher]

Not shure about Australia but here in Canada most body collision shops
Have a frame machine
Try calling one of the shops in your area
If they don't they should be able to tell you who they use
And it doesn't look that bad