Opinions On Fixing Crashed Front End

Hello!
So a couple weeks back I crashed my Tundra into two trees... Insurance Did not total it and Payed me 8 Thousand for damages. I know replacing the front bumper is gonna be easy. But what about the fenders? And I found some stock fenders but is any aftermarket hoods worth the money? I plan on doing most of the work myself except for alignment and fixing the doors. And opinions on paint matching or Getting a Vinyl Wrap?

 

I don't know about your financial situation but if it was me I'd fix it to the OEM spec and sell it immediately. Because insurance was involved accident is documented so you have already take a huge hit on your asset value. More miles will add onto this so I'd just document every step of the fix and put it on sale.

Good luck

 

I Just Bought This Truck for 25 Grand with 60 Thousand miles on it in October of last year. Have only made like 6 Payments towards it. Already placed 20 Thousand miles on the truck. I don’t think selling it is gonna be much of an option. I don’t think they would even give me enough to pay it off. Hoping to make this truck last me awhile, plan on paying it all the way off. I didn’t have any Mechanical Damage except for the tires being towed in. I know these Motors will last 100s of Thousands of miles and that’s why I plan on keeping it for awhile.

 

Good luck. D

 

I would do a 3rd gen front end conversion since you gonna replace parts
new fenders/ hood/front grille/bumper and headlights

 

Good idea!

 

one member just did it himself on his gen2 after an even worst front end collision. looked really nice once done. he got all the parts needed listed in his thread.

 

For panels give check Cirtifit http://www.certifit.com/
When I redid my 89 toy for $410 I got two doors, two fenders, grill, lower valance panel and a tailgate.
I also stumbled across this website https://www.paintedautobodyparts.co...pNwXe_GBm9K60nHfsxHR_rz6W6ZPqhCBoCFDoQAvD_BwE
but have not dealt with them. Good luck

 

Uh, those fenders look pushed back into the doors. If that’s the case you’re going to need someone to straighten the frame.

Let the pros handle this.

If they find more damage they will report it to the insurance company and then the insurance company will have to foot the additional bills.

There’s a guy on here that did his own front end and did the 3rd gen conversion while he was at it. He welded on a new body mount as well.


How did you hit 2 trees!?

 

I am adding the member that just did his front end conversion. @martinjrherrera can please provide some input on your DIY project.

OP here is his tread, You'll get the idea
https://www.tundras.com/threads/totaled-tundra-fix.44150/#post-1139678

 

I'm confused.

The IC gave you 8 grand. For what?

If you owe on it, you have full coverage. 8k seems low to have a shop fix that damage.

Why did the IC not insist on estimates for repairs?

 

I buy all my trucks wrecked and put them back to stock myself.

I would contact a frame shop and ask what they will charge you to bring the core and fender supports back to the correct position. Hanging fenders and hoods is easy once the sub body is straight.

 

yep that's him. clean work

 

I had an identical accident with my ‘07 back in 2010.

Let me clarify a couple of comments I saw above:
1. Just because the fenders got pushed into the doors doesn’t guarantee there is frame damage. The fenders are soft metal and they twist and tweak in this type of collision. Let the body shop measure it and make that determination rather than making assumptions.

2. The Tundra is quite beefy underneath. My body shop said they couldn’t believe be how well the frame and overall structure held up. In my case I rear ended another truck at speed on the freeway and it looked worse than yours.
3. Based upon my own experience, it looks very fixable.

I went with all Toyota OE parts, (and paid extra in some cases), l paid a little more to prep and respray the entire truck, the factory paint is wafer thin.

It been 9 years since it was repaired and I have no regrets keeping it. There are no weird squeaks or rattles. It’s straight, drives perfectly, aligned properly.

It’s a Tundra, it’s very well engineered to take a hit and survive, great job Toyota engineers

 

Put this.

https://www.mcneilracinginc.com/pro...road-fiberglass-piece-one?variant=19016809159

 

2nd Generation dump it get a 3rd generation.

 

@koditten
The Insurance company had me take it to one of There shops that were “in network” and the adjuster went to that shop and talked to the mechanics when he did the estimate. That’s what that shop said they would charge to get it fixed.

I asked the adjuster to just pay me what they would have payed that shop so I could buy parts and do most of the work myself and then so I could take it to a shop and have them do what I couldn’t.

 

Thanks.
As long as you get it fixed properly. You will be all good. Doing the work yourself will allow you to pocket some of that money.

I've been fixing my own vehicles for 25 years. It's fun. I don't ever see myself buying a truck that I don't have to fix.

I'm the worst gambler out there. I buy trucks that I can't drive, hear run or touch and are in a different state.

You can do this.

 

Post up the estimate, let’s see what’s on there. A vehicle has to be torn down before a final estimate can be written, the shop will sublet what is missing. You as an individual will have a hard time doing this. If they gave you 8k all easy there is probably 12-13 k worth of damage. Just my opinion, I’m a bodyshop damage inspector. Side note, just being honest here, when someone comes in for a “cash out” estimate you’re going to be missing stuff.

 

There is no need. My Gen 2, is awesome and has many miles yet to go....it’s looks awesome (my favorite body style by far), runs amazing. That’s all I need.

 

I experienced this first hand. There will be $2-4K more in replacement parts needed before it’s done. The radiator alone is $700-$1000. Plus misc. bits and pieces that are bent or broken.

 

This. 100% this.

In addition you can get multiple estimates. Get estimates out of their network.

 

There “network” means on there (the insurance company)side.

 

What’s happening OP, wondering what you decided

 

Update

Insurance is saying they won’t pay anymore out because they are considering it closed. I’m working right now and after my hitch I’m gonna start working on it. Plan on tearing down and seeing if there is any damage to the sub body. If there is I’ll get it fixed by a shop and go from there. The only noticeable part that was broken was the support for the hood latch already have it sitting at my house for 40$. I settled for the gray paint and plan on getting it wrapped. Me and a buddy will do it ourselves he works for a wrap shop. And we’ll see how it goes from there! I appreciate everyone’s opinions and Thanks for the Ideas!

 

Take your time and gather good used parts in your paint color. Hunt craigslist for tundra partouts, they are out there. Ideally find a hi miles truck in your color for cheap, a totalled rear hit or a flood total. Not having to pay a shop to paint will save you a bunch. Insurance co have negotiated paint rates, as a private looking for a spray you wont get those rates. Do not wrap it. Just be patient and hunt the right color parts. First step is making sure core support and frame are ok. Do not trust the in house shop estimate...your insurance saying its closed and wont pay more is a automatic red flag ..they expect supplemental estimates since no one can see past crumpled body parts. Thats why shops do tear downs...industry standard. Theres a supplemental estmate on your truck, bet on it. You can do the tear down and have the adjustor come to you. Just remove sheetmetal, nothing else and call them to look. No such thing as weve closed your claim, tell them you need a sup. Good luck.

 

Agree with posting the estimate. Theres some sharp helpful people here. Take pics after teardown and post with estimate. I bet theres 2500 in additional sup on that truck, prolly more. Parts price differences alone will be an issue. The quoted lkq prices are always lower than reality...

 

Closed my ass, unless you signed off on it somehow. What about your Lien holder? Bet they will love to know the insurance company will not pay to return there collateral back to its pre crash condition. I have settled one case with an insurance company for a set amount on a repair in all my years, it was my own car. I’m sorry, I get worked up about insurance companies. If this is the whole story, you’re being raked across the coals. Get a good shop to take over and get your truck fixed properly. This is just my opinion as a professional 20 year body shop manager ( well not the whole 20 the first 12 I was a painter).
I’m here and I will help anyway you want.

 

Repair Estimate