Anyone know where to get this repaired or how to repair it?

[96explorerxlt2wd]

Last month, I was out in a bad snow storm and hit a pole with my Explorer. The damage is pretty bad but I still want to get it repaired no matter what it costs. I have seen some posts where some of you fellow Explorer owners have done quite a bit to repair your ride and I didn't know if anyone has been in a situation like this and been able to get it fixed or fix it themselves. I will attach pictures and any HELPFUL advice would be appreciated. I don't care to hear that it needs to be scrapped or parted out.

 

[96explorerxlt2wd]

 

[96explorerxlt2wd]

The pictures don't seem to be showing up but here is a link to them: http://s1138.beta.photobucket.com/user/dicknight25/media/2013-01-24001014.jpg.html?sort=3&o=20

 

[FIND]

Just copy the img imbed code photobucket gives you instead of the page url


Man, that's pretty rough... It would be cheaper to replace that. That is a LOT of body to pull out, even if the frame is still straight.

If everything else is straight but that one area... a body shop COULD probably pull that out and make it straight again, but it would cost you... a lot. Then replacement parts? Windshield, door, trim, passenger seat, whatever else inside was damaged... Then there is paint. 2000-3000 could get you a newer 2nd gen, even 4wd or V8 AWD if you wanted.

 

[96explorerxlt2wd]

I'm really not concerned about cost. The frame is bent slightly and some of the shops have said it can be straightened others say it can't. I can do all of the work except for the straightening. Parts are not an issue. We have a junk yard in the area that's pretty cheap and I could get all of the parts except a new rocker for around $300. I did have a shop that said that they thought they could do it all but it would be $10,000 and they were more of a big rig shop so they weren't interested.

 

[swshawaii]

Man, that's pretty rough... It would be cheaper to replace that. That is a LOT of body to pull out, even if the frame is still straight.

If everything else is straight but that one area... a body shop COULD probably pull that out and make it straight again, but it would cost you... a lot. Then replacement parts? Windshield, door, trim, passenger seat, whatever else inside was damaged... Then there is paint. 2000-3000 could get you a newer 2nd gen, even 4wd or V8 AWD if you wanted.

Agree 100%. Either serious "emotional attachment" or this vehicle has extremely high sentimental value. Good luck.

 

[1996BLKBauer]

Besides the bent frame, which should be addressed otherwise you will have alignment issues, you should be able to fix that, it will just take a lot of time, and like you said junk yard parts are cheap, so as long as you have the time you can totally do it. Honestly I would do the exact same thing if it was me, my emotional attachment is too much to let it go.

 

[FIND]

Even if you can do the work of replacing parts like the door and such, re-painting after everything is the right shape, or even replacing the windshield.... Frame straightening and pulling that body out to its original shape are still going to be VERY expensive, no matter where you go.

 

[my98nnj]

The frame damage - roof, piller, lower sill, floor, windshield, door jambs etc.
That's before you factor in the body parts.

Cut your losses and move onto another vehicle, it's done.

 

[Joe Dirt]

The biggest issues are the frame and the lower sill. I wouldn't undertake it, but that's just me... Define "no matter the cost" number? I'm thinking either emotional attachment, or another issue going on...

 

[jjaganashi]

This accident opened "the door of endless opportunity"
I would say pull the frame, chop the top, throw on some tube doors, and build a radical Cage!!!

 

[96explorerxlt2wd]

As I've said for those of you who may have missed this part of my post, I DON'T CARE TO HEAR THAT IT NEEDS TO BE SCRAPPED OR PARTED OUT (or gotten rid of/cut your losses/etc.). I'm asking for advice on HOW to fix it, not what to do with it.

To straighten the frame I have gotten a few quotes around $500. I can't imagine that it will be that terribly expensive for the body then.

Thanks for the support 1996BLKBauer. I have quite an emotional attachment to my Explorer and it's nice to see that I'm not the only one.

 

[FIND]

Well, good luck with it. Like I said before, a body shop can fix it, but it will cost you. I doubt you will be happy when you hear the kind of numbers that body work will entail, but hey, if the truck means that much to you, then by all means. Just warning you, the body is going to be a lot more expensive. To do that lower sill, they will have to cut the rocker off, then pull it out, then weld in a new rocker. The rest of the door jamb will probably pull straight, aside from the top of the a-pillar and the area at the very top of the jamb. That will probably take a bit more surgery, just like the bottom. I guess a guy could just cut it out, and splice in part of another body if they were careful enough and braced everything well.

After that, the door and other replacement parts you sourced for $500, and a windshield is another $250. Frame around $500... I guess you could walk away from this with only having $5000-7000 into it.

 

[1996BLKBauer]

As I've said for those of you who may have missed this part of my post, I DON'T CARE TO HEAR THAT IT NEEDS TO BE SCRAPPED OR PARTED OUT (or gotten rid of/cut your losses/etc.). I'm asking for advice on HOW to fix it, not what to do with it.

To straighten the frame I have gotten a few quotes around $500. I can't imagine that it will be that terribly expensive for the body then.

Thanks for the support 1996BLKBauer. I have quite an emotional attachment to my Explorer and it's nice to see that I'm not the only one.

Just remember that cheap, is not always good, anybody can make the truck seem to be fixed, but not everybody can do it right, so make sure to shop around and possibly ask alignment places. They see the vehicles after accidents and can tell if it has been done right. Good luck, I would like so see updates on this from you.

 

[nugrapeman2]

I know how you feel. When my wife totaled my gold 2000 xlt i was devastated. The insurance game me about $3800. They had also offered $3000 and i could keep the vehicle. My explorer had severe suspension damage, passenger doors. passenger front fender and also the windshield needed to be replaced. I debated about it for a few weeks, But i was able to find a red 99 xlt for $2600 and it was in great shape with no problems. And i haven't looked back.

 

[96explorerxlt2wd]

Just wanted to post an update.

Hopefully it's no later than a few months until my Explorer is fixed. The last few weeks of senior year, I found out that our student/substitute teacher for gym did bodywork on the side with his father. I talked to him about it and he said his father was much more experienced and that I could bring it by sometime to get it looked at. He said that his father had done very involved body work for many years including cutting apart and putting two wrecked cars together to make one good one. He said the body will have to be cut from the dash back to just behind the rear door and about 2-3 feet in and replaced with one from a good body. This includes both the roof and the floor. For that piece, a door, windshield, and the labor he quoted me $1200. He will be straightening the frame and welding the pieces back in place. I will be doing the painting myself to save a little bit of money. A local store quoted me $500-$700 to paint. I'm guessing closer to $700 because it is two tone. While I'm this far into it, I will be doing a few small repairs that I've been wanting to do like replacing the torn headliner (which is moldy now from the month that it sat outside in the rain), and the one valve cover has a hole rusted in it and needs replaced. I think total, it will take around $2000 so I am very glad that I didn't get rid of it as many had suggested.

I will try to get pictures throughout the repair process, but I don't know if this will be possible because I am attending a college 60 miles away so depending on when he does it, it might not work out.

 

[96explorerxlt2wd]

For anybody still following this, I was at the body shop last night and was able to get a picture.

Unfortunately I wasn't able to get pictures throughout the process. The bottom of the door and the fender will be finished sometime this week and the windshield will also be replaced this week. Then it is off to get inspected and aligned next week and will be returning home afterwards. By the time it gets home, I will have about $2000 wrapped up in it. I will post more pictures then.

 

[X~FACTOR]

^that's awesome man. I'm glad you will be able to take it home really soon!

 

[TomCat_Ford]

It definitely looks like it's coming along nicely!

 

[Afboy143]

Wow good for you. Given the value of the truck I would have sold it off and got a new one.