Hello. I bought a wrecked Mountaineer.

[1998rollover]

I must be crazy...

I just bought a 1998 Mountaineer V8 today. Got it for $900 after all the extra costs and tax etc. at the dealer.

The reason I got it so cheap is because it got... lost... off a tow dolly behind an RV. The worst of the damage is the roof is a bit mashed down in front, but amazingly the sunroof isn't broken though the windshield is. The hatch window and right rear window are broken, left tail light is too. The left fender and right front door are also pretty bad. The only removable body bits totally unscathed are the right fender, grille, headlights and right tail light. Most of it's scrapes and scratches and small dings that'll be easy to fix.

Low miles, runs and drives great! There was a dealer service invoice in it for over $500 work in 2004 where they replaced the bad cruise control switch, the radio (flickering display) and did the driver's seat bolts recall service.

It's green, will most likely get repainted same after all the fixing is done.

 

[BrooklynBay]

Welcome to this forum! Don't forget to post some before & after pictures of it when it's finished.

 

[Toast]

I'd love to see some pictures!

And welcome to the forum!

 

[99ex22]

welcome! I agree with toast, I would also love to see some pictures.

 

[Sams01XplrSprt]

welcome and would love to see before and after pics of it

 

[wood1]

Nothing like buying them broken and fixing them up. Good buy dude.

 

[Dopler174]

Welcome to Explorer Forum! I would like to see the damage from getting...Lost...

 

[1998rollover]

Have a look at my Flickr site for pics. It's been raining since the day after bringing it home so I haven't been able to get started on it. Note how the dealer carefully took these pics so the roof damage doesn't show.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/27748767@N08

 

[Cozmik]

Even with the roof not showing, that looks damn good for a roll over vehicle!! Sweet buy bro!!!

 

[wood1]

Doesn't look bad, rough it out, fire some glass in it and drive it. I really like green exploders... and mountaineers.

 

[Toast]

I love the green too, Dont see to many green cars around to often =D

 

[1998rollover]

When/if the rain stops or I get things moved around to get it inside the shop, I'll post a pic of the roof. It's mashed down far enough that water leaks in around the sunroof- so it's all covered with a big tarp right now.

 

[Toast]

Hopefully the rain will let up.
And how big of a repair job do you think it is going to be?

 

[1998rollover]

I've been parts hunting, found almost everything but a hatch at various yards and even eBay. (Tail lights *everywhere*!) There must be 10 mile long waiting lists at the yards for 1998-2001 hatches.

I have no idea what condition the sliding sunroof stuff is in, beyond the glass not being broken.

If you look carefully at the pics you can see the left roof rack rail is bent downward. The front cross-rail is broke off at both ends. The roof is pushed down on the left side back about halfway, doesn't appear to have pulled the side of the roof inward. I'm thinking of just removing the rack, using the trick I found elsewhere on the forum with setscrews and RTV silicone to seal the holes. No rack, less weight, less drag, = 0.0001 more MPG, right?

Any opinions on substituting Explorer bumpers? I like their chrome 'old school' look VS the Merc's giant plastic one-piece front cover (broken on mine) and painted rear bumper.

 

[1998rollover]

Got the bits yanked out of the interior that were in the way of getting the headliner and sunroof out. Took more pics and posted some to Flickr to show how much the roof is mashed.

If the rain holds off tomorrow I'll have the driver's seat out and the Porto-Power (genuine old USA made Blackhawk 4-ton, not the later Chinese version!) in there to push it back up.

Barring any nasty issues with the roof, this shouldn't take long.

 

[trj360]

Chop and cage!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[damarble]

I've been parts hunting, found almost everything but a hatch at various yards and even eBay. (Tail lights *everywhere*!) There must be 10 mile long waiting lists at the yards for 1998-2001 hatches.

There's a couple 99's in the junkyard here if you feel like an 8 hour drive. I robbed the wiper motor out of the nicest one though lol.

 

[1998rollover]

Where is "here"?

 

[damarble]

Spokane, WA