Worth Fixing/Part Compatability?

[anumeric]

****EDIT**** I've since pulled the engine from the wrecked Explorer, bought the Explorer with the blow engine, found a shop about 50 miles away to do the swap for $400. Just looking for advice on what I should be replacing during the swap. Don't want to do too little and have issues in a few months, but don't want to be do too much as I'm not planning to drive this much longer (maybe a year/10k miles... maybe).

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I have a 97 V8 Explorer with only about 115k and I recently rear ended a car on the freeway and was only carrying liability at the time. Now I'm in the situation of deciding whether I should try to fix it or just scrap it. I found a non running 97 for $500 (think i could talk him down some) to source parts. Is this a good idea?

What I think I need:
hood and hinges
front bumper
fender (support and splash guard)
radiator and support
grill and headlight housing
right headlight

and my power steering is out... just a hose hopefully?


the engine seemingly runs fine besides overheating due to the radiator and ive had to move it a few times with no problems besides the lack of power steering and the wheel well cover rubbing on my tire.


assuming my frame is fine, what do you guys think? any other parts likely need to be fixed? besides the radiator mount, while there be any welding or can i do this with regular tools?


*edit* sorry about the part compatibility in the title... when i started writing this post i was thinking about sourcing parts from a salvage yard from a 98 explorer but found the non running explorer on craigs while writing.

 

[vroomzoomboom]

do you have any bodywork experience? i mean more then putting filler on, or sanding? if not, your not going want to tackle this project

 

[CDW6212R]

That will require frame work, and some replacement pieces of the front end. The fenders bolt directly to the "frame", the chassis which does not unbolt. The header panel bolts to it directly, and the rest bolts to that.

Price some frame work in your area, and the front clip section.

Here's my 99 front clip, which will be the same as any 95-01 model;

 

[anumeric]

so im a full time student and only work maybe 25-30 hours a week so money is very much an issue. you said price a front clip, but wouldnt i be able to get all that i need from the non-running explorer i spoke of? so all i need to price then is the frame work? also from what i and a more competent buddy of mine could tell, only the fender apron is really mangled and so hopefully thats all that will need to be cut/replaced? i dont mind if my bumper doesnt sit quite right as i dont plan on driving this car much longer.

to minimize cost as much as possible what i currently am hoping to do is pull off as much of pieces that bolt on that i can (and to get a better idea of how much damage there is), purchase/tow the non-running explorer (about 50 miles away) back up here, then take all that to a body shop.... that sound about right?

 

[koda2000]

you might be better off moving parts from your wreck to the non-runner. that looks like some pretty extensive damage to me.

 

[CDW6212R]

If the frame is tweaked, which the door/fender looks like, it needs to be pulled back in alignment. If not done, then none of the bolt on parts will match properly, and maybe the door might not even open.

Remove the fender etc, and then get an estimate for the frame work. Do not cut the frame/chassis, not any of it. The frame work needs as much of the old damaged frame left intact, to pull on. The process rips steel, you don't want them to have to yank on the good part that you leave still on. Don't try to beat it back into shape, let a frame shop(many alignment shops do that) see it first. Let them tell you what it will need, if anything. They might tell you that it's not bad at all etc. But don't begin by cutting off the bend up frame(apron) section, leave it just as it is until they see it.

 

[blueka]

buy the non runner, swap the engine/running gear to it.. drive on

Sell off what you're left with to cover the cost of the non runner... You'll end up with some cash in your pocket.. that's how I built my truck...

Si

 

[anumeric]

Ok, so I bought the non-runner a while back, but kind of put everything on the back burner while I got some other stuff in order. I think I'm ready to do the swap finally, but wanted some advice as to what you guys thought would be a good idea to replace while having my mechanic do the swap. I already have the good motor pulled.

I was just planning on basic stuff (plugs/wires, filters, fluids) as the engine was running pretty strong before (and after when I had to move it short distances to avoid street sweeping tickets) my accident and the person who pulled it out said there didn't seem to be an damage visually. so besides tune up stuff, what else might be a good idea? belts? header and manifold gaskets? rear main seal? ball joints?

i dont see myself keeping the car much longer than another year (maybe 10k miles). does that change recommendations?

 

[bill06447]

That's an easy fix. If I was a student living on mac an cheese and ramen I'd swap parts from a parts vehicle to get a halfway decent runaround vehicle. Might take some hammer work on the radiator support and a 50 count box of washers from Ace hardware. Bumper mount brackets might be bent but doubt the frame was touched; even if it was probably not enough a rattail file on some bolt holes won't cure. We all can't have concours rides in the driveway...

Bill

 

[anumeric]

That's an easy fix. If I was a student living on mac an cheese and ramen I'd swap parts from a parts vehicle to get a halfway decent runaround vehicle. Might take some hammer work on the radiator support and a 50 count box of washers from Ace hardware. Bumper mount brackets might be bent but doubt the frame was touched; even if it was probably not enough a rattail file on some bolt holes won't cure. We all can't have concours rides in the driveway...

Bill

i had 3 different body shops look at it and they all seemed to think the frame damage was extensive enough that they recommended the engine swap and i've already sold off the shell of the wrecked one (pulled engine to swap and tranny to sell). so im really just trying to get an idea of what parts im going to need so i can start pricing and not get ripped off by the installer. as i said above, i dont plan to drive the truck much longer (probably another year @ 10k miles) so just the necessities.

 

[vroomzoomboom]

We all can't have concours rides in the driveway...

concourse is one thing, safe is another....

and no, that is not a easy fix. if you have never done it before, that is far from a easy fix.

 

[anumeric]

maybe i should start a new thread so its less confusing what im trying to get advice on now?

 

[bill06447]

Apologies, I misunderstood the question at hand.

If it ran in the old shell why shouldn't it run equally as well/poorly in the "new" shell? Do plugs/wires while the engine is out, deal with the rest once it's in and running again.

Bill