Could this truck cab be fixed?

[BlackdogGS]

I would have attempted this a few years ago but I don’t have the tools or resources now. This is my neighbors truck, he wants $1,000 for it but I could probably get it for $500. I think it’s a 1999. 4.0, 4X4, auto, air, 150,000 miles. I could source a bed side, door and fender no problem but the cab is the real problem. Can it be fixed?

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[Bigblue&Goldie]

It's not worth fixing. Cheaper to replace. You'd be better off not buying it and buying one that isn't smashed up.

 

[BlackdogGS]

It's not worth fixing. Cheaper to replace. You'd be better off not buying it and buying one that isn't smashed up.

Yes, I’m slowly talking myself out of it.

This is a truck project I did a few years ago. I bought a roll over (woman died in it) 1997 truck for $500. It had extremely low miles like 40,000. I bought another truck with a blown motor but a good body and put its body on the 4X4 frame. This was a tremendous amount of work but it was an awesome rig. I had $6,000 into it when I sold it but I got my money back (not including my labor of course).

 

[rsanter]

Yes it can be fixed.
Spot puller and a ton of,time

Not sure it’s worth the effort verses the value

 

[Jazz1]

I’d fix that. Cost nothing but your time. Getting door squared up might be a challenge without a puller. Depends on how you expect end product. Driver or show and shine

 

[countryroad82]

As old as that truck is, I wouldn’t bother fixing it. Pay $500 for it and just use it as a beater until it dies a glorious death. But that’s just me as a paint and body guy who hates working on his own stuff.

 

[vavet]

Is there a story here?
What happened to the truck to bend it like that?

 

[joe_padavano]

Can it be fixed? Yes.

Can it be fixed cost-effectively? Unlikely.

 

[BarryWells]

$500.
Got any tech schools nearby ? Any bodyman worth a damn(tech schools teacher) can have that cab/door pretty straight and in primer in 2 days.It's not much work really.
Shoot it with a gallon of Rustoleum gray or white.Put a flatbed on the thing. Nice little utility truck for hauling motors, firewood,atc/bikes, sacks of rock and gardening **** so as not to mess up the yuppie rig.
The tech schools generally asks for materials and a "small donation" towards grinders,cords, air compressor maintenance/hoses and **** like all of us do. .

 

[KBigg]

If your set of fixing the existing cab, you could cut out all the damage and weld in a replacement from a donor cab. Personally id just get rid of the scratches on the glass and drive it until it dies for the price. With those miles youll probably be able to get at least a couple good years out of it.

 

[jd_1138]

If your set of fixing the existing cab, you could cut out all the damage and weld in a replacement from a donor cab. Personally id just get rid of the scratches on the glass and drive it until it dies for the price. With those miles youll probably be able to get at least a couple good years out of it.

Yep, just use it as a truck if you need a truck. $500 for a good running truck is chump change. New ones are $35k.

But if you want something perfect, don't buy it, and keep your eyes out for one that isn't wrecked.

So it depends on what you want out of it?

 

[BajaScout]

I’d fix that. Cost nothing but your time. Getting door squared up might be a challenge without a puller. Depends on how you expect end product. Driver or show and shine

Hi for the show and shine!


Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[gearhead1]

It can be fixed, depends on how long you plan on keeping it and how much time you want to put in it.

Vehicles are extremely expensive these days. I keep driving my old ones.

 

[bad_idea]

One more vote for beater truck. Bang the door back into shape enough to be operation. Run it till it dies.

 

[sberry]

If I was going to mess with it would pound and pull all I could get before any cut/weld and other parts.

 

[Lassen Forge]

Long as the suspension isn't borked - you might fix the body issues but if the rear end mounts or front end got whacked hard or the frame is tweaked you're going to be spending more on tires and front end parts than that thing is worth. If that all checks out, go for it, just realize you may be in for more than just dented sheet metal...

 

[The Cobbler]

by no means a body expert, or even close ... but I did rebuild a 1982 Cutlass Supreme that had been sideswiped on the drivers side and ins wreck.Replaced the door, front fender, rear quarter & header panel. pulled the door post as it had been pushed back. Car was hit high as the bumpers weren't touched . it was a lot of work, and I came out with a decent car for not a lot of money .
To me, the roof on that would be the toughest repair and getting the doors to not leak may be a job... but that's just an uneducated opinion

 

[Wrench97]

4.0l SOHC?
Run don't walk away.

 

[American Locomotive]

$1000 is way too much for that. Even $500 is pushing it IMO, unless you're just looking for a project.

 

[Marctrees]

That'll buff right out.

Marc

 

[Stadger]

Waste of time and money.

 

[like2wheel]

Get the drivers side looking the same, & act all bad-*** every time you get out of it.
Or maybe wear a helmet & toss it back on the seat before you slam the door.

 

[HMCFab9]

^ best answer right there!

 

[Jason280]

How does the drive side look? Hell, as long as it didn't leak and you could still get in and out of the driver's side, I'd buy it and use it as a hunting truck.

 

[BlackdogGS]

I procrastinated so long someone else bought it. One less project to agonize over.

 

[Stooge]

i gotta say, im pretty impressed that it looks like none of the glass seemed to break in the rollover

 

[BlackdogGS]

i gotta say, im pretty impressed that it looks like none of the glass seemed to break in the rollover

It didn’t roll, just slid on its side for a bit.

 

[Marctrees]

I procrastinated so long someone else bought it. One less project to agonize over.

Yup, sometimes it's best when that happens.

Kind of a feeling of loss, but then overall relief !

Marc

 

[JCQuick]

easy fix find good used cab and bed and wa la

 

[sberry]

A good used cab and box is probably on a good used truck. But,, I wouldn't had a problem with bumping that out and making it look some better. That is not kind of thing a guy has to start with the concept it's got to win a car show with but to spend a couple days knocking it out and slashing some paint on.
Just so it's not an eye catcher,, looks like it's got drunk written on it.

 

[steel 35]

Just missed this years Gambler 500, buy it now and prepare it for next years

 

[mike93lx]

I wonder how long it ran while on its side...

 

[Wrench97]

I wonder how long it ran while on its side...

They shut it off right after it started squeaking.....................Na it should have a inertia fuel shut-off switch.

 

[BD1]

Cut the roof off and you have a convertible. May have to add rollbar.

 

[BDT/NWMN]

4.0l SOHC?
Run don't walk away.

That is the reason I would run even if it wasn't bashed.

 

[duwem]

Make a rock crawler or utv out of it

 

[BFBOB]

Do you live in an HOA area? They might not allow you to have a damaged vehicle.

If you just need the transportation, I'd probably go with an hour or two of hammering followed by rattle-canning the worst of the scratches (mostly for slowing down the inevitable rust), call it good.
As others have pointed out, not worth fixing if $ is the issue.

It just depends on what you want. I put probably $10x of my time and treasure into fixing a car worth $x, still have it and glad I did it.

YMMV!

...oops, just saw that the truck is already sold. Never mind.

 

[fasteddie]

Did he have it on Craigslist with a picture of the driver's side only?

 

[sberry]

It would be different if they want 5k for it instead of 500.

 

[HOTFR8]

It would be worth more wrecked and parted out if you have the time.