DD gone project vehicle (rollover pics)

**brianarrr** · 03-04-2009, 08:45 AM

Well I suppose it is about time to start this thread because my parts are coming in and it's almost time to get to work. Long story short, someone ran me off the road at 45mph, hit a snowbank and rolled a few times. Here's the aftermath. No one was injured, it was only me in the jeep at the time.
http://68.10.157.10:8080/gallery/main.php/v/VBJO/Jeeps/BrianWreck/

That album has a few pages of pics, here are a couple.

As horrible as it looks the jeep is in surprisingly good condition for what happened. The front axle needs a new housing and the brackets are bent or broken and the yoke has broken off, the driveshaft was hanging but looks like it's fine, both fenders are smashed, a LCA was ripped off....the front of the body is resting on one twisted LCA on one side and the other side is resting on the right tire. Plenty of other stuff but the rear axle is completely fine, tub looks good, engine runs just fine.

The accident was in NY and I was in the process of a move to VA. For reasons that would take too long to explain, I had to get it towed to a dealership. Thanks to the shipping company I had about a 4 hour window to find a place for it while I was swamped at work. It won't be staying there much longer.

So, on to the plan. First thing to do is to get it rolling again. As of right now I've already ordered the replacement suspension parts I will need. If I replaced something on one side I did it on the other side as well. It's been sitting like that since december 22nd or so.
Front springs and shocks
Both LCAs
Both mounting brackets
And threw in some new brake lines for good measure

Picked up a Currie steering kit because I had been meaning to replace that anyway and my tie rod is bent. Easy enough to straighten but it's all the excuse I need to upgrade.

Two shops I had look at it say that replacement parts for the front axle will be about $2500 and then labor to rebuild it would be another $2000 or so. So I got on Northridge4x4 and ordered a new D44 with an ARB locker shipped for $2900. I wasn't happy about spending that much to get me back to pretty much stock. Thought about putting a D30 up front for cheapness so I would have more time for a better upgrade later. Oh well it's done.

That should get it rolling again. Then I can bring it home and do the rest of the work myself. Other parts I'll need...

Found a used windshield, frame, and brackets for $600 from a used parts seller called Woodfins in Richmond. Dealership price is about $2k...those windshield brackets are quoted at $250 a piece

Tube fenders of course. Eyeballing TnT 4.5" fenders. Don't know if I'll get the rear ones to match.
Soft top and hardware seems fine, minus the windows. Those aren't so much a priority right now.
New cage. I exchanged a few PMs with BESRK, he is about a 30 minute drive away. If he is still interested he will be doing my cage for me.

That's about all I can think of off the top of my head. The axle won't be shipped until monday so I can expect to be getting it back hopefully by the end of next week.

The jeep is about 15 minutes away. If anyone wants pics of anything just ask and I'll take my camera over there.

I don't have the best spot for working on the jeep so what I can do is limited. The garage is full of crap and the driveway is shaped like a hill climb.

Questions? Comments?

**TheBoogieman** · 03-04-2009, 08:49 AM

That sucks.

beachboy1200 · 03-04-2009, 08:59 AM

Im about to part out a 97 TJ. Haven't really started yet, but let me know if you need anything.

**brianarrr** · 03-04-2009, 09:14 AM

This post is just backstory. Skip it if you don't care

PART ONE is about a god awful transportation company.

So guy runs me off the road on dec 22, wrecker comes to get it. My insurance company (USAA) was backed up with claims so it sat in NY for a while. They finally finished my claim around jan 15 or so.

I was recommended to call All American Transportation by a friend who had used them before through work. Horrible experience with them. I told them initially that it had 35" tires and that the wheels would not turn. All American calls me on a friday afternoon and says my jeep will be moved monday. I had horrible reception at work up there and didn't get the message until everything was closed. So I had to find a body shop monday morning. I suppose I could have made plans earlier but they could have called earlier and given me some warning.

They subcontract a driver and don't tell him anything about the jeep so he brings a regular 3 vehicle truck. It took them 3 hours to get it on the truck. Getting it off the truck was just as hard. And the driver expected cash on delivery when I said I would be paying with credit card. I paid All American like I was supposed to and a few weeks after that the driver calls asking me if I paid them because they still haven't paid him. They screwed up pretty much everything they could have and were rude on the phone.

PART TWO is about a god awful dealership.

Greenbrier Chrysler in Chesapeake, VA. They've had the jeep since jan 28th and have done absolutely nothing with it to this day. I finally moved to VA feb 14th. I got ahold of the body shop manager there, Randy Tozier, on the 16th and asked why they never called me back with an estimate on the front axle like they said they would. He said he would take care of it personally and give me a call the next day. This was on a monday. No return call the next day. I called him every day that week and left a message and no return calls. Friday I went there in person and tracked him down. He said he was sorry and made more promises....a week and a half later of leaving messages and no return calls...

I call his boss. He says he's sorry and will find out what the problem is. Randy calls me later that day and has an estimate emailed to me. Included in that estimate is body and paint work and 30 hours of frame pulling.

I specifically said no body or paint work, just the bare minimum to get it rolling. I had him walk me out to the jeep and show me what parts of the frame needed to be straightened. He could not do it, but claimed that accidents like these "always need to be straightened." I can believe that, but 30 hours on a hunch? So it's been over a month sitting there and absolutely no progress.

I can't deal with these people anymore, when I saw the estimate of $7500 I could feel my blood pressure going up. Later this week or next week I will be moving the jeep to a different shop.

**brianarrr** · 03-04-2009, 09:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beachboy1200

Im about to part out a 97 TJ. Haven't really started yet, but let me know if you need anything.

Thanks, if I do I will know in a couple weeks when I have it back.

**TheBoogieman** · 03-04-2009, 09:36 AM

It must be a Va thing.

I'm suprised it wasn't just totaled.

**brianarrr** · 03-04-2009, 09:48 AM

Oh it was totalled. I managed to buy it back for $3k and will probably have some insurance money left over when all is said and done.

emev0l · 03-04-2009, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deathcow

Oh it was totalled. I managed to buy it back for $3k and will probably have some insurance money left over when all is said and done.

That's the way to go, I buy back everything I total. At the very least you can sell a couple parts and make twice your money back.

A woman hit me while I was driving a 01 blazer to work, they totaled it, I bought it back for $500 and had it back on the road for $250, the only thing it could use is a paint job, but who cares, it's just a beater car when your jeep is apart for mods.

I pulled my frame out myself, and an axle swap isn't any more work than a lift install. You can find a local guy that does this on the side for real cheap.

I have 2 friends that buy totaled vehicles and rebuild them on a very regular basis, if you were closer to Michigan I would hook you up with them.

I'm sure someone on the forum would do the work, or knows of a guy who will do the work at a fair price.

**TheBoogieman** · 03-04-2009, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deathcow

Oh it was totalled. I managed to buy it back for $3k and will probably have some insurance money left over when all is said and done.

You got lucky.This local Jeep wasn't so lucky.

whiteguyjames · 03-04-2009, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Theboogieman

You got lucky.This local Jeep wasn't so lucky.

Well now he can use his tail lights for side markers

**john NC** · 03-04-2009, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Theboogieman

You got lucky.This local Jeep wasn't so lucky.

so that's where they got the inspiration for the jk grill

mrcleanstj · 03-04-2009, 11:54 AM

Wow... Hope things improve for ya!

Good luck with the project.

paine · 03-04-2009, 12:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Theboogieman

You got lucky.This local Jeep wasn't so lucky.

SO much for the factory 'roll cage' huh... I want to put a good cage in mine!!

**0blcktj6** · 03-04-2009, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by john NC

so that's where they got the inspiration for the jk grill

**TheBoogieman** · 03-04-2009, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by paine

SO much for the factory 'roll cage' huh... I want to put a good cage in mine!!

Good idea.