Date:         Sun, 2 Dec 2007 03:34:08 -0800
Reply-To:     Tom Forhan <fourwdvw@YAHOO.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Tom Forhan <fourwdvw@YAHOO.COM>
Subject:      Re: estimate on repairing right side of van
Comments: To: Ed Duntz <eduntz@HOTMAIL.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <BAY134-DAV1287697659F1547D303CF1DB730@phx.gbl>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1

As far as an insurance company would be  concerned, it
sounds like this vehicle is totaled. :(

I would have a body shop look at it, but the damage to
the pillar between doors sounds bad. That is a major
structural piece and if the doors don't close on it
properly it sounds like it it bent. I don't like the
sound of a seam being opened, either. Both of these
items being affected could put cause misalignment  on
other parts of the body that you cannot easily detect.


Be prepared for the worst. Scott's idea about swapping
parts to a clean shell might have promise.

--- Ed Duntz <eduntz@HOTMAIL.COM> wrote:

> It's more than just the doors, but the doors are a
> big part of it. The
> pillar between the doors is slightl bent, so I think
> that's causing problems
> with the doors closing right. Also, the far rear
> vertical seam has separated
> slightly. So even if I get new doors, those two
> things need to be fixed.
>
> Ed
>
> If it's just confined to doors, or nearly so, you're
> very lucky.
> You will be miles ahead to replace the doors and
> have those painted.
> Assuming there are dents.........you wouldn't want
> to pay for 'good body and
> paint work'     ( very hard to get anyway , actual
> 'good word' that is )
> ..it would be a couple thousand bucks easily.  Get
> the doors, install them
> yourself carefully, then see about paint and any
> other body work left.
>    A single dent in one panel is often 500 dollars
> to really make it
> disappear.  Depending on grade of work and where you
> are, but body and paint
> work isn't cheap, and rarely is done very well
> anyway, in my opinion.   Even
> very expensive body and paint work is often very
> poorly done.
>



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