Date: Fri, 24 Jul 2009 10:31:01 -0400
Reply-To: Allan Streib <streib@CS.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Allan Streib <streib@CS.INDIANA.EDU>
Subject: Re: Van wrecked, wondering if it's worth repairing
In-Reply-To: <1248101715.32112.1325896383@webmail.messagingengine.com>
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Got the news from the insurance co (State Farm) they are considering the claim to be a total loss. Not surprising, really.
They are offering the NADA "good condition" value for the van, which is $3,125. I actually think that's pretty fair for a GL vanagon with over 200K miles.
I can buy it back for the salvage value of $325 and try to repair it. The question I now have is am I better off shopping for another solid van, maybe one with a blown engine or drivetrain, and transplant parts, or trying to hammer out/weld and or bondo the damage on my current van.
Thoughts? Anyone have any leads on a potential candidate for the "replace/transplant" plan? I am located in Indiana, would consider picking up/towing from anywhere in the midwest or mid-south.
Allan
--
1991 Vanagon GL
On Mon, 20 Jul 2009 10:55 -0400, "Allan Streib" <streib@cs.indiana.edu> wrote:
> Wife hit another car from behind in my '91 GL. No injuries, thankfully.
> The impact was largely just above the bumper on the driver's side. It
> doesn't look TOO bad, but the steering is binding pretty badly. I'm
> guessing the steering box up front was damaged, or there's some crushed
> sheet metal interfering with it. Also the driver's door has been bumped
> a bit out of place though it will still open and close. The door itself
> is undamaged; the damage appears to be confined to the front nose sheet
> metal.
>
> The van is a high-miler (over 200K) but no rust and in pretty good shape.
> I've put in a new steering rack, ball joints, radius rod bushings,
> shifter linkage kits, fuel hoses, gas tank vents, and misc. other work
> over the past year.
>
> Wondering how much work it would be to cut off the front nose (or maybe
> just the left half of it) and replace it? I have a welder and though I'm
> not very experienced at it am willing to give it a try.
>
> Is there likely to be any other structural distortion? I know the front
> ends of these vans are pretty strong, so hoping it's repairable.
>
> I can post photos later today.
>
> Allan
> --
> 1991 Vanagon GL
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