Help Me Make A Tough Choice

[busted truck]

Recently my '89 Blazer was involved in an accident. It was hit almost directly in the passenger side front tire by someone doing at least 40mph. Up until today I was confident I could fix her. Today I noticed that the frame is visibly twisted where the back of the leaf spring bolts up. If that wasn''t enough, the axle slid back on the leafs, the ujoint sheared from the the front diff, the brace that bolts to the bell housing broke free taking part of the bell housing with it, a sway bar bolt ripped through its mount, and its leaking fluid from the axle tube. That's the damage I've found so far.

To compound my problems, I am moving at the end of the month. If the truck isn't drivable by Jan 1st I am screwed.

I love my truck and I've put a ton of work into it, but I don't have room for a trail-only rig. It has to be my daily driver. After my move, I'll be driving about 15 miles up and down the freeway each day. It doesn't seem like someone with my limited repair abilities could ever make this truck decently drivable again.

Is there any hope for my poor truck?

 

[4X4HIGH]

Sounds like time for a frame swap or another rig and swap over your useable parts.

 

[tRustyK5]

There is hope, if you take about 2 weeks off from work, have a ton of tools etc etc.

Frankly, I'd be inclined to find another K5 with that list of damages and your time frame.

OTOH if where you are moving to you have a good place to work on it I'd have it towed there as long as it's not across country. Then get a short term DD while you fix the K5...

The K5 would have to have a lot of sentimental value to do that though.

Rene

 

[noJeepshere]

It has to have a LOT of sentimental value for you to want to repair that kind of damage. Usually a bent frame means the body itself will be similarly twisted at that spot. TONS of work. Given your deadline, I'd say take the good parts off of it, and write the rest off as a loss, and find a new one after you get settled down.

 

[scouthead]

R.I.P. Blazer...


I would see if anything you put on the truck is salvagable, and on that year truck, I would be pulling things like the transfer (if it is a 241 and not broken), the grill/headlight buckets (if the dual headlight)- possibly whole core support...

 

[MTNMIKE]

a body shop can put it on a frame rack and fix the twist easy enough, the axle might need to be replaced if it got tweaked. good luck you should be able get it done but it needs immediate action, get a line on a body shop and a new 10 bolt front and bellhousing, and dont worry about the sway bar(remove it). the rig can be driven without a front driveline if necessary. set priorities get the frame fixed first if it cant be then R.I.P.

 

[tbijimmy]

do you have collision insurance?

otherwise if its too costly to repair then maybe pick up another cheap k5 or pick up and swap the good parts

 

[AJMBLAZER]

Especially with the weak frames on these I'd say time to find another.

Personally my money is on it "never being right" again after it's put back together so it looks right. Seen it before and wouldn't do it myself.

 

[busted truck]

Thanks for all the responses.

It pains me to say this but I'm not fixing my truck. I just have too much working against me. Besides the lack of time, I injured my wrist in the accident. Wrenching isn't much fun right now. If the timing had been different...

I wasn't real active here but I did get allot of great info from all of you. I haven't decided whether I will buy another k5 but thanks for the help over the last couple of years.

I really don't want to see the truck go to the crusher. Its in surprisingly good shape for a 20 year old truck. I'll strip it if I have to but I'd rather see it get back on the road. If anyone with more time and space than me is interested in the whole thing, PM me SOON.

 

[noJeepshere]

Yeah, put it up in the classifieds section of CK5, something like that could make a decent trail rig.

 

[Blazin'4x4]

Is insurance gonna cover anything? Im also in denver and am willing to kick back and swap parts to another blazer with ya.

I know sometimes havin someone there with me makes all the difference in the world.

Where ya movin to?

 

[busted truck]

Hey Blazin'4x4 -

Thanks for offering to help. I really want another Blazer so if I find a good candidate I will let you know. Insurance cut me a small check but not enough to pick up a super nice K5. I'm surprised there aren't more full size rigs for sale right now.

I'm moving in state - Aurora to Castle Rock. Nice short move but I have a narrow window to do it in - especially if I don't have a truck of my own.

What part of Colorado are you in?

 

[noJeepshere]

There's an 87 (iirc) for sale here with a price of $1995 obo. It's a diesel and looks to be fully loaded and in decent shape. I'll look closer if you're interested. Prolly a little far but thought I'd throw that out for ya.

 

[bftank]

there is an m1009 blazer in englewood for sale http://www.postlets.com/ct/81731 $2595 diesel camo, real chick magnet!

sorry to hear about the accident if you had time and means id say four link your old one.

if you decide to keep it i have a sixlug 3.73 10 bolt out of suburban and will be makeing trip to denver after christmas

craigslist has a few for your area

 

[Blazin'4x4]

Hey Blazin'4x4 -

Thanks for offering to help. I really want another Blazer so if I find a good candidate I will let you know. Insurance cut me a small check but not enough to pick up a super nice K5. I'm surprised there aren't more full size rigs for sale right now.

I'm moving in state - Aurora to Castle Rock. Nice short move but I have a narrow window to do it in - especially if I don't have a truck of my own.

What part of Colorado are you in?

Northglenn, I have seen lots of real cheap blazers for sale around here. theres a blazer for $500 on craigslist. obviously needs some work. Let me know when your ready...