It finally happened, my first accident. I had a near head-on with a Hyundai Excel in my FX4. Of course the little car fared much worse than my truck, but most of the front end was shoved into the radiator. The frame was bent on the passenger side as well, Im not sure about the drivers side. I talked to the guy that will be working on it at the body shop, he told me that if the frame is bent in a crumple zone-they can't repair it and I will have to have a new one. So I looked one up online, and the frame alone was $5k, so add up all the other stuff that has to be replaced and the cost of $80 an hour labor rate, Im really hoping they just total it. My only hope of that happening is the miles that are on it, I have 90k miles on it already, and the average price for an FX4 with that many miles on it averages from $12k to 18k in price. Anyone else have any experience with damage like that? If so what was the outcome?

 

I bought a salvage truck in 2005 that was wrecked the same way. the frame was bashed in and twisted. They can straighten frames, but the best way to straighten a frame - is to replace it. Basically, if the frame is bent past the crusher points, they'll total it. Let me know what they do.

The link below is the work did on my 2004 F150. This took me about 2 months. Most of the time was spent looking for parts, and at the paint shop. It was really pretty simple - and a really fun project.

Still drive it and it still runs great.

http://jmay75.shutterfly.com/26

 

Sorry about that; are you and the other person OK?

 

Yeah we were both fine, his airbags went off and mine didnt for some reason. His arms were a little burned from his airbag though. But they checked him out and he was ok then, he may be in traction right now and I wouldnt know.

 

I repair frames for a living.

Your frame guy doesn't know how to fix a frame, or he does not have the machine to do it.

You are not going to do one of these trucks on a yellow E-Z Liner II, if it isn't a real Chief EZ Liner it isn't strong enough to do the job, unless it is a minor pull.

You would have had to drive that truck at 60 MPH into a concrete wall to damage the frame to the point it has to be sectioned or replaced.



Got any pictures? describe what happened to the front bumper. Look at the space between the bed and the cab, it should be the same on both sides, look at the space between the cab and the bed under the rear window... is it the same space all the way across or is it wider on one side. Also look at the back bumper. Look at how it is side to side compared to the end of the bed sides. If it is farther back on one side than the other, or if the gaps between the bed and the cap on either side or across the back are not even then it is an indication the frame rail might have been driven back. That is not a hard fix, but without taking the truck apart and looking at the frame and measuring it out for diamond, level, sway, and rail length, plus the location of the suspension components it's all guessing from here.

If the left fender was not destroyed too badly you can look at the space behind the wheels from the tire to the edge of the fender with the wheels straight. If you can get 4 fingers or whatever in the right side, you should get the same amount in the left side behind the tire and the fender of wheel well.

 

Glad you and the others are ok Hate to hear about the truck

 

i looked it up and frame rail end can be replace on the 04 to 08 at a cost of 400 bucks for the the end

i have seen them done before, but and yes a big frame manchine is need since more then likey the hole frame is out

about the only time i've seen a full frame replace is when the body shop pulls a fast one on the insuance company

 

I had a guy pull out in front of me in an older F150 I had. It diamond the frame and insurance paid to have a new one put under the truck. They replaced alot of bushings and other things in the process. That was the best that truck ever drove after I got it back. I sold it 2 weeks later.

 

I talked to the guy today, they are just going to put a new frame under it. I guess they don't mess with trying to fix them here, but thats ok Id rather have a new one anyway. So do you have an estimate on how long it takes to strip everything off the old frame and put it back on the new one? Im trying to figure out if all the parts and labor might come up to.

 

a well equipped shop can swap a frame in a few days, as far as a total cost we need at least a pic to even begin what body panels need replaced/fixed and paint involved, like he said you may need bed/back of cab painted

 

usually if its bend BAD around or behind the suspension and diamond shaped you need a frame, yes minor ones can be fixed but sometimes the frame will give bad near the fire wall where it widens, If it were to get hit again it is weakened, In my 24 years I've seen 3 frame replacements. Not all body shops want to screw the insurance co. cause think about the amount of work it takes to replace a frame, all suspension, drivetrain, body, fuel system, brake system ect, ect,

 

Well, Im not sure what all was wrong with it, but they are looking to put a new one under it. It will need a new bumper, new plastic piece that is over the bumper, and all associated hardware, new fogs, probably whatever wiring is up there, new oil cooler and lines, new AC condenser and lines, and a new radiator. New grill and latch hardware, and possibly new headlights. The hood might need to be replaed too, not sure about that yet. I do not think the fenders are that damaged, so whatever all that plus swapping the rest of the body and suspension over to the new fram will run.

 

DAMN! Glad your alright!!

 

It won't be cheap. I just repaired an 07 Harley and the bumpers and hood are outrageous. Call your local Ford dealership and they will price everything to give you an idea.

 

A frame is $5500 full price, a radiator is $750, a hood is around $1000 and a bumper will most likely come from a junk yard and be repainted. I dont know what all of the associated stuff will run, but it wont be cheap. I know most of the replacement parts will be aftermarket because its cheaper for the insurance company. Im just curious how much time it will take for them to remove and replace everything. Im pretty sure they operate at around $90-100 dollars an hour. Im just hoping they total it.