Part of the problem, how does anyone know that the engine itself is the extent of the problem? If it was submerged enough to take a big old gulp and hydro lock then the brakes and bearings may be problematic in the future? Transmission? See where I'm goin' with that? I'd be worried it would be a constant wackamole, fix one thing and another rears its head later., rinse, lather, repeat.

 

Thats a valid point. But most of that stuff can be a one time fix. Flush all the fluids and repack/replace the bearings. Brakes dont take to much harm from water exposure or else every real off road truck would have serious issues.

My worries lie in the fact that if there was water in the interior that means a good chunk of the electrical harness was under water as it runs along the rocker panel

 

heck, id still repower it, as long as the frame wasnt bent, it looks much better than whats in my own driveway.

 

Still waiting to hear back from the insurance company.

Went yesterday, to look over the truck, again.
The water/mud that was inside the truck has started 'stinking'.

I think it's done.
The insurance company called and talked to my son, to get 'his words' on what happened.

They have turned the issue over to the "Total Loss" section/team.

Looks like cracked heads, and possible cracked piston(s), plus the water/mud in the interior.

It was a good truck, and I'm gonna miss it.

Who knows? Maybe a new(er) F-150 is in my near future. (But whatever I get......... Brad won't be gettin' behind the wheel!)

 

How does the insurance work - they total the truck presumably and pay you the depreciated value of the truck at the time of the uh, incident, minus the deductible, right? That will be a nice down payment on a new 150...

 

Interiors are cleaned out in a afternoon, motors dropped in in a wknd, somebody will score a nice truck from the salvage yard.

I commute a 80 mile round trip every work-day in a 84 Ranger, a truck like yours would be like a first class ticket compared to what I am used to......"salvage title" or not.

 

I haven't been posting over here much because I just got a Ranger back in the...errr....fleet.
Anyway, $1,500 tops for the engine rebuild parts + $500 for interior (if you had to replace all the carpet/underlayments and professionally clean seats). Given that the insurance company will likely get around $500 for the truck when it goes to auction (and it will), that would be a deal and half.

I seriously doubt the rear end, transmission, or wiring is damaged at all. They see all kinds of water sprays just from driving on a rainy highway. But a quick flush now, and maybe a fluids change in 500 miles would fix them either way.

 

My insurance agent said that they would go with NADA book for trade-in value, then add sales tax and tag fees.

IF I want to keep the truck, they get an average auction price (comparable prices) and then deduct that amount from the pay-out and 'brand' the title as 'salvage'.

Then, I can do what I want with the truck.



I'm hearing you, Dave.
I don't really care what the title says, or would say, or that I'd only be able to get "Liability" coverage only.

I don't have the body, the drive, or the time to do the work, myself.
IF Brad had ANY wrenching abilities, I'd consider keeping the truck as a learning tool/experience.




IF I were younger, and my body wasn't in such bad shape, I'd take on this truck, as a rebuild/rehabilitate project.

 

I'll throw one last suggestion out there. Talk to your son and find out if he has any buddies that are into working on cars & trucks. See if he can find one that will do 'the work' while being supervised and taught. You might find he has someone that would love to learn while getting actually paid a few bucks for his effort.
In short, see if there's an available set of muscles, eyes and hands that can do what is a lot harder for old people like me. I know how hard things get, and have realized recently how quickly my lower back gets agonizing pain from bending over a fender or radiator. Even picking up small limbs that have blown off the trees becomes painful very quickly.
There are still a lot of kids that want to do 'stuff' that they can't do at home, due to 'garage cleanliness rules', or lack of a garage, or the parental "No. What part of N. O. did you not understand..."
I know I learned helping several friends do their projects around the neighborhood when I was a lot younger, swaps & rebuilds, then did some things on my own, and worked up from there.
I cannot hurt to ask, if you have the time to sit and sip coffee while mumbled 'words' are heard from under the truck. You might find it entertaining and rewarding.
Other than that, I'll ask my brother in Salisbury if he has interest, but it might be too far.
tom

 

Along the same train of thought does the local high school offer career training with an auto mechanic course and facilities? They might take it on as a project .

 

heck if you were closer Id do it. Its such an easy swap

 

Sounds like it needs a small block Ford, a lift, solid axle swap, lockers and some tires on it. Sounds like a perfect candidate for a wheeling rig.

Sent from my Telegraph using IB AutoGroup

 

Well, here's a complete update.

I called my insurance company, and yes, the truck has full-coverage.
Also, my agent said that since it's water damage, that she submitted this as 'water damage-comprehensive'.

No such luck.

The Adjuster came to the shop to look over the truck.

Since the vehicle was underway when this happened, it is a "single car accident" and will be covered under "Collision"

I heard from the "Total Loss Team" yesterday.
The vehicle is a Total Loss, and Brad is 'liable'. This means his insurance rates are going to go up 10% for the next three years.

His 'punishment' has now changed.
He will accept the increase in insurance premiums, without any comment.
He is paying the $250.00 deductible that the insurance is not picking up.
He is paying the $367.77 that the repair shop is charging for the diagnostics.
He is paying the $85.00 for the towing.

Sidenote: He is aware that the repair shop fees and the towing is covered by the insurance, but, he KNOWS that these fees are a LOT cheaper than the $3,000 that I had imposed, earlier.

There's just one other issue that has to be resolved.




When I went to the repair shop last night, to take my license tags off of the truck, and get the remainder of my personal stuff out of the truck, I noticed that the front license plate is missing!!!!
I don't know if it was lost during this escapade, or stolen. The license plate bracket and tag appear to be 'ripped' off of the bumper. There's a small bit of the plastic mount left around the mounting bolts, on the bumper.

So...... I have to file a police report this afternoon, so that MVA will have it, when I return the back plate.


Lastly, I was SHOCKED at the $$$ the insurance company offered me.
(Truck value + 6% sales tax + Tag/Title Fee = Total $$$.)


They said for a truck that is 14 years old, it is in GREAT shape!!!!
The amount is almost double what I thought it was worth.

Now, I just gotta decide........ Ford F-150 - or - ________________, to replace my Ranger.

The dealership has an '11 Ranger SC w/2WD and Styleside bed on their lot with 9,000 miles on the odometer.
$18,000.00!!!!! (No way!)

 

Just as a note, if the water was standing water on the road, and was not marked, I wonder if there is some liability like if you hit a pothole and cut a tire. In that case DOT may share some liability.
tom

 

Back to the 'discussion' you had with your son....

Might I suggest you HATE what he did, but still love your son and show him that...


Coming from a father who lost a 16 year old son....
and would LOVE to be buying a new little Ranger for him !