Peterjojo Posted March 16, 2021 Share Posted March 16, 2021 Hey everyone. I believe I totaled my 1987 L6 Comanche today. It looks like only the radiator and fan are destroyed but the front end structurally may be very messed up. I loved this truck. I just don’t think there will be any way I can afford to fix it. But before this it was in great condition. It only has 116000 miles on it. these trucks are becoming so rare that I would hate to just send it to the junk yard. Does anyone have any recommendations on what I should do? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
75sv1 Posted March 16, 2021 Share Posted March 16, 2021 If it didn't get into the frame, then repair it. Even then, I would probably repair it. Yes, I've repaired worse. I'd look at Car-Parts.com for parts. I'd say $100 for the fender, $200 for the header panel, with the grill insert. Radiator $100 new. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FrankTheDog Posted March 16, 2021 Share Posted March 16, 2021 I have fixed 3 Cherokees with similar damage. One of them was “totaled” and had to go through a state inspection to be registered. Don’t submit it to insurance as they may total it. Pull the fender, grill, bumper and hood off and inpect your unibody for damage. Hardest part will be sourcing the replacement parts for the earlier style fenders and grill. If it was a 92 or newer it would be easier to find the parts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Torq_Shep Posted March 16, 2021 Share Posted March 16, 2021 25 minutes ago, FrankTheDog said: I have fixed 3 Cherokees with similar damage. One of them was “totaled” and had to go through a state inspection to be registered. Don’t submit it to insurance as they may total it. Pull the fender, grill, bumper and hood off and inpect your unibody for damage. Hardest part will be sourcing the replacement parts for the earlier style fenders and grill. If it was a 92 or newer it would be easier to find the parts. It should primarily be just the grill that would be difficult to find. The fenders can be used from 84-96 and the header panel is similar enough to use from 84-96 (holes for the earlier JEEP letters on older header panels). OP could use an HO 3 piece grill if they wanted to it just wouldn't be "correct". In any case OP. I would definitely consider fixing this one. If you are not able to financially or are unsure about fixing it then I would sell it. I am sure the private market will pay more than the yard for this truck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FrankTheDog Posted March 16, 2021 Share Posted March 16, 2021 Like 75 said, go on car-part.com and find your pieces. There is a white fender in an LA yard and a white hood in Glendale. Even if there is some frame rail damage at the end you can have it pulled out. A 3 pound hammer and a dolly can fix a lot of bent structural sheet metal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FrankTheDog Posted March 16, 2021 Share Posted March 16, 2021 4 minutes ago, Torq_Shep said: It should primarily be just the grill that would be difficult to find. The fenders can be used from 84-96 and the header panel is similar enough to use from 84-96 (holes for the earlier JEEP letters on older header panels). OP could use an HO 3 piece grill if they wanted to it just wouldn't be "correct". In any case OP. I would definitely consider fixing this one. If you are not able to financially or are unsure about fixing it then I would sell it. I am sure the private market will pay more than the yard for this truck. I would take that truck in a second if I could get it across the country. I’m sure that it is more rust free than anything I could find here. Please take the time and effort to fix it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FrankTheDog Posted March 16, 2021 Share Posted March 16, 2021 Less than $500 in parts. That included buying a complete parts Cherokee for $125 just to get the bumper. The insurance qoute to fix it was $4,200. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dzimm Posted March 16, 2021 Share Posted March 16, 2021 Yup fix it! Insurance may call it totaled but thats no where close to totaled. As stated pull the header, fender, and bumper off and inspect. Don't be afraid of using a hammer and get the inner pieces straightened back out. A strap and a tree can also be useful to pull sheet metal back out, just be gentle doing that. Couple hundred dollars for new/used parts and you are good to go. It's much easier to repair than you may think it is now. Whatever you do don't go through insurance because they will call it totaled and then when you fix it, you'll have to buy it back from insurance then go through state inspection and pay all kinds of fees and stuff to get it titled so you can register and drive it again. It would also no longer have a clean title. Insurance is just not worth the headache for something like this. Also if you do decide you can't or don't want to repair it, don't take it to a junkyard. Someone will happily buy that off of you and fix it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fernando87mj Posted March 16, 2021 Share Posted March 16, 2021 This video might help Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
89 MJ Posted March 16, 2021 Share Posted March 16, 2021 I don't think there is a question here. I think this truck deserves to be fixed. Use car-part.com and collect the needed parts to fix it. Even buy an XJ if you have to. Remember, these old trucks are like legos. They were built to be fixed by a regular person. There aren't any specialty tools needed to do this, and you could probably do it in your driveway/garage/yard in a week or so if you work on it during nights and weekends. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M Posted March 16, 2021 Share Posted March 16, 2021 I watched Rob fix this, including replacing a bit of the front frame horn. can't seem to find the thread on it though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FrankTheDog Posted March 16, 2021 Share Posted March 16, 2021 Even if it needs a little work on the frame, you’re in LA the car hobby capital of the world. There has to be somebody there that can do it resonably. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
89 MJ Posted March 16, 2021 Share Posted March 16, 2021 Read through the 2nd page of this thread. It looks like you and @Vakarian had similar amounts of damage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustEmptyEveryPocket Posted March 16, 2021 Share Posted March 16, 2021 1 hour ago, 89 MJ said: this thread missing link? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
75sv1 Posted March 16, 2021 Share Posted March 16, 2021 https://www.car-part.com/cgi-bin/search.cgi Also, consider what your deductible will be on insurance. Say, $500. That would be the cost of the parts. I've done two, and they were worse than Franksthedog. One of mine a tree fell on it. The one I have was hit in the front a lot worse. I did have to pull sheet metal. I doubt yours is much beyond the skin. If you hood is OK. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
75sv1 Posted March 16, 2021 Share Posted March 16, 2021 https://www.car-part.com/cgi-bin/search.cgi Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
75sv1 Posted March 16, 2021 Share Posted March 16, 2021 Sorry the car-parts.com links don't work when posted. Also, try Row52 : https://row52.com/Search/Index?Page=2&MakeId=155&ModelId=2938&Year=1987-1995&Distance=50&Sort=dateadded&SortDirection=desc&ZipCode=&HasImage=&HasComment=&LocationId=&V1=&V2=&V3=&V4=&V5=&V6=&V7=&V8=&V9=&V10=&V11=&V12=&V13=&V14=&V15=&V16=&V17=&IsVin=false They do have pickers at certain yards. See if they ship. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eagle Posted March 16, 2021 Share Posted March 16, 2021 "Totalled" means that the cost of repairs exceeds the blue book value of the vehicle. It does not mean that the vehicle can't be repaired. My 2000 Cherokee was hit on that corner a few years ago. Mine looked a lot worse than yours. It cost a bit to get it repaired but it was new enough that the book value was still slightly higher than the repair cost, so the insurance company fixed it, and I didn't have to go through the salvage title process. Your truck can be repaired. Whether or not you can afford it depends on the cost of the repairs and the balance in your bank account. Get it checked out. If the front frame ear isn't bent, you can do most or all of the work yourself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
derf Posted March 16, 2021 Share Posted March 16, 2021 An insurance company will "total" a vehicle with damage that's like 75-80% of the total replacement value. Once it's that bad, they write it off and cash you out. They figure that a vehicle damaged that badly (or just not worth much to begin with, at least not in the open market) isn't worth fixing. If you have any sentimental value attached to your truck, it's a good idea to go beyond regular insurance and go with "agreed value" coverage. It costs more to insure it that way but if you get in a wreck, they won't write it off as easily. And if it's truly totaled, you'll get more in the settlement. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
89 MJ Posted March 16, 2021 Share Posted March 16, 2021 3 hours ago, JustEmptyEveryPocket said: missing link? Oh boy, I’m a little special, aren’t I? https://comancheclub.com/topic/59405-88-eliminator-junkyard-gem/?tab=comments#comment-610295 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buxmj Posted March 17, 2021 Share Posted March 17, 2021 Something that might help is to find a pick n pull yard that has some xj s from 84 to 96, would be a bonus to find a white one that got rear ended. By taking the parts yourself you save some money and know how things are supposed to go back together. Just my .02 Buck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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