Please help! Front end damage frame bent

[elowmags]

1996 dodge ram 1500 sport 318 5.2l two wheel drive 189,000mi

Soo..I know my truck is old and definitely not pretty to look at but she starts every time and is more reliable then most new cars/trucks.
The other day coming home well...about 30 seconds from my house this 17yo kid in a Toyota corolla wasn't paying attention and turned left right in front of me and I smashed Into him everyone was ok. I didn't think the damage was to bad when it came to my truck until I started getting in replacing things. All the damage was to the driver side The tire got pushed back just enough to rub the plastic cover inside the wheel weld, the quarter panel on diver side was crinkled and the bumper was effed so I thought after looking harder seems like the whole driver side got pushed back the cab bolt is about to fall out the frame is bent a little I can tell because the top layer of rust flaked off white I believe it bent. And the radiator support is creased in....now I'm sure everyone thinks the truck is trashed and to just get rid of it but It's all I got and I can't afford anything else on top of that I love this truck and would love to rebuild it. So please any advice on what I need to do to fix this would be appreciated so much. I'm pretty savvy with a wrench and do all my own repairs.

Thank you so much

 

[chopperman1]

"Savvy with a wrench" is not going to fix this one. Need a frame shop. Sorry, but she's totaled IMHO.

 

[zrock]

yep i agree with the above.. Its going to cost you more than its worth to fix. If you like that vintage of truck you would be better off finding another and using that as a parts truck.. Im guessing you did not have coverage if you got into a accident.. The only time i do not pay for accident insurance is if i purchased the truck for cheap like $1000-3000 other than that its always insured..

 

[Yardbird]

No matter how good your truck is, you might get 3 to 4k from an insurance company.

That's an 8 to 10k repair at a cheap body shop, without a paint job, if anyone will even straighten the most likely diamonded and bent frame.

I doubt anyone that runs a legit body shop would cut off and replace the tabs for the lower control arm that is bent.

 

[elowmags]

I had insurance and it was the other guys fault they gave me 2000 and totaled the the truck.

 

[elowmags]

I paid 2000 for it about 3 years ago so I did get my money back she still drive fine I guess I start saving for something else

 

[Yardbird]

Good luck finding anything for 2k that runs these days.

I had a pole knocked down on my car by a truck a few years ago. The insurance payout wouldn't get me anything close to as good a car as I had.

After two plus years of searching, and driving my old Dodge truck, that's how I ended up with the 2018 Ram I drive now.

It was over 27k more than the payout I got.

 

[chri5k]

I think I see a bulge in your neck. Might want to have it looked by a doctor near a used car lot.

 

[GTyankee]

I don't know about damage ....

I know that i would be driving the truck to the Body Shop that i use.

I know that they have a frame straightener, so they should be able give an opinion about the frame.

I would take the back roads, so that i would not be stopped by the Highway Patrol.
The Sheriff is not looking for a missing head light, they have actual crime to worry about

 

[CanuckRam1313]

Bud, your truck did its job and protected you!
With that vintage of truck, take the cash and run.
Save for your next Ram and don't sweat the small stuff.
You are okay, the other driver is okay (although a black eye might have helped him out to learn a lesson).... sucks, yes, but we move forward and count our blessings for each day on this side of the grass

 

[truck2569]

"Savvy with a wrench" is not going to fix this one. Need a frame shop. Sorry, but she's totaled IMHO.

Your truck is totaled. Anything to do with frame issues totals a truck. Body shop that has a frame straightener is your only option. Unless you know how to do it yourself with block and tackle with two chain hoist.