Frame damage

[cjsmith]

Estimate = $3900. Down to maybe $2900 if I take used doors and fender, but the labor alone is nearly $2K and that's more than Kelly says the car's worth. If I make the case that it's in pristine condition with very low miles, AND I take used doors, AND I don't paint them, the math error fairy would still need to cough up $500.

This is mainly a gratuitous icon post.

Comments

[shadopanther.livejournal.com]

Poor little Corolla. It has served well for it's lifetime. Perhaps it will be come a car-organ donor for other old Corollas still rolling along.

Best wishes to you for the next step in the car crunch saga.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

That's a reassuring idea. I hope it can keep other Corollas alive.

Thanks. Boy do I not like the whole car buying process... but it's gotta happen!

[shadopanther.livejournal.com]

Hmm. I didn't think of this before -- because your insurance company may want the totaled car whole-as-is -- but if for some reason you end up parting it out: If you had an automatic transmission; I could use the shift housing & shift indicator. [The plastic piece on either side of the shift lever broke thus breaking my gear shift indicator. I can feel what gear I'm in... but for the indicator to display the gear properly, it has to be pushed into place manually. I can move the indicator through the different gears with keeping the car in park.]

If it's a hassle though -- no worries. I've been planning on trying to superglue the plastic parts back together. And if that doesn't work, I have a plan b: pick-n-pull yard & c: buy new parts from Toyota. (If I do either b or c, then I'll actually care about the color: my housing is navy blue.)

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Hmmm. I'd like to get max value from the insurance people, but if for some reason they don't care about the condition of these parts, we could SO swap. Who knows? Maybe they're just going to cube it. Seems stupid, but if they do that I may as well pull everything useful out of it. I do have an auto, and my interior is navy blue as well. What year is yours?

[shadopanther.livejournal.com]

1989 Toyota Corolla DX, navy blue interior, rolled off the lot December 1988. (Currently at 221K miles)

I have an exploded diagram of how the parts go together & a Chilton manual.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

EXACTLY my model. Navy blue exterior in my case as well. And yep, I too have the Chil -- no wait! No I don't! I have the Toyota 1989 Corolla repair manual. AND the entire electrical wiring diagram, which is a softbound book about a half inch thick. Want 'em? 8-)

[shadopanther.livejournal.com]

Cool! Yes, I would like the books.

The exterior of mine is white.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

They're yours! Send address for media mail or we can arrange a pickup... um... when life is a little less interesting, maybe in a week or two. :)

[shadopanther.livejournal.com]

Thinking of other Corollas helping keeping mine in better shape, I have:
- pulled (from a pick'n'pull yard) a side & rear view mirror, battery tie down rod, navy blue plastic covers for rear seat belt anchors, small air duct, navy blue dashboard, & wheel rim. [I just need to get around to installing most of this -- the battery tie down & wheel rim are the only bits in place.]
- been given a Toyota radio (from friends who upgraded theirs)