What do do with a Wrecked 7.3.

[jeeper]

I just bought this from the insurance after a neighbor wrecked it. I bought it unseen, from a lousy photo taken at the accident scene, in the dark. It’s worse than I thought.
the front clip is easily 12” to the right, and the front axle is about 8” to the right.
it looks like the engine was spared, but I haven’t dived in deep yet.
from the photo I received, I thought I could repair it and have a good truck. I don’t think I am up for this job now though.
Truck is 4x4, has 180k ish.
it seems that even being for parts these are selling on ksl for $5-7k. Is that right??

now that I’m not rebuilding it, I’ve thought about putting the engine and axles in my ‘78 Ford. But I’m also not that talented, so it would be a loooong process for me.

 

[johngottfredson]

That’s a 7.3? Just drive it like that, it’ll probably go another 400k until the next oil change, then sell for a healthy profit.

Seriously, I sold my 2X locked, lifted ‘02 Lariat 7.3 with 150k for $15k about six years back. If I had held onto that thing it would’ve been my retirement. The love on those things is strong, seems like even wrecked you can get fat money on them. Good luck

 

[Die Blaue Ziege]

Man I would put that drivetrain and motor in my 68 highboy.

 

[Die Blaue Ziege]

And if it's a 6 speed rotbox may be interested in purchasing it from you......

 

[Hickey]

That's a depressing photo.

 

[Kiel]

I'd check out why the axle is back and go from there. Mine was a broken spring pin

 

[Gravy]

You make me look good. My wife just kissed me for only dragging home what I drag home. Thanks bro!

 

[Tonkaman]

I just bought this from the insurance after a neighbor wrecked it. I bought it unseen, from a lousy photo taken at the accident scene, in the dark. It’s worse than I thought.
the front clip is easily 12” to the right, and the front axle is about 8” to the right.
it looks like the engine was spared, but I haven’t dived in deep yet.
from the photo I received, I thought I could repair it and have a good truck. I don’t think I am up for this job now though.
Truck is 4x4, has 180k ish.
it seems that even being for parts these are selling on ksl for $5-7k. Is that right??

now that I’m not rebuilding it, I’ve thought about putting the engine and axles in my ‘78 Ford. But I’m also not that talented, so it would be a loooong process for me.

View attachment 140286

Dude, you can do that. Just write down a list of each major item that needs repair, create an estimate for each item, and think through the process of each individual repair.

Dont get too overwhelmed by thinking about the whole thing all at once.

 

[Mouse]

Please let us know if you decide to part it out. I could use some small pieces for my '02 (are the tube steps OK?)

 

[Rot Box]

Poor ol’ truck!

I’ve seen the machines in action straightening frames not sure if possible on a big truck like that though.. straighten frame, newer front clip (2010 is my favorite) and new heat exchangers would get it back on the road? Can’t be that bad… or can it? 🤔

Edit: just talked to my brother and he said it would be no stress for a shop with a frame straightener fwiw…

 

[Vonski]

I vote for something along these lines. COE related. 🤷‍♂️🤘

 

[ChestonScout]

I vote tear it down and see the real damage underneath. Once the junk is out of the way I bet it’s not that bad to bolt on new parts

After looking at a bunch of pics of totaled then rebuilt trucks lately this looks easy. 😂

 

[jeeper]

Good Gosh. I have gone down waay too many rabbit holes with this. I listed it for sale, hoping for a quick buck. I've got to get the truck off the street by Wednesday next week. If it hasn't sold, I will get serious about fixing it myself.

I REALLY would like to do a front end update on it, and bring it up to like a 2015 front end. If the truck were straight, an entire kit can be fitted for about $2,000. Seems totally worth it to me. But with it being so bent, I am sure things will not go that easy, or nearly that cheap.

I can find some good deals ($500ish) on entire gas engine trucks with bad motors in the 2000-2003 range that would have everything I need to rebuild the truck to original front end. That seems like a pretty cheap and effective way to get a reliable, but older looking truck up and running.

Obviously, the real right answer is to buy another truck, swap the needed parts and THEN do a front end update.. But is that more than I should tackle?

WWRMED??
(what would RME do )

 

[SnwMnkys]

Ive seen worse be fixed. Take it to a frame shop and get their opinion.

 

[1969honda]

Pull the front clip and everything out of the way, then either have the rails straightened or tube chassis the front clip of your choice back in.

 

[SnwMnkys]

Pull the front clip and everything out of the way, then either have the rails straightened or tube chassis the front clip of your choice back in.

Dont do this if you plan on having the frame straightened. A frame shop generally wants everything left in place. Let them decide if something needs to be removed for straightening. Not just the frame can be straightened by them. The front apron can be pulled on and leaving everything intact will give them a better story of how things line back up when they start pulling.

Even if you were to tube chassis the front end youd want to bring it to a frame shop and have them measure and straighten it. You dont want to do all that work and come to find out the frame was "diamond" which more than likely it was.

 

[jeeper]

Dont do this if you plan on having the frame straightened. A frame shop generally wants everything left in place. Let them decide if something needs to be removed for straightening. Not just the frame can be straightened by them. The front apron can be pulled on and leaving everything intact will give them a better story of how things line back up when they start pulling.

Even if you were to tube chassis the front end youd want to bring it to a frame shop and have them measure and straighten it. You dont want to do all that work and come to find out the frame was "diamond" which more than likely it was.

was does diamond mean?

 

[Trate D]

 

[Pile of parts]

was does diamond mean?

I would guess it refers to the shape of the frame. As in the entire frame not being square.

 

[85CUCVKRAWLER]

Pull the complete drivetrain and list is separately on FB/KSL for like $2000. Someone will come by before the weekend.

Put a pic on FB/KSL for pick-n-pull the rest. Youll get another $1000 off it easily.

Best you can do at this point