2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Now what should I do?

[Alphacowboy]

So, 2 weeks ago Monday, after finally getting the truck back on the road and running, I got nailed with 1" hail! I had some very light hail damage from a year ago, but nothing like what I sustained a couple weeks ago. Estimate for the repair is $2800! Of that, after subtracting my deductable I get $2300. 00 and I am trying to decide on what to do. I could pocket the money and just live with it, or I could have it fixed, but my truck needs much more body work for it to even make sense. SO... I am trying to decide what to do. I am actually contemplating on having the entire truck Linexed. One color up top, and black on the lower rockers. Figure, this way, most of the dents wont be noticable if any that is. the couple big dings I have from other stuff like rocks and dents in the bed rails could easily be filled, primed and lined right over. I dont know. I dont wheel the truck anymore, its a work truck, but it also is my driver when I am not working as well. I want it to look good again, but wondering if putting bed liner on the entire truck is going to look good or bad. I like Lances truck that he lined with Speedliner, BUT, its too bumpy for me. One of the reasons I was thinking linex instead, tends to be more flat and less bumpy. I really dont want to dump tons into body work and paint either. Hell, i wish I could find a 3rd gen 1/2 ton with a great body and attempt a 3rd gen QC body swap, but I have a feeling I couldnt accomplish that for what I am getting in insurance money, and wonder if its worth the nightmare trying to title it.



Hmmmm, maybe I should see if I can find a v10 or v8 3/4 ton 2nd gen with a blown engine that is a QC LWB in great shape and do that... . or just quit dreaming?



I am sick of looking at my truck, with scratches and dings all over it, now only to look like a golf ball. Its not TERRIBLE, but to me, its very very noticable. This baby is paid off, so I dont want to look into a new truck just yet, kinda like no payments. If its not one thing with this truck, its another.

 

[JFaughn]

I say do not worry about the looks , looks never made a better running truck , if money put into it does not serve a function then its throwing money away .
But if you can not get over it , then you are the only one responsible for making yourself happy .
Oh by the way , I'll take that ugly looking ft. bumper off your hands .

 

[RHebert]

I saw a 96 Dodge that had green Rhino lining sprayed all over it and it looked pretty good! I didn't ask him what he paid for it but he was very happy with the results. I might check it out as far as cost versus a new paint job.

 

[SRath]

There is a company called CamoClad (camoclad.com) that sells extremely durable vinyl camouflage for trucks, boats, jeeps, you name it. Some of their example vehicles look really cool! With a Mossy Oak pattern on top, Line-X on the bottom, you could have a really tough-looking truck that defies dirt (it's supposed to look like dirt and leaves and logs, after all) and probably dings due to the 3-D effect.



If necessary, you could fill the dings yourself with a decent skim-coat of filler and wouldn't have to really worry about your paint skills (you do want to seal it with paint, though. ). Then apply the camo.



I have strongly considered it for my own Dodge after the flying-buck did his thing to it... and my Chevy... and johnboat... and dirtbike... and living room furniture... and ... (I love camo and I love low-maintenance!)



There are several sellers of their products on ebay (search: "vinyl camo, camoclad) as well as Cabelas and others.



Tough, removable, and mucho macho. And I think your insurance payout will get some nice results and still leave money for the Line-X. A terrific combination!



Camoclad Camoflauge Products - Truck Wrap Kits, ATV, Boats, Window Tint, Vehicle Accents, decals, jeeps, SUV, 4 X 4, off road, ATV's, paint, camo



And I have dibs on that front bumper, JFaughn! LOL

 

[Mopar_Tim]

... ... ... buy 1500 long bed and do the swap ... ..... you have wanted a long bed since you traded in your old red truck ... ... . yeah i remember that

 

[tgordon]

Several years ago I got everything but one side of th ebed and one door replaced for the same reason. The only dents that bothered me were the ones in the hood because of the sunlight glares off them. Hind sight I would have only had them replce and paint that and left the rest alone. Got it back and the paint is always thinner than factory, so everthing rusts out fast, and who know where they got the panels from as to their quality. Plus they couldn't even put the third brake light in so that it wouldn't leak water.



Hence I do most all my own work now and would like to learn to do body work also. Then I have no one to blame but myself.

 

[SRath]

When you think about it, the only horizontal surfaces that should have taken much of a hit (if the truck was parked), were the hood and roof. Only truck drivers will see the roof... You're right about a dented hood driving you nuts, though. Its all you see...



The deer that launched himself through my windshield at 70mph did a number on my hood, both doors as his legs whipped around, and the roofline where it meets the windshield. Those few small, golfball size dents on the roofline (his antlers I suspect) are a bear to get out, and I won't bother since the new windshield does not leak. Instead, I am mounting a Lund visor which covers them nicely. The hood I hope to replace with a cool fiberglass hood with the "nostrils".



The doors I am just replacing with junkyard finds (trying to find ones with zero rust in that bottom door seam is tough though).



He did not break the sunroof, fortunately. And, most importantly, never even touched my grille or radiator and intercooler, etc.



It was while deciding what to fix and what to cover that I happened onto the vinyl camo stuff.



All told, everything is really a paint-it-and-bolt-it-on deal.

 

[rbattelle]

Hey Alpha, it's been awhile. What did you wind up deciding? I ask because I got some hail damage myself this week and I'm trying to decide what to do.

I'm thinking of pounding out the hood dents myself, then getting the hood (just the hood) Line-X'd.

I'm in the "gather opinions from TDR mode" at the moment.

-Ryan

 

[TLEarl]

Hey Alpha I might be able to help, maybe... I have a 97 Ext Cab LWB that I am planning on stripping the body off to be replaced with a 1970 Crew Cab Power Wagon. The only thing is is that I don't have immediate plans to take on this "little" project. Once I do, I plan on parting out the 97 body anyway. The 97 has a dent in the rocker panel on the passenger side and the hood and roof are heavily faded. Other than that she is pretty straight. Let me know if you want to explore this option any more.

Travis

 

[TLEarl]

Hmmm... I just noticed when you posted this. LOL probably not helpful for you now.

 

[S.Morris]

The dent master guys are well worth the trouble. What they can do is truly amazing with an experienced guy.

My father has a newer Corolla that was hammered with heavy hail. It looked like a wreck.

One full day with the dent guy and looks like a new car again. I could not believe it!

They have a series of different length rods with spoon shaped ends that they literally massage the metal back into shape without marking the paint

 

[rbattelle]

Yeah, Dent Wizard is on my short list of options. There are at least 2 dents that are in extremely bad locations, including one right at the seam where the windshield meets the roof. I can't imagine anyone getting that one out.

-Ryan