2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Tree crushed my Truck-help?

[JStauble]

well a nice tree came down a couple weeks ago on my 99 quad cab. It landed across the back of the cab folding in the roof. I just got my insurance check in the mail and on the statement they have $704. 00 for a roof panel? I searched but didn't find anyone ever replacing a roof panel? Thinking of doing it myself and looking for any advice or suggestions? I didn't even know you could replace just the roof? Thanks Josh

 

[JCyrbok]

Not sure how to do it, but I am sure that it would take some very good body work skills and experience. It can be done. About 7 years about my buddies chevy got really messed up ( as did MANY other cars/houses in the area) by a really bad hail storm that hit with a very severe T-storm. Hail was about the size of baseballs. His insurance did not total out his truck, even though when looking at it, it looked like someone went crazy with a ball-peen hammer ALL over it.



The ins company paid to have the roof, amoung other areas replaced. As I remember the body shop removed his roof either where it met the upper A and B pillars etc or they actually removed the pillars and roof, cant remember. They did do a great job putting it back together and painting and you could not tell that there was a repair. Everything lined up too. They had the truck for about a month to get this and all the other damage repaired on his truck. I would think that it would be hard to do in your drive unless you had ALOT of body work experience etc, but I may be wrong as I have NO body work experience.



Hope this helps and sorry to see your rig in that shape,

J-

 

[JStauble]

Thanks for the reply, I am realy bummed about the damage and hope to get it fixed soon.
I have some friends who run a fab shop and hopefully can get there help as my personal skills are not at that level. I just don't see where it would "unbolt/detach". I checked and the quote for a roof panel is from Dodge so it must be something common or at least known. Josh

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

My Ford driving RV bud had a eucalyptus branch fall on his truck top - it cost about $1200 to replace the top panel - did a good job, and I suppose our Dodges can be done equally well...

 

[Jdorfmeyer]

To do a roof skin remove and install you take out the front and back glass and all interior you don't want to mess up. You have to cut the factory spot welds on all four sides and then you can remove roof skin from the roof braces underneith. You then have to clean up all weld areas and roof braces and reform the braces and lay the new roof on. The shop then welds or uses structural glue to put new roof skin on and then paint. You also have damage on your cab corner where the tree hit that will need to be repaired before the new skin can be put back on. Everything that the skin touches has to be straight in order to get a good fit before new panel is applied. I was in the body work business for over 11 years and it is a very common repair. Take it to a good shop and they will have no problems. Your truck will be back to new in no time. Good Luck

 

[JStauble]

Thanks Jdorfmeyer!
Guess I won't try it myself! But sounds like I need to start looking for a good body shop to get the job done. thanks again Josh!

 

[Grizzly]

Thanks Jdorfmeyer!

Guess I won't try it myself! But sounds like I need to start looking for a good body shop to get the job done. thanks again Josh!

You better be talking to your insurance man again, because $704 isn't going to cover the repairs for all the damage you have.

 

['strokeThis_'07]

I did body work for a couple years and the last shop i worked in did one on a dodge, it wasnt that big of a deal... the hardest part was trying to get the windshield out without breaking it so it could be reused (it broke) but the damage was just like yours, so yeah its no big deal, although Id recommend unless your real comfortable with your skills, take it to a GOOD body shop, and 704 wont cover it...

 

[Melton]

you might want to check with LMC, they now carry dodge parts. I have used them to restore a 67 Ford and am real pleased with the parts and the service.

 

[JStauble]

Whats LMC?
and I got more than $704 but that what they said dodge wants for the new roof panel. Labor was a couple grand more. The Girl thinks I should sell it for what I owe, and use the insurance money to get a newer model. Not sure what to do yet. How much would you take off a value of the truck with damage like this? thanks josh

 

[KAlder]

find the value of your truck and subtract what the insurance company gave you.

 

[JStauble]

Thanks, I probably should of just guessed that.

 

[Hammer]

Try this for your needed roof part... .



http://car-part.com/



Hope this helps you some..... Andy