[Maestro]

I know PA looked into changing how cars were issues a reconstructed title. Reason be, back in the 90's after one of the big Hurricanes down south, companies bough up all the flood cars, cleaned them up, got them running and immediately transported them to other states and got new titles issues in those state as if they were just ordinary used cars. Then they turned around and sold all those cars with clean titles. PA was one of the states which got a large number of those cars due to how their titling laws was written at the time. Later those cars failed and PA looked into it and found out what was done. PA claimed they we going to change how titles are issues especially on cars which insurance companies paid out on. This is also the reason Carfax exist today.

[RNByrd3]

So I was able to buy the car back from the insurance company, but am now having a difficult time finding a shop that is willing to take on the repairs. My idea was to have a shop repair the "frame damage" and paint the new bumper cover, and I would do the rest of the work myself.
I took the car to one shop who said that just from looking at the car, they didn't feel it was actual frame damage and could be repaired on a frame table, but that they are not interested in getting involved. Another shop said that they usually don't like to take on salvage title vehicles, but that they are willing to take a look at the car to see if it's something they'd want to get involved in. If they are willing to repair it, they want to do the entire job, not just a portion of it like I'd proposed.
The frustration continues...

[Serf27]

Nice!
Yes it could be repaired on the frame machine.
Not sure where you’re located, but load it on a trailer one morning and drive around to shops, someone will do it.

[RNByrd3]

Originally Posted by Serf27

Nice!
Yes it could be repaired on the frame machine.
Not sure where you're located, but load it on a trailer one morning and drive around to shops someone will do it.

I'm in Lancaster, PA. Not far from Philly, Harrisburg...

[tcphoto]

I hope that you were able to negotiate a good price, it's a great candidate to rebuild.

[RNByrd3]

Originally Posted by tcphoto

I hope that you were able to negotiate a good price, it's a great candidate to rebuild.

We are still in negotiations, and I expect to collect some additional money when all is said and done. So far, my loan has been paid off, and the buy-back cost and deductible were covered by the GAP insurance.

[Serf27]

Originally Posted by RNByrd3

I'm in Lancaster, PA. Not far from Philly, Harrisburg...

I’m way over here in CA. There is quite a few shops here in my town and even more in neighboring cities.

Just tow the car around asking any shops near by.
Use your best judgment when talking to the shop owner or manager to decide if you think they will do a good job or not.
I think it will have to be a smaller shop that will do the work. The big companies don’t like to waste time for half a job or get into liability issues, like the 2 places you have already called. But a small shop will take any work you give them.
Just need to make sure they will do a good job.

[RNByrd3]

She's alive!
I just got an email from the body shop that she's all done and ready to pick up. He teased me with this photo. I hope that front bumper gap isn't as uneven as it looks in the photo...

[Boosted12a]

Congrats! Looks good. I've bought back a few totaled cars and drove em for many more miles. Glad you could save her

[vilord]

Glad you were able to bring yours back!

Are those LCI lights with replacement rings, or aftermarket? Been thinking of swapping out my aging LED rings and putting on some new lenses.

[RNByrd3]

Originally Posted by vilord

Glad you were able to bring yours back!

Are those LCI lights with replacement rings, or aftermarket? Been thinking of swapping out my aging LED rings and putting on some new lenses.

They're aftermarket.

[gT-BMW]

just seeing this thread for the first time. what a sweet car. no wonder you want to fix it.

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by RNByrd3

She's alive!
I just got an email from the body shop that she's all done and ready to pick up. He teased me with this photo. I hope that front bumper gap isn't as uneven as it looks in the photo...

Looks great. The gap is probably a lighting issue in the photo. How did the body shop repair the frame rail?

[RNByrd3]

Originally Posted by Efthreeoh

Looks great. The gap is probably a lighting issue in the photo. How did the body shop repair the frame rail?

I found a shop that did as many on here suggested could be done, and they straightened everything on a frame table.

[RNByrd3]

Got her back and finally took some photos (unfortunately she is pretty dirty right now).