So I was hit by a GMC Suburban today

[swashplate]

:?: SEE BELOW FOR MY QUESTION...

LINK TO PHOTOS...http://www.flickr.com/photos/76209390@N06/

On my way to the gas station a 1993 GMC Suburban turned left in front of me.
I was going 25mph or less and I don't know about her GMC.
I was by myself and she had 3 small kids.
I tried to avoid the hit by turning to the right and braking.
She kept coming to her left at me.
Then she hit me.
My left side of my head hit the side glass and everything came to a halt.
I reached for my phone and called 911.
Police and Ambulance came for me as the other folks were out on the curb already.
So my left side of my head hurts a bit but no blood, no cuts, no broken bones.

AS FOR THE PINZ...damaged, broken, or bend...

Front cowl/hood=bent
under the left door=bent
left front rim=dent
front glass=cracked
front glass frame=bent?
5-bar foot plate=bent
area under foot plate=bent
headlight frame=bent
turn signal=broken
headlight protectors=bent
front bumper=bent

I cant push the clutch all the way down
I cant open the drivers door

BUT I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE BACK HOME.

I was told by the police officer that she was in the wrong for turning left in front of me (improper left turn)

I have called her insurance company, Farmers, and have filed a claim.

MY QUESTION>???????
any doo's or don'ts to get the pinz up and back together correctly?

Thanks,
KT

[krick3tt]

Sad to hear of your loss. I fear the day of my asking your same question.

[undysworld]

KT,

Glad you're okay (the others too). Unless you're really a body-shop guy, I'd look for one of the shops that do Pinz-specific work and have them give you an estimate. Thilo's, Linden, Exp. Imports, I'm not sure who'd be closest to you. They might even have a salvage truck they could get some parts from. I don't know if a "normal" body shop would know what to do with a Pinz.

Without seeing pics, it's hard to gather how bad it is. But repair costs can add up pretty fast, especially I'd think if the body was involved.

Not many guys report accidents here. I'll be interested to hear how this works out for you.

[berger]

Glad to hear you are okay.

How does your insurance work for the Pinz? Will they claim it a right-off because of the age, or will they allow you to get it fixed?

[swashplate]

Glad to hear you are okay.

How does your insurance work for the Pinz? Will they claim it a right-off because of the age, or will they allow you to get it fixed?

Well I am not filing the claim under my insurance, I am filing against the person that hit me...FARMERS.

[4x4Pinz]

If you choose a body shop locally, find one that specializes in unibody vehicles. Body alignment in important for the doors to work properly. Trouble with most shops is they want to use a lot of bondo or similar product, which will in time vibrate off. The few trucks that I have seen that have had accidents never are the same. In any case you would be well advised to give which ever shop you choose the phone number to one of the pinz repair shops that have been listed above. If you have a decent repair manual it will have the body dimensions in a blueprint form. This can be very helpful to a unibody shop to get it as close as possible to the original specs.

[CentAr712]

I think it is very likely that the insurance company will declare it a total loss just based on the high cost of Pinz parts alone, not to mention labor. If they declare it "totaled" but you want to keep it, don't give them the title when they ask for it, instead tell them to just deduct the salvage bid from your check. This will prevent the situation where you sign over the title and then buy the truck back from the insurance company...but when you get a new title it will be a "salvage title". By telling them to just deduct the salvage bid from your check, you keep the original title and avoid the stigma of a salvage title. This situation happened to me a few years ago with a new motorcycle I had just bought, the insurance adjuster seemed surprised at my proposition, but had no problem with it since it saved him trouble... thus I had a totaled bike that I was easily able to rebuild with the insurance check and have money left over and no salvage title.

[swashplate]

I think it is very likely that the insurance company will declare it a total loss just based on the high cost of Pinz parts alone, not to mention labor. If they declare it "totaled" but you want to keep it, don't give them the title when they ask for it, instead tell them to just deduct the salvage bid from your check. This will prevent the situation where you sign over the title and then buy the truck back from the insurance company...but when you get a new title it will be a "salvage title". By telling them to just deduct the salvage bid from your check, you keep the original title and avoid the stigma of a salvage title. This situation happened to me a few years ago with a new motorcycle I had just bought, the insurance adjuster seemed surprised at my proposition, but had no problem with it since it saved him trouble... thus I had a totaled bike that I was easily able to rebuild with the insurance check and have money left over and no salvage title.

Well I would rather have it fixed by Scott at EI if he does that sort of stuff.

I think most can be fixed as nothing is really broken just kinds bent.

I'll have to post pics tomorrow when i can get outside and the sun is up.

[Old Warrior]

Hope you're all right, might be a little stiff tomorrow morning. You might try Ted at T & T Auto/Marine (775) 786-5255 in the business complex on the S/E side of Glendale & Rock. He worked on my 710K model. It's the one painted Sand & Black.
Did a lot of body work, including the doors, everything fits like a glove now. He does take his time though. He's worked on many VW's, car show winners. i know a few old Viet Nam veteran truck/track mechanics who have helped me with my Pinz
Take Care !!
Old Warrior

[swashplate]

Hope you're all right, might be a little stiff tomorrow morning. You might try Ted at T & T Auto/Marine (775) 786-5255 in the business complex on the S/E side of Glendale & Rock. He worked on my 710K model. It's the one painted Sand & Black.
Did a lot of body work, including the doors, everything fits like a glove now. He does take his time though. He's worked on many VW's, car show winners. i know a few old Viet Nam veteran truck/track mechanics who have helped me with my Pinz
Take Care !!
Old Warrior

Awesome, Ill give him a call too.

You still have your pinz and live local?

[Old Warrior]

You Bet !!
I've driven the Pinz in the Verteran's Day Parade and was at the Verteran's Guest House Radiothone last month. I just found the forum last week and was crusin through when I read about your accident, sooooo I registered so I could possibly help.
During this winter, I've replaced all the fuel lines and hoses and repaired the odometer so now it finally works. Still alot of custom work to be done. If I can be of any more help, Let me know
Take Care, the bruises start tomorrow

Old Warrior

[swashplate]

HERE IS A LINK TO PHOTOS...http://www.flickr.com/photos/76209390@N06/

I tried to use the functions "Img" to insert the webpage link and that did not work

[Old Warrior]

Kurt
Good photos ! Everything looks repairable and/or replaceable on the Pinz. Good Luck !!!
Old Warrior

[swashplate]

Kurt
Good photos ! Everything looks repairable and/or replaceable on the Pinz. Good Luck !!!
Old Warrior

Sent you a PM

[Jimm391730]

Generally, what I have seen done is that a "porta-power" or similar tool is used to push the body back out to position as best as possible and then Bondo for a smooth finish. I had Andre help me when my truck decided to ignore the parking brake and rolled into a tree which did less but similar damage to the passenger side corner of my 710M. If you didn't know what had happened you probably wouldn't notice where it was repaired.

In your case, the front of the door opening needs to be pushed forwards 1/4" or so to allow the door to fit right, and get the footwell and headlight area back into shape.

You might have to threaten Farmers with a lawsuit to ensure that they give you the true value for your truck based on current prices - the Pinz is too unusual for them to be able to just look up the Kelly's Blue Book value on it. Scott at EI, T-Lo, SAV can all probably help to estabish a value for you.

Stick to your guns! And best of luck. Any pictures or description of the damage to the Suburban?