What to do with my 98 rodeo

So about 2 months ago, i had a low speed accident on some ice. My ride needs new bumper cover, hood, drivers fender, headlight, and turn signal. I'm up in the air on what to do. I can get everything delivered online for about $700, but would still need to find a collision repair shop to complete the panel beating and paint. Considering the low resale vaule of these cars, i'm not sure what do with it. Its been a great car to me so far. Currently has 110,000 miles, V6, 5 speed, 4x4, S model. Any ideas? Any interested buyers? Anybody with a cheaper front end replacement option????

NEIL

DIY. it's all bolt on stuff.

I had a similar experience a couple years back. Ran me $400 and change for a new hood, valance, corner lamp, turning signals x2, headlamp and delivery. I never quite got around to painting it - hopefully this summer. I skimped on getting a new grille, front quarter panel and paint job. Was simple DIY bolt on work as described above.

I couldn't justify spending any more than I absolutely had to (seeing as how I only paid $1000 for the entire uncrashed car :) ).

Needless to say, the rodeo does not fit in with the Land Rovers, Acuras, Porsches and Volvos up here in Middlebury - but she does get significantly more off-road time than any other vehicle.

...And my father cringes at the thought of being seen in/around the rodeo. I'm sure he wouldn't mind if I never parked it in the driveway again.

Just replace the sheet metal. If the radiator support is bent you can buy a port-a-power (http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=44899) to push it back into shape. Then find someone to paint it if you need it to match. Just dont go to maaco, I made that mistake with my mitsu when I fixed it after it got totalled. Spent $500 in parts, some time with the portapower and another $500 for a craptastic paint job.

If you want to see what $5000 worth of damage to a rodeo looks like (thats what the insurance paid) here is a pic of Protetypes rodeo earlier this year..
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f12/protetype/Rodeo/IMG_2261.jpg

First time I've seen a "port-a-power." There is always the poor man's way...

I actually hooked a two strap around the support and pulled the support back out with one of my atvs. Got the idea after uprooting several old shrubs around the yard...

STOP posting that picture, Gizmo....gives me bad memories :grinno:

My '97 looked like Protetype's front-end some years back too; insurance covered it, totalling roughly $3.5k.

Had to have new hood, bumper, grill, passenger fender, turning signal; but it was 100% driveable - just not very pretty at the time.

If the same accident were to occur again, at it's 10yrs of age, I'd fix it as cheaply as possible, if possible; if cheap was not possible, but the truck was still 100% driveable, I'd keep it and drive it anyway.

Once the front end is bashed then you dont have to worry about beating it up on the trails LOL.

HERE (http://www.geocities.com/gizmo_42/truck.html) are some pics of my mitsu when it got totalled including some taken during repairs. You can see where the rad support was bent up and I pushed it back out with the portapower. I've had that tool since highschool and its more then paid for itsself over the years.

Wow Gizmo that rodeo is the same color as mine. No more pictures of it smashed up please!

Laugh At Me I Once Tied The Support To A Tree And Just Backed Up Untill I Had It Where I Wanted It

SO i think i'll go ahead and fix it.

Quick question though.... is there anything special to know about the air bag sensors when pulling off the bumper and reinforcements.... don't want to set those things off!!!!!

I'm curious about the sensor location, too. When I did my front end work, I didn't see a sensor or encounter a problem, and I removed the bumper and air dam. Luckily my daughter's accident was low speed and the bags didn't go off.

I dont know where they put them but they arent in the bumper. I've had mine off twice and no wiring going to the bumper besides my driving lights. You can always just disconnect the battery to be sure.