Damn Ice! Tree limb smashed my Suburban.

Agreed with others in that I would at least exhaust your counteroffer arguments until you've thoroughly reached a dead end.

Beyond that, I don't know if you know any body guys, but a rust free mechanically sound Sub is going to be worth fixing. It's a big job, but with $2K in hand and the means to source the donor, you could likely splice in the Blazer idea.

And/or if you have time on your hands, $2K will find you a rust free Burban shell and get it sprayed to match the rest of your panels, and keep your doors/front clip/etc. It'd be a labor heavy project but you could swap out the body on your existing frame and keep all your current doors/bits/pieces/interior/front clip.

Neither will be an easy button option with the money they're currently offering.

Good luck!

You're very unlikely to get out of it what you've put into it. However, that doesn't mean you can't challenge the offer. Definitely go find other trucks that are comparable to yours..and be as realistic as possible. Document and show them why your truck is not an average old Suburban. If you have all that, I would suspect they will reconsider.

That looks to be the going rate for them around here. Here is an outlier for your purposes

http://portland.craigslist.org/nco/cto/4357117382.html

From the rust-free south...

http://augusta.craigslist.org/cto/4339774968.html

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Chevrolet-Suburban-SILVERADO-1988-CHEVROLET-SUBURBAN-454-SILVERADO-2500-3-4-TON-/231170718517?forcerrptr=true&hash=item35d2d93b35&item=231170718517&pt=US_Cars_Trucks

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Chevrolet-Suburban-silverado-1990-suburban-k1500-4x4-original-paint-rust-free-arizona-truck-/111292004095?forcerrptr=true&hash=item19e98536ff&item=111292004095&pt=US_Cars_Trucks

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Chevrolet-Suburban-Silverado-1990-Chevrolet-Suburban-Silverado-2WD-Rust-Free-Adult-Owned-Very-Nice-/221383531045?forcerrptr=true&hash=item338b7c9a25&item=221383531045&pt=US_Cars_Trucks

reminded of when my Uncle's work van got smushed by a tree. The whole thing got thrown back and forth by his car insurance and home owner's. The insurance company on the van wouldn't touch it.. claiming it was an act of god and that his home owners should cover it. Home Owners said "nope" this is why you have insurance on it.

It took a lawyer to get the car insurance company to cough up the dough. In the end, my uncle kept the van and used a 2 ton hydraulic jack to pop the roof back up and then replaced the rear doors

Klayfish wrote: You're very unlikely to get out of it what you've put into it. However, that doesn't mean you can't challenge the offer. Definitely go find other trucks that are comparable to yours..and be as realistic as possible. Document and show them why your truck is not an average old Suburban. If you have all that, I would suspect they will reconsider.

Mine was in great shape...it really was. After my 91 blew a headgasket at 303k miles I searched for a few months to find my next one and this 89 is the best one I found. I think I'm going to have a real hard time convincing them of that, but the truth is I really did seek out the best two tone blue 4x4 Suburban I could find. They sent me the valuation with comps and the comps don't even have pictures or descriptions showing condition, so not much of a comp imo. Hell one was even 2wd. I'll keep fighting and she what, if anything, comes of it.

Well it pays, at least sometimes, to plead your case and prove your vehicle was above average.

The pay out went from 1988.21 to 5356.80 with me keeping and from 2391.44 to 6821.00 if I gave it up. I still wanted to keep it so went with the $5356.80. That was the number after paying the deductible, which was 500, so I'm happy with it.

Between the built 700r4, 33" MTs, Mickey Thompson aluminum wheels, engine, axles, etc it was well worth the 1400 and change to hang onto it. Now I just need to go pick up that Blazer Chalet from Indy.

That's great to hear. Good luck with what's next and I hope there is a build thread for it.

Well done sir!

good negotiating. I did almost that same bump once on a totaled Civic.

neon4891 wrote: That's great to hear. Good luck with what's next and I hope there is a build thread for it.

I'll do a build thread for sure. Right now I'm shopping for a plasma cutter!

that thing is here? Damn! Make sure you let us know when you're up here, we'll grab a bite.

This thread (and future threads) brings me joy!

Cotton wrote: I'll do a build thread for sure.

Awesome. This should be epic.

Bobzilla wrote: that thing is here? Damn! Make sure you let us know when you're up here, we'll grab a bite.

Yeah man. He keeps them in storage near the Mannheim auction lot at their Indy location. I actually thought about seeing if you wanted to bring it to TN for a fee, but the guy has a lot of cool stuff apparently, so I want to go check everything out. I'll let you know once we pick dates.

Excited.

ok #1 that blows.

number 2, i'm cutting up a 90 later this year if you need the roof and glass

number 3, look up burbalanche. then bust out the saw and do it.

If you're interested, this rust free shell is available for $300 in Lexington SC.

In reply to xflowgolf: Thanks for looking out, but I actually have a pretty clean 91 parts burb, but I'm really hoping to do this whole crazy k5 blazer/blazer chalet/suburban combination. I mean if my wife doesn't think I'm totally nuts yet I think this will do it!

Quick update. I had intended to buy a beater blazer chalet to steal the camper shell off to put on the burb. Well, in my search I ended up finded a sweet Blazer Chalet that I couldn't pass up! Now, the plan is to use the new Chalet for camping and install one of those canvas blazer roofs on the burb.

Like this: http://www.softopper.com/chevy-blazer-gen3

If anyone sees one for sale used please let me know because I kind of hate to pay 800 plus for one.

Anyway here are the specs on the new (to me ) Chalet:

77 Blazer Chalet

converted to 3/4 ton axles with 4.10 gears

GM 350HO 330HP crate engine

2.5 inch dual exhaust with H pipe

built th350

onboard belt driven aircompressor

Rickard Engineering rear bumper with dual swing away tire carriers & aux back-up lights

Rear bumper is also air tank. Quick tire air up and can easily run air tools

AC works

Rancho adjustable shocks with in cab controller

additional fuel tank for a total capacity of 57 gallons

re-arched springs

16x8 aluminum wheels with 33 inch tires

Front receiver hitch

more pics to follow

That Chalet is awesome. I'll keep an eye out for the soft top.

THAT IS AWESOME!

Too cool!

Awesome Blazer. Seems like a lot of weight out back. Better swap in a 454 for better balance.