sadness
I wrecked my 06 Mustang in a crash Monday and the insurance is leaning towards totaled but I can't let my baby go. Is there a way I can fix it myself. Im not car savvy or anything but I have a father and a brother who's willing to help. any advice?

 

Yes. You can. It'll take time and tools and perseverance and learning and storage and patience and...

But you can.

If the frame rails aren't bent, then all that is replaceable and paintable. Looks like bumper cover, all the bumper, grille, hood, both headlamps, and two fenders. Maybe the condenser and radiator. Possibly the core support (thing the radiator hangs on, and what the bumper/grille/etc mount to.)

All of that is available. And even the frame rails are possible to repair or replace.

The problem with an insurance company with that 'old' a car is that it's cheaper to replace the car than fix it at whatever market value. If the car is worth 5K, and the repairs are 3K or so, they'll total the car. You'll have to 'buy the car back' from them to keep it. And then fix it. And you'll have a salvage title, which many would balk at. For what is really a fairly replaceable, not collectible, and really at the end of it not special car. And have probably paid way more than the thing is worth for the privilege, and not just money.

I'm not trying to be offensive here. It's your baby. It's a tough thing, letting go of a car you like. I have my babies too, see the signature. But I've come to a firm realization that although I *do* have the skills to repair all but the most heinous damage on these things, I will just have to let them go if the day comes. I hope it never does, but it is what it is. It will be cheaper, faster and easier to get another '06-ish GT and re-modify that one to somewhat come close to Awesome. No, it won't be Awesome. No car will ever be Awesome. But I can get it close, and that'd have to be as good as it gets. Because at the end of it... as much as I *love* driving, having, looking, working with and on her... she's 'just' a 2006 Mustang GT. Plenty of those still left. Bet I can come up with another if that needs to happen.

I've had that talk with them both. They understand. I do my best to not let it happen, but life is what it is, as you've found out.

I hate to say it, because I know, man... but you need to let it go if you can't commit to ALL the things. Time, space, storage, materials, money... Repairing that is not all that easy unless you've done it. I know. I've done this to a '66 Mustang. Didn't have to do welding, but the rest of the car... yep. I've done everything except rebuild a transmission and an axle. Everything else I've done. I can fix this car. But I probably would not if it were my GT and it were to be totaled. Easier to mod another car and have to be ok with that. These new cars bend way way too much to save the occupants these days...

THAT said... if you and your family are committed to doing it... I believe in you. Go watch some Goonzquad on Youtube. There's some inspiration right there. They buy wrecks and rebuild them. I can't help but watch them. You can learn a lot from those guys, who only a couple or three years ago were just figuring it out, and still are.

Playlist for you: Goonzquad, rebuilding a front end damaged Mustang: Pretty much what you're lookin' at. Go watch. They're currently up to a couple of Ferrari 458s, and have done several others. They're good information and entertaining to boot! (Spoiler: The car comes out *amazing*.)

Hope that helps in some way. Good luck with whatever you decide. And welcome to the forums!

 

That is a tough one. I empathize.

The hard reality is most of our mass-produced cars go to the crusher one day.

Houtex hit the nail on the head. It is do-able. But it'll take a LOT of your resources, especially time. And you will still be buying another car to get around in the interim.

If it were me, I would find another nice S197 as my replacement, take the money I was going to spend on my wrecked car, and use it to have fun on my un-wrecked car that doesn't have a salvage title.

My dad taught me, "Son, don't love any thing so hard with your heart you can't kick it off with your heel."

That said, it's you car and your decision shall be respected here.

 

"Is there a way I can fix it myself."

If you have to ask, I think you can't fix it yourself.

 

I have to disagree completely DE.

If I'd done that, if I'd had to ask and then hang my head defeated, I'd never have solved the electrical issue in my car. I wouldn't have fixed my motorcycle. I wouldn't have even attempted to completely upholster my '66 Mustang (which included covering the dash with vinyl instead of paint, putting in Fox seats front and back, and installing a '78 T-Bird map/dome light, among a lot of other things I did to that car), much less the body work and paint that went into it, which included rebuilding the scoop on one side. Never did it before. Competely pro when I got done. Swap the axle on it? Pfft, not possible. Swap the clutch on my '06 GT in my garage on jacks solo first time ever?

What planet we on? I had to ask these things, so I couldn't do it?

Nope. Get 'er done.

The saying should be "If you have to ask, you can learn and do. It's up to you on the how after that."

There is a way, you just gotta find it.

/But I'm still leaning towards moving on instead of fixing this one...

 

What an egotistical comment.

 

I don't view it as egotistical, I see it as encouraging. Basically, everyone who has ever done something had to do a first time. Prior to that, they had never done it. We all know what our comfort level is in trying domething new. Do we try it, or hire it out? All up to the individual. Houtex, who is very helpful and knowledgable here, is saying he had to learn the stuff he now knows. There was a time when he had not done it. (Sorry if I put words in Houtex's mouth).

 

 

I would take it to a body shop with a frame rack that can determine if your frame is bent.

 

Don't be sorry, that's exactly it.

Sure, I used *my* examples, but they're the ones closest to my heart. I'm dang proud of learning these things, and I can use them elsewhere, or repeat them!

But they also show that if I can do it, y'all can do it. I'm not a pro. I just wanted to and then did. Not for everyone, sure, but there it is. Up to y'all to do it if you want, whomever y'all are.

Carry on, take care.

 

Anything is rebuild-able if you have the time, money and patience. Anything. If anything pick up a Haynes repair manual and study it like the Bible. It's filled with tons of info and I still have mine (I think) when I bought my 05 even though I now have a 2019 GT. The biggest question mark is the frame rails. It they are tweaked it's critical to get it right the first time. Everything else is relatively easy. Don't be afraid to get your knuckles busted. I try to do all the work and maintenance on my 2019 GT Premium except for MAJOR engine or electrical issues. Our cars are so popular that you could start with a bare unibody and rebuild it from there out of a catalog. That being said, it will take time and patience. If you don't have alot of either or the willingness to stick with it then I suggest moving on. As far as the insurance goes, yes you can buy the car back with a salvage title attached but you may not be able to get collision coverage, just comprehensive. Don't let yourself get caught up in sentimentality though. Sometimes its just easier and more prudent to move on and take that insurance money and get some news wheels minus the headaches. As my hero Neil McCauley once stated : A guy told me one time, "Don't let yourself get attached to anything you are not willing to walk out on in 30 seconds flat if you feel the heat around the corner." Good luck!

 

With so many sweet rides out there just begging to be purchased from owners that barely used them, get yourself a 'new' ride and enjoy it. You loved your '06 and you will love this one too, plus no worries about repairs and that nasty ' bad title' whenever the time comes to sell. Good luck with your search if you choose to get another. Well maintained garage queens are out there just waiting for you to come look.

 

You never really know how much damage there truly is til you pull the face off,but it appears to be mainly cosmetic damage.Its always best though to have a body shop check the frame on a machine to verify.An alignment shop might even be able to check it,as a cheaper option.As far as the body panels go,you could likely source them from Pull-A-Part at a much cheaper price than buying new.
However bodywork would have to be done on these parts to get them ready for paint unless you got lucky enough to find parts with your exact color code,that arent faded from sitting in the sun at the junkyard (rare) New parts usually require less prep work to ready them for paint,but sanding priming will be needed for junkyard parts.If the insurance company doesn't total it,they'll likely be giving you a check for several thousand dollars that could definitely pay for all or most of the damage.Someone backed into the frontend of one of those small body style 86 toyota pickups (work truck) I had years ago & got the hood, windshield,grill,bumper & 1 headlight and their insurance company sent me a check for $2250.Needless to say,I continued driving the truck as it set for years and used the money for other things.

Another possibility on what you could do with the car,if the insurance company totals it,would be to buy another Mustang and keep this one in your backyard for spare parts,if the motor,transmission,rearend,etc are viable age/mileage wise.It would at least save you thousands and thousands of dollars not having to buy new parts everytime something goes out.Depending on where you live,there might be companies that buy wrecked Mustangs for the purpose of salvaging the viable parts for resell on the net or locally.Im not talking about the shysters either that give you $100-$300 for your car.Im referring to companies that specialize in Mustangs/Fords.
Delk Performance,Mustang Parts Specialties,etc are just a few.