Wife wrecked 98 Tracker 1.6L 5sp 2wd - suggestions?

[mw2760]

My wife wrecked my 98 Tracker 1.6L 5sp 2wd soft top, damage is left door and left quarterpanel. No apparent frame damage, but I have no expertise in body work. Heck, not much on engine work either.

Since I really want a 4x4, and I have seen some Trackers on craigslist that have bad engines, is this a smart idea? Is it even possible to mix/match my engine with a different year 4x4 body/chassis?

Oh, btw - I'm on a budget here, so cost of doing anything will play into it.

Buying a body/chassis would cost $500/600. I can follow directions, so would plan on doing the engine swap myself. Having someone repair the body stuff would cost way more than that. Of course there may be something I'm not including, since I don't really know squat about this.

It's been my daily driver since '01, and 1 yr ago we moved to Colorado Springs, which is at the gateway to incredible 4x4 areas. I really, really miss driving it, and this would be my cheapest way to break into 4x4, as I don't want to buy a Jeep.

Any suggestions on which way I should go?

[Tracker Tommy]

I sugguest you smack that Bitch around & teach her a lesson for wrecking ur Tracker.

[jtgh]

buy it back from the ins co. $300 is typical
then buy new one with collision proceeds. 96-98

and then you have lift time of spare parts.

[mw2760]

First off - kept the Tracker, got rid of the wife. Future problems solved.

Had just dropped to liability only. Getting jack from Ins. Good idea though.

[Tracker Tommy]

Originally Posted by mw2760

First off - kept the Tracker, got rid of the wife. Future problems solved.

Had just dropped to liability only. Getting jack from Ins. Good idea though.

Good man, hope u used a wood chipper to get rid of the body, or dug a 10ft hole, the cops never go further than 8 ft.

[jtgh]

sorry! for you loss !!!, then find a dead 96-98, no start, cars are dirt cheap , just make a low ball offer. $1k?
and it is yours.

id avoid harness swaps so stay in side your Generation.96-98

unless you got lots of free time.

I'd do it, if it were mine, but im 1/2 retired now, and full in 18 months.
when i do fully unplug , Im building a home and then trying to restore a eco turbo car.
something not sold in usa. something like a Swift GTi or the like.

i love doing the work on cars and fiddling custom ECU's , what a blast.
i do hope you can find a replacement easy. check craigs first.

cheers.

[deeznutts77]

if you havent got money from ins and bougt it back yet tell them 100 shy of totaled so you dont get a salvage title. or sell me some parts cause i have a 96 in need of help!!!!!!!!!!!

[CodyJ]

Originally Posted by deeznutts77

if you havent got money from ins and bougt it back yet tell them 100 shy of totaled so you dont get a salvage title. or sell me some parts cause i have a 96 in need of help!!!!!!!!!!!

He had liability only... which means I doubt thats going to be happening...

I run this on both of my trackers. Seem easy to repair if you do get into a wreck. A new door... and some bondo for your problem or having a welder and torch would be handy, but check with auto shops, maybe get it half-assed and bondo the rest. Since you want to make it into a 4x4, make it somewhat presentable and go with it, then you won't have to worry about having a known good car and wrecking it and being even more pissed if you 4x4'er it up wrong and roll over or something.

[John TN]

Originally Posted by deeznutts77

if you havent got money from ins and bougt it back yet tell them 100 shy of totaled so you dont get a salvage title. or sell me some parts cause i have a 96 in need of help!!!!!!!!!!!

Good luck if you decide to go to 4wd conversion, as said if you part it out, I'm in the market for an insturment cluster myself.

[TheZuke!]

mw2760,

Would you post a photo or three of your car, including the
damage?

(I'm just another one of those rubber-necking lookie-Lou (curiosity seekers)
driving by).