Chris,

I got a Ford 150 in the back of my '86 westy last summer.  I told the
insurance company I would take $5000.00 put they said to fix it.  Three
months and $5,500 later I got my van back.  Looked great and ran great.

Charles Michaux

----------
> From: Chris Turner <JordanVw@AOL.COM>
> To: Vanagon@GERRY.SDSC.EDU
> Subject: Re: Rear ended 83 Watercooled; Totalled what to do?
> Date: Wednesday, October 22, 1997 4:02 PM
>
> In a message dated 97-10-22 07:06:15 EDT, alangondry@JUNO.COM (Alan S
Gondry)
> writes:
>
> << I had the misfortune of being rear ended by a Ford F-150 pickup a week
>  ago last Saturday.  I drove away, but, the van has a coolant leak now.
>  The insurance company wants to total it.
>
>  Basically to recap:  smashed bumper, rear hatch, and everything in the
>  rear up to the engine.  $3200 of damage.
>
>  My request is for advice.  Do I take them up on the offer?  Take a cash
>  settlement and fix it?  Scrap it myself?  None of the above?
>
>  Has anyone had the same problem?  Advice would be nice. >>
>
>
> if the van is a good runner, and has no other big $ problems before the
> accident, and if the coolant leak is not a cracked block, and is
something
> that can easily be fixed, then buy it back from the ins co. (for a couple
> hundred bucks) and put on another hatch, bumper, pull out the damage
yourself
> as best as you can, put on another used bumper, and just drive it.  all
of
> the preceeding, you can do yourself....
>
> chris