Hellcat Engine Swap

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I can't believe the insurance isn't repairing that. From that angle it doesn't look horrible.
 
That Challenger needs more than just an engine swap....
 
Most cars with blown air bags get totalled.

Karl, not swap the engine to fix it

Pull it and put in something else

22,000 would be a lot but once you part out the car or switch everything over to say a Dart convertible, you could have a killer car

If I had the money to do it would love to get a totaled SRT 392 for my next engine in my Dart
 
Direct hit to the right side of the bumper reinforcement, probably will need a lower rail replacement. Will need to pull engine and suspension to do that. Besides air bags, it might need a new dash, too.
 
I can't believe the insurance isn't repairing that. From that angle it doesn't look horrible.

insurance don't repair brand new cars if you have the proper coverage; new vehicle replacement, would you want your brand new smashed car back or a brand new one like it?

Most cars with blown air bags get totalled.

Karl, not swap the engine to fix it

Pull it and put in something else

22,000 would be a lot but once you part out the car or switch everything over to say a Dart convertible, you could have a killer car

If I had the money to do it would love to get a totaled SRT 392 for my next engine in my Dart


that car is quite fixable but your correct that most insurance companies total the car because the air bags cost more then the actual damage done to the car, some roof airbags cost $1500 each, then the seat belts would be locked and have to be replaced, the crash controller would have to be re flashed and much more.

but you have to realize thats an insurance auction, not just anyone can buy it and you would be competing against large body shops that want to rebuild the car to resell

I work at a shop that would fix that, heck its not even bad, pull it to where its straight and put a drivers side rail on it
 
insurance don't repair brand new cars if you have the proper coverage; new vehicle replacement, would you want your brand new smashed car back or a brand new one like it?

Which insurance companies won't repair brand new cars? I'd like to know.
 
Which insurance companies won't repair brand new cars? I'd like to know.

if you have new vehicle replacement its an automatic write off after a certain cost to fix; every insurance company offers this coverage and its almost stupid not to have it, this car was wrote off because of that I'm sure as its not even hit that hard
 
I'm also a professional collision repair technician and damage estimator. The fact is you can't tell how bad it is from the pics, they just let you guess. One thing people don’t think about is the fancy new thing called “Diminished Value”. That car, even repaired correctly is worth less. On something like a Hellcat that could $10,000 to $15,000.
Then we have parts cost. As an example, on a 2014 Ford Escape with HID headlights, the headlight replacement cost (2 bulbs, 2 ballast and 2 housings) is $4,200. That’s right, $4,200 for 2 headlights. If any of the wires related to the SRS (airbag) system under the hood got damaged that requires an engine harness replacement because repairs are not allowed on that system (even if it’s just a simple one wire splice). Just another example of why it’s only a guess looking at those pics.
If the damage even touched the engine crank, the insurance company will take into account that the engine may need replacement or repair, they won’t take the risk on something that high dollar and they don’t do partial repairs for testing.
You also have the major structural issues. The right rail is toast but the left rail, if damaged in a crush zone could just as well be junk. You can’t make repairs in a crush zone and I don’t know if rail sectioning is allowed on that car.
When making a repair on a car, as a professional, in a licensed shop, the repair must be cosmetically correct, structurally correct to OEM standards, and deliver the same OEM occupant protection for the next crash.
 
You would think that this is going to be sold to someone that is going to flip the car. It will have a salvage title and i wouldn't see it bringing more than 35-40K if it was on sale TODAY. As more cars get out there the price will come down as people that are desperate for one will have one. I don't think it will go for more than 25K. If it does its either someone fixing it for themselves or they will lose money on the deal.
 
I'm also a professional collision repair technician and damage estimator. The fact is you can't tell how bad it is from the pics, they just let you guess. One thing people don’t think about is the fancy new thing called “Diminished Value”. That car, even repaired correctly is worth less. On something like a Hellcat that could $10,000 to $15,000.
Then we have parts cost. As an example, on a 2014 Ford Escape with HID headlights, the headlight replacement cost (2 bulbs, 2 ballast and 2 housings) is $4,200. That’s right, $4,200 for 2 headlights. If any of the wires related to the SRS (airbag) system under the hood got damaged that requires an engine harness replacement because repairs are not allowed on that system (even if it’s just a simple one wire splice). Just another example of why it’s only a guess looking at those pics.
If the damage even touched the engine crank, the insurance company will take into account that the engine may need replacement or repair, they won’t take the risk on something that high dollar and they don’t do partial repairs for testing.
You also have the major structural issues. The right rail is toast but the left rail, if damaged in a crush zone could just as well be junk. You can’t make repairs in a crush zone and I don’t know if rail sectioning is allowed on that car.
When making a repair on a car, as a professional, in a licensed shop, the repair must be cosmetically correct, structurally correct to OEM standards, and deliver the same OEM occupant protection for the next crash.

I see hundreds of the headlights go by each day, $4,200 is rediculous but seen where edmunds took a sledgehammer to a new F150 and cracked the tail light and it was almost $900 due to the sensors in the housing.

Great info from an expert.

Have a friend that owns a body shop and he talks of cars fixed that are not up to standards from other shops, his will not cut corners and fix totals
 
I'm also a professional collision repair technician and damage estimator. The fact is you can't tell how bad it is from the pics, they just let you guess. One thing people don’t think about is the fancy new thing called “Diminished Value”. That car, even repaired correctly is worth less. On something like a Hellcat that could $10,000 to $15,000.
Then we have parts cost. As an example, on a 2014 Ford Escape with HID headlights, the headlight replacement cost (2 bulbs, 2 ballast and 2 housings) is $4,200. That’s right, $4,200 for 2 headlights. If any of the wires related to the SRS (airbag) system under the hood got damaged that requires an engine harness replacement because repairs are not allowed on that system (even if it’s just a simple one wire splice). Just another example of why it’s only a guess looking at those pics.
If the damage even touched the engine crank, the insurance company will take into account that the engine may need replacement or repair, they won’t take the risk on something that high dollar and they don’t do partial repairs for testing.
You also have the major structural issues. The right rail is toast but the left rail, if damaged in a crush zone could just as well be junk. You can’t make repairs in a crush zone and I don’t know if rail sectioning is allowed on that car.
When making a repair on a car, as a professional, in a licensed shop, the repair must be cosmetically correct, structurally correct to OEM standards, and deliver the same OEM occupant protection for the next crash.

This is very good info. My old job worked on a Mini, two headlight assy were $2000 for the pair. An outside mirror on a Mercedes was $550 plus had to be painted. Parts on cars are big money. When you buy a new car you are getting a package deal over what it really costs piece by piece.
 
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