Hey guys. My dad wrote off his 2003 Ranger. I went to the towing yard to see the damage and decided that it would be worth it for me to purchase it back from our insurance company ICBC as salvage. They paid him out $6200.00 Canadian. I purchased it back as salvage from our insurance company for the scrap value of $285 CAD. In BC a salvage vehicle can be rebuilt, though it changes the title on the vehicle as "rebuilt" status. I am OK with this as this truck has sentimental value to our family. The Ranger has 80k (49,000miles) on it all original. The truck is (was) mint. The damage appeared to be the box, tailgate, and bumper. When I got it home, it was apparent that the left drivers leaf spring was bent, along with the shackle. After jumping through some hoops to have it pre-inspected before I could do any work I finally have it home. I have the box and damaged parts removed. I've taken pictures all along the way etc.

What I need to know is; is there any way for me to measure the frame for bends / tweaks etc before I take it into the (Canada / BC) safety body / structure test? I know they're going to test for straightness, but I want to make sure I'm not wasting my money. At this point, all I have to do according to my mechanic at the Designated Inspection Facility is install new leaf springs and install a new shackle. Once that is done, I send it to the body / structure shop and they will try to align the wheels. Once this is done, I can insure it. Before I send it there, I want to make sure the frame is structurally sound. I have a level carport to work on it etc, but I don't want to have to accumulate more towing bills as it's un-driveable and un-insurable until it passes inspections. I will post an imgur album of the truck.

Please let me know what you guys think.

Thanks.

-Hodsak

Link to the album:

https://imgur.com/a/cXkvLl7

 

Can't tell anything from the pictures because you didn't take any clear pictures of the driver's side frame rail which is the one that would have taken the most damage. You need to look for creases in that rail. How that leaf spring became bent is hard to tell, but if that's bent, I'd be willing to bet that frame is tweaked somehow as well. If you can gain access to the measurements from an outside source such as an auto body repair manual for a Ranger, you could measure the frame to see if it's square. However, the easiest way to do it is to just send it to the body shop and have them put it on the frame machine. They already have the specs and it won't be hard for them to square it up, and if they find something off, they can just pull it right there.