Hydroplaned my 98 tj help clueless

Hello, I need some help!!! I hydroplaned at 30 mph. Right front quarter panel is trashed. Steering box has to be replaced.
I dont have a lot of $. I've encountered a lot of dishonest mechanics so far unfortunately. I honestly dont know where to start. I have a lot of time on my hands to learn. I don't think the frame is bent. I was able to drive away from accident, but I had to cut the fan shroud because it was rubbing. Any advise would helpful

Thank you

 

You can get all of these parts used at the local junk yards, craigslist, ebay, and local facebook jeep parts pages. Look for people parting out their jeeps or upgrading and taking their leftovers.

Picture #1. Right fender with yellow lights and black flare. Can be found in all of the above, and probably for around $150. Bumper Maybe $75. New hood latches at morris4x4center.com $30.

Picture #2. You are missing 2 lugs. Hope you haven't been driving it like that. the old broken ones can be hammered out with a 3 pound sledge and a brass punch. Get new ones for $3 each at morris4x4center.com and pound them back in the same way with the hammer and punch. I have also used a large C-clamp to push them out and back in. Lug nuts are $1-3 each. That is a steel wheel and you can probably straighten it with a 3lb sledge hammer and a very heavy duty prybar or large dull chisel. I would think that you could get it straightened at a tire and wheel repair shop for not too much. maybe $30.

Picture #3. Again can be found at the above mentioned places. Looking at the way your jeep is sitting I bet that both the upper and lower control arms are bent on that right side. I bet you could by them cheap from someone who has lifted their jeep and replaced them with new longer control arms that came with their lift. Your brackets that hold the control arms look bent too. You'll have to straighten them as best you can with that 3lbs sledge and maybe that punch and/or prybar.

Picture #4. Same as picture #1.

I hope your axle isn't bent, but if it is those aren't too too expensive. You can probably get one for around $300. Just make sure if it is bent and if you do need to get one that you get one that is the same gear ratio as the original one.

Good luck.

 

Offgrid thank you so much for taking the time. You have completely made my year.Thanks again!!!!! I'll keep you posted

PS. I'm amazed that you saw all of that from those pictures

 

Your welcome. It looks like your tire took the brunt of the impact transferring all of the force to the Hub, ball joints, to the axle, controll arms, shock, and steering linkage. There could be more damage that is not pictured or hidden by other components that will manifest itself once you have everything together i.e. Hub and other steering and/or suspension components.

 

Hello, my Jeep is having a hard time starting. It feels like its just about to catch,then it bogs down like it being suffocated.
Unfortunately its been sitting or two years.As well as all the fluids.. I would start it from time to time. And in the twelve years this is the first time it hasn't started immediately.The gas tank had about 1/4 gallon in it. I put some new gas in yesterday (1 Gallon).Not sure what action i should take, to prevent anymore damage. Thank you for your time and infinite knowledge!

 

Probably should empty the tank as the gas is old, two-years+. If your lucky it may start with fresh undiluted fuel.

 

Hey is good ain't he.

Awesome OFFGRID. Nice work.

 

Hes (OFFGRID) the best ive come across. The Jeep community is amazing !!!