I signed the release papers yesterday so i should be getting the insurance check some time next week. After looking at the initial appraisal report i could see the appraiser missed some major damage. The radiator (I told her twice the fan hit the radiator), bent tie rods, u-bolts and axel housing wasn't on the initial appraisal. A quick phone call and she agreed to met me at one o'clock to check out the unassessed damage. I took off work, met her at my house, i had already took the tire off so i could get a better look at the axel, she documented the damage and said "I'll have to get back to you on the axel. I have to talk to my supervisor and see how he wants to handle the axel damage."

I headed back to work. An hour later she called me.

First estimate:$2,372.31
Second estimate:$4,520.42
Insurance settlement:$5,000.00

She said since the damage was approaching the value of the jeep, and i had told her i was going to fix it myself, would i settle for $5000 to cover any unseen damage? I told her i would, she faxed me the release papers and estimate, i read, signed and faxed them back.

Now i just have to decide wheather i'm going to repair or replace the frame.

I do have one good thing going, my wife works for NAPA auto parts. So i can get the radiator and tie rod assembly hell for cheap.