Follow up: I fought, but could not avoid a salvage title. Managed to get $3500 and the truck. Should be enough to get her back on the road, with a little extra thrown in for a long awaited repaint.

For the record, receipts for maintenance and repairs will help your case, no question. Just consider what affects *your* estimation of a vehicle. Those same principles apply to insurance valuations as well, because they define the market price. Stick to that thought, and the negotiating stays on course.

Thanks for all the input.
Doug