2001 Avalanche Z66

[docrock]

Picked up 2001 Avalanche.
The guy was drunk and tried to jump it. Landed on the front suspension and destroyed the front bumper.
I put a battery in it and drove it for a minute, and noticed it was not trying turn very good. The air bags did not blow.
The frame is bent at the kick up. The suspension has a lift kit and all of that is bent. The torsion bar is not in the hole.
I bought it for the transmission and engine. It has 180k on the engine and about 30k on the trans.
I am considering fixing the front suspension and driving it or sell it ?

[docrock]

I am looking at the lift kit and it looks like they use the stock components and installed a steel bracket that moves everything down and pushes the truck up.
Do you think I could just remove the lift kit and put it back to stock?
Or is the bend at the kick a deal breaker? I am not sure how much it is bent but the engine cover is touching the firewall

[hatzie]

The GMT400, GMT800, and newer frames have crumple zones that would be compromised on a bent frame. It won't crumple the same as a not mangled frame after pulling it straight thus making the original frame unusable for safety reasons.

The RH front wheel is noticeably pushed back in the opening. It might or might not rub.

A donor chassis would solve your bent frame and suspension problem.

[kev2809]

if someone was jumping it, I would be worried how he treated the rest of the truck. I'd just pull the drive train and part out the rest

[docrock]

Thank you Hatzie and Kev, for your comments and insight.
The Avalanche is not worth a frame swap. I will definitely sell or give the body away. Try to get the engine harness, computer, engine, trans and maybe the rear axle. Although a rolling chassis with the body on may help get rid of it sooner.