while recently attending the drag races at irwindale speedway, my father was driving my car and it got sideways and smacked the wall, messing up the drivers side. it could have been worse, but he corrected it a little and saved it from being real bad. i was wondering if the damage is fixable, and if it is, how would it be fixed? or if any of you would suggest using OPG, Goodmark, or some other repropduction parts.

http://24.126.61.243/mike/car/after1.jpg

http://24.126.61.243/mike/car/after13.jpg

-mike

I certainly not a "body" guy, but I think that your rear quater is reparable. I have seen much worse reparied!!! I would attempt to repair before replacing the 1/4. Just my opinion.

Man, that sucks. That is why I gave up the racing end of this sport. Two years worth of work screwed for a 15 sec rush.

That quarter doesn't look that bad. Even if you need to patch in a part of it around the wheel lip. Give MartinSr or Eric a yell, one of them could give ya some tips on how to go about fixing that.

Again, sorry to see that.

Look at the bright side of it at least its the right color to hide that damage :D

The quarter looks like a pretty easy fix but am looking at throu a 16" computer screen not in person.

From about the middle of the wheelwell back you should be able to straighten all that damage with hammers and dollies, you'll probably need a buddy to help hold the dolly unless you got 8ft arms.

The rear bumper end also looks bent, its sitting back and in. Brackets also could be bent.

I dont see much of anything on the door but scrapes. The fender also looks bent in at the lower cowl attaching points. Id be willing to beat you can also fix that fender as well without patching. Alittle hammer and dolly and maybe a slight slap hammer action to gt ya started.

If I was doing it Id start at the back by the quarter ext and work that out first. Getting your metal straight to fit the ext. Once you got the ext to fit right check the fit on bumper.

A good idea would be to use a long board with some 80 grit and use the paint as your guide coat to help you locate any damage.

Run the board over an area that has some damage and it will show the highs and lows of the damage.

Id do that to the door and fender. You are going to have to repaint the entire side so use that existing paint job as guide coat for locating damage. That will speed up the repair process...Eric

theres more than scrapes on the door and the handle hit the wall and pressed pressed the metal around it in.
http://24.126.61.243/mike/car/after12.jpg

http://24.126.61.243/mike/car/after6.jpg

sevt, what is a dolly?
i am pretty clueless to the terminology on paint/body work, but id really like to elarn about it.


-mike

All panels could be repaired. Would take and EXPERIENCED Body person that LIKES to fix panels.

Second batch of photos show front damage better.
Fender could be repaired, however, with the door damage I would suggest getting a different fender.

It will be very difficult to fix both fender and door accurately.

Both fender and door are severely flattened between style lines. That is where the major structure is in both panels. Fender is also buckled at top cowl pillar. With that structure and contour flattened out to the degree that it is, there is no good reference point for repair.

Make a cardboard template from other, undamaged side, from leading edge of door. When you try to match template, it should verify my comments.

Look carefully in cowl hinge area, compare hinge mounting face from side to side. It is possible that hinge pillar is also bent in. As you noted the door is munched @ the handle too.

Optimum repar would be:

Fender-- Replace.
Door-- Replace outer panel, repair frame, or different door.
Quarter panel-- Can be repaired.
Lower grille filler: Replace, but could be repaired with patience.
Bumpers-- Toast em.

Remember both fender and door bolt on, with patience, and no inner cowl and core suppt. damage, a rookie can replace.


Strongly suggest finding a Body guy to help you out. Any Team Chevelle Members in the area that are, or have connections to, a Body Tech?

A Dolly is a hand held metal, or sometimes rubber block that is used for support and shaping, on opposite side of panel from hammer. They are sold in different weight and shapes.

This repair will take many body specific tools.

Repeat again, you NEED HELP on this one. NOT a good one to learn on.

Is that car really as solid as it looks?

Nice car, even with the damage.

Karl

Holy cow do those new pics make a world of difference!!!

Hopefully dad handed over the keys smile.gif

Am 100% with Karl on this one.
Replace the fender not even worth trying to fix.
Replace the door skin or the outer exterior metal.
Replacing the skin would allow you to repair door shell much easier and frankly be faster, easier and a way better repair then trying to fix the existing door skin.

I also agree with Karl that you should seek the help of a Body Tech(I really hate the term Body man). Replacing a door skin is hard enough but you throw a bent or tweaked door shell on top of it and it can get hairy.

The tools needed to fix this are a one use item, they ONLY do one certain task. They do get spendy, if this is the only time that you will be using them then its pretty much wasted money.

I just came from ebay and bought a USED dolly thats OLDER then me for 54 bucks :eek:

thanks for the help guys, and theres more pictures here if you need to get a better look at something http://24.126.61.243/mike/car/


by the way, anyone in the southern california area know of a good body shop?


-mike