bodywork - F-Body Road Racing and Autocross Forums

It seems we don't spend a lot of time on this topic, as a couple of searches came up pretty blank. I need some advice, and you guys are the source to go to so...

I got slammed this weekend at Buttonwillow in the right rear quarter...twice. The quarterpanel is completely messed up. We hammered it out enough to get off the tire, and there doesn't look to be any damage otherwise. The roof is straight, the trunklid is straight...basically its just the quarter and bumper cover.

SO...what should I do? (other than leave my car looking like a dirt track special)

1) I could buy some body work tools (one of those cool stud welder/pullers, hammers, etc) and try to fix it (straight enough for a race car) and then spray it in the driveway. Lots of $ for the tools, and time for the repair, but this is a repeatable process so the next one will be cheap

2) I could send the car to a body shop and have the quarter replaced and bumper cover re-hung and then spray it. This has to be expensive, and it costs the same each time, but at least I don't have to do any work.

3) I could find someone that already has the tools and the knowledge and pay them to do it. The problem with this strategy is I don't actually know anyone with the tools and knowledge to do this...but the theory is they would be willing to do it for less than a real shop.

What do you guys think? What do you guys do? If it was a fender or a door it would be a different story since I could just unbolt the panel and get a new one...quarterpanels suck ass (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/mad.gif)

CMC#5 View Member Profile	Jun 7 2004, 04:41 PM Post #1
Advanced Member Group: Advanced Members Posts: 902 Joined: 27-January 04 From: Magnolia, Tx. Member No.: 160	It seems we don't spend a lot of time on this topic, as a couple of searches came up pretty blank. I need some advice, and you guys are the source to go to so... I got slammed this weekend at Buttonwillow in the right rear quarter...twice. The quarterpanel is completely messed up. We hammered it out enough to get off the tire, and there doesn't look to be any damage otherwise. The roof is straight, the trunklid is straight...basically its just the quarter and bumper cover. SO...what should I do? (other than leave my car looking like a dirt track special) 1) I could buy some body work tools (one of those cool stud welder/pullers, hammers, etc) and try to fix it (straight enough for a race car) and then spray it in the driveway. Lots of $ for the tools, and time for the repair, but this is a repeatable process so the next one will be cheap 2) I could send the car to a body shop and have the quarter replaced and bumper cover re-hung and then spray it. This has to be expensive, and it costs the same each time, but at least I don't have to do any work. 3) I could find someone that already has the tools and the knowledge and pay them to do it. The problem with this strategy is I don't actually know anyone with the tools and knowledge to do this...but the theory is they would be willing to do it for less than a real shop. What do you guys think? What do you guys do? If it was a fender or a door it would be a different story since I could just unbolt the panel and get a new one...quarterpanels suck ass (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/mad.gif)

rmackintosh View Member Profile	Jun 7 2004, 06:24 PM Post #2
Senior Member Group: Advanced Members Posts: 5,226 Joined: 24-December 03 From: Danville, CA, USA Member No.: 27	Al, I would buy the tools and do it yourself.....been doing my own bodywork on RACE CARS for 10 years....it IS NOT rocket science....just a PAIN IN THE ASS and a lot of work! All I have in body tools are a slide hammer with a hook on it to get the body "close", some metal dollies and body hammers I got at Kragen, some basic bondo tools, and a paint gun I got at a garage sale....I would say I have $100 invested in tools.... You have seen my car UP CLOSE....I did all the paint/body work on that car IN MY TINY GARAGE you saw as well.... It is messy too, but once you get the body close as you can get, it is just slopping on a lot of bondo....and then sanding 90% of it off....a little bit of an art to get it straight, but this IS A RACE car so it has to look good from a distance... ONE WORD OF CAUTION: BE CAREFUL WHEN BANGING THE DENTS OUT.....DO NOT BANG THE METAL TOO FAR THE OTHER WAY....THIS CAUSES STRETCHING, WHICH IS BAD....THEN YOU GOTTA GET INTO HEATING THE METAL TO SHRINK IT BACK TO SHAPE, AND THAT IS A REAL PITA.... ...sorry for your pain....