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

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....

Hey Al, guess I missed an exciting weekend! You got hit TWICE? Sorry to hear about this, you are in quite the dilemma. What did Tony (other director) say to do? I am in luck with a body shop as a sponsor! I am sure you have "alignment/frame check" on the list. Keep us posted!

Man...you guys are going to force me to learn bodywork?
I think I'm going to attempt to straighten it out, at least enough to continue through the end of the year. I mean, the car is driveable so technically I don't have to do anything, it just looks like ass and I've been spoiled into always having a nice looking car so I want to get back to that state. I'd put a picture of it up, but I don't have a way to upload while at work.

Randy, you're car looks fabulous up close by the way, and that is what's making me (delusionally?) think I can make mine be presentable again

Since it's a race car, it doesn't have to look perfect. But, to me, it sounds like you would like it to look pretty good.

I would buy a spot weld driller, a book about the subject and a quarter panel.

Drill all the spot welds and then weld in a new quarter panel. I don't think it would be ANY harder than all the beating, filling, sanding, and it would look MUCH better. And be lighter. And be done right.


My delimna is going to be finding someone who can mold small flares without it looking like ass, or being heavy,

...way too much work for a DEDICATED track car....unless....

1. You have more time than God.

or

2. You have a small fortune to waste on bodyshops while racin' wheel to wheel....

I thought about replacing the panel...but then I looked at a spare quarter that I have (came with the car) and THAT looks like a nightmare. Besides, the inner panel has already been beat to hell since it was pushed in against the tire and it had to get the hell outta the way so I could RACE! So that would still involve hammering things into place as well as filling the seam at the C pillar...though to a lesser degree.

Randy, where do you get things like paint, filler, sandpaper et al? Is there a local body shop supply place or something or should I plan on getting everything online?

Well......got all my body tools at Kragen....might try a "better" parts store like Monument....I use a small Campbell Hussfield die grinder ($29) with about a 2 inch sandpaper disc...discs sold at Monument/Home Depot...to sand/grind away all bondo/paint in damaged area to metal.....I usually buy bondo at Kragen/Monument....by the Gallon....don't forget hardener (it is an art to mix the bondo/hardener just right.....too much hardener and it hardens before you can put it on too little and it never hardens....want it a salmon/pink color).....Sandpaper I buy in bulk at Home Depot.....better to get wet/dry sandpaper....I use 60 grit to take off most of the filler with a sanding board you will need to buy at a body shop supply house like TLC below (will use dry don't need wet paper here), move to 100 grit for some light shaping then go to 150 grit.....at this point use spot filler (in a tube from Kragen) to fill in any SMALL imperfections like tiny air bubles in the bondo....then 240 grit wet when the shape is perfect and just need to smooth. Primer.....sand....paint.

Paint, I use a company in Dublin called TLC....used to be Thompson Laquer Company before they OUTLAWED REAL PAINT in California They are near Stoneridge Mall over by the new Hooters over there.....if you can't find closer in Concord, I could point you there. I use DuPont paint....the primer is ready to shoot.....if area is small, I just use automotive primer in a rattle can For the finish coat, I use the CHEAPEST they have I think....called Mason Fulthane....it is easy to mix...they will give you the mixing supplies when you buy paint

You will need a way to tell them the color of the car....hopefully the white is STOCK Camaro color....can get the code from the glove box...the red....you may need to bring in a part of the car to match it

Sounds hard, but it really is not....just time and labor...

Cool, thanks for the advice. I'm going to have to put this on hold for a bit since there are higher priorities this weekend, and I'm out of town for the next two...but after that I'll get to work. I'll have to shoot some pictures so you guys can see how it goes.

Sure thing Al.

I gave you the SERIOUS abridged version....if you have questions let me know....I would recomend you find a body shop supplier....gonna hafta buy paint from SOMEONE (oh and a warning, when I say I use CHEAP paint, that is relative. A quart with all the mixings is around $75)...and ask a lot of questions....the guys at TLC were good to me....I had a guy show me the ropes the first time also...but it is not hard....