Body Work Questions

[CamaroDude]

On saturday I went and looked a 1998 black z28 convertable. It ran fine but the front right of the fender was cracked right at the corner of the turn signal so if I were to buy the car it I would need to replace the fender(Can't fix fiberglass). As with any repair like that, the car would need a new paint job as well in order for the new fender to match. Anybody have a ball park estimate of what this new fender and paint job would cost? I don't need a showroom quality paint job but the car does have 8 years of wear and tear and I would like for it to look a little younger.

Oh, and the car has 90,000 miles on it and is selling for $8,000. Good buy or no?

[Niko97RS]

Re: Body Work Questions

I got quoted $400 for just the front and read bumpers...

$4000 to tear apart the car and blend the bodykit with a fresh paintjob

is it a manual or auto Z28?

[hockeyman]

Re: Body Work Questions

$8,000 is a bit much...especially if you need to replace the fender and re-paint. I'd offer $5000, and wouldn't spend much more than $5700.

90,000 miles is ususlly hard-miles on a V8. I'm NOT saying it was beat on all the time, but just go over the car with a fine-tooth comb and check everything!! Look for new or recently replacement parts too. That will normally give you a clue as to how the car was treated.

As for the body:
You're going to have to buy a new or used fender, put it on, and find your paint code. Take the paint code to the nearest auto body supply shop and get a pint of paint and a quart of clearcoat. A shop will have to first mix the paint and spray it on a sample piece of metal to color match, and add more paint thinner to fade the color so it matches the original paint job. It's a bit involved and will probably cost about $400-$700 for a decent bodyshop to repair.

[Loochy88]

Re: Body Work Questions

i would not say thats a good buy at all. hockeyman is right. find something that doesnt need fixing and save the trouble.

you could find a z in good condition for 8000 with 90k. at least you could around me.

moving to lounge.

[CamaroDude]

Re: Body Work Questions

The problem in Maryland is that nobody is selling their z28's. They're few and far between. This one seems to run fine (Haven't gotten a compression test done yet though) AND its a convertable. If a new fender and paint job would cost less than than around $1500 and if i could talk him down to about 6000 or so for the car it seems like it could be an alright deal. Thats why I would like to know the cost of this kind of work.

Currently I have a 2002 3.8L red camaro with 80000miles
www.cardomain.com/ride/2310749

I have gotten flowmasters installed since those pictures as well as black "Camaro" letters on the back. I would be trading in that for this:
http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.js...g=1&cardist=39
Let me know your thoughts on this please.

P.S. Is this really an "Off Topic" post? Can this please be moved back to General tech or something where there are people looking who can answer my questions?

[hockeyman]

Re: Body Work Questions

Take a ride up here to Philly. There are sh*tloads of Z's in the area for sale! 'Verts too.

[CamaroDude]

Re: Body Work Questions

I can't really get as far away as phili. If you want to bring one down here for me that'd be great though. :P But what i would really like to know is about how much for the body work though. A fender and paint job; will it run less than $1500?

[hockeyman]

Re: Body Work Questions

But what i would really like to know is about how much for the body work though. A fender and paint job; will it run less than $1500?

Yeah, you could probably talk a shop into it. Just do your reasearch on the shop you choose. Any imperfections will show, and you'll regret dumping your hard earned money into a cheap shop.
I personally suggest buying the fender with a "Primered Finish", install it yourself, and then take it to a shop to paint. You'll save about $400-$600 right there!
Fenders are ALL over ebay, and for inexpensive prices too.

[CamaroDude]

Re: Body Work Questions

Well, i called around to find out about prices for a paint job and the lowest i found around here is $1700. It would probably be cheaper just to get the bumber matched but there are a few deep scratches (They look white) on the side and the spoiler that i would like to get rid of if I bought the car. They're not big but they are noticeable.

Thanks for the link Hockeyman, I was thinking about $200 for the fender so that might be a life saver.

[Camaro Dom]

Re: Body Work Questions

you CAN fix fiberglass and plastic too
its not the same bondo or lead stuff you use for sheet metal but PM did a good write up on it. if you get a Chiltons or haynes body repair manual (they're non vehicle specific) and they'll tell you pretty much how to repair ANY body damage
EDIT: oops, heres the link http://www.popularmechanics.com/how_...e/2763656.html

[CamaroDude]

Re: Body Work Questions

Thanks for the link Camaro Dom but I'm not really sure all that is worth it. It seems like a lot of labor and i would still need to get it painted by somebody else to match correctly. Probably just be better to get a brand new one for 50$ and start fresh. I'm going to take another look at the car tomorrow and go over it very carefully.

The damage report that i had earlier is actually wrong. I said the FENDER was cracked but it was actually the front BUMPER on the back end of the right turn signal. Right in that little corner there is a really small, maybe 1/2 an inch, crack. The FENDER is actually pushed out about 1/2 inch on the left side where it is supposed to be flush with the door. It looks as if somebody jacked up the car right where that fender connects to the frame underneath and bent the connection which pushed out the fender. I think it can be easily bent back into place without too much trouble but not sure.

[02PewterBird]

Re: Body Work Questions

I think it can be easily bent back into place without too much trouble but not sure.

It's happened to mine twice (once at the dealer and once at Big O Tires) and it was easily fixed. I had a body shop do it just so I wouldn't be responsible if something snapped. I only had to pay the second time because Big O wouldn't take responsibility, but I think they charged me ten bucks and they did it in the parking lot. You just bend the tab underneath the pushed out area towards the opposite side of the car. It'll make sense when you look underneath it.

The guy at Big O claimed it wasn't from a lift and had no idea how it happened or what was wrong, but told me he'd try to fix it for me. I didn't take him up on it. I called corporate, and the only time they ever called me back was to ask what name the tires I said I'd purchased for our Trailblazer the month before were under, and that was the last time I ever heard from them. I'm not sure why what I'd previously spent mattered enough to verify it.

[CamaroDude]

Re: Body Work Questions

Yeah that looks like exactly what happened. Either it is from a lift or he hit a serious speed bump. But now i know that it can be fixed easily which is good.
I'm going to take another look at it today and take a closer look at the engine and probably get a compression test.

[Shirl]

Re: Body Work Questions

Well, if it were me, I'd go with a custom front bumper and have it painted. I forget who makes the kit, but there is a real nice one made for the Camaro. But then again, that'd be a bit costly. It's a nice car, but as the others said, you could probably find something with a lot less mileage and for less $$$. Check autotrader.

[CamaroDude]

Re: Body Work Questions

I found it on auto trader and it was the only z28 within 100 miles that cost less than $10,000. Everybody keeps saying that I can find one with less miles for less cash but I've been to 13 dealerships (17 if you count the dealers with double lots) in my town and the surrounding areas and out of those I've only found a single Z28, a 1997 white automatic convertable for $10,200 (79,000 miles). It was in good condition but for $2000 more than the black one it doesn't seem worth it, especially since i don't like white or automatics.

I'm at a loss. Everyone says don't get this car but I can't find anything better.