What to do about quarter panel damage - ZR-1 Net Registry Forums

VetteMed · 08-11-2011

I do some stupid stuff, but this morning, while leaving for work at O'dark-thirty, I did something really stupid, and misjudged how much room I had between the rear bumper and the fencepost. As a result, the rear quarter panel on the driver's side is cracked and buckled outwards. The rear bumper cover is scratched but not cracked. Now, the car is far from cosmetically perfect, but the outward buckling is obvious and is going to be a constant reminder of my stupidity. I'm hoping maybe there's a way I can at least get the area to sit flush as it should, and I'll just touch up the scratches and wait until I can afford a complete repaint, for a proper repair to be done. I'm attaching some pics, thanks for any advice.

-Andrew

VetteMed · 08-11-2011

VetteMed · 08-11-2011

ZZZZZR1 · 08-12-2011

Looks fixable to me.

VetteDaddy is the fiberglass expert..

Hope he agree's!

David

Blue Flame Restorations · 08-12-2011

Dave's way too kind and easy with the "expert" word. LOL

There's an L shaped bracket glued to the 1/4 panel. The rear bumper wrap around attaches to this piece. Something is either in a bind or bent where the L shaped steel bracket attaches. You should loosen the bumper wrap around (lower 1/4 part of bumper) and see if the L shaped piece bracket is bent. I believe the bumper attaches to the bracket with 8mm or 10mm screws.

The SMC fiberglass an be repaired. It may have to be cut in the cracked area to relieve the pressure that's causing it to bulge, when it gets repaired. It will need re-inforced from the backside and cosmetically repaired from the outside. It will be fine when done. Just make sure that the repair materials are SMC friendly.

phrogs · 08-12-2011

Try lord fusor and evercoat they are what I use.
Like He said you need the products specifically for SMC panels.

Now if the damage did not crack through to the back you really shouldn't need to put anything on the back side but that bottom edge could use a little more work than the rest

First things first SMC will bend under pressure so That bumper needs to come off relax that quarter and see how out of wack it really is or just take off the parts on that corner. You have some bracing for the rear bumper bolted in that area it could be pushing on it as well

I could fix this for under $1000 but you are a long way from me.

If you want a full repaint I can do it but it will cost more depending on the level of the job you want done.

Kevin · 08-12-2011

you're less then 2hrs from me johnny, mind if i call on ya if i ever need a hand?

rhipsher · 08-12-2011

If you pay to have it fixed your looking at $2K easy. My damage wasn't near as bad as yours when that lady decided to merge into my lane.

And it cost $1852. Luckily her insurance paid for it. Didn't cost me a dime and looks awesome.

Blue Flame Restorations · 08-12-2011

Once the material is stressed to the point of cracking the surface on the front side, the inner strands are compromised. The outer surface needs tress relieved and then the backside does need the structural
integrity restored. Otherwise, the repair will eventually bleed through.

GOLDCYLON · 08-12-2011

DAMN ITs fixable but DAMN Bro

08-11-2011	#1
VetteMed Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 1,821	What to do about quarter panel damage I do some stupid stuff, but this morning, while leaving for work at O'dark-thirty, I did something really stupid, and misjudged how much room I had between the rear bumper and the fencepost. As a result, the rear quarter panel on the driver's side is cracked and buckled outwards. The rear bumper cover is scratched but not cracked. Now, the car is far from cosmetically perfect, but the outward buckling is obvious and is going to be a constant reminder of my stupidity. I'm hoping maybe there's a way I can at least get the area to sit flush as it should, and I'll just touch up the scratches and wait until I can afford a complete repaint, for a proper repair to be done. I'm attaching some pics, thanks for any advice. -Andrew __________________ 2004 Z06/Z16 LeMans Commemorative Edition 1991 ZR-1 #302 White/Gray (sold) 1991 ZR-1 #1147 Red/Saddle (sold)

08-11-2011	#2
VetteMed Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 1,821	Re: What to do about quarter panel damage __________________ 2004 Z06/Z16 LeMans Commemorative Edition 1991 ZR-1 #302 White/Gray (sold) 1991 ZR-1 #1147 Red/Saddle (sold)

08-11-2011	#3
VetteMed Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 1,821	Re: What to do about quarter panel damage __________________ 2004 Z06/Z16 LeMans Commemorative Edition 1991 ZR-1 #302 White/Gray (sold) 1991 ZR-1 #1147 Red/Saddle (sold)

08-12-2011	#4
ZZZZZR1 Banned BANNED Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: MD Posts: 3,684	Re: What to do about quarter panel damage Looks fixable to me. VetteDaddy is the fiberglass expert.. Hope he agree's! David

08-12-2011	#5
Blue Flame Restorations Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Pendleton, IN Posts: 3,906	Re: What to do about quarter panel damage Dave's way too kind and easy with the "expert" word. LOL There's an L shaped bracket glued to the 1/4 panel. The rear bumper wrap around attaches to this piece. Something is either in a bind or bent where the L shaped steel bracket attaches. You should loosen the bumper wrap around (lower 1/4 part of bumper) and see if the L shaped piece bracket is bent. I believe the bumper attaches to the bracket with 8mm or 10mm screws. The SMC fiberglass an be repaired. It may have to be cut in the cracked area to relieve the pressure that's causing it to bulge, when it gets repaired. It will need re-inforced from the backside and cosmetically repaired from the outside. It will be fine when done. Just make sure that the repair materials are SMC friendly. __________________ 1988 KOH Prototype EX5023 sold 1990 ZR-1 #444 Convertible 1990 ZR-1 Black #966 1991 ZR-1 Quazar Blue #296 1957 Duntov SS Project

08-12-2011	#6
phrogs Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Kalamazoo MI Posts: 1,755	Re: What to do about quarter panel damage Try lord fusor and evercoat they are what I use. Like He said you need the products specifically for SMC panels. Now if the damage did not crack through to the back you really shouldn't need to put anything on the back side but that bottom edge could use a little more work than the rest First things first SMC will bend under pressure so That bumper needs to come off relax that quarter and see how out of wack it really is or just take off the parts on that corner. You have some bracing for the rear bumper bolted in that area it could be pushing on it as well I could fix this for under $1000 but you are a long way from me. If you want a full repaint I can do it but it will cost more depending on the level of the job you want done. __________________ JOHNNY P Currently own 90 ZR-1 #845 DRM 500 engine package 90 #226 Parts car Hit me up if you need anything. Last edited by phrogs; 08-12-2011 at 01:06 AM.

08-12-2011	#7
Kevin Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: pittsburgh Posts: 4,629	Re: What to do about quarter panel damage you're less then 2hrs from me johnny, mind if i call on ya if i ever need a hand? __________________ It's not the car, it's the people - Doug Johnson 90 r/r "KEYS ON" nick named "T.L.B"

08-12-2011	#8
rhipsher Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 2,319	Re: What to do about quarter panel damage If you pay to have it fixed your looking at $2K easy. My damage wasn't near as bad as yours when that lady decided to merge into my lane. And it cost $1852. Luckily her insurance paid for it. Didn't cost me a dime and looks awesome.

08-12-2011	#10
GOLDCYLON Join Date: May 2007 Location: Peoria, AZ Posts: 9,147	Re: What to do about quarter panel damage DAMN ITs fixable but DAMN Bro __________________ GOLDCYLON - 91 ZR-1 #2014 GOLDCYLON - 90 ZR-1 #2794, 4L60e (Formerly Schrade's) GOLDCYLON - 11 CTS-V Arizona State Director 91 WHITE/BLACK #2014. 380 P&P&PCed,Ported Heads, Jeal Long tubes, Corsa Exhaust/FIKSE FM-5s /LED TLs, LED Headlights, Front Wilwood 6 piston narrowlite calipers and rear Wilwood caliper street shop mod,CNCed Coolant Pipes,TPI Cvr,Filter cover,Stainless Bolts, DRM/DOM PROM /ZFDOC mod build #102,DRLs,BMAD with stainless Debris Screen,Coplan Air Blaster, Pioneer APP Radio 4,Brey-Krause HB,Sub Bar,Fire extinguisher seat mount,DRM Coilovers,LEDs everywhere,Compass mirror (orange),V1 DIC hidden display, Homelink sun visor, Carbon Fiber top x3 and APSIS Carbon Fiber interior, APSIS CF Steering Wheel/NAPA Leather, Banski trailing arms, Guldstrand front suspension,urethane bushings from Prothane (total suspension) ZFDoc drive shaft safety loop, raptor shift light (orange),AO engineering louver front plate, Console seat cushion, 96CE seats with black custom Sheepskins, ss billet catch can,Viper remote entry/alarm,Cragar Rear Louvers,LED side louver lights, Dewitts Radiator with SPAL fans and a Woods 160 T-Stat 90 RED/BLACK #2794. 4L60e Automatic Stage V by RPM Transmission, TCI Dedicated TCM, OBX Stainless Headers, Corsa Exhaust, SAN Secondaries and Haibeck PROM, Exotic Muscle Coil overs, LED Interior Lights, LED Tail Lights, LED Headlights, 94 Sport seats with black custom Sheepskins , Cragar rear louvers, GS Front calipers, Banski Trailing arms, APSIS Carbon Fiber steering wheel, Front and Rear Baer Eradispeeds, DRLs, Guldstrand front suspension,urethane bushings from Prothane (total suspension), Dewitt's Raditor with Dual SPAL fans and a Haibeck 170 T-Stat 11 RED/GREY CTS-V