Thread: Trying to do my own body work after crashing...

So I backed up into a pole...here's the damage...

A body shop quoted $1500-$1700 to fix it. There's no way in hell I'm paying that for a car I paid $3,000 for, but I can't stand seeing it like this.

I spent a couple minutes hammering out part of the dent from the inside, and I think I can make that part look better. Any tips on how the minimize how ****ty it looks? I'm buying a new tail light and trying to pull/hammer the dents as much as possible. Obviously the paint is going to be ruined, should I just put touch up paint over it or should I sand off the red/flaking paint first?

In general any tips or advice on this nightmare of a DIY job I'm attempting?

http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/inde...ageID=16957124

Not to be funny, but Im about to attempt the same thing on mine, mine is not that pushed in but pretty much the same area.. I think Im going to take the rear bumper off and just pound out what I can then sand the area with 200-300 grit to get to the bare metal and start building it back up with filler. I guess the key is take your time dont rush and dont skimp on sanding. Then after you have the area prepped and where you want it primer it and sand it again.. Then all you really need to do is have someone hit it with some paint.

wow.. good luck getting that to shape up like it once was... an alternative is to weld in a new section, then blend the seam sand/paint.. that spot has some serious curves to begin with..
but essentially you have the process down - sand , dont have to go to bare metal but if you want to then make sure you hit it with a self etching primer on top of the metal.
then use a primer sealer to well, seal.
paint, clear, enjoy

that might just be as much work as what im doing...

Car Exterior pictures by madmonkeyphotos - Photobucket

Get a new rear bumper cover, and tail light, then if it's possible just take a body hammer and beat in the dent from the trunk or behind the taillight. It would probly work better if you heat it up really good first. I'd go ahead and DIY, it might not be perfect, but atleast it wont be a gigantic dent.

around here theres all those mobile auto body guys with the hydrolic pullers that would be the way to go they dont charge that much at all
and replace the bumper cover have it painted and then install it