Fiberglass/Paint Repair

[JC350]

Hello! Not sure if you guys can help, but worth a try! Looking to purchase an early build Backdraft Cobra Roadster (in otherwise great condition) that has a noticeable spiderweb/ impact area about the size of a half-dollar coin on the upper portion of the driver's door. Not terrible, but something I'd like to have fixed prior to purchase.

I've found that shops are few and far between that offer specialized fiberglass repair. The hard part is assurance of color match to the rest of the car.
Do I:
A) Live with it - put a decal on it and move on.
B) Repair it and take the chance of mismatch.
C) Buy another door and have them prep/paint to match car (if replacement door is available). Worse case, just go back to the original.

This process can go anywhere from $20-$2000, and is holding up the deal until we come to an agreement. Thoughts?


Thanks, JC

[mrmustang]

Originally Posted by JC350

Hello! Not sure if you guys can help, but worth a try! Looking to purchase an early build Backdraft Cobra Roadster (in otherwise great condition) that has a noticeable spiderweb/ impact area about the size of a half-dollar coin on the upper portion of the driver's door. Not terrible, but something I'd like to have fixed prior to purchase.

I've found that shops are few and far between that offer specialized fiberglass repair. The hard part is assurance of color match to the rest of the car.
Do I:
A) Live with it - put a decal on it and move on.
B) Repair it and take the chance of mismatch.
C) Buy another door and have them prep/paint to match car (if replacement door is available). Worse case, just go back to the original.

This process can go anywhere from $20-$2000, and is holding up the deal until we come to an agreement. Thoughts?


Thanks, JC

JC,

As the retired bodyshop owner, I'll start off with the following statement: Fiberglass repair is not always an easy thing to describe, does not matter if it is a Cobra, or Corvette, or a boat.

With that said, you really need to post a picture of the damage before a qualified response will be available to you.

Exactly where is the damage, is it close to the front or rear edge of the door, or is it more centered?
What color is the car (exactly), as some colors you can "spot paint" within the panel, while others you must blend out 6-20" in all directions.
Being on the door at least you can clear that whole panel, otherwise you are melting clear at certain edges to try and blend without having to clear the entire body, edge to edge, this after blending color so that it is not noticeable. Replacing the door would be a worse case scenario, you do this, and you are guaranteed to blow color over the entire side of the car in one way or another.

$20 of fiberglass repair is like adding leaches to the deep cut (down to your bone) on your body.

Bill S.

[DanEC]

I’m assuming this is a private seller. If you can’t live with it ( and I probably couldn’t) I would keep looking as buying as-is puts all the work and risk on you in trying to come up with a good repair. That only works out in your favor if you know of a high end or otherwise high quality paint shop with an excellent record of repairing and matching paint that you have faith in. That doesn’t seem to be the case. If he were that serious about selling it for a decent price he would have it fixed first.

[twobjshelbys]

The best fiberglass repair place in my home town was the boat place...

That said, for a door you'd be best to repaint the whole door. A good painter an visually blend the door edges so you'll never see it.

But if a golf ball sized check is keeping you from buying it, you should move on. As a seller I wouldn't spend a bunch of money only to have someone come back and say it's unsatisfactory.

[eschaider]

The fact that the seller has not had it repaired either speaks to his indifference or to the magnitude of the repair problem that may have been explained to him in a fashion similar to how it is being explained to you. This is a classic buyer-be-ware scenario that is playing out, and you are a principal in the show ...

[JC350]

Not sure why I can't reply here.. still waiting for Moderator approval?

Regardless, you guys are a great help.

Thanks, JC

[JC350]

*Damage is 8" from top and front edge of door, centerline to hinge.
*Color is black. BDR build date sometime in 2004.
*Door replacement was if one can be had, sprayed off the car, then reinstalled.
If no good then just return to the original.

Car was ceramic coated, so that may bring another element of difficulty to this repair.

Thanks for your insights, guys! Much appreciated!

[JC350]

Picture:

[JC350]

Originally Posted by twobjshelbys

The best fiberglass repair place in my home town was the boat place...

That said, for a door you'd be best to repaint the whole door. A good painter an visually blend the door edges so you'll never see it.

But if a golf ball sized check is keeping you from buying it, you should move on. As a seller I wouldn't spend a bunch of money only to have someone come back and say it's unsatisfactory.

Thanks!
As a buyer, I'm thinking that if I handle the expense and level of repair that I could determine what is acceptable or not. Just reduce the vehicle price somewhat to compensate.

[jhv48]

Have him file a comprehensive claim for the damage with his insurer (probably has a $500 deductible). Then, if the shop can’t match the paint, they’ll have to paint the whole car.

[mrmustang]

Originally Posted by JC350

Picture:

That is an impact crack, being that the car is black, makes the repair within the panel itself quite easy and does not require replacement of the door. Ask your local Chevy dealer who they send their Corvette repair work to, then stop in with the details you posted here, and let them give you a rough idea of repair. Figure $500-$1,000 on the high side.


Bill S.

[DanEC]

I will second that being solid color black simplifies the repair most likely. There are a number of shades of black but a good painter should be able to figure it out and spray an invisible repair match.

[twobjshelbys]

Same thing happened to me - rock hit door and impact check. I took the door off and shipped it to HST who built the car and they not only had my color but had my original paint. Mine was different than most dance it was carbon fiber painted on outside and exposed on inside

[JC350]

Excellent! Thanks guys for sharing! I didn't even think about Corvette, but I'm sure it's a similar repair process.

One question.. will the protective ceramic treatment cause issue?


JC

[mrmustang]

Originally Posted by JC350

Excellent! Thanks guys for sharing! I didn't even think about Corvette, but I'm sure it's a similar repair process.

One question.. will the protective ceramic treatment cause issue?


JC

No, the ceramic coating is just a fancier wax type covering. Any bodyshop worth their weight in gold will know how to properly prep whatever comes through their door.


Bill S.

[twobjshelbys]

The ceramic coating will be removed before the new paint. It will buffed off the whole door as it will be difficult to blend the color and the new ceramic coat without doing the whole panel.