C3 General General C3 Corvette Discussion not covered in Tech
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Fixing a crack

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Nov 12, 2011 | 03:49 PM
  #1  
frake3's Avatar
frake3
Thread Starter
Advanced
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 87
Likes: 4
From: Belleville IL
Default Fixing a crack

I am contemplating the purchase of this Orange Vette. It has fairly low mileage (70k) and is at a great price. The only thing wrong is this crack on the drivers side back quarter panel. Can this be done myself? How much would you think it would cost to repair either way (myself or at a shop)?

Thanks!



Reply
Old Nov 12, 2011 | 04:14 PM
  #2  
Bills17n72's Avatar
Bills17n72
Safety Car
Supporting Lifetime
25 Year Member
Active Streak: 60 Days
All Eyes On Me
Liked
 
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 4,889
Likes: 695
From: grand rapids, lowell mi. area
Default

that bad of a crack ,should be done by a shop ,I bet the whole back panel will have to come off ,expensive!!!
Reply
Old Nov 12, 2011 | 04:16 PM
  #3  
Bills17n72's Avatar
Bills17n72
Safety Car
Supporting Lifetime
25 Year Member
Active Streak: 60 Days
All Eyes On Me
Liked
 
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 4,889
Likes: 695
From: grand rapids, lowell mi. area
Default

it looks like around a 75 model ,I wouldnt give him more that three grand for the car with that problem!!!
Reply
Old Nov 12, 2011 | 04:39 PM
  #4  
frake3's Avatar
frake3
Thread Starter
Advanced
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 87
Likes: 4
From: Belleville IL
Default

Its a 77....
Reply
Old Nov 12, 2011 | 04:50 PM
  #5  
Alan 71's Avatar
Alan 71
Team Owner
15 Year Member
Active Streak: 120 Days
Community Influencer
Top Answer: 5
 
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,160
Likes: 4,236
From: Westminster Maryland
Default

Hi f,
The crack does look pretty involved.
There is a body seam in that area that runs from the front of the quarter panel to it's rear. It could be a problem with that seam.
BUT, I also see a crack running down from the long horizontal crack, and another at the front lip of the wheel arch, and another at the rear. They make me think there's something more serious going on that will take some work by a person with some fiberglass and paint experience.
Not a deal breaker, but certainly needs to be taken into consideration when considering a price for the car.
Good Luck!
Regards,
Alan
Reply
Old Nov 12, 2011 | 05:18 PM
  #6  
Nowhere Man's Avatar
Nowhere Man
Team Owner
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 53,950
Likes: 9,339
From: Sitting in his Nowhere land Hanover Pa
2024 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2015 C2 of Year Finalist
Default

what caused the crack?
Reply
Old Nov 12, 2011 | 11:05 PM
  #7  
markids77's Avatar
markids77
Melting Slicks
 
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 2,709
Likes: 3
From: Savannah GA
Default

Lengthwise crack is the factory bonding strip area. It looks to me like there might have been a previous repair in the area and it was done poorly. The rear quarter is cracked at the wheelwell as also, and perhaps lower and farther back as well. So you have multiple repairs to complete just on this single panel. You can fix all this without (probably) replacing anything, but there will be extensive paint matching and blending to be done after the panel repair. If there is damage of any sort anywhere else on the car you are looking at $$$ for repair so if you want this car I would base my offer on the assumption of a complete strip and repaint... not cheap even if you can do it all yourself.
Reply
Old Nov 13, 2011 | 12:47 AM
  #8  
milo30's Avatar
milo30
Drifting
 
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,560
Likes: 4
From: Arlington texas
Default

I'd want to replace the entire section. Not because you have to but I'd want to know what is behind it and if there were any further damage. I wonder what caused it...a blown tire maybe?

If I really wanted the car I'd rather pay a little more and have it already repaired before buying it than to get into unknowns with a new car.
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

 Brett Foote
story-3

Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-4

10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

 Michael S. Palmer
story-6

2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor

 Joe Kucinski
story-7

10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

5 MOST and 5 LEAST Popular Corvette Model Years in History!

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

2027 Corvette Buyer's Guide: Everything You Need to Know!

 Joe Kucinski
Old Nov 13, 2011 | 02:06 AM
  #9  
chstitans42's Avatar
chstitans42
TheCorvetteBen
Supporting Lifetime
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 4,987
Likes: 144
From: Van Alstyne, TX
Default

I have a rear quarter panel for sale if you end up needing it. $100. PM me if interested
Reply
Old Nov 13, 2011 | 05:46 AM
  #10  
7T1vette's Avatar
7T1vette
Team Owner
15 Year Member
Community Builder
Community Influencer
Top Answer: 5
 
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,114
From: Crossville TN
Default

That crack is in the area of the bonding strip, but it is too jagged to be broken at that strip. There are other areas of cracking on that panel. It just looks like that panel was hit enough to crack it (front end of another car hit it at low speed, maybe). Big fix and tough to match the paint when done.
Reply
Old Nov 13, 2011 | 10:45 AM
  #11  
Easy Mike's Avatar
Easy Mike
Team Owner
Supporting Lifetime
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,481
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
Default

Originally Posted by milo30
...I'd want to replace the entire section...
You're spending money you possibly do not need to spend.

Originally Posted by 7T1vette
...panel was hit enough to crack it...

Based on the pic, the damage I see is repairable. What does the seller say about the damage?

How are your fiberglass skills?

Reply

Get notified of new replies

To Fixing a crack





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 08:04 AM.

story-0
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

Slideshow: Ranking the top 10 Corvette engines by torque output.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-05 11:58:09


VIEW MORE
story-1
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

Slideshow: A Corvette pace car nearly matching IndyCar speeds sounds exaggerated, until you look at the numbers.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-04 20:03:36


VIEW MORE
story-2
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

Among a rather large group of them.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-04 13:56:44


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

Slideshow: the top 10 things Corvette owners want in the C9 Corvette

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-30 12:41:15


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

Slideshow: 10 Important Corvette 'firsts' that every fan should know.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-29 17:02:16


VIEW MORE
story-5
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

Slideshow: Should you buy a 2020-2026 Corvette or wait for 2027?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-22 10:08:58


VIEW MORE
story-6
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor

Slideshow: 2027 Corvette lineup vs the world.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-24 16:12:42


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!

Slideshow: 10 major Corvette problems from the last 20 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-14 16:37:05


VIEW MORE
story-8
5 MOST and 5 LEAST Popular Corvette Model Years in History!

Slideshow: 5 most and least popular Corvette model years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-08 13:25:01


VIEW MORE
story-9
2027 Corvette Buyer's Guide: Everything You Need to Know!

Slideshow: 2027 Corvette buyer's guide

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-17 16:41:08


VIEW MORE