Repair or Replace
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 67
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From: Manalapan, New Jersey
Repair or Replace
Hit some road debris on the expressway. Ripped off the right air dam, ruined the tire, cracked the fender and crushed the rocker panel. Been to several body shops. Two recommend repairing so they can blend in the paint without having to go into the hood area and the rear quarter panel. Two were for replacing the fender and rocker panel (big job - and much more expensive) I'm leaning to repair but I would love some thoughts. Thanks.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 3,137
Likes: 1
From: Insane Diego Kalifonya Baby
Originally Posted by diyguy
REPLACE parts.
Someone is throwing
about paint not matching.. **GEESH** it's white! No metallic, no nothin. Should be a really eash fix. Presume insurance to cover it?
Someone is throwing
about paint not matching.. **GEESH** it's white! No metallic, no nothin. Should be a really eash fix. Presume insurance to cover it?
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 16,270
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From: "It's 106 miles to Chicago, we've got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark, and
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-‘18-'19
NCM Sinkhole Donor
I have to agree to - not sure how well this Sheet Molded Composite takes to repairing. Fenders are easy off and easy on. The rocker panel is a little more difficult, but I have no doubts that a competent professional body shop with familiarity of Corvettes can do the job to your satisfaction. Also - paint match has become a science and much less experimentation.
If your insurance company will agree to it - have the parts replaced, you'll be much happier with the outcome.
Sorry for your mishap.
Good luck with the repairs. 
If your insurance company will agree to it - have the parts replaced, you'll be much happier with the outcome.
Sorry for your mishap.
Good luck with the repairs.
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Instructor
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 116
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From: Bolton Ontario
Repair or Replace
One of the features or the vette is the screw on panels. Proper body shop should replace all your panels. Also they should be painted off the car. The Door panel can also be removed for blending if required. Don't repair them.
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 167
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From: Hamilton Ontario
Originally Posted by blacksedan87
I have to agree to - not sure how well this Sheet Molded Composite takes to repairing. Fenders are easy off and easy on. The rocker panel is a little more difficult, but I have no doubts that a competent professional body shop with familiarity of Corvettes can do the job to your satisfaction. Also - paint match has become a science and much less experimentation.
If your insurance company will agree to it - have the parts replaced, you'll be much happier with the outcome.
Sorry for your mishap. Good luck with the repairs.
If your insurance company will agree to it - have the parts replaced, you'll be much happier with the outcome.
Sorry for your mishap.
Good luck with the repairs. 
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,549
Likes: 0
From: MDT
wow. saw the photo & thought "my aching *ss" . i tend to think either option would be fine if performed by a competent body shop. it's hardly a surprise that an insurance company would prefer the lower cost option. consumers tend to argue on emotion rather than reality, particularly given how much we love our vettes. my bro in law is an adjuster with a major auto insurance carrier (which btw is a real pita job). i think if you reasonably & respectfully (not arrogantly) argue, you can hit a middle ground. good luck. bub
. i tend to think either option would be fine if performed by a competent body shop. it's hardly a surprise that an insurance company would prefer the lower cost option. consumers tend to argue on emotion rather than reality, particularly given how much we love our vettes. my bro in law is an adjuster with a major auto insurance carrier (which btw is a real pita job). i think if you reasonably & respectfully (not arrogantly) argue, you can hit a middle ground. good luck. bub
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 6,449
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From: Maryville TN
St. Jude Donor '06-13,'16-'17, '19
I'd have them replace the front fender since it's an easy bolt on/bolt off part. The rocker panel is a whole different story though. That part has to be peeled and chiseled off since it's glued on in several places.
In my opinion replacing the rocker will do far more damage to the car than simply repairing it.
Tom
In my opinion replacing the rocker will do far more damage to the car than simply repairing it.
Tom
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 6,276
Likes: 227
From: Farmington CT
Cruise-In VII Veteran
i can help you out on this, i'm assuming this is an '01 quicksilver? there's 3 diff silvers for c5's, 97-00,01-03 quicksilver, and 04 machine silver; if you can find the parts i'll help you replace them, i had 6spd98 drive up from queens a few weeks ago, depending how far off the verrazano you are i'm about 2 hours away
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2005
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From: Omaha Nebraska
St. Jude Donor '06
I'm slow to respond here but I was shocked when it was called "White"... I thought, "Man do I need an eye exam!"
I'd ask the body shops that looked at it, (Yes ALL four) as to why they chose to repair or replace the panels.
I'd think that REPLACE is the only option but Tom made a good point...If it's more damaging to remove the rocker.. well...
Look deeper into it with professionals giving the reasons why or why not... I'd guess few of us has done it and we are indeed using our emotions for the reasons why...
I agree that the paint match is a fishy story... no matter what, you're going to have to match the paint!! Hmmmmm....
This sort of thing requires some indepth work as to what kind of work these shops can do as well....
Yup, **** as hell here...
Good LUCK!!
I'd ask the body shops that looked at it, (Yes ALL four) as to why they chose to repair or replace the panels.
I'd think that REPLACE is the only option but Tom made a good point...If it's more damaging to remove the rocker.. well...
Look deeper into it with professionals giving the reasons why or why not... I'd guess few of us has done it and we are indeed using our emotions for the reasons why...
I agree that the paint match is a fishy story... no matter what, you're going to have to match the paint!! Hmmmmm....
This sort of thing requires some indepth work as to what kind of work these shops can do as well....
Yup, **** as hell here...
Good LUCK!!
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 67
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From: Manalapan, New Jersey
I want to thank everyone for their thoughts and particulary single out Connecticut for his gracious offer. My original concern was for removal and replacement of the rocker which does require a significant "tear down" and reassembly of the vehicle (which comes directly from a tech a Chevy) and I was a little (a lot) squeamish about having even a professional tear down the vehicle. Cost was not the consideration because with my deductible, my out-of-pocket would be the same with either repair or replace - Repair I pay for myself including the tire and alignment which comes to the amount of my deductible.
I was originally leaning toward the repair. Given your comments I am now learning toward replace the fender, repair the rocker.
Thanks again for your thoughts and if please keep them coming.
I was originally leaning toward the repair. Given your comments I am now learning toward replace the fender, repair the rocker.
Thanks again for your thoughts and if please keep them coming.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 23,283
Likes: 906
From: Lake Elsinore, CA
I would never be satisfied with a repair job on that kind of damage. A good shop can replace that rocker panel with no problems because they know what they're doing. Insist on new, original GM replacemnet parts or you may regret it down the line. 