Body work
Thread Starter
7th Gear
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: Big Sky Country
Body work
Well I brought my 2003 coupe home last night. I noticed a little bit of damage to the fiberglass on the edge of the hatch. Looks like maybe somebody stuck a pry bar in there and tried to pop the hatch. Anyway, I'd like to get it fixed but am leery taking it to just any body shop. Anybody have any advice as to how to find a shop that specializes in corvettes and/or what to look for in a shop to make an informed decision? By the way, I live in the Helena MT area. Thanks.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 4,977
Likes: 256
From: St. Louis Missouri
Well I brought my 2003 coupe home last night. I noticed a little bit of damage to the fiberglass on the edge of the hatch. Looks like maybe somebody stuck a pry bar in there and tried to pop the hatch. Anyway, I'd like to get it fixed but am leery taking it to just any body shop. Anybody have any advice as to how to find a shop that specializes in corvettes and/or what to look for in a shop to make an informed decision? By the way, I live in the Helena MT area. Thanks.
Intermediate
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 45
Likes: 0
There is still some fiberglass in the body panels . There are composed of about 40 percent resin – polyester, vinyl ester, styrene or a blend of all three – 33 percent calcium-carbonate filler, 20 percent chopped fiberglass, The remaining 7 percent is resin and hardeners that improve the out-of-mold surface finish.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 5,699
Likes: 147
If the damage is small you can just rough it up and Bondo it, then sand it out.
Paint suppliers can mix up your color base in a spray can.
It dries quickly and you can build it up and sand it to take out scratches.
Paint suppliers can mix up your color base in a spray can.
It dries quickly and you can build it up and sand it to take out scratches.
Last edited by StrangelovesM6Vert; Sep 5, 2014 at 06:54 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 2,170
Likes: 48
From: Yuma CO
Senior Member
Cruise-In V Veteran
My vote is fix it right, or leave it alone and live with it. Your choice.
DSTURBD
Last edited by DSTURBD; Sep 5, 2014 at 08:24 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 5,699
Likes: 147
I don't know what the damage looks like.
If you want to fix it you have to base coat paint it after doing the repair.
It's the same automotive grade paint you use in a spraygun but they can put it in a spraybomb if you don't have equipment.
If it's just a small area you can blow in some clearcoat over it after doing the base.
They can mix the clearcoat up in a spraycan you activate as well.
It's an option if you wanted to fix it yourself without a spraygun or compresser.
I painted my rear spoiler with basecoat clearcoat in my back yard using bodyshop supplier spraycans because I didn't need any more paint than that at the time.
Last edited by StrangelovesM6Vert; Sep 5, 2014 at 08:40 PM.
Administrator
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 368,536
Likes: 24,827
From: In a parallel universe. Currently own 2014 Stingray Coupe.
C7 of the Year - Modified Finalist 2021
MO Events Coordinator
St. Jude Co-Organizer
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
NCM Sinkhole Donor
CI 5, 8 & 11 Veteran
If there is a Corvette Club local to you, try getting some recommendations from the club's members.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 372
Likes: 2
From: Richmond BC
I used to be a bodyman and painter.
I don't know what the damage looks like.
If you want to fix it you have to base coat paint it after doing the repair.
It's the same automotive grade paint you use in a spraygun but they can put it in a spraybomb if you don't have equipment.
If it's just a small area you can blow in some clearcoat over it after doing the base.
They can mix the clearcoat up in a spraycan you activate as well.
It's an option if you wanted to fix it yourself without a spraygun or compresser.
I painted my rear spoiler with basecoat clearcoat in my back yard using bodyshop supplier spraycans because I didn't need any more paint than that at the time.
I don't know what the damage looks like.
If you want to fix it you have to base coat paint it after doing the repair.
It's the same automotive grade paint you use in a spraygun but they can put it in a spraybomb if you don't have equipment.
If it's just a small area you can blow in some clearcoat over it after doing the base.
They can mix the clearcoat up in a spraycan you activate as well.
It's an option if you wanted to fix it yourself without a spraygun or compresser.
I painted my rear spoiler with basecoat clearcoat in my back yard using bodyshop supplier spraycans because I didn't need any more paint than that at the time.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained
Joe Kucinski
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette
Verdad Gallardo
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 214
Likes: 10
From: Pinckney MI
I'd try calling a few places. I had to have some work done on mine, and some of the places I called wouldn't/didn't work on Corvettes. I found two places and got quotes from both. One definitely seemed more professional than the other.. GL.
Thread Starter
7th Gear
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: Big Sky Country
Thanks for the replies. I'll try a few shops in town (there aren't that many). There is/was a corvette club in Helena but their website is no longer up and running so maybe they folded.