Door damage: Repair approach?
#1
Le Mans Master
Thread Starter
Door damage: Repair approach?
Haven't talked to my body shop yet but wanted to consult the Brain Trust first. Wind took my door yesterday into another car...thoughts on how this gets repaired?
#2
Race Director
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2022 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
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Ouch!
Had that happen to me (fortunately not in a Vette, though).
I'm not a body man, but I know working with fiberglass is a little tricky. My recommendation is to check with Forum vendor VetteNuts and see if you could pick up the door or door shell for a good price. If he had your color, you might be able to do a simple remove and replace and not have to do body prep and paint.
Good luck!
Had that happen to me (fortunately not in a Vette, though).
I'm not a body man, but I know working with fiberglass is a little tricky. My recommendation is to check with Forum vendor VetteNuts and see if you could pick up the door or door shell for a good price. If he had your color, you might be able to do a simple remove and replace and not have to do body prep and paint.
Good luck!
#3
Team Owner
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Been there, similar damage. My estimates for repair were $800 - $900 at 2 shops. Both stated they had to blend the AE paint into the quarter panel, gas lid, etc..
FYI - One of the shops is Corvette Only and the other shop specializes in fiberglass and customs.
FYI - One of the shops is Corvette Only and the other shop specializes in fiberglass and customs.
Last edited by FX VETTE; 02-19-2018 at 09:08 PM.
#4
Le Mans Master
I would find a good body shop experienced with fiber glass and get an estimate. Fiberglass can be fairly easily repaired by those that know what they are doing. The 8 to $900 sounds about right.
#5
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A body shop that is experienced in Corvette repair would be the place to ask.
#6
Drifting
The door is an SMC shell construction with an outer SMC "skin". The skin is what was damaged. The most basic of basic repairs would be to smooth out, utilize an SMC filler, and then properly paint w/ blend. SMC filler isn't like a bondo and if properly applied and worked with will take on similar property to the SMC material it is adhered to.
If you're ultimately wanting to go the full replacement route you'll be in for a bit of a headache. The door shells and skins were discontinued some years back. Body shops will have a difficult time securing a "good" door because most C5s with mileage will have stress cracks on the sandwich hinge of the shell towards the hinges. Plus as the driver's door gets used more it's more likely to have stress damage. As an example, back in '14 I had to have my passenger door replaced due to a minor parking lot hit. The body shop had to source a total of FOUR doors before one was found that didn't have any sort of stress damage; and that was the passenger side.
If you're ultimately wanting to go the full replacement route you'll be in for a bit of a headache. The door shells and skins were discontinued some years back. Body shops will have a difficult time securing a "good" door because most C5s with mileage will have stress cracks on the sandwich hinge of the shell towards the hinges. Plus as the driver's door gets used more it's more likely to have stress damage. As an example, back in '14 I had to have my passenger door replaced due to a minor parking lot hit. The body shop had to source a total of FOUR doors before one was found that didn't have any sort of stress damage; and that was the passenger side.
#7
Melting Slicks
While working on mine in the street - I left the door open and went inside for an iced tea - within 5min my doorbell rang - girl across the street all teary-eyed - backed right into it - my local guys (CarStar) fixed it OK...
#9
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What was the repair cost jjc508520?
#10
Le Mans Master
No, they do not have a yellow one in stock. They do have bare doors in other colors you could paint. You would have to switch everything over and that would take some time and skills.
#11
Le Mans Master
Thread Starter
Thanks, folks - all good background.
I fortunately have a great local Corvette shop that has already done outstanding body work on my C5, so I’ll circle back when it’s done.
I fortunately have a great local Corvette shop that has already done outstanding body work on my C5, so I’ll circle back when it’s done.
#12
Le Mans Master
Any pic of the damage to the other car?
Did you leave your contact info for the other guy?
No one picked up on that, how come? I’m sure we all would freak out if, coming back to our Vettes to find damage from another car.
Happened to me a couple months back. We were grocery shopping, came back to my SUV to find someone had backed into the rear driver side bumper cover, even popped a couple wheel well moulding clips. Luckily, just scrapes on the bumper, some sanding, and paint blending should do it. The other car backed out from their spot, swung real wide (across a two lane driveway) and only stopped cause they ‘felt somrthing’. Needless to say, no info note on my windshield. “Oh Archy what was that? Stifil Edith, we’re getting out of Dodge”!!!
frank
Did you leave your contact info for the other guy?
No one picked up on that, how come? I’m sure we all would freak out if, coming back to our Vettes to find damage from another car.
Happened to me a couple months back. We were grocery shopping, came back to my SUV to find someone had backed into the rear driver side bumper cover, even popped a couple wheel well moulding clips. Luckily, just scrapes on the bumper, some sanding, and paint blending should do it. The other car backed out from their spot, swung real wide (across a two lane driveway) and only stopped cause they ‘felt somrthing’. Needless to say, no info note on my windshield. “Oh Archy what was that? Stifil Edith, we’re getting out of Dodge”!!!
frank
#13
Le Mans Master
Thread Starter
Thanks for thinking the worst, but yes - I left contact information and we talked afterwards. Owner agreed that he had no interest in making a claim.
The following users liked this post:
FX VETTE (02-28-2018)
#15
www.car-part.com searches all the scrap yards and dismantlers. It shows a couple of results for yellow c5 drivers doors, I don't know the specifics about year to year paint code changes tho.
2004
Front Door Assembly
Chevy Corvette SKIN ONLY (YELLOW) 000 A
0 04FDRL $250
1 Stop Parts USA-FL(La-Belle) Request_Quote 863-612-4800 / 863-612-2886 Request_Insurance_Quote
2004
Front Door Assembly, Left
Chevy Corvette LH 000 YELLOW(79U) PW PL NO MIRROR 000 A
0 B9079 $240
Premier Auto & Truck Parts - MICAR Certified MWRP USA-MI(Cedar-Springs) Request_Quote 1-800-397-6812 Request_Insurance_Quote
2004
Front Door Assembly
Chevy Corvette SKIN ONLY (YELLOW) 000 A
0 04FDRL $250
1 Stop Parts USA-FL(La-Belle) Request_Quote 863-612-4800 / 863-612-2886 Request_Insurance_Quote
2004
Front Door Assembly, Left
Chevy Corvette LH 000 YELLOW(79U) PW PL NO MIRROR 000 A
0 B9079 $240
Premier Auto & Truck Parts - MICAR Certified MWRP USA-MI(Cedar-Springs) Request_Quote 1-800-397-6812 Request_Insurance_Quote