Damn, oops
Thread Starter
Ruby2
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
From: Toulon Illinois
Damn, oops
Was attempting to jack left side of car up to attempt to add a front license plate bracket on the front. Long story short, jack slipped and now my left front fender has a crack and chunk out of it on the underneath side! I attempted to price a new fender already painted at www.corvetterecycling.com but of all parts, they didn't have one in my style and color. I priced a new one from GM and painted and installed, they want $1,400. Not sure this one can't be fixed even yet, the crack is a small one where the fender bends back under the car to the rear of the front tire. Any ideas? I've already slung everything I can in a fit of rage right after the event, Im all out of things to throw Im so pissed at myself.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 20,352
Likes: 568
From: Ventura County, Calif
Ha. Many, maybe most, of us have been there at least once. You go through the whole "woulda, shoulda, coulda" done something so that wouldn't happen, but you didn't. Get upset for awhile then move on. Stuff happens.
Sounds like it can be fixed. Do some research to find a good, high end body shop that knows fiberglass/plastic (front fenders are RRIM).
Sounds like it can be fixed. Do some research to find a good, high end body shop that knows fiberglass/plastic (front fenders are RRIM).
Racer
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 431
Likes: 54
From: Rivesville West Virginia
I know this is after the fact. But I always have a second lift of some kind in place. I actually like 4x4's and crib up to the second lifting point or next to the jack.
The main thing you did not get hurt. Probably all of us "Car Guys and Girls". have had a jack move or fall or even move sideways.
In the Ole days the bumper jacks were notorious for lots of injuries!
The main thing you did not get hurt. Probably all of us "Car Guys and Girls". have had a jack move or fall or even move sideways.
In the Ole days the bumper jacks were notorious for lots of injuries!
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Brett Foote
Tech Contributor
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 10,954
Likes: 261
From: Greensboro NC
2015 C6 of the Year Finalist
Been there, done that. 
I hope that you didn't get the rocker panel near the door. That is a pain to get fixed correctly (and not cheap to fix).
The good news, it gave me an excuse to mod it to this.
I hope that you didn't get the rocker panel near the door. That is a pain to get fixed correctly (and not cheap to fix).
The good news, it gave me an excuse to mod it to this.
Last edited by ncvette_1FUNRIDE; May 20, 2015 at 08:40 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 11,973
Likes: 463
From: Tonawanda New York
I can't understand how the car slips off the jack?
When you jack a car,the first thing you do is block the wheels(wedge a hunk of wood), then fit the jack in the proper spot (in our case the frame rail where the rocker panel is notched) using a puck or piece of wood. If jacking from center then back wheels should be blocked.
When you jack a car,the first thing you do is block the wheels(wedge a hunk of wood), then fit the jack in the proper spot (in our case the frame rail where the rocker panel is notched) using a puck or piece of wood. If jacking from center then back wheels should be blocked.
Last edited by Don-Vette; May 21, 2015 at 06:48 AM.
...or damage something significantly more expensive to make right. 
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 16,873
Likes: 5,329
From: T-Town WA
2016 C6 of Year Finalist
Without pictures it is hard to comment but I would consider two things:
Contact a Corvette repair shop (or a Corvette club for a recommendation);
Perhaps front splash guards would cover the damage.
For a DIY repair somebody recently posted complete coverage of his lower fender/rocker repair after a "damn, oops" moment.
I wish you luck.
Contact a Corvette repair shop (or a Corvette club for a recommendation);
Perhaps front splash guards would cover the damage.
For a DIY repair somebody recently posted complete coverage of his lower fender/rocker repair after a "damn, oops" moment.
I wish you luck.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 16,873
Likes: 5,329
From: T-Town WA
2016 C6 of Year Finalist
Tech Contributor
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 10,954
Likes: 261
From: Greensboro NC
2015 C6 of the Year Finalist
I can't understand how the car slips off the jack?
When you jack a car,the first thing you do is block the wheels(wedge a hunk of wood), then fit the jack in the proper spot (in our case the frame rail where the rocker panel is notched) using a puck or piece of wood. If jacking from center then back wheels should be blocked.
When you jack a car,the first thing you do is block the wheels(wedge a hunk of wood), then fit the jack in the proper spot (in our case the frame rail where the rocker panel is notched) using a puck or piece of wood. If jacking from center then back wheels should be blocked.
In hind sight I should have put a wedge under the jack wheels. I had Elite Engineering frame rails installed (with built in jacking points) but those are just flat spots and the jack being used had a rubber cushion. As the car was lifted the angle became more severe and finally the jack just slid out from under the car.The moral, always 'think' things through if you are doing something you haven't done before.
I sold those rails and only use jacking pucks and a jack with a saddle that the pucks fit into.
Thread Starter
Ruby2
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
From: Toulon Illinois
Same area on left side but only damage is on the underneath side where it bends 90 degrees to fit the shape of the panel. I feel for you, I really want to make sure it won't crack entirely and start flapping and create something bigger.
Racer
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 347
Likes: 13
From: san diego ca
i would suggest taking it to a high end body shop and getting it repaired. Here's my story: i parked too close to the garage wall and then turned the wheel too much when backing out. caught a wooden bench with the wheel arch and busted the fender up. couple of pics attached. bottom line: got the fender repaired and painted, along with the front bumper and new lenses installed for $1500.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 11,973
Likes: 463
From: Tonawanda New York
I don't know about the OP, but I jacked my car up from the side. The wheels were chocked and the brake was on. The car didn't move, it was the jack that rolled out from under the car in my case. In hind sight I should have put a wedge under the jack wheels. I had Elite Engineering frame rails installed (with built in jacking points) but those are just flat spots and the jack being used had a rubber cushion. As the car was lifted the angle became more severe and finally the jack just slid out from under the car.
The moral, always 'think' things through if you are doing something you haven't done before.
I sold those rails and only use jacking pucks and a jack with a saddle that the pucks fit into.
In hind sight I should have put a wedge under the jack wheels. I had Elite Engineering frame rails installed (with built in jacking points) but those are just flat spots and the jack being used had a rubber cushion. As the car was lifted the angle became more severe and finally the jack just slid out from under the car.The moral, always 'think' things through if you are doing something you haven't done before.
I sold those rails and only use jacking pucks and a jack with a saddle that the pucks fit into.