I need to replace the driver's side fender on my Torch Red 2011 Grand Sport. A google search turned up some used parts (although unfortunately, not the exact one I need yet). So before I spend hours searching and perhaps posting in the parts section, I'm wondering:

If I could find a used Torch Red GS fender, will the paint match my car (i.e. are modern factory paints consistent enough that it will match)?

Is replacing that fender something I could do myself? Or are there issues with the panel being next to the door that would require some special skills with alignment and finesse? I do see two screws in the door hinge area that look like they may be very hard to get to.

Is that little black rubber strip hood gasket typically just on that part or would I have to find one and manually glue it on there (might be hard to get it straight without some know how)?

Any other "gotchas" I should know about if I want to tackle something like this?

My skill level: I'm not a mechanic (obviously by my questions above), but I have replaced wheel well parts myself. Along with doing my own brakes/rotors, swaybar, alternator change and some other easier maintenance jobs (oil changes, brake bleed, etc.).

Of course I'm also open to any advice here. If this is a place where I don't want to cheap out, please feel free to share that opinion and steer me in the right direction. My general thinking is: The car has 89K miles on it and it's my daily driver. Although I'm meticulous about keeping the car clean and looking sharp, there's plenty of imperfections in the paint already (i.e. rock chips around the brake ducts, etc.) so I'm not looking for this panel replacement to look absolutely brand new and 100% flawless....just something that I can buff and wax up and have the car looking sharp again.

 

I would think that replacement would be pretty straight forward. I have never done but it looks like it's a matter of unscrewing all the screws and unattaching things here and there. I would take pictures of how it looks now, and as you go so you can repeat the process putting things back on. As far as the paint goes, newly painted items will look slightly different than ones that have been weathered/used. But as long as the paint code is the same it should be ok. It does look like something you could tackle, but for me I would rather have someone else do it so if they screw up, I can take it back until I'm satisfied

 

Replacing the fender is something that anyone with some mechanical aptitude can do pretty easily. It's just some screws and plastic anchors.

As for the rubber on the edge of the fender/hood, it can be bought/ordered at any Chevrolet dealer parts department.

As for getting an exact matching fender, that will be a crap shoot IMO. You may get one that matches great or one that is slightly off. The difference (if any) may be noticeably only in the right light or angle.

 

There are washers/spacers under the screws in on the hood edge screws.