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Index > Body Exterior > Thread: Unwanted Xmas present, Tree falls on REPU roof, glass, fender. Please read/help!
Thread: Unwanted Xmas present, Tree falls on REPU roof, glass, fender. Please read/help!
rotarypwrd


Revvin Up
Posts: 55
posted March 25, 2004 07:47 PM

Unwanted Xmas present, Tree falls on REPU roof, glass, fender. Please read/help!

Hello REPU family,

Been out of the loop for a bit, but back w/ a mission. For those of you who haven't heard.......... Dec.25, 2003, Huge tree branch falls on defenselessly parked 77 REPU outside home, which until now has never had body damage (27 yrs.).

Terrible tragedy, damage is significant, but not as bad as it sounds. Ask J-Ro, he happend to see me driving the wounded green beast on the FWY to get estimated. I'm surprised he didn't ask me about the damage, he just kept yelling over to me how good it sounds, smile, thanx bruddah, I needed to hear that, especially considering the depressing circumstances. Damage report: Smushed corner of roof by windshield, windshield cracked, and drivers' front fender dented downward.

This is where I could use some help:
(FYI: located in California, close to Disneyland)

1) Body Shop: anyone know of any good body shops in the area: quality work, handle some surface rust, fair/cheap price? also windshield repair? where can i get the original exterior rubber molding for the windshield? Brad was also talking about a rear glass slider window, i have been thinking about it since the windshield already needs repairing, any tips?

2) Paint: the body shops I have taken the truck to cannot paint match on the damaged parts, they are suggesting painting the whole truck. I said go ahead if you're going to do it for free, as they laughed! Don't have the funds for a showcar paint, but would like something realllllly good, if I can afford it-funds really tight after body repair. What experiences have you heard about w/ Maaco, Earl Scheib, 1 Day paint, etc? Would love to get my truck painted where Brad is getting his done, but man that looks like a gazillion dollar paint job, props Brad, props.

Any info would be appreciated, please post away.

rotarypwrd and confused about options, tomas



       
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rotormunky


Redlining
Orlando, Florida
Posts: 424
posted March 26, 2004 04:41 AM

quote:
Been out of the loop for a bit, but back w/ a mission. For those of you who haven't heard.......... Dec.25, 2003, Huge tree branch falls on defenselessly parked 77 REPU outside home, which until now has never had body damage (27 yrs.).



Man I'm sorry to hear that. At least it wasn't vandals trashing your truck, that feels worse.


quote:

Damage report: Smushed corner of roof by windshield, windshield cracked, and drivers' front fender dented downward.



The fender is replaceable still I think, but the roof sounds like it'll take some hammer and dolly work, which with repaint won't be that cheap.



quote:

1) Body Shop: anyone know of any good body shops in the area: quality work, handle some surface rust, fair/cheap price?



Quality work and cheap don't go together. Sorry.

Not to be short on the subject but you just won't get good repairs that will last without paying a decent shop, and decent shops have decent rates, and Cali is higher than many other areas in the country. I causually know a guy in Mountain View (noCal I think) who does great work, but he's not cheap.


quote:
Don't have the funds for a showcar paint, but would like something realllllly good, if I can afford it-funds really tight after body repair. What experiences have you heard about w/ Maaco, Earl Scheib, 1 Day paint, etc? Would love to get my truck painted where Brad is getting his done, but man that looks like a gazillion dollar paint job, props Brad, props.



Brad got a really fair deal on his paint. You aren't likely to find better work for less money.

You *CAN* do an Earl Shieb/Maaco job if you want, and it can look ok but it requires a lot of work on your part.

The reason Maaco is so cheap is because their cheap paint jobs consist of htem rolling your truck into the bay, hosing it down, drying it, (sorta) masking off the truck, spraying it with two coats of cheap paint and they roll it out.

And it'll look like shit.

But if you block sand the truck yourself, strip it, pay a little extra for decent paint, and then cut and buff it yourself after they shoot it you can get a much more decent result for less money.

But that's the equation. The more labour you invest the less money you need. And vice versa. That's why I'm doing it all myself on my truck, cause I got not money, but plenty of time :)

If you want it done fast, or don't want to do the prep and finish work yourself then I'd go w/ Brad's shop. That's a very fair price from my experience, esp for a cali shop.


____________
-Martin
Orlando, Florida

http://www.themonkeyhouse.org/REPU

'77 REPU (Some assembly required :)
'91 Cabrio (Battered and bruised, but she's still my baby.)

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Klaus43


Rotorhead
Posts: 1259
posted March 26, 2004 10:02 AM

My condolences...

So sorry to hear about your situation, Tomas! Don't think I can offer any more/better advice on the paint & body, other than I hope you were insured--and that you DO NOT have to go where your insurance Co. tells you!!! (However, you might have to take them to court--even if only small claims--to get them to pay up. And, you MUST document, document, document EVERYTHING in writing, including YOUR choice of the (top) three estimates you can get...) That means, go to the best shops in town, and then compare those numbers with the low-ball ripoff cheepo jobs your ins. Co. wants you to go get... Also put ALL communication with ins. Co. folks in writing! It don't mean s--t if it's not on paper.
Best of luck, K.

       
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rotormunky


Redlining
Orlando, Florida
Posts: 424
posted March 26, 2004 10:17 AM

I'll second that. If your ins company wants to give you X dollars then you might want to offer to supplement a little extra to do a better job than the ins company will tell them to do.

THey'll tell the shop to cut corners. Guaranteed.

Watch the ins company like a hawk.


____________
-Martin
Orlando, Florida

http://www.themonkeyhouse.org/REPU

'77 REPU (Some assembly required :)
'91 Cabrio (Battered and bruised, but she's still my baby.)

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brad


Rotorhead
Posts: 1672
posted March 26, 2004 10:57 AM
Edited By: brad on 26 Mar 2004 11:00

My trip to the pain shop was $2500 all said and done

It could have been done cheaper, but I want paint that will last another 30 years. When it comes to bodywork and paint you do get what you pay for. Cheap cost = cheap quality

One Day Auto Body and Paint. Torrance, CA 310.328.8900

I got the top of the line sand, 3 coats paint, colorsand, 1 coat clear. Including door jambs $1400. The rest of the $$ was bodywork, a new windshield, painting the tailgate, battery lid, window frames, valance and lower tray separately. Weld some holes in the back of the bed.

I removed everything myself. Derusted myself. Primered and sanded whole car. Which was necessary after I derusted.

One Day's windshield guy has ford courier windshield gaskets that do not require the stock trim insert

The windshield thread has contact number and webpage for the rear slider. But be sure to measure yours before you buy. 74 courier worked fine for me. i would guess 77 courier would work with your 77 repu. 77 has bigger rear window.

Tomas, you can come over to my house and check out the paintjob. You can also use my grinder here to derust. My repu's front rotor coughed an apex seal so it's not driveable. Got a n/a 13b for sale?

Brad


____________
-brad-
74 REPU Lawn Green
81 Rx-7 racecar. 12a J-
Bridge

       
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Klaus43


Rotorhead
Posts: 1259
posted March 26, 2004 11:23 AM

Oh no...

Not another seal hiccup! Man, what is it with the rotors destroying themselves this time of year?
At least you're well-connected parts-wise, Brad...

       
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ScottyG


1st Gear
Posts: 33
posted March 26, 2004 05:41 PM

Hey Brad:

Tough luck.... especially the roof.

I have been looking into getting a car of mine painted...and from what I've learned, (unless you have a GOOD hookup) $1400 for all that work won't buy "top of the line" results.

Just the materials for a base/clear job on an average size vehicle can squeeze $1000.

I know that's not what you want to hear (and BELIEVE me, I didn't like hearing it either!) but I'm afraid you may be disappointed.


       
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brad


Rotorhead
Posts: 1672
posted March 27, 2004 12:35 AM

quote:
Not another seal hiccup! Man, what is it with the rotors destroying themselves this time of year?
At least you're well-connected parts-wise, Brad...


Yeah... bummer but dem's de breaks. other 2 apex seals had collapsed springs so my bet is over-revving, or lotta carbon buildup. buy my redline buzzer went off a lot :)

My connections found me a SWEET 13b 6port fully setup for road racing by competent builder. Half off price. Too bad money doesn't grow on trees :(


____________
-brad-
74 REPU Lawn Green
81 Rx-7 racecar. 12a J-
Bridge

       
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adzam7xr97


Newbie
Posts: 7
posted March 29, 2004 09:46 PM

Sorry to hear about your 77

The only unfortunate problem I can see with insurance claims on a REPU would be that your insurance company would probably want to total it out if the repairs would cost in the ball park of $10. Joking aside, any decent repair would easily exceed what they value even the best REPU at unless it is insured as a classic or collector.


If someone needs a N/A six port, I have one sitting at my friends shop out in the desert. It came out of my 88 convertible and has 108,xxx miles. I did a complete resto on the car over the past year and decided to drop in a rebuilt engine while everything else was apart. Ran great but rear main started to leak.

Best of Luck
Shaun

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EricHappyMeal


1st Gear
Posts: 39
posted July 19, 2004 06:37 PM

brad, what city do you live in? and about how much did the windshield and gaskets cost? im in need of getting one for mine as well, and torrance is just around the corner from me. (literally)
____________
Whats up with cranberries?

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brad


Rotorhead
Posts: 1672
posted July 20, 2004 11:40 AM

I live in Redondo

The windshield was $112 installed and they kept the factory gasket I brought to the body shop and replaced it with one that does not require trim in the center of the gasket. Much cleaner and one less thing to clean or replace.

Body shop is 1 Day Auto Body in Torrance on Western Ave. Their glass guy knows what gasket to use for REPU.
____________
-brad-
74 REPU Lawn Green
81 Rx-7 racecar. 12a J-
Bridge

       
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EricHappyMeal


1st Gear
Posts: 39
posted July 20, 2004 03:51 PM

wow shit!

i live on 190th and inglewood avenue. street is spreckles. ill have to go check that out once i get my truck.
____________
Whats up with cranberries?

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