Bobcat's Auto Body Repair and Customizing

Bobcat_GTS · Postby **Bobcat_GTS** » Wed Apr 01, 2009 2:57 am

I've mentioned a few times in posts that my car suffered some damage just a few days after I got it and then another incident 3 months later. After a long time of being embarrassed by my dented car I finally decided to take an auto body repair class and learn to fix it myself. I've also used the time in the shop to work on painting my grille trim and the center caps on my rims. I took pics of different stages in the repair process, but I'll just post the before and after shots for now.

Once I was done fixing and repainting the fender and quarter panel I painted my grille trim black

Then I painted my center caps

That's it so far, but I have more plans. :wink:

Bandit · Postby **Bandit** » Wed Apr 01, 2009 7:53 am

Nice work bobcat - especially on the dent removal. Did you push them out or fill and repaint?

Panther4B11 · Postby **Panther4B11** » Wed Apr 01, 2009 9:07 am

wow that's amazing man... very nice work you have done on there. I really dig the painted black grill. did you do the lower grill too?

Speedie · Postby **Speedie** » Wed Apr 01, 2009 9:47 am

Can't even tell it was there. Nice job

Bandit · Postby **Bandit** » Wed Apr 01, 2009 10:19 am

Panther4B11 wrote:wow that's amazing man... very nice work you have done on there. I really dig the painted black grill. did you do the lower grill too?

I think the US spec already have black lower grille, it's just the upper one that is chrome.

Panther4B11 · Postby **Panther4B11** » Wed Apr 01, 2009 10:27 am

Ah okay.. Understandable.

Ozie · Postby **Ozie** » Wed Apr 01, 2009 1:34 pm

Bobcat the Panel beater!!!!
looks great Justin...& back to normal....

Bobcat_GTS · Postby **Bobcat_GTS** » Wed Apr 01, 2009 3:25 pm

Thanks guys!

It's not 100% perfect though. I pulled the dent's out the best I could, did some hammer and dolly work on it, then used fiberglass, bondo, and polyester to fill the remaining imperfections. I repainted the entire fender and quarter panel. Unfortunately you can see some scratches in the base coat in some spots from sanding if you look at the right angle, and unfortunately we clear coated it before we noticed them. The bodyline on the quarter panel is not as sharp anymore, so I may try and re-do it. The paint matches pretty well, but in certain light it's noticeable that there is a slight difference. Overall it turned out better than I expected I guess and it was definitely cheaper to take the class and do it myself than pay someone else to fix it, plus I learned how to do something new. I'd kind of like to have a career involving cars, so I might wind up taking automotive repair classes too. It might be a little late for me to try and make that a career, but I can give it a shot at least. We'll see...

777_AJB · Postby **777_AJB** » Wed Apr 01, 2009 5:00 pm

how do the center caps come off do they pop off or unscrew just wondering

m1n1on · Postby **m1n1on** » Fri Apr 03, 2009 4:31 pm

very nice job!

ash06 · Postby **ash06** » Fri Apr 03, 2009 5:28 pm

It looks unreal man! Well done

Bobcat_GTS · Postby **Bobcat_GTS** » Sat Apr 04, 2009 3:00 pm

777_AJB wrote:how do the center caps come off do they pop off or unscrew just wondering

They pop off. I used a thin flat head screwdriver, but I also found out how easy it is to leave a mark on the rim when removing them. You can try putting some tape on the end of the screwdriver to help protect the rim, but then it might be harder to wedge it in the gap. It needs to be a very thin flat head.

Mizta B · Postby **Mizta B** » Sat Apr 04, 2009 8:26 pm

Well done BobCat it looks great for a first timer mate!
No one would know if you don't point it out
Keep up the good work and thanks for sharing your efforts with us.

Bobcat_GTS · Postby **Bobcat_GTS** » Sat May 02, 2009 3:09 pm

^ Thanks guys.

Latest mod: I got some of that Plasti Dip stuff and coated my bumper this morning.

Bobcat's Auto Body Repair and Customizing

Bobcat's Auto Body Repair and Customizing

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