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Can this be fixed?

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Old Feb 17, 2011 | 03:47 PM
  #1  
wiweeds's Avatar
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From: Little Chute, WI
Car: 1991 RS
Engine: 350tbi
Transmission: T5
Can this be fixed?

Alright so when I bought my car it this big gash in the front fender (you can see in the pic) and I decided that it's time to fix it! The gash almost looks like someone took an axe to it. So I just wanted to know if this can even be fixed or if I need to buy a new fender. I just want to go the cheapest route so I wasn't sure if that was a good option since I will have to get it painted. So anything you guys have to add would be sweet.
Thanks
Attached Thumbnails Can this be fixed?-pa201240.jpg  
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Old Feb 17, 2011 | 03:57 PM
  #2  
Project 3.4 Camaro's Avatar
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From: PA
Car: 1996 Camaro, 1985 Camaro
Engine: 3.8, 3.4
Transmission: WC T5, 700r4
Axle/Gears: 3.23(?), 3.42
Re: Can this be fixed?

Would be a lot easier to fix if there weren't dents right by it, the dents will have to be pulled before you can fix the gash, but it should be doable, honestly though, if you can't do it yourself, it would probably be cheaper to get a new fender.
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Old Feb 17, 2011 | 04:09 PM
  #3  
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From: Manitowoc, WI
Car: 90 Camaro
Engine: 350 tpi
Transmission: t56
Axle/Gears: 4.10
Re: Can this be fixed?

You're going to be painting the fender whether you could somehow fix that fender or buy a new one. The cheapest way would be to get lucky in a junkyard and find one thats the right color and hope it isn't faded much different than your own car, but that'll be hard to come by..
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Old Feb 17, 2011 | 04:17 PM
  #4  
Project 3.4 Camaro's Avatar
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From: PA
Car: 1996 Camaro, 1985 Camaro
Engine: 3.8, 3.4
Transmission: WC T5, 700r4
Axle/Gears: 3.23(?), 3.42
Re: Can this be fixed?

unless you had a black car....I think like 50% 3rd gen camaros were black, though it would probably have different fading.
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Old Feb 17, 2011 | 06:21 PM
  #5  
wiweeds's Avatar
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From: Little Chute, WI
Car: 1991 RS
Engine: 350tbi
Transmission: T5
Re: Can this be fixed?

ok I guess it just makes more sense to buy a new one if I have to paint it anyway. The gash is actually a lot worse than that pic shows
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Old Feb 17, 2011 | 06:24 PM
  #6  
Project 3.4 Camaro's Avatar
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From: PA
Car: 1996 Camaro, 1985 Camaro
Engine: 3.8, 3.4
Transmission: WC T5, 700r4
Axle/Gears: 3.23(?), 3.42
Re: Can this be fixed?

Yeah, a new fender is $81 if memory serves, and I don't see any shop being able to fix that kind of extensive damage without it running up more, but they aren't very hard to find in JYs or even on craigslist either, I've seen them for $25 on craigslist before. But imo, not worth fixing, would def opt to replace it.
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Old Feb 17, 2011 | 06:52 PM
  #7  
wiweeds's Avatar
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From: Little Chute, WI
Car: 1991 RS
Engine: 350tbi
Transmission: T5
Re: Can this be fixed?

Originally Posted by Project 3.4 Camaro
Yeah, a new fender is $81 if memory serves, and I don't see any shop being able to fix that kind of extensive damage without it running up more, but they aren't very hard to find in JYs or even on craigslist either, I've seen them for $25 on craigslist before. But imo, not worth fixing, would def opt to replace it.
Nice! I will have to do some searching because I haven't seen any for that price yet. I have a replacement fender sitting around somewhere but with the all the rust it has I don't think it's worth it
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Old Feb 17, 2011 | 06:55 PM
  #8  
Project 3.4 Camaro's Avatar
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From: PA
Car: 1996 Camaro, 1985 Camaro
Engine: 3.8, 3.4
Transmission: WC T5, 700r4
Axle/Gears: 3.23(?), 3.42
Re: Can this be fixed?

If the rust doesn't go all the way through it might be worthwhile, if its just extensive surface rust you can grind it off.
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Old Feb 17, 2011 | 07:23 PM
  #9  
regal301's Avatar
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From: RHODE ISLAND
Car: 1988 iroc-z
Engine: 350 Vortec TPI
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: 3.73 4th gen Torsen 10bolt
Re: Can this be fixed?

buy a new one.
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Old Feb 17, 2011 | 07:31 PM
  #10  
Gisys's Avatar
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From: Florida
Car: 1989 IROC
Engine: 350
Transmission: 5 speed
Axle/Gears: ???
Re: Can this be fixed?

Take it two three body shops and get est!! Go with the one thats in the middle. The cheepest one is hard up. The one that cost the most is being an *** hole. The middle knows there ****. Good luck.
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Old Feb 17, 2011 | 08:38 PM
  #11  
//<86TA>\\'s Avatar
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From: Central NJ
Car: 86 Trans Am
Engine: 408 stroker sbc
Transmission: TKO600
Axle/Gears: Moser full floater m9, 3:70 trutrac
Re: Can this be fixed?

Originally Posted by Gisys
Take it two three body shops and get est!! Go with the one thats in the middle. The cheepest one is hard up. The one that cost the most is being an *** hole. The middle knows there ****. Good luck.
thats not a very good method of choosing a body shop, but if it works for you...
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Old Feb 17, 2011 | 10:48 PM
  #12  
jharrison5's Avatar
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From: Lincoln, NE.
Car: '87 IROC
Engine: 5.7 Vortec w/ factory TPI
Transmission: WC T-5
Axle/Gears: 3.45 Posi
Re: Can this be fixed?

Buy a new fender and have it painted then put it on yourself. That is the most cost effective way since that is what the body shop is going to do.
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Old Feb 18, 2011 | 08:16 AM
  #13  
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From: SE Michigan
Car: 1984 15th Anv. T/A
Engine: HO 5.0
Transmission: TH700r4
Axle/Gears: not sure yet!
Re: Can this be fixed?

I wish this would have been posted like a year ago, I had a buddy of mine who had the same color camaro that got rear ended bad, but the front fenders were fine.. I think he got like 200 bucks for the whole car at a junkyard.. you probably could have gotten the fender for cheap/free..

I would deff go the route of buying a new one/used one its gonna be a lot of effort to get it looking back to stock.
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Old Feb 18, 2011 | 09:21 AM
  #14  
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From: Toronto
Car: 82 Z28
Engine: 350
Transmission: TH350 for now
Axle/Gears: 3.23
Re: Can this be fixed?

Really only one option if you want to save a few bucks: Shop around local junk yards and kijiji etc. to see if you can find one the same colour in good shape (although there may be fading issues).

As for fixing it, it will need to be primed and painted so this is a wash. The labour required to fix the dents and the split will likely be more than what a brand new fender costs.
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Old Feb 18, 2011 | 01:17 PM
  #15  
hectre13's Avatar
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From: SE Michigan
Car: 1984 15th Anv. T/A
Engine: HO 5.0
Transmission: TH700r4
Axle/Gears: not sure yet!
Re: Can this be fixed?

if you are worried about fading.. well its gonna suck no matter what you do.. if you get a new fender and paint it.. its gonna be way new/nicer than the paint on your car currently.. and if you find a use one.. it might be better/worse off than the paint you have now.. so no matter what decision you make.. its not gonna be perfect...
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Old Feb 18, 2011 | 02:07 PM
  #16  
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From: Buffalo, NY
Car: 1984 Trans Am
Engine: LT1
Transmission: T56
Axle/Gears: 10 bolt w/ 4.10 gears
Re: Can this be fixed?

Definitely purchase a replacement fender, be it new or a good condition used one. A good paint shop should be able to get very very close on a color match to your existing paint and blend into the front bumper cover, hood and door. Ask the shop to show you a vehicle or two that they just completed to see how good they are at blending into existing paint.
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Old Feb 18, 2011 | 05:17 PM
  #17  
wiweeds's Avatar
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From: Little Chute, WI
Car: 1991 RS
Engine: 350tbi
Transmission: T5
Re: Can this be fixed?

Well I wanted to put off painting the car because of money issues but I guess I might as well get the whole thing painted when I can afford it Thanks for the help guys im gonna be ordering a new one!
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Old Feb 19, 2011 | 06:45 PM
  #18  
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From: Las Vegas, NV
Car: 92' Formula T-Top
Engine: L98 With Custom CAI
Transmission: BUILT 700R4 with B&M Mods
Axle/Gears: 3.23
Re: Can this be fixed?

Any ideas on finding a front bumper assembly for a 92 formula it didnt bend anything just ripped the cover and tore out part of the web renforcement and messed up the fender.....
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Old Feb 21, 2011 | 07:12 AM
  #19  
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From: Buffalo, NY
Car: 1984 Trans Am
Engine: LT1
Transmission: T56
Axle/Gears: 10 bolt w/ 4.10 gears
Re: Can this be fixed?

Originally Posted by DANNY25SS
Any ideas on finding a front bumper assembly for a 92 formula it didnt bend anything just ripped the cover and tore out part of the web renforcement and messed up the fender.....
you can check the classifieds on this board. Also, you should start your own thread instead of changing the subject in someone else's thread.
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Old Feb 22, 2011 | 09:16 PM
  #20  
Opher's Avatar
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From: Lake Villa,IL
Car: 92 Jamacia Yellow Formula 350
Engine: 350
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.23
Re: Can this be fixed?

It will be quicker to replace it.
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