8 replies to this topic

[Alberto]

I had a bad wreck last year damaging the front bumper, driver fender, driver door, driver quarter panel, rear bumper and the finish panel.  I bought a bunch of used parts to replace the damage.  The driver fender and finish panel are different colors.  The rest were from the same color car (crystal white) 

 

I sanded the entire car with 80, 120 and 220 grit after washing the car and wiping it down with acetone since the paint on the donor parts was nasty.  Some was flaking but overall it looks like the parts car was rattle canned or rollered.  I test fit everything and everything fits reasonably well at this point.  I now have a greater appreciation of the grunt work associated with doing body work.  It sucks.

 

 

I got a couple of quotes for paint and bodywork.  A prime and spray from Maaco or equivalent is about $900-1,200.  Fixing dents and other work to make it prettier puts the estimates at ~$2k.

 

 

I'm not particularly happy with the front bumper.  It had a ton of spider cracks and had been repainted so I really sanded that down - a lot.  I'm at the plastic in some spots but there are still highs and lows.  Once I started fitting it, i also realized that its a bit wavy or de-formed where it meets the hood.  Never seen anything like it.  The paint shop warns that the front bumper won't look particularly smooth and even but that body work on it will add ~500 by itself if I want to invest time into it.  

 

Some questions that I know I want input on:

- what do you guys do with regards to front bumpers?  Do you replace with new or do you roll with the old?  What kind of prep work do you recommend?

 

Any advice on this would be appreciated.  I'm starting to regret even trying to repair the accident damage myself.  

 

Finding used body parts for the NA hasn't been easy.  

 

Thanks.

 

Untitled by alberto_mg, on Flickr

 

Untitled by alberto_mg, on Flickr

 

Untitled by alberto_mg, on Flickr

 

Untitled by alberto_mg, on Flickr

 

 

[Alberto]

Sigh... The car was so clean and innocent once upon a time (10 years ago)

 

miata-px-fr-ht by alberto_mg, on Flickr

[Carl]

Everything looks pretty straight to me.  I would just paint it.  Even better if it is done in your driveway for $150 of paint ;-)  

 

How long is it likely to go before getting wrinkled (at least a little) again?  

 

Carl

 

[Steve Scheifler]

Yeah, actually looks like you’ve done a pretty good job. Get the mid-price Maaco single-stage. It covers surprisingly well even on bumpers like that. Ask for their annual sale price, they’re probably getting hungry. Just don’t park next to Jim or Danny, unless it’s in victory lane.

[Alberto]

There are still a bunch of small dents.  I guess I shouldn't be too concerned as the car will continue to accumulate dents as Carl mentioned...  It just bothers me to put that much money into paint and painting over dents.  

 

A couple of areas still need some more sanding b/c the white paint is still flaky.  The harbor freight da sander doesn't seem to work particularly well.

 

I think I'm going to try and find a better front bumper.  

 

I've contemplated trying to paint it myself but that's a whole new universe of learning that I don't really have time for.

[Steve Scheifler]

... It just bothers me to put that much money into paint and painting over dents.

That will pass, the first time you get hip-checked or engage in bump-drafting if not before.

[nballard76]

I had a similar wreck at Buttonwillow last fall when a Spec 7 spun right in front of me and I had nowhere to go.  

 

Damage:  Photo Link

 

This was actually mostly cosmetic with the exception of the bumper support needing replacement (new) and the rad support needing to get pulled out.  TFB Performance had an old Laguna Blue bumper cover sitting around so I grabbed it and ordered a new hood from Mazda Speed.  Had everything painted and pulled out, etc. at Maaco and it was $1700 plus a little money for the bumper from TFB.

 

Here are the results: Photo Link

 

Apologies, I'm new and can't seem to figure out how to post pictures.  It won't take them from google which is where mine are stored.

 

 

 

Not perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but serviceable.

[Alberto]

^your links don't work fyi

 

A racer friend recommended a shop run by an SM racer so I took the car there.  He seemed more interested in doing a good job at a fair price than Maaco and another cheap paint shop that was recommended.  

 

He was satisfied that he could work with the existing bumper.  Let's see how it turns out.

[nballard76]

^your links don't work fyi

 

A racer friend recommended a shop run by an SM racer so I took the car there.  He seemed more interested in doing a good job at a fair price than Maaco and another cheap paint shop that was recommended.  

 

He was satisfied that he could work with the existing bumper.  Let's see how it turns out.

 

Trying to post the photos again.  I'm having a hard time.  I'd be interested to know how it works out at that shop.  I went to Midas in Vacaville which does the work for TFB...how I ended up there.  It's not that close though so even a south bay shop would be okay for me.  

 

These links should work.  I still can't figure out how to post the pictures within the post...I'm slow.

 

Before:  https://photos.app.g...uo1QbCGwXesqNL9

(I drove it like this for the rest of the weekend and it worked out fine)

 

After:  https://photos.app.g...BdCRPFP5ZujYRYA

 

Good luck!