Terry Posten
Well-known member
On April 18th I was driving in the middle lane of a 3 lane road and a Z28 decided to merge into my lane. I tried to slide far enough over to make room but I had a truck next to me. The kid did not even stop. I was cruising with about 10 other cars in a group and 2 of the cars chased him down and made him come back to the scene.
It took a few weeks dealing with the kid's dad's insurance co to get the $1600 repair check and another week setting up a painter (same guy that painted my 88 GTA back in 2000). I'm throwing in a few more dollars and getting the whole thing done.
Dates are now set. I deliver it Wednesday the 10th to the painter. He wont be done with it before I go on vacation but it's not like I would start putting it back together before I get back anyway. I will pick it up on Friday the 26th.
I only found 1 spot of rust and it is just surface around one of the rear bumper "holes" (see pics). This car was bought in central IL and lived it's whole life in IL and IA. I am totally amazed that there was no rust under the door paneling.
I have a new front emblem coming from the factory as well as all the little clips/grommets that did not come off in good shape. I also have the door handle gaskets and lock cylinder gaskets coming. Should give it that extra clean look. I will be ordering new chrome stripping for the bumpers/cladding and a crapper load of 3m tape. All the metal trim (including door handles) will be painted black w/clear coat and the body will be factory Summit White (the fastest color /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif). I also have a stock hood getting painted.
The rear bumper core is very rusty but I really don't care too much about that lump of steel. I did remove over 1/2 the weight of the core with a 4.5" angle grinder and about 2 hours of work.
I did break a bunch of bolts on the bumpers/headlights/front dog-legs and such but I used a small propane torch and small vice-grips and removed every broken stud and then chased then with a tap. I will be replacing all the bolts with new hardware. I even fixed a fitment issue with the passenger side front fender. Every gap is now proper and matching side to side.
Now for the "before" pics. Damn date stamp is off again, these were taken an hour ago. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/banghead.gif
I will update when the car gets back.
It took a few weeks dealing with the kid's dad's insurance co to get the $1600 repair check and another week setting up a painter (same guy that painted my 88 GTA back in 2000). I'm throwing in a few more dollars and getting the whole thing done.
Dates are now set. I deliver it Wednesday the 10th to the painter. He wont be done with it before I go on vacation but it's not like I would start putting it back together before I get back anyway. I will pick it up on Friday the 26th.
I only found 1 spot of rust and it is just surface around one of the rear bumper "holes" (see pics). This car was bought in central IL and lived it's whole life in IL and IA. I am totally amazed that there was no rust under the door paneling.
I have a new front emblem coming from the factory as well as all the little clips/grommets that did not come off in good shape. I also have the door handle gaskets and lock cylinder gaskets coming. Should give it that extra clean look. I will be ordering new chrome stripping for the bumpers/cladding and a crapper load of 3m tape. All the metal trim (including door handles) will be painted black w/clear coat and the body will be factory Summit White (the fastest color /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif). I also have a stock hood getting painted.
The rear bumper core is very rusty but I really don't care too much about that lump of steel. I did remove over 1/2 the weight of the core with a 4.5" angle grinder and about 2 hours of work.
I did break a bunch of bolts on the bumpers/headlights/front dog-legs and such but I used a small propane torch and small vice-grips and removed every broken stud and then chased then with a tap. I will be replacing all the bolts with new hardware. I even fixed a fitment issue with the passenger side front fender. Every gap is now proper and matching side to side.
Now for the "before" pics. Damn date stamp is off again, these were taken an hour ago. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/banghead.gif
I will update when the car gets back.