1999 Tahoe Body Damage!

[j.carlin00]

I recently rolled my 1999 tahoe over on its passenger side, naturally crushing the door, front panel and rear quarter panel. I have already replaced the door, but the body shop wants to charge me an insane amount to replace the quarter panel and front panel. Has anybody replaced either of these panels by themselves? If so was it difficult? If it is not too hard I will buy the parts afftermarket, have them painted them replace them myself, saving a little over a grand. :thumbsup:

 

[96ProCompTahoe]

are you talking about the front fender? thats easy.

if your talking about the rear quarter (behind pass door all the way to the rear) if you don't have a great idea of what your doing have the shop do it. its a structural panel, it'll have to be welded in, not something you want to half ass.

you'll need to have decent welding skills and some body know how to do it right.

 

[j.carlin00]

Yeah it is the front panel, on the passenger side. Is it just bolts holding it on? If so I will have it painted then replace that crap myself. As for the quarter panel (behind the door) I will go ahead and bite the bullet and pay for it, I don't have the welding experience and I don't know anyone who does.

 

[96ProCompTahoe]

yeah the front fender has bolts along the hood line, atleast 1 between the door and the fender, a couple on the bottom to the left of the wheel, may be 1 or two behind the grill.

been a few years since autobody class.

depending on how bent up it is from rolling it ou may have to straighten out some of the mounts for the new fender to bolt up and line up right.

 

[j.carlin00]

Do you think it would be cheaper to buy the quarterpanel aftermarket then have the bodyshop paint it and put it on?

 

[96ProCompTahoe]

ask them for a breakdown of the pricing panel/prep/paint/install/etc. and then check and see. or ask them if you could bring them the panel. depending on the shop they may try to add in a fee or something to use your panel.

the few shops i've talked to about fixing a couple things on my hoe would do it either way. on that panel you'll prolly run into about the same price either way. the fender you may be able to find a "used' one on the cheap and save a few bucks.

 

[sasquatch094]

If they paint the quarter panel and u put it on, it has to be welded. so that means your going to have to grind down the paint to bare metal again then weld it then paint it. U cant weld without any metal contact. What id do would be.. Weldthruprimer the whole thing, then weld it on, then prime it then paint. Weldthruprimer is a primer that allows contact to go through the primer but yet still acts as a primer stopping the rust from occurring.