legacycentral bbs

I've never started a post so here it is. This winter is hanging on an all my cars have been hit so I have a little paint work to do. First my wife's car was rear ended on the hi way while traveling 68 MPH and bent the bumper all the way to the body, Insurance co. gave us about 700 to fix it. That was fine because I just bought a rear clip for the quarters for my car. I repaired that and then was side swiped some jack ball changed lanes in the middle of the intersection and crushed right fender and door. The insurance co. totaled it and gave me 1700 which I thought was good and now I'm fixing that. I will try to post before wrecked after and finished.

Yeah, March 14th was a bad day to be on the road. Only 3 more inches to break that record though. Which I hope doesn't happen, my car is a death wish in the snow. I've got some major suspension issues to sort out on my new commuting vehicle.

This your first winter in Anchorage?

No, I've lived here all my life but can't recall a winter like this one.I wish the idiots would stay home when it snows i'm tired of being a ping pong ball. I mostly get hit at intersections waiting for the light and I hate to say it, all have been young girls with a new car with no winter tires.

Anyway here's pics of my wife's car before and after.

I was looking over my post and I beleve i may have put in wrong section more or less a bulid journal. Sorry, if the gods are seeing me post please fix. Thanks

80 degrees here the last 2 days and I think we got a total of 6" of snow all winter. I guess the shit weather we lacked ended up in AK.

Winter has been crazy here too for how mild it usually is. My car is messed up from it as well. Broken windshield and several small dents from sliding into a downed tree. Insurance bent me over and gave me $960 for my car and the damages are more like $2,500.

I dug out a spare door I had, it wasn't as streight as it looked someone rattled can it flat black to hide all the door dings.


after sum hammering and one prime not bad.

Was that you at the light next to me in Wasilla today?

yes, more than likely. I drive out to Big Lake to do most of my work on the cars. It was a maintenace day oil change and valve cover gaskets.

well I jammed the door so now I just need to wet sand the primer and sand the new fender and paint it.

here I put sound deadener inside the door, which I did on my car and its great.

wet sanding complete every thing clean ready to be painted, normally I would bolt these on and make sure they fit right and paint. I'm taking a gamble that it's going to fit correctly and the paint is going to match (should, same paint I used to paint it before).

Now it's all colored and shiney, little dirt not bad with the condition I am painting in.

Now I have to work for the next 14 days while my dad is on vaction delivering and driving. Good thing I just changed my oil again, I will need to change it before he gets back.

Dang more snow, things are melting good.

So did you do anything to the paint for the bumper? I've heard you have to add a "flex" agent since the bumpers are a little bit flexible.

Added flex to the clear, the base coat has preflex in it according to my paint rep.

Ok. Good to know.

Well, I had a few days off and sanded and polished the door and fender.

Can you see the two subarus in the fender? I also put a protective clear on the botom of door and the fender.


I've used the stuff on many of my cars to try to keep down rock chips. What I don't like about it, its hard to clean bugs off any front facing parts. What i love is clear vinyl made by 3m like this.

I pulled it back and the paint under the film was perfect, except for the wire bracket on the under side sticking through to the outside.

Now it's all apart ready to go back together.

I need to snow blow my yard and change tires over, this pile was about 8 to 9 feet tall three weeks ago we are melting nice.

Nice job on the body work!

Here's the new door on, now time put every thing back in starting with:
1) out side door handle
2) lock assembly (these are easer with the window out)
3) front window guide chanel
4) window regulator
5) glass
6) rear chanel (make sure window is at the botom)
7) gusset ( triangle peace that mirror attached to.)
window stablizers
9) upper door moulding
10) mirror
11) feed the wiring in the door a reconect everything
12) inside door handle
13) door plastic
14) speaker
15) door panel
16) door side moulding (this could be put on any time)

After the door was all together I fited the fender on and found lower hinge was slightly bent. A little prying with a crow bar and it was good. All my gaps are even and the paint matches, as good as is was before the hit.



I need to go hunting for a new fender moulding, I thought the one I had for a spare had a good light/reflector.

I need to let paint dry for 2 months before I put the 3m clear film on the fender, I hope I dont get a chip before then. Now that its spring with all the loose gravel.

Now all together I spent around 300 but using a door and paint I already had. So I made a profit, extra money for upgrades.

Awesome work man!

thanks!