Body work?

[computersoc]

I was stopped and hit at a very low speed today. Neither of us decided to report or will run through insurance. How do I straighten this up, if possible? The metal or fiberglass or whatever that is seems pretty firm.

Or am I better off going to the junk yard and buying a new driver side rear quarter panel? How long would it take and how hard is it to remove the current piece that is damaged?

My biggest concern right now is the fuel door is angled. I looked at the two hoses coming from the fuel filler, and they're bent a little. Not totally restricted, but they have a kink or whatever in them. Straightening the fuel door will alleviate that issue. No leaks or smells or anything.

This is a 6' truck bed on my 2001 Ranger XLT. Standard truck bed. Not a step side or whatever those are called.

Truck drives fine and straight. I just drove it 200 miles, but only have 1/4 tank left. There looks to be a little gash (like curb rash) on the rim in a spot, but the tire still holds its air. Luckily the rear tires need replacing anyway, and I have two new ones in my basement, but I don't think the rim would need it unless it's leaking air?

I'll use a magic eraser, goo gone, and clay to remove the white paint transfer tomorrow.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Did you post a pic? I don't see one and it's hard to make any helpful comment without. Edit; I see it now...

That's pretty significant dammage. You probably could get a bedside from the junk yard, but I suspect it would be easier in the long run to get a whole newish box.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

As someone on a quest for a longbox shorboxes are frustratingly common.

A couple bolts and you have a new (to you) box, it is how I would go.

 

[computersoc]

What do these normally run for at the junk yard? What is the technical name for what I have (ie. what should I asked the junk yard when I call them)?

If the color is different, how much would paint be? I have someone that can paint it cheap or free.

What can I do temporarily to get the fuel door straightened out? What will happen if I try filling it with gas like it is now?

 

[computersoc]

Also, in theory, if I took it to a body shop, what would they say? They could do the work or they'd tell me to buy a new quarter panel?

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

I can't help on pricing, that is regional. Ask your friend about prices. Try putting in some gas, if it don't leak you're OK. A body shop will quote you a price including parts, but may use used or new. You probably couldn't tell after they finish.

Sent from my XT1032 using Tapatalk

 

[computersoc]

I guess I meant, if you were the person at the body shop, what would you do to fix the vehicle?
1. Bump the dent out, sand, fill, and repaint
2. Buy a new driver side rear quarter panel
3. buy a new bed

If option 1, or if that option is even possible, I have someone that can do it cheap (cheaper than option 2 or 3 most likely). I just don't know if it's possible in the first place, and don't feel like bugging them if it's not possible. Truck is 15 years old, so I'm not looking for perfection. I just don't want people I know laughing at me if I drive down the road looking like this.

 

[97RangerXLT]

For me, my first option would be find a blue bed in a junk yard. Then you can do it yourself and transfer over the bed rails. No painting needed. But...you might not find a blue bed for some time.

Next would be bodyshop, they would cut and weld in a quarter panel and paint to match. Might be easier on the long run

Get it estimated, you might find that the cost of a junkyard bed is roughly the same or more expensive than a body shop. If that is the case let the body shop do it.

AJ

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy Note 4 while sitting in my underwear

 

[black_demon69]

I guess I meant, if you were the person at the body shop, what would you do to fix the vehicle?
1. Bump the dent out, sand, fill, and repaint
2. Buy a new driver side rear quarter panel
3. buy a new bed

If option 1, or if that option is even possible, I have someone that can do it cheap (cheaper than option 2 or 3 most likely). I just don't know if it's possible in the first place, and don't feel like bugging them if it's not possible. Truck is 15 years old, so I'm not looking for perfection. I just don't want people I know laughing at me if I drive down the road looking like this.

in a body shop they would replace the bed side and repaint that side, or they would just get a used bed and paint.. paint can run $600 a gal

 

[computersoc]

So if I'd buy a quarter panel from a junkyard, how would they remove it?

What can I do to straighten up my fuel door, so I can buy some time and look?

With the fuel filler neck, why are there two hoses? Is the other for vapors? Can the kink cause a CEL?

 

[enjr44]

From you questions I can tell you are not a body guy. The cost of body work is labor, labor and next lower is labor. A body shop could probably fix the panel and fix the rest. Labor cost would probably make it a no go. They would replace the box with a used one and repaint. But you are still looking at 10/15 hours of labor plus parts/materials (don't know what the book says).

At a body shop I would guess that you have a 2000 to 3k job depending on location. Here body shop labor is around $150 per hour. If you were stopped and someone hit you (and it wasn't your mother or GF) it is insurance time.

If you can't do that and as you say you have a buddy that can/will paint you need to find a used box and change the whole thing. No way will you have the tools or ability to replace a quarter panel. The whole thing is welded together with about a million spot welds that you would have to drill out and redo with the new panel. And then the first winter it would rust like crazy because you can't replace all the factory weld through primer and seals.

Removing and replacing the box is a simple bolt off, bolt on activity.

Still, by the time you get all the parts together and buy the various body/paint materials (paint is a system now, not a open can and apply, and even new body parts come with dents you have to fix) you are still going to have about 750/1000 into the job. The paint alone will cost $200 or more.

So insurance is almost always the way to go. The last accident I had that was my fault fixed both vehicles and raised my insurance about 500 a year for three years...... Hell a lot of work to save 500 bucks....

 

[computersoc]

I have a place that will charge me about $20 an hour in the seedier part of town. They did work before for me when I got in an accident. Truck looked better than ever.

So it sounds like I'm better off just getting a box. Should I wait until I find an exact color match, or will any color do, and then paint it? Wouldn't that be a ton of paint though?

If I can fix the gas can door, then I can wait until whenever, and even take a roadtrip somewhere, to pickup a blue bed.

Most inoperable/blown head-gasket Rangers around here go for the same price as a bed itself ($500). I don't understand!

 

[adsm08]

I guess I meant, if you were the person at the body shop, what would you do to fix the vehicle?
1. Bump the dent out, sand, fill, and repaint
2. Buy a new driver side rear quarter panel
3. buy a new bed

If option 1, or if that option is even possible, I have someone that can do it cheap (cheaper than option 2 or 3 most likely). I just don't know if it's possible in the first place, and don't feel like bugging them if it's not possible. Truck is 15 years old, so I'm not looking for perfection. I just don't want people I know laughing at me if I drive down the road looking like this.

1) That isn't a "dent". A dent is sloped gently. That is a crush. It is creased, and it huge. Dents are small. That will never be straight again. Repairing that panel is not gonna happen.

2) A new bed side is an option. They are spot welded on which makes removal a long and painful process.

3) Thousands of dollars in labor and hundreds of pounds of body filler, hours of labor drilling and welding a new beside on, or two hours of your time at the junk yard and 12 bolts (6 on each bed) to just get a new one. DO NUMBER 3.

Good Lord, you took a decision that should have taken 30 seconds and made it take almost a full day.

 

[computersoc]

I'll go for the new bed, I just think it will take some time to find one. If I can straighten the fuel door, then I will wait until the perfect time. It would even be nice going on a road trip somewhere south where there is no rust. My current bed is starting to see a little rust here and there. The logistics just seem annoying though if I have to go somewhere I am unfamiliar with.

I'll look around here first and get a bed if possible. Should I get one with my current color, or just paint it then if it's a random color?

If I get a step side bed, then I need a new fuel filler neck, correct?

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

A stepside bed will require a different bumper as well.