estimate

[gabruf]

Hey Guys,
Got a question: Remember when I said that I dented the fender on my Jeep? Well, I got the flair off of it right after it happened (Thanks Mopar!) and it's in perfect shape. I bought a new fender from JCWhitney. I went to Southwest Auto Body to get an estimate. I'm gonna bring them the fender & the flair. All they have to do is paint it & put it on. The guy said it would cost me just under $400.00 to have it done. Does that sound right to you guys? I'm not sure because body work was always the least of my Jeeps problems.
So, did he give me a good estimate, or do you think he saw a blonde coming & jacked up the price?
Lee

[jolleyman]

Sounds way high to me but then again, the cost of bodywork fluctuates more than the cost of living it seems, so differences can vary far and wide depending on your location.

I'd still recommend getting at least two or three other opinions. Also, check with your local 4x4 club (I'm sure there's many in your area) for recommended shops.

[mcgaskins]

Well, it depends. How do you want it to look? If you want it to look professional and original, then you are not going to get it any cheaper than that. When I had the same issue, I received about 12 estimates. Sure, I could have got the whole Jeep repainted for about $250, but I want my Jeep to look factory. I also had an estimate for around $1,000 (way high) for just painting the fender and blending it in. I assume your estimate included clear coat and blending, correct? If so and if they are an accredited (search for records or complaints on the company), I would say do it unless you do not care how the finished product looks. I had a Camaro that I did a little body work on and had the whole thing painted for $300; it looked great for about 2.5 months. Then, the paint started cracking, peeling, fading, etc. So, you get what you pay for when it comes to auto body work. Sorry it's a little long.

[ontherocks]

I imagine the $400 is a 50/50 split between paint and labor... how comfortable are you with putting the fender on yourself? I don't know what you drive but there shouldn't be too many things to take off the fender. i.e. side light assembly, a few electrical parts, bolts, etc... ?????

[gabruf]

You're absolutely right Ontherocks! I've been thinking about that for a couple days, & I'm sure I could do it. The fender has bolt-on installation, I've got the flair, & I've got the time. I'm sure I can do this. My boyfriend always doubts my abilities when I set out to do something like this. But I always make him eat his words. He almost fainted when he saw me changing my own oil a few years ago. If you give me enough time, I can figure out just about anything, & he knows it, so he oughtta stop betting against me. lol
Anyway, what can I do about painting it?

[ontherocks]

Automotive paint is not something that can be applied easily...especially if you want it to look original! I suppose I would put out for the paint job and then take it home and go to work! To be honest, the only tools you would need are a wrench and maybe a screwdriver. GO FOR IT! When you do your own work on your Jeep you become a better person, make more friends, flowers bloom, and the world becomes a better place! Heck, I already consider you a friend!:D

[mcgaskins]

Actually, if you put it on yourself (I am sure it is well within your abilities), do it before you get it painted. If you get it painted and then put it on, it won't match correctly. They have to blend the paint into the door and hood in order to make it look right (that is probably why it cost so much).

[gabruf]

Yeh, the sense of satifaction I get from fixing my own Jeep is better than...well, you know. heehee
So, I should put the fender on first, huh? Ok. I think I'll start working on it tomorrow. It's gonna be 81 degrees, perfecct weather to be outside working on my Jeep. The world will be a better place ontherocks! :)

Thanks! ~Lee

[ontherocks]

If you get it painted and then put it on, it won't match correctly.

Good point.

Now don't get me wrong- I love Colorado winters but I have been waiting for an 81 degree day for about 6 months now! I am DYING to get the top off the Jeep and burn a little white off the skin!

[gabruf]

Hey Ontherocks!
Ya know why I posted that? To bust your b-l-s. I saw that you're from Colorodo, and that my report on the weather out here would kill you! heehee I'm such a smart-***!
I'm so friggin sunburnt from driving around in the Jeep! lol Guess I better get some more sunscreen. I bet I've gone through more of that stuff in the past year than I did in PA for 32 years!
Take care! ~Lee

[ontherocks]

Thank you for making me cry.:p
It didn't ease my pain when I got an e-mail from my parents yesterday telling me they decided to drive down to Tucson for the week. I'm sitting here with more snow than any time all winter! Mark my words.... MY DAY IN THE SUN IS COMING!!!!:cool:

[gabruf]

You're funny ontherocks,
Yeh, you're 100% right. Your day in the sun is coming, and I'm sure it'll beat the summers out here! BTW, my 1st Jeep was a 1980 CJ7 Renegade. I had it from 92-97. No heat, no power anything, & the doors would fly off periodically whenever I was on the highway! I loved it! It's what made me fall in love with Jeeps in the first place.
~Lee

[ontherocks]

BTW, my 1st Jeep was a 1980 CJ7 Renegade. ~Lee
Now thats the way to start Jeeping!

Have you figured out what needs to be removed so that you can put in that fender? I don't know what you drive now?

[gabruf]

I have a 1995 Wrangler now. I haven't tried to put the fender on yet. What am I gonna have to take off? I hope not my clothes again. I hate it when that happens.
~Lee

[Yucca-man]

(Must...resist...clothing comments....:cool: )

Anyway, you should need to remove four bolts on the back edge of the fender (going into the tub) and another (three?) that go into the radiator support. Before you do that of course, unplug the wiring for the parking/turn lamp. Dontcha love out-of-sequence directions?

Thanks for the update on the weather Lee...NOT!! :D Have a cold :beer: and enjoy your relative cool spell while you can; while you're down there roasting layers of skin off, we'll be headed into the real mountains to enjoy a fine Rocky Mountain summer day. You're invited of course.... just bring :beer: (for apres-trail refreshment, of course)

[ontherocks]

I have a 1995 Wrangler now. I haven't tried to put the fender on yet. What am I gonna have to take off? I hope not my clothes again. I hate it when that happens.
~Lee
This could be a first...doing Jeep repairs nekkid!?

[gabruf]

Well, I'm not going to be repairing my Jeep after all. With or without clothes! heehee I went to a used car dealership yesterday & found an awesome Jeep! It's a 1993 Wrangler with 69K miles (I know that's sounds like a lot, but I've got 67K on my Jeep now, so it's not that much difference for me). It's a 4.0L, 6 cylinder, 5spd, A/C. The dealer is going to give me $5300 for my Jeep, "as is" so I don't have to bother fixing the fender. I'm so psyched! I haven't driven a stick shift in almost 5 years, & I've never really gotten used to the Auto. I miss driving a stick so much! It's so cool, I've been doing nothing but proving people wrong for the past 5 years! They said I'd never walk or talk again (I'm doing both) They said I'd never ride a horse again (and I did!) They took my stick shift Jeep away from me & "told" me I couldn't drive stick anymore. Bull!! I can't wait to call my dr.s & my family in about 6 months & tell them I've been driving stick again. Then I'm gonna point & laugh!!

PS. To be honest, I would've gone for this Jeep whether it was auto or manuel, because I need A/C. The fact that it was stick is just a "bonus" for me.

[Wrangled97TJ]

Sounds good Lee....but I still think AC is overrated...and it does get pretty hot in the summers here in NC too. ;)

Marty

[Warlock]

Air conditioning? Whats that? I thought that was when you took tops off?!?!:D

[gabruf]

This could be a first...doing Jeep repairs nekkid!?

Yup. And you get a lot more help from guys who walk by.
heeheehee :)