Dropped my door

[DEdney1775]

Go figure. A few days after I post my Jeep for sale, I dropped the front door.. I was more worried that the glass would have shattered, but it didn't.
I did, however, end up with a bent corner of the bottom front part..
Is this a fairly easy diy body fill/sand/primer/paint project?
Anybody know a good hella yella paint?

Sponsored

 

[Riotfunk]

There’s a seam right behind that bent spot. A body shop might be able to fix it some

 

[Kleiss1]

That’s why I don’t take mine off. If it can happen it will happen to me.

 

[bjm00se]

My experience with minor "amateur hour" dings and fixups like this is that real body shop workers have expertise and talent that noobs like us will never be able to replicate without putting in the hours. So if you want the "never happened" look, you're going to have to get a pro.

That said, these are basic tools, and anyone can use them - sandpaper, pliers, hammer, spray paint.

The way I'd proceed is to once again remove the door, and spend some time mounting it on a bench or something so it doesn't move.

Then sand off the damaged, peeling paint.

Then use a combination of smooth jawed pliers and hammers to straighten as much as I could.

Then sand it.

Then use as little bondo as possible to smooth it out.

Then sand it some more, from coarse down to very fine.

Then clean.

Then spray primer.

Then spray several thin coats of color matched rattle can body paint from an auto parts store or online source.

I don't know if hella yella is clear coated, but if it is, I'd finish with clear coat.

Then put the door back on.

After a weekend of off-again-on-again work, the result is likely to be a "ten foot" repair job that'll should cause anyone who's not actively looking for defects not to notice.

Your mileage may vary.

 

[bjm00se]

Or, if the Jeep's for sale, just list it, don't say anything about it (after all, it's plain to see in person and in the set of photos you'll take - so you're not hiding anything) and go ahead and sell it for whatever the best offer you get is, and let the next owner worry about it.

 

[MrMischief]

How did you drop it? Just wondering if you are able to ID a mistake you made so maybe I won't replicate it some day. That's a really sucky thing to have happened.

 

[grimmjeeper]

Just be glad you didn't drop it on your foot and break 2 of your toes.

Not that I would have ever done that...

 

[DEdney1775]

How did you drop it? Just wondering if you are able to ID a mistake you made so maybe I won't replicate it some day. That's a really sucky thing to have happened.

I had it hanging on hooks in the garage. I grabbed it, and as I was walking, tried to bump it up & adjust it. Yeah, it slipped through my hands....

 

[DEdney1775]

My experience with minor "amateur hour" dings and fixups like this is that real body shop workers have expertise and talent that noobs like us will never be able to replicate without putting in the hours. So if you want the "never happened" look, you're going to have to get a pro.

That said, these are basic tools, and anyone can use them - sandpaper, pliers, hammer, spray paint.

The way I'd proceed is to once again remove the door, and spend some time mounting it on a bench or something so it doesn't move.

Then sand off the damaged, peeling paint.

Then use a combination of smooth jawed pliers and hammers to straighten as much as I could.

Then sand it.

Then use as little bondo as possible to smooth it out.

Then sand it some more, from coarse down to very fine.

Then clean.

Then spray primer.

Then spray several thin coats of color matched rattle can body paint from an auto parts store or online source.

I don't know if hella yella is clear coated, but if it is, I'd finish with clear coat.

Then put the door back on.

After a weekend of off-again-on-again work, the result is likely to be a "ten foot" repair job that'll should cause anyone who's not actively looking for defects not to notice.

Your mileage may vary.

I'm out of work right now, recovering from back surgery. That means I have all kinds of time for such a monotonous project.
At the same time, I also know a body shop could probably fix something like this up pretty quickly and probably fairly affordable.

 

[bjm00se]

At the same time, I also know a body shop could probably fix something like this up pretty quickly and probably fairly affordable.

No way to know except to show it to 'em and ask.

Since it involves paint, I predict the estimate will be... $750. (It'd be a lot more than that in my area)

 

[Jeep Wick]

Had some scuffed mirrors painted on the wife's car, they even took them apart to paint. Was about $350 if I recall.

 

[AlgUSF]

Just be glad you didn't drop it on your foot and break 2 of your toes.

Not that I would have ever done that...

True, the ER bill would make you think nothing of taking it to a body shop and having them fix it. If you are the type of person who goes to the ER for a broken toe.

 

[DEdney1775]

No way to know except to show it to 'em and ask.

Since it involves paint, I predict the estimate will be... $750. (It'd be a lot more than that in my area)

That just called me back. He said because the door is aluminum, it raises the price. $1,250!!

Time to youtube some bondo videos!!

 

[dragoneggs]

That’s why I don’t take mine off. If it can happen it will happen to me.

I hear ya... but you are missing out on a great pleasure in Jeep life! I'm super careful when removing mine. I made some hangers for the garage and am thinking of making some kind of dolly to roll them so I don't have to carry them.

 

[marktgorman]

I'm out of work right now, recovering from back surgery. That means I have all kinds of time for such a monotonous project.
At the same time, I also know a body shop could probably fix something like this up pretty quickly and probably fairly affordable.

I did the same thing to my JK except on the top. I folded a piece of cardboard over the corner and bent it back with a pair of channel locks. it was nicked up a little so I bought a "scratches happen" paint kit and touched it up. Traded it in 3 months later but I don't think the dealer looked that close.

Sponsored