je$$up97-Once they showed you where they welded it is it obvious? Or did it look like one continous piece?
What method in everyones opinion would be best? Im leaning towards replacing the panel just because it restores the metal to factory, as long as it still looks like one piece and I cant notice that its been welded on even if I try.
Massey if this was your car with this damage what would you do? The best option for the car because I know you love your car how would you want it to be fixed?

 

The bad panel isn't "cut" out, it's removed by drilling out the spot welds at the factory attachment points, then a whole new quarter panel is spot welded back in place. You have to know what you're doing, but any reputabe body shop should be able to easily handle it. Once it's done right, you won't be able to tell the work was done. Not to mention it won't come back to haunt you, as some body filler jobs could. You have some compound dents, and it's going to be a bit of work to fix your existing panel. The reason I say replacing the panel is the right way is because it's your car and you should have a say in how it gets fixed. Your car wasn't a bondo bomb before, and you shouldn't have to settle with that if you don't want to. I know I wouldn't like a cheaper fix if it was my car. A better price doesn't mean it's a better way.

 

Personally I would replace the qtr. Less questions and I have a thing about my car not having much filler in it. They will not patch the qtr in they will actually cut the whole thing off and weld a new one on. There will be a small splice area just below the roof panel since those dont come off easy and the seam is under the roof. Oh and the roof skin does not come off nice so the splice is the best way to go.

Massey

 

i'm in between on this one guys, i've replaced the rear quarter on mine after a crash but it was fully folded in half. You cant see any welds down the door, and only minimal ones on the splice cause I ran out of filler just to cover it and I needed the car on the road. But most people can't tell, only me cause I know I did it.

I don't actually think this job would warrent all the work of a rear quarter, most good shops can warm and pull thah so its pretty flat, and there would only be a bit of bondo in the dented area. With the quarter there would be bondo at the splice so it's upto you what you want.

Also cause its a bit of a family matter, i don't know if the sister would be wanting to pay lots and you might have to sue or whatever and it could all turn sour??

 

This thread has got me wondering what I should do with my quarter..and door. :/

 

Well I decided not to replace the quarter because most of the shops said it was not even close to needing that and they said that they could get it back perfect with minimal bondo. Of course if their wrong I can always get the panel replaced. Whats better having a dealer do the work or a true body/ paint shop that has been around a long time?

 

I would say a true body/paint shop would be better for it. The Chevy dealer I work at, we actually send our cars that need body work down to the shop down the street from us. Not every dealer has their own in-house body shop.

 

I agree with camaro 69. But I dont really have much faith in the body shop that proposed replacing the panel. Ive been told that if the people dont know how to do it right it can weaken. I even asked the shops if they would replace the quarter and they said they didnt like to do that unless the panel was completly gone. 16 shop estimates and none wanted to replace the quarter because it costs more. If i would have said it was insurance claim im sure they would have had the whole car needing to be repainted and new parts left and right. If only this wasnt my girlfriends sister I wouldnt feel bad for wanting it done back to perfect. Because she is only 19 and hit my car and drove off, I shouldnt worry about the price of the repair but I do. Its pretty bad when she drives off, refuses to come back, and then half heartidly says sorry. Sad thing is I was changing my gf oil my car was parked in the driveway and she comes out and backs out hitting my car. She didnt stop once she hit it. She kept backing up. Thats why she has damage from her quarter to her front fender. deep dents and scrapes. Im just going to hope that the shop I choose, right now that between a dealer and a local shop that uses german paint (not sure if im going to like that), will fix it perfect with no blemishes. But I have no idea if this shop is better than that. Cause right now its between those two and the local shop only wants 800 while the dealer wants 1500 and has a charge for 2 hours of frame damage repair but said there was none only that they get that also for pulling the dent. Anybody think that is messed up? The local shop was recommended to me by a former employee and my friend. Any ideas?

 

The dealer is not really a chevy dealer. Its more a jack of all traits dealer. Mostly toyota, but also pontiac gmc. And some other brands I cant remember.

 

Go to a body shop (not a dealer) that has a good reputation, ask around if you need to. Tell the shop guy you want to see the repair on the panel before they slather any filler on it, hopefully you'll be able to recognize a good straightening job from a bad one. If they do it right, there should only be some minor ripples that they need to fill and feather, not canyons. I understand the spot you're in, being it's your g.f.'s sister. However, she doesn't sound like a very considerate person, so don't let any guilt get to you. Your leniency should be based on a persons level of regret.