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05-16-2016, 04:56 PM
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#1
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Stalker
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 12,077
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Body shop to fix a Trans Am GTA?
I picked up an '88 Trans Am GTA that was rear ended by a Harley Davidson about 6-7 years ago. The car had been sitting since then.
The taillights, rear bumper assembly, and rear body pan were damaged.
Hatch was ok and the 1/4s did not buckle.
The previous owner included replacement taillights, same color bumper and the back body panel already cut off a donor car.(w/ about 12" of the 1/4 panels)
I think it should all pull out with some effort and not need the donor panel but I haven't looked too closely at it.
Car does need a full paint job but I really dont want to do that at this time. Thats something I would do myself in the future and most shops here would only accept the repair job if the paint is included.
I need someone just to pull the back panel out and get everything to line up where it should.
Getting a donor shell is NOT an option with this specific car.
This car will be basically put into storage and parked until I figure out what to do.
Any suggestions/recommendations?
Last edited by V; 05-16-2016 at 04:57 PM.
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05-16-2016, 07:30 PM
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#2
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13 Second Club / Moderator
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Franklin Lakes, NJ
Posts: 8,689
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I think any respectable shop with a frame machine can straighten out a hit that didn't cause the quarters to buckle. It will cost serious money, though.
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05-16-2016, 08:26 PM
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#3
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Stalker
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 12,077
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Problem is, so far the shops I went to, won't give me an estimate until they start and they want to paint the whole car at the same time. I understand the reasoning of not letting any metal sit bare and not doing stuff twice, but I can't afford 5-6k at this point in time. a year, possibly, but not this summer.
I think I may try to fix it myself. Some tools and several hours should have it back in shape enough.
the outside of the taillight mounting holes are fine, the inner hole and key lock are pushed in about 2.5"-3". and trunk floor pan is buckled some but looks like it could be pushed/pulled out easily.
I removed the damaged cover and absorber and fit the replacement parts on quick.
Last edited by V; 05-16-2016 at 08:39 PM.
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05-17-2016, 12:05 AM
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#4
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Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Manalapan,NJ
Posts: 216
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Fischer auto body in lakewood should be able to tackle that.
__________________
92 Firebird (First Car SOLD 2/18/17)
90 Firebird Formula 305 T5 Daily Driver (SOLD)
87 GTA Gunmetal RIP
1984 Trans Am 6.0 4L60E , Ford 8.8 3.55 gears
1991 Trans Am
1985 Iroc Z
2015 Silverado 2500HD
Last edited by Punkmaster 98; 05-17-2016 at 12:06 AM.
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05-17-2016, 07:06 AM
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#5
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Mongo the Meet Coordinator
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 16,900
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All Time in Point Pleasant Beach, Alan prob will work with you on what you want done.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by KirkEvil
repo bigals turd gen and part it out to a loving home
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05-17-2016, 08:02 AM
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#6
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Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Staten Island, NY
Posts: 252
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If you know where it needs to be pulled, a come along and a telephone pole/ large tree work great. It really doesn't look that bad from the picture.
__________________
2019 Satin Steel Metallic Cadillac Escalade ESV Sport
2010 Radiant Silver Cadillac CTS Wagon
2007 Blue Silverado Max LTZ CCSB 4x4
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05-17-2016, 11:23 AM
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#7
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Stalker
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 12,077
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SilverDropTop
If you know where it needs to be pulled, a come along and a telephone pole/ large tree work great. It really doesn't look that bad from the picture.
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Lol that's actually how i got the hatch to drop down inside again. Before, the hook was landing on top of te weatherstripping.
This weekend i gotta take exact measurements and compare then to my white 88 gta to see where its off and how much.
The impact bar took most of the hit, bending like a v in the middle. It started pulling the spot wells where the bar attaches to the mounting brackets. It didn't seem that the frame rails moved any.
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05-17-2016, 08:33 PM
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#8
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Ebearnezer Scrooge/Power Member/Lips
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Hamilton, Mercer county
Posts: 4,141
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You SOB, you got a a complete Notchback. Is it a digital dash?
The place my cousin works could probably fix that
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05-17-2016, 09:21 PM
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#9
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Stalker
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 12,077
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Quote:
Originally Posted by PolarBear
You SOB, you got a a complete Notchback. Is it a digital dash?
The place my cousin works could probably fix that
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lol, Analog dash, hardtop, 350. And the original tan interior was swapped out to a black regular gta interior, so I have some work ahead of me to get everything back to stock.
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05-17-2016, 09:36 PM
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#10
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Ebearnezer Scrooge/Power Member/Lips
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Hamilton, Mercer county
Posts: 4,141
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You did, didn't you? And a hard top
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05-18-2016, 05:52 AM
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#11
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American Road Warrior
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Wastelands of NJ
Posts: 6,116
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Quote:
Originally Posted by PolarBear
The place my cousin works could probably fix that
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2nd this.^^^^ I've been friends with the owner of the shop where Bear's cousin works for 30 years. Great shop to deal with.
__________________
unstable bob gable: LEGENDARY LEGEND,
ICONIC ICON, AND AMERICAN BAD AZZ!!!
1991 Dodge Spirit R/T: Gran'pa lookin' 150+ mph turbo rocket.
2013 Dodge Avenger RT: Wastelands cruiser.
2008 Crown Vic Police Interceptor: 'Nuff said!
THE ONLY THING THAT SUCKS WORSE THEN IMPORTS ARE RICED OUT IMPORTS!!!
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05-18-2016, 11:14 PM
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#12
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Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Millstone, NJ
Posts: 641
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How much for black interior haha
__________________
94 TA GT. Stock 350, cam, exhaust
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05-19-2016, 06:14 AM
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#13
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Stalker
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 12,077
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dudbird113
How much for black interior haha
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Well i found someone with a tan interior, they said to make an offer. So make me an offer.
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05-29-2016, 05:33 AM
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#14
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Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Howell,NJ
Posts: 536
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Quote:
Originally Posted by unstable bob gable
2nd this.^^^^ I've been friends with the owner of the shop where Bear's cousin works for 30 years. Great shop to deal with.
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What shop? I'm looking for some work done on my car.
__________________
94 CAMARO
TURBO 3.5 LITER
12.573 @ 107.29 1/4 MILE
8.021 @ 86.38 1/8 MILE
BEST 60' 1.781
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05-29-2016, 04:39 PM
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#15
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American Road Warrior
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Wastelands of NJ
Posts: 6,116
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 3.4 grape of wrath
What shop? I'm looking for some work done on my car.
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Showcase Auto Body
38 Old Camplain Rd
Hillsborough NJ 08844
908.575.9000
__________________
unstable bob gable: LEGENDARY LEGEND,
ICONIC ICON, AND AMERICAN BAD AZZ!!!
1991 Dodge Spirit R/T: Gran'pa lookin' 150+ mph turbo rocket.
2013 Dodge Avenger RT: Wastelands cruiser.
2008 Crown Vic Police Interceptor: 'Nuff said!
THE ONLY THING THAT SUCKS WORSE THEN IMPORTS ARE RICED OUT IMPORTS!!!
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07-30-2016, 09:57 PM
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#16
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Stalker
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 12,077
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Well I finally got around to actually working on this car the past week. It took way too long to get my garage clean enough to fit it in.
I no longer need a body shop to do the main repair. I started by removing all the parts that couldn't be saved, mainly bumper cover, absorber, and metal reinforcement. Then I was able to see where I needed to push out. I spent about an hour or so working on the body today and got a large portion of the damage taken care of. I have to address a few more specific areas and then its all fine tuning with a hammer and dolly. I had found a new trunk pan if needed but it seems like I'll be able to save all my current sheetmetal. And after messing with the hatch for an hour, I found out one good lift strut and one bad one is the reason for the hatch pushing slightly to one side. So that'll be addressed eventually.
When I got the car....
after removing the bumper cover...
with bumper reinforcement cut off (I'll unbolt the brackets once everything is back in position) Notice the bulge of the trunk floor...
And finally, after an hour of work today...
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07-30-2016, 10:07 PM
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#17
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Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Manalapan,NJ
Posts: 216
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doesnt seem as bad not that you did that. good work.
__________________
92 Firebird (First Car SOLD 2/18/17)
90 Firebird Formula 305 T5 Daily Driver (SOLD)
87 GTA Gunmetal RIP
1984 Trans Am 6.0 4L60E , Ford 8.8 3.55 gears
1991 Trans Am
1985 Iroc Z
2015 Silverado 2500HD
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07-31-2016, 07:49 AM
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#18
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Meet Coordinator
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: brick/pt. pleasant beach
Posts: 19,341
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Nice work! Do you have a donor car or anything to take measurements off of or just using your eye?
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07-31-2016, 09:39 AM
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#19
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Stalker
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 12,077
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sweetbmxrider
Nice work! Do you have a donor car or anything to take measurements off of or just using your eye?
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I have my white '88 GTA parked right next to it for reference and I also have a section that is the rear 18" cut off from another GTA that was included with this car.
I guess I'm lucky that the rear was hit almost dead center by just a motorcycle. If it had been a car or hit more towards the side, it would have been a bigger problem.
Last edited by V; 07-31-2016 at 09:41 AM.
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07-31-2016, 10:43 AM
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#20
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Galloway, NJ
Posts: 3,964
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Paul, excellent job man! Even if you wanted a body shop to correct anything, you took a huge chunk of tje bill out, if anything I say as long as the crash bar fits, hook up a new bunper and start cruising
__________________
1996 Camaro C/S - 2/3 Corvette Engine
Quote:
Originally Posted by BigAls87Z28
Uh yeah, after they surprized buttsecks us at Pearl Harbor?
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08-01-2016, 10:03 AM
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#21
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Ebearnezer Scrooge/Power Member/Lips
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Hamilton, Mercer county
Posts: 4,141
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Quote:
Originally Posted by V
found out one good lift strut and one bad one is the reason for the hatch pushing slightly to one side. So that'll be addressed eventually.
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Good luck replacing that, unless you already have a spare.....
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08-01-2016, 06:03 PM
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#22
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Stalker
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 12,077
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Quote:
Originally Posted by PolarBear
Good luck replacing that, unless you already have a spare.....
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The ones on it are actually "fabricated" already. I'm not sure when it was done or by which previous owner but it looks pretty simple to replicate. If I do it and it works out, I may make a few sets.
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08-02-2016, 12:23 PM
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#23
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Ebearnezer Scrooge/Power Member/Lips
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Hamilton, Mercer county
Posts: 4,141
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Quote:
Originally Posted by V
The ones on it are actually "fabricated" already. I'm not sure when it was done or by which previous owner but it looks pretty simple to replicate. If I do it and it works out, I may make a few sets.
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Yeah, I have my idea on how to replicate with standard struts, basically just need to cut the old mounts off and weld them on new struts. Just keep the heat down and cool the main body tube
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08-02-2016, 05:11 PM
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#24
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Stalker
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 12,077
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Quote:
Originally Posted by PolarBear
Yeah, I have my idea on how to replicate with standard struts, basically just need to cut the old mounts off and weld them on new struts. Just keep the heat down and cool the main body tube
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On mine,the end of what appears to be a standard strut was cut off and a bar with the proper end was added and welded on.
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08-04-2016, 12:39 PM
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#25
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Ebearnezer Scrooge/Power Member/Lips
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Hamilton, Mercer county
Posts: 4,141
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Quote:
Originally Posted by V
On mine,the end of what appears to be a standard strut was cut off and a bar with the proper end was added and welded on.
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Yeah, same with mine so that must be how they did it for them
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