Would attempting to fix this myself be a fools errand?

Posted by will_code_4_beer@reddit | projectcar | View on Reddit | 52 comments

I've just scored a little NA6 Miata, rust free for $2,500 that I'm trying to restore.

I learned to drive stick on my mom's 96 Miata that she always says she misses and regrets selling.

Well, shes finally getting remarried and I'm going to clean it up and give it to her as a wedding gift.

So with that, I'm OKish at Tig welding but curious if this is something I should even attempt. I've done plenty of motor work, but body work is not my forte.

If not, how deep in the hole am I you think?

There's other dings here and there but this is the one that I can't just swap out.

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CaffeineTripp@reddit

If the car is special to you, don't. Practice on something crumby first.

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I really feel like this could be pulled with a commercial dent puller and/or pushed out via the basket ball trick. Assuming OP can confirm drivability I wouldn’t shy away from this IMO. Often times bigger dents are actually much easier to pull.

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DrIceWallowCome@reddit

I've done something like this when I had roughly your experience.

It's pretty much what you think it is, cut, shape and tack. You could get it perfect on your first try but honestly? Probably not. You'll want a slide hammer and the stick weld thing to help pull the body in the correct shape.

It's tough, ngl. You'll get it looking a lot better but if a lot better isn't good enough? Pony up

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7days2pie@reddit

Yes!!!

You can go 2 easy diy routes.

Find the fender online or at a junk yard in the same color and swap it.
Find the finder in a different color and swap it and take it to a shop for paint.

Bonus round.

Replace the fender , scuff the whole car with a scotch bright , pop the headlights and taillights out, and drop it off at maaco

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FondestDiamond@reddit

as much as it would be a massive job. no job is bigger than how confident you are. if you are going to do it find a local body shop, bring cigarettes and be nice when you ask for advice

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Joaquinmachine@reddit

It never looks as daunting as it will probably be. I would get a replacement fender and practice on the one that you pull off. Fender work takes a lot of time, skill, and patience to get right. Even if you get the curvature right, there is a very high likelihood that the mounting points have shifted and the door jams won't line up correctly

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therealdankshady@reddit

Remove that fender and see if there's any actual damage to the chassis. Should be pretty easy if you are able to find a matching panel from a scrapyard.

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peanutbuggered@reddit

You are $2,500.00 deep in the hole.

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404-skill_not_found@reddit

Yah, as others have said, this isn’t a quick weekend job for a shade-tree mechanic. Can’t tell from here, but there could be damage to suspension components and brackets. Your wallet may not like it but you’ll be happier with quality professional work here.

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Lxiflyby@reddit

Hey man I’m all for DIY’ing stuff but I would say this type of repair is far beyond the skill level for most guys at home etc.

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joeyblow@reddit

Look into paintless dent repair, you would be surprised as to what you can accomplish with it.

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stapy123@reddit

A lot of others are saying it, you really should take it to someone who knows what they're doing if the car has significance to you. If you want to lean bodywork, buy some rusted out pos and fix it so it can pass safety and look somewhat ok then see if you can sell it off to some other idiot

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BLACKBIRD823Rblx@reddit

that'll pop right out with a hammer ngl

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blonktime@reddit

Engine work is a science with a little bit of art and body work is art with a little bit of science. Science can be learned from a book, art needs to be learned though experience.

This is HIGHLY likely not a job you can do yourself without all the right tools and experience under your belt, at least not a pretty job. If you want to learn to do body work, give it a shot. You will likely spend HOURS on this and a fair chunk of change on tools, fillers, and paint, but you'll start getting the experience. Worst case, if you really fuck it up and it's bugging you, I feel like finding a rear quarter panel for a 96 Miata wouldn't be that hard. Just hit up a local pick-a-park junk yard. Or buy an aftermarket one.

Or save your time, money and energy and jump straight to finding a replacement part.

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plastic_blasters@reddit

That's a cut and patch job. If you don't care enough about the car to go thru with that, a mallet and bondo could make it 'look' fixed

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johndeerefiddy@reddit

2 ways pull it out hammer and dolly till it's fixed.

Way 2 and what I personally would do is cut the affected area off the quarter and buy a new quarter for $130 and weld the new to you quarter on. Or replace the whole thing. Blue collar Kyle on yt has some good videos where he replaces a quarter on different cars but it's the same process. Grind the spot welds and then remove the whole thing.

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fmlyjwls@reddit

Start by watching carters auto restyling on YouTube. See what it takes to straighten out bent metal. Then decide if you want to tackle it

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MidDayGamer@reddit

Donor Panel would be the best bet and have a shop do the job. There could be hidden damage behind that panel

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mattakazi@reddit

I guarantee you dont have the tools and experience to start on something that big. It needs a shop

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justin_memer@reddit

Start by unbolting the fender, if the apron is straight just bolt in a new one.

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mzsigler@reddit

That’s what I was about to post until I saw the second picture and realized it was the quarter panel.

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mattakazi@reddit

This is the quarter panel, not thr fender

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justin_memer@reddit

Oh, it looked like the front fender in the pic.

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will_code_4_beer@reddit (OP)

I'm thinking so too. My naive thought is: well I can tack sheet metal, but I very strongly doubt it's that simple.

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mattakazi@reddit

This requires a pull prior to cutting the quarter panel off and repair to the outer wheelhouse. Its a pretty big hit

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Justprunes-6344@reddit

Something deeper is likely bent . If not found & delt with is dents will move vs remove.

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Specialist_Spray_388@reddit

Dawg just grab a junkyard fender and be done with it

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WheelieGoodTime@reddit

Can I ask why they're being downvoted? Surely you could swap it, no?

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Specialist_Spray_388@reddit

It’s the internet — who knows lol

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sharkboy1006@reddit

It can’t be swapped being unibody

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Specialist_Spray_388@reddit

Oh, man, this is the rear quarter not the fender ? That’ll explain my downvotes lol. Couldn’t really tell from the fist pic && didn’t even realize there was a second one, that’s my bad

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whats_his@reddit

It's the rear quarter panel, not front fender

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BigCitySteam638@reddit

You have to pull that quarter and make it as straight as you can…. It takes a lot of skill and a special tool. I have friends that can make that look like it never happened with very little body filler…. But that’s what 20 years of doing it me it will come out looking like the Atlantic Ocean after I fix it and paint it….. but good luck nothing is impossible but this is a tough fix

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thatSDope88@reddit

A gift for your mom probably isn’t what you want to learn on. Take it in.

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The_Name_Is_Betty@reddit

Drift missile

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gcwposs@reddit

Mixing a Miata is never a fools errand. #theanswer

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Dark_Guardian_@reddit

get a replacement
no point trying to save that, itll end up looking bad unless you spend a 100 hours on it

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2Drogdar2Furious@reddit

Did realize this wasn't in the miata sub...

The rear quarter is part of the unibody. There are companies selling replacement peices that are a cut and weld affair though.

OP, let a body shop tackle this if you ever decide to repaint. It wont be cheap though.

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NuclearHateLizard@reddit

It's a front fender.

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NuclearHateLizard@reddit

Honestly this is not a big deal if you're able to just find a used replacement Fender. Take the fender off and see if there's any further damage beyond the obvious cosmetic

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Fakyutsu@reddit

Why would you even bother? Just buy replacement fender and fender liner.

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will_code_4_beer@reddit (OP)

It may be hard to tell from the photo, but that's the rear quarter panel just behind the passenger door.

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Fakyutsu@reddit

Ah so it is. I’d say that’s going to require body shop expertise to repair that. Might want to be on lookout for a donor junkyard vehicle that you can cut that part out of.

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Whitehoneybun666@reddit

Her a new fender 200$ max for

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noobidiot@reddit

That sucks dude, that’s probably one of the worst spots to have damage on a Miata.

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catman_in_the_pnw@reddit

my advice is to find a body man who does side work, you won't get the car fixed quickly but you will save a lot.

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will_code_4_beer@reddit (OP)

Edit: I should mention this is not a front fender. It's the rear quarter panel just behind the passenger door.

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