Would attempting to fix this myself be a fools errand?
Posted by will_code_4_beer@reddit | projectcar | View on Reddit | 84 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.
Dogman6969ahhh@reddit
Can’t learn PDR unles you try PDR. Depends on how special the car is to you though. Me and my Ranger are well acquainted with the dent puller and rattle cans.
Fragrant_Lobster_917@reddit
You could make it look better, but probably not good. If you care, have it done by a pro. If you don't, try it and see how much you learn.
ULTRAMAGATRUMP2024@reddit
Just replace the fender. Easy.
anna_lynn_fection@reddit
There's a lot to learning to do good bodywork and, unless you just have a lot of time and want to learn it, it's not worth it for one repair.
Could you do it? Sure. With enough investment in learning.
Could you do it after watching a youtube video on dent pulling? No.
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.
will_code_4_beer@reddit (OP)
Thanks for the tip! Yeah I can Tig weld (I'm just OK) so that's why I was even entertaining doing it myself by cutting it out.
johndeerefiddy@reddit
Welding spot welds is super easy I'd let some one with no experience do it. And the top comment is being super hard on you. This repair looks way worse than it is. Just watch some videos replacing it and it will be fine. Absolute worse case you do have to take it to a shop but you won't hurt it worse than it is.
will_code_4_beer@reddit (OP)
Thanks! I've learned how to build engines, write code, tig weld, produce music, etc.. all by just jumping in and seeing what happens haha. No reason to change now I suppose.
mattakazi@reddit
I guarantee you dont have the tools and experience to start on something that big. It needs a shop
justin_memer@reddit
Start by unbolting the fender, if the apron is straight just bolt in a new one.
mattakazi@reddit
This is the quarter panel, not thr fender
justin_memer@reddit
Oh, it looked like the front fender in the pic.
Bobby_Bigwheels@reddit
I thought the same thing on the first pic. Throw it away and grab a new one for $125. Then i saw the door handle. Oopsies!! Id say that quarter is fixable, but will certainly need tabs welded to fix the gap to the door at the bottom.
justin_memer@reddit
Proper quarter panel repair is an art few people have the patience and money for, lol.
mzsigler@reddit
That’s what I was about to post until I saw the second picture and realized it was the quarter panel.
pv2smurf@reddit
Same ^
mitchsusername@reddit
They don't have the tools yet, but they sell bondo by the gallon on amazon. That and a shower squeegee to smooth it out, should be better than new when they're 👍
mattakazi@reddit
This quarter needs to be replaced. Its a safety issue
disco_lemonaide@reddit
How is a dented quarter a safety issue?
mattakazi@reddit
The outer wheelhouse is fucked
NutStalk@reddit
So?
disco_lemonaide@reddit
It’s a dent. Not like the car is going to fall apart going down the road and hurt someone. It’s cosmetic damage.
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.
mattakazi@reddit
This requires a pull prior to cutting the quarter panel off and repair to the outer wheelhouse. Its a pretty big hit
MaybeGod88@reddit
This looks like a NA mx5, just buy the sheet metal cutout for rust repwirs and weld kt in, get it paonted after.
daversa@reddit
With no auto body experience, you’ll likely end up frustrated. I took two years of auto body classes in high school, and even I wouldn’t try fixing that dent on my own. For reference, one of our first projects involved taking a sledgehammer to a fender, then spending an entire semester hammering, dollying, heating, sanding, applying bondo, priming, and finally painting that one panel. It took a ton of practice, plus a lot of guidance from the instructor, just to get it right.
All those skills—metal shaping, bondo work, priming, painting, wet sanding, and polishing—are necessary to do a proper repair. It’s not something you pick up quickly. Unless you’re eager for a steep learning curve (and ready to live with imperfect results), it’s probably better to have a professional handle it.
will_code_4_beer@reddit (OP)
Great reply. I'm decent with a TIG torch, would this be more doable if I just cut it out and tack'd in a new section? or still pretty hardcore of a repair?
I totally agree, if I was trying to save this section then I am far out of my depth haha. But do you think cutting & welding in a new section changes your opinion at all?
Thanks for the insight!
boriginals@reddit
Read through the top few comments, I appraise for a living.
Skip trying to fix this 1. It has enough damage and buckling to warrant replace outright
It's a miata, that's an aluminum panel and aluminum is already difficult to work with
Get dedicated tools because aluminum, and if you hit it with iron/steel the small filings that fall off will cause corrosion
It's a miata, they made a million of them - car-part.com and go find yourself a black fender, you don't even need to paint
maroubramick@reddit
Get a new gauge and paint it
Monaro70@reddit
Go to the wreckers and get a guard ,paint fit .
Wholaughed@reddit
Yes.
Ok-Bend634@reddit
Why not, look into the cost savings and compare. Then take action.
will_code_4_beer@reddit (OP)
Yep I'm gonna get a couple quotes. If it's around a grand I'll let the shop do it. If it's 2K+ then I'm going to fire up the TIG torch and yolo.
CaffeineTripp@reddit
If the car is special to you, don't. Practice on something crumby first.
Noopy9@reddit
Honestly if you have to ask, then don’t.
TheColdWind@reddit
Is Crumby like a low budget Gumby?🙃
GeckoDeLimon@reddit
Fenders are like $120. If you're going to practice your paint work, it might as well be on a straight panel.
cervenamys@reddit
I'd go for it. Worst possible case, you'll buy a spare quarter panel skin and weld it on. Here's how the pros do it, it's not simple, but not black magic either. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GRqw_Ke5TvU
Jeuzfgt@reddit
I bet a new wing and some at home paint would be better than whatever you are planning
Jeuzfgt@reddit
Oh never mind thats the rear it seems, alot harder than, you can try rolling it out a bit
disco_lemonaide@reddit
You aren’t going to make it any worse by trying.
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
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.
Dark_Guardian_@reddit
oop thought that was a front fender and was confused, but yea getting a cut is a way better option than trying to beat that thing to shape
NuclearHateLizard@reddit
It's a front fender.
PenaltyForward8684@reddit
Hot water and a mallet
Ownfir@reddit
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.
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
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
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
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
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.
peanutbuggered@reddit
You are $2,500.00 deep in the hole.
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.
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.
joeyblow@reddit
Look into paintless dent repair, you would be surprised as to what you can accomplish with it.
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
BLACKBIRD823Rblx@reddit
that'll pop right out with a hammer ngl
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.
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
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
MidDayGamer@reddit
Donor Panel would be the best bet and have a shop do the job. There could be hidden damage behind that panel
Justprunes-6344@reddit
Something deeper is likely bent . If not found & delt with is dents will move vs remove.
Specialist_Spray_388@reddit
Dawg just grab a junkyard fender and be done with it
WheelieGoodTime@reddit
Can I ask why they're being downvoted? Surely you could swap it, no?
Specialist_Spray_388@reddit
It’s the internet — who knows lol
sharkboy1006@reddit
It can’t be swapped being unibody
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
whats_his@reddit
It's the rear quarter panel, not front fender
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
thatSDope88@reddit
A gift for your mom probably isn’t what you want to learn on. Take it in.
The_Name_Is_Betty@reddit
Drift missile
gcwposs@reddit
Mixing a Miata is never a fools errand. #theanswer
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
Fakyutsu@reddit
Why would you even bother? Just buy replacement fender and fender liner.
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.
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.
Whitehoneybun666@reddit
Her a new fender 200$ max for
noobidiot@reddit
That sucks dude, that’s probably one of the worst spots to have damage on a Miata.
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.
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.
Scrotius_Minimus@reddit
At best you will make it look less bad. You won’t ever make it look perfect without a lot of experience. Will be far less work to get a replacement fender.
Civil-Hat2179@reddit
If you are an experienced bodyman .. yes. Otherwise by a replacement fender.
Proof-Surprise-964@reddit
Get some dollies and find out.