Branch Attacked Car...

Ryche

Ryche

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Hi all,

Recently a branch fell off a tree and took a chunk out of the lip spoiler on my wife's car (2002 Chevy Cavalier - picture below). It isn't enough to warrant an insurance claim (or more accurately, the increased rates for making a claim) but I'd like to get it repaired/covered before winter hits to help keep water out of there.

My basic thought on the repair/cover process is:
After cleaning the area to ensure no dust/dirt/debris...
1) Auto Tape over the chipped area.
2) Body Putty to cover/harden the area
3) Sanding down (400 Grit Sandpaper) to smooth the body putty
4) Touch up Auto Spray Paint (once I find the proper color, which I believe is on the sticker on the driver's doorjam)

Does the above sound like it will work?

I'm still a bit of a noob at something like this, so if you have a specific product in mind, please detail the name :) Thanks!

View attachment 52973
 
That's going to take a lot of putty to fill up, and it's going to shrink, etc.

Why don't you get a junkyard spoiler and paint that to match, with your can of spray paint.

PS You can have a body shop fix that without making an insurance claim, you know. Or bring them the junkyard spoiler and let them paint it for you, then it will have clear on it.
 
True - I could take it to a body shop, but trying to see if trying a DIY is worth it.

Instead of filling with putty, I was thinking tape to cover the hole (it's about a 2" by 2") then some kind of material that could be spread over the tape and then harden (like the quick dry spackle for homes/walls, but for cars...) over the tape to firm up the spoiler.
 
I would just replace it...Google Dar spoilers you can order a replacement painted to match for about $225.00
 
A good DIY would be getting another spoiler whether it is from a scrap yard or buying a new piece either as a replica or the real thing. (OEM)
 
3m collision has what you need
for a "hole" bunch of DIY projects
like the one you pictured:

watermark.php



Bob
 
I'm sure someone will find out a product that on the Autogeek store site that will fix it.😀

All kidding aside, sorry that happened to you.
 
cheaper and quicker to grab a breakers one and rattle can spray it..

tree's.. bastards...
 
Bondo sells a kit similar to a drywall patch kit. It has a mesh piece that has adhesive on one side that you would stick to the back side of the hole.

I'm not sure how long it would last and the whole spoiler would need to be painted to make it look good. Or you could give it a custom black lip.
 
Those types of repairs will probably not last.....more than just a few years in the body shop business tells me so. Getting one from a junkyard is your best bet. If you can't, your insurance claim would be under your comprehensive coverage, and will not cause a rate increase. It is not a chargeable loss, and there are no payments being made to a third party.
 
Bondo or similar even the fiberglass reinforced ones are not meant to be strong or applied thick, the correct way to fix an issue like that is to fiberglass from the back side creating a hard base, then apply body filler to smooth it out.
That said ebay is your cheapest and best bet, you will have more in materials then it would cost to get a OEM copy or used one
 
I also like the idea of simply replacing that piece with a junkyard or second hand replacement. I would guess they wouldn't be too expensive and i have never liked the idea of worrying about my "repair" effort for the rest of the vehicle's life.

And after i'm done i would kill that tree and it's entire family.
 
Many thanks all... will definitely look into all the options..

And the tree will get what is coming to it. It's got a number of branches that need to come down before winter decides to help them on their way.
 
I'm not a body shop guy, but that's not going to buff out...
 
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