Spoiler-ectomy

[4SEVEN3]

Well Ive decided that the spoiler on my NB HAS TO GO!!!

I got a quote from a reputable body shop and it was in the $500 range! Ummmmm yeah, but no thanks. While Ill let them repair my rocker panel, thats another story.

I have a deck lid that will have 4 bolt holes in it, and a very mild dent at the bottom where the latch is that Im planning on repairing. Ive done some reading about repairing with metal, and fiberglass and I think fiberglass will be the easiest and if I do it right a long lasting repair.

Here's my plan of attack. Remove the spoiler and other needed parts. Sand the back of the panel and apply a patch of fiberglass over each hole. On the front side I was thinking of filling the hole with a tiny piece of fiberglass, then applying some filler, sanding, priming, and painting.

For the paint, since I don't own a compressor or spray gun I was going to order the color coded spray cans from one of the suppliers, a can of paint, primer, and clear to paint the whole panel. Has anyone used the spray-bomb paints to do a repair this large? Is there a certain manufacturer I should stay away from, or one I should go with that offers a superior product?

The dent is really mild. Im hoping to sand it down properly, apply as thin of a coat of filler that I can while still leaving the factory primer underneath if possible.

Ive taken autobody class wayyyy back in HS but that was back in 1992! Any help, opnions, suggestions are welcome. I dont mind criticizm as long as its constructive.

Thanks!

[2004NBTURBOS]

If your comfortable doing the work, then do it. As far as the paint, I would do all the prep work and then get a shop to spray it for you. I think the cans won't give you the end results your looking for. I can always tell a rattle can paint job when I see one.

[doublebarrel]

Might want to look at wrecking yards for a rear hatch without spoiler,they might just swap with you.Maybe somebody with same color would swap to get a spoiler.(I would but wrong color and location)

[Tico4Life]

Originally Posted by 2004NBTURBOS

If your comfortable doing the work, then do it. As far as the paint, I would do all the prep work and then get a shop to spray it for you. I think the cans won't give you the end results your looking for. I can always tell a rattle can paint job when I see one.

X2 I wouldn't do that to my car. Do the prep work and let them paint it for you. I can spray a decent paint job on a car, but I wouldn't dare do it with a rattle can. My 2 cents

[Tico4Life]

Originally Posted by doublebarrel

Might want to look at wrecking yards for a rear hatch without spoiler,they might just swap with you.Maybe somebody with same color would swap to get a spoiler.(I would but wrong color and location)

Not a bad idea at all, post it in the classifieds for a few days and see what happens

[MyOtherRidesAVette]

x2!


Forget, patch, paint, prep. and rattle can? OMG!

Your prep won't make the painter happy regardless, and he'll use it if the jobs not perfect. You said your getting the rocker panel painted, get a new or used deck lid, let the shop prep it, off the car will probably be cheaper, and shot it. A chunk of the $500 was for the paint, hardners, etc. Not even the same hardner in the color as in the clear coat. And if it's not a color they regularly shoot... Find a shop that does the work for your local VW Dealer. Maaco does it (beilieve it or not) in the Houston market and does a phoenominal job and reasonable.

MORAV

[4SEVEN3]

Yeah, Im thinking the spray can isnt good for the whole panel. Points taken.

I may just suck it up and pay someone to do the work. Ive only had time to get one quote so far so this could all be on the high side of the pricing (and likely is). Im not super concerned about the patching, theyre only small holes drilled for the spoiler, not a big area at all maybe 1/4in dia.

Awesome suggestion on talking to the VW dealer, Ill give them a buzz today and see who they use, or recommend to their customers.

What Id REALLY like to find is someone that does it on the side, thats maybe retired or likes to make extra $. I love to support the "little guys", and often times you get a great job!

Maybe Ill hit a few places this weekend to get more quotes.

[vwgary]

Sell the spoiler to help defray abit of the cost. What type of spoiler; post a pic.

FWIW, for any rattle can paint work, buy from PaintScratch.com.
No affiliation but thumbs up for excellent product.

[SMG]

The smartest option is definitely to let them repair it. All they'd do is a little welding, grind down the welds and then fill it smooth. They aren't going to like your prep work no matter what you do, especially if it involves fibreglass.

[4SEVEN3]

Well I found my shop to do the work!
I called VW to get a bodyshop recommendation, they use their own about 30 miles away. No-go. I worked at a Porsche/Ferrari dealership as a tech and I called the service manager to ask where he sent his Porsche work, well behold he sent it to a guy that I had done business with 20 years agao when I built up my CRX-Si in 1991. I took it to him yesterday and he gave me a MUCH better and more fair price than the first place.

I was really happy I had got back in touch with his shop and he does AWESOME work!!!! Just a matter of time now!

Attached is my CRX. It had a Kaminari "bubble" kit that he had installed. Boyd Coddington custom made wheels (offset was custom, and true directionals). 5% tint all around with 20% down the entire front windshield (not totally recommended )
I miss this car....sniff sniff...

[4SEVEN3]

Originally Posted by vwgary

Sell the spoiler to help defray abit of the cost. What type of spoiler; post a pic.

FWIW, for any rattle can paint work, buy from PaintScratch.com.
No affiliation but thumbs up for excellent product.

For the record, thats the type of "spray bomb" I was going to go with. Was thinking getting all the product from the same Co., primer, paint (colormatched) and clear so that it was all compatible. I was not going to "engineer" it using just any blue that looked close!

[dmbluebeetle]

What kind of spoiler do you have?

I own a 2004 Blue Lagoon NB.

[vwgary]

Originally Posted by 4SEVEN3

For the record, thats the type of "spray bomb" I was going to go with. Was thinking getting all the product from the same Co., primer, paint (colormatched) and clear so that it was all compatible. I was not going to "engineer" it using just any blue that looked close!

FWIW, I wouldn't have assumed you'd use a Pep Boys rattle "close color match" can. My inference was that there are several manufacturers of factory color spray bomb paints and some are better than others. I've used paintsratch.com for several projects but was "cost conscious" and purchased from "brand X" for painting the lower valance/grille on the yellow Sport. The results were less than awesome after the 1st rain storm Pic is post prep/paint/clear