Date:         Wed, 30 Jun 2004 15:42:13 -0400
Reply-To:     Marc Perdue <marcperdue@ADELPHIA.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Marc Perdue <marcperdue@ADELPHIA.NET>
Subject:      Re: minor accident PICS
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

You're kidding, right?  Why would one do it one's self when it's clearly a
situation where the liable person's insurance company will be required to pay
for all the repairs.  I'd take the opportunity to get a BRAND-NEW bumper AND
brackets and get the whole front end done RIGHT.  It's hard enough to find these
vehicles in good shape and takes a lot to keep them up to snuff.  When one has
an opportunity to get part of it "restored" on somebody else's dime, it seems to
me one should take it.

My 2 cents . . .
Marc Perdue

developtrust wrote:

> Before you go and buy a new rear bumper and since you have to take it off
> anyway see what you can do with a sledge hammer and a few 2 by 4's. You will
> be surprised at how well you can straighten a bumper with a few good whacks
> with a heavy hammer or sledge. Help from a friend will be good to help
> stabilize the bumper while you whack away and wear gloves for Pete's sake.
>
> Then there is replacing it with a custom made 4 by 6 piece of lumber or
> large metal tubing.
>
> Think of it as an opportunity to upgrade to custom choices.
>
> With a little patience that front end metal can be fixed with the right
> tools or using wooden levers to stretch that metal back out. Then if you are
> not happy after a paint job to the front cover it with a bra. No one but you
> will know th difference. Fix that rust spot before it gets worse. Pry the
> rubber up with plastic spatulas then grind or sand away the rust. Use some
> naval jelly on both sides and even a little bondo then repaint. If you do
> not fix that rust now it will eat away and be a much more difficult repair
> needing welding later. A tedious job but worth doing. It can be done without
> removing the windshield  but if you have the patience remove the windshield
> for easy access to the underside rust.
>
> You were very lucky to have such minimal damage. I see it as a do it
> yourself job.
>
> William