Well now that I've finally got the GXL all cut up and my rebuild package from mazda trix I have another minor but prevalent cosmetic issue.

I live in colorado and I hit some black ice. Next thing I know I was being pulled toward this tree like a tractor beam.

Now the down side, obviously, is that I smacked the side of the car.

the up side is that after getting in there with a ten ton body repair kit I was able to pull away the passenger sides' back fender to see if there was integral structural damage. There was none.

Its cosmetic.

Here is a picture.




What I want to do is take my GXL fender (as seen below) and put it on via a grinder and my weld pack.
Like installing it as one complete unit, a puzzle piece if you will.



Is this the right approach or should I spend fifty million hours pounding and sanding the damaged one?

That tree kicked my car's ***. I am not looking for a rematch.

 

I must say, it could have been far worse. Over the years I've seen talented body men repair far worse damage then what you have, just by pulling and shrinking etc. It is amazing what they can do.
Either way you choose, a lot of work.

 

I've seen a tree vs. rx7 fight myself, as well... I must say, they're tough cars.

I was driving my 10AE and ended up smacking a tree in the passangers side front, just behind the wheel.. the tree didn't budge. I did a fair amount of damage to the car, but none serious enough to wreck it. After replacing a ball joint (the cause of the entire incident) the car was drivable, and after replacing the fender, pulling out the inside and the rocker panel, fixing the door, etc.. it was good as new.


As far as your car goes... Just cut and weld.. BY FAR the easiest way.

Just don't bondo it!

them damn trees are evil, I tells ya!

 

I must say, it could have been far worse.


I was completely and ironically, surprised too. It could have been far far worse. five inches to the left I bet the bumper would have ripped off and the lights smashed.

Five inches to the right and the shock tower and back windshield toasted.

Here's my back light that miraculously just survived:

 

Just don't bondo it!


That's what I'm thinking. No globs of bondo. Hit a speed bump too hard and it all falls out or something.

I did construction for five years. No, its not auto body work but I can cut almost anything really straight and smooth.

I figure that what I'll do is cut it out with tabs on both the fender and its respective place.

Then puzzle piece it in there, grind sand and weld it down and then if necassary use as little, and I mean as little bondo as possible.

 

Ouch, good luck man.

 

i wouldnt cut and weld that. i would hammer it back out, get a stud gun hammers and a weekend. it can be straightened out. welds wont be as tough as the original body, and you dont kill your other body. but yeah, i would massage that out.

 

welding is the way to go....both options require experience.

 

from what i see, the body is creased pretty nicely. I wouldn't attempt a rebend... but if you know what you're doing, good luck! oh, and praise da lawd that your s5 tail didn't get mangled too. That's $100 you just saved!