Dent repair, body work, hood/cowl, painting DIY

[VixJeep]

Hi all. Brief preface to questions. I've been off work since June (arm weakness and numb hands). I am having c4, c5, c6, c7, and t1 vertebrae fused in 3 weeks. then 3-4 month recovery time. In my boredom, I'm hoping to compile a project master list, and these questions are but a few of the many I have. Please forgive me if I post an inordinate number of questions in the next couple of weeks. This surgery has gotten me anxious and focusing on the Jeep keeps my mind off of whats coming. I thank you in advance for any tips or opinions. 

I'm numbering these, so

Body parts, especially step bumpers are becoming scarce commodities. With that in mind, 

1) Please refer to the first picture. Rear bumper. Can this one be beaten back in shape reasonably, or replace it? I already need license plate lights and the left plastic step, but I'm not having luck finding one anywhere within driving distance.

 

2) Refer to pic 2. The tailgate works ok, but there is a bend in it at the top. Can a body shop fix that, or should I replace it?

 

3) Picture 3 - left rear panel. I think this one is most likely repairable, but I don't know. Most folks want to sell the whole bed. Repair or replace?

 

4) Pics 4 and 5. My hood hits my cowl in the center just it starts to raise. Broke the old cowl. I bought a new one, but can't use it now. My daughters confessed to sitting and standing on the hood, so no wonder. They never admitted it till they were grown. The first pics shows that the alignment is pretty even all around the hood, but it might bump forward a little. The hood height matches on both sides, but sags in the center Pic 5 shows underneath it a brace with pancakes of adhesive pulled apart. Could this be the key for a body shop to be able to pull the center of the hood up a bit by attaching the brace? If not, new hood or has somebody found a better fix?

5) When painting stuff like aftermarket headlight trim and grille, can it be done at home and look decent? I have the new chrome grille, but I'm putting it away until I get it painted. I just need to  spray paint the old one to put back on for now. Does it need to be primed or painted with a special kind of paint, or just Krylon or Rustoleum? Or should I buy another after market one, and put a clear sealer on it to protect it?

 

6) Also I have surface rust on the roof and parts of the bed. I'd like to sand this out and prime it to stop the spread of rust. Someone said not to use above listed primers , because the body guy would just have to sand it all off again. Whats the best way to take care of the rusty spots till I can get it painted? What about bumpers? Freds fast dry, Rustoleum, or dupli-color? Or should I leave the bumpers to whoever paints it?

 

7) Last question. Refer to last picture. These rims are in decent shape, but the clear coating has clouded. I found a set of 4 in Texas refurbished for $500 plus shipping. Could a fellow strip this clear coat with aircraft stripper or just buff it off to save the gray paint on it, polish it up, and re-coat it. How difficult is a project like that to pull off?

 

That clears my list today. Any help and tips welcome.

 

 

[VixJeep]

Hi all. Brief preface to questions. I've been off work since June (arm weakness and numb hands). I am having c4, c5, c6, c7, and t1 vertebrae fused in 3 weeks. then 3-4 month recovery time. In my boredom, I'm hoping to compile a project master list, and these questions are but a few of the many I have. Please forgive me if I post an inordinate number of questions in the next couple of weeks. This surgery has gotten me anxious and focusing on the Jeep keeps my mind off of whats coming. I thank you in advance for any tips or opinions. 

I'm numbering these, so

Body parts, especially step bumpers are becoming scarce commodities. With that in mind, 

1) Please refer to the pic of the rear bumper. Can this one be beaten back in shape reasonably, or replace it? I already need license plate lights and the left plastic step, but I'm not having luck finding one anywhere within driving distance.

 

2) Refer to the tailgate pic. It works ok, but there is a bend in it at the top. Can a body shop fix that, or should I replace it?

 

3) Picture 3 - left rear panel pic. I think this one is most likely repairable, but I don't know. Most folks want to sell the whole bed. Repair or replace?

 

4) Hood and under hood pics. My hood hits my cowl in the center just it starts to raise. Broke the old cowl. I bought a new one, but can't use it now. My daughters confessed to sitting and standing on the hood, so no wonder. They never admitted it till they were grown. The first pics shows that the alignment is pretty even all around the hood, but it might bump forward a little. The hood height matches on both sides, but sags in the center underside pic shows underneath it a brace with pancakes of adhesive pulled apart. Could this be the key for a body shop to be able to pull the center of the hood up a bit by attaching the brace? If not, new hood or has somebody found a better fix?

5) When painting stuff like aftermarket headlight trim and grille, can it be done at home and look decent? I have the new chrome grille, but I'm putting it away until I get it painted. I just need to  spray paint the old one to put back on for now. Does it need to be primed or painted with a special kind of paint, or just Krylon or Rustoleum? Or should I buy another after market one, and put a clear sealer on it to protect it?

 

6) Also I have surface rust on the roof and parts of the bed. I'd like to sand this out and prime it to stop the spread of rust. Someone said not to use above listed primers , because the body guy would just have to sand it all off again. Whats the best way to take care of the rusty spots till I can get it painted? What about bumpers? Freds fast dry, Rustoleum, or dupli-color? Or should I leave the bumpers to whoever paints it?

 

My pic order turned out crazy. most should be identifiable.

 

7) Last question. Refer to side picture. These rims are in decent shape, but the clear coating has clouded. I found a set of 4 in Texas refurbished for $500 plus shipping. Could a fellow strip this clear coat with aircraft stripper or just buff it off to save the gray paint on it, polish it up, and re-coat it. How difficult is a project like that to pull off?

 

That clears my list today. Any help and tips welcome.

 

 

[Eagle]

Duplicate threads merged.