I've got a 1996 Honda Prelude SI in mint condition inside and out.(Except) for both rear quarter panel rusts in the usual spots. Any idea what a body shop would charge to cut the rusted section out and replace and repair those spots? Since rear quarter panels run about $3000 each I'd find another alternative.

 

if they're rusted all the way thru, that's what you'll need to do is have them cut and replace it. You can try and find quarter panels at a salvage yard and just take that to them instead of buying brand new ones

 

http://www.slhondaparts.com/br...300ZZ
here for about $550 each new, still expensive, but cheaper than 3 grand

 

I beleive he means 3 grand installed. As that was about what my insurance had to pay to replace mine when i got hit, (And here's hopin someone hits the other quarter panel too. ) i believe it.

 

You can save some money by doing the prep work yourself (If your getting the work done no matter what, you should atleast take the grinder to your car and see how much the rust covers and how deep.). If its mostly superficial and not blown through you should just take a disk grinder to it, remove all rust, sand the crap out of it making it as smooth as possible (going from a couple hundred grit to very fine like 1200 +) spray some rust inhibiting primer, sand it down again and than bring it somewhere to get sprayed for 500-1000 dollers. You could even get them to do the final sand. Also, if you do the taping/masking (pick a nice day and do it outside their shop if you can or where ever you can save a few labour hours (which is what costs the most anyway)

I think there is a specific forum for painting in H-T. You should check that sight out and see if it would be more practical for you to DIY.

 

yea just like mattsnooz said, do your body work and all the prep work, then just bring it to a body shop, it will save you TONS! trust me im a painter at a ford body shop

 

From a decent shop, not the best in my town, it cost me about 900 with paint on just one side.

 

if someone is looking for new wheel arches to the Prelude IV or V, it poprosze to contact me on PM