So I'm trying to fix my crx up a little.. The best I can anyways. It looks pretty rough as it is now!

I've never done any body work before, so I'm hoping for a little guidance...

I have some damage to one fender. and rear quarter panel, around the tai light..along with some minor dings here n there. I'm not expecting it to be perfect, just trying to fix it as best I can

I've ordered some evercoat lightweight filler and 120/220 sand paper.

Can I simply hammer these flat, and reshape with filler?

Should I just get a replacement fender, or is this something that I could fix with filler?

Here's a link to some pics of the damage:
http://m1287.photobucket.com/albumvi...5e705.jpg.html

 

I forgot to mention.. The previous owner sprayed a thin coat of black(peeling badly) over the flame stickers an 4 different colors that it was painted when he got it. ...Lol...

So how should I go about removing these stickers, or can just prime right over them(surely not?)

Any tips for fixing the curb rash on the wheels? I'll probably be painting them black..

 

You can heat and scrape the stickers or get an Eraser disk and a die grinder. Depending on how bad the dent is you can use hammer and dollys to tap it out or a stud welder and pull it that way. Not sure about rims, I think you have to weld then balance them. You are going to need 80 grit sand paper and glaze as well you bondo and get it very close then glaze or it and get the repair 100%

 

It just a daily beater, not a show car or cruiser or anything.
I'm trying to keep it simple since this is my first project

I think I'm just gonna scuff it up with 220 real good, 120 in the areas that i will fill, then primer, and sand with 400, and then two or three coats of single stage paint, wetsanding with 600 before final coat

I also plan on using the filler on a few small dent in the trim pieces

How does that sound??? Should work out decently right?

I'm mostly concerned about getting the front fender looking decent. It's right on the corner. And the sticker removal. I don have access to a heat gun. And if I go sanding on them, what sort of mess will that create? There's a layer of paint over them now

 

400 will take FOREVER to sand bondo and will clog the sand paper. Use 80 to shape, 180 and glaze

Bondo likes to bond to a 80 grit sand scratch, 220 on metal could cause the bondo to lose adheasion and fail

 

Sorry if I wasn't clear enough
I'm sanding the body with 120 in areas that will be filled
I will shape the filler with 120, then give it a 220 sand before primer
I will sand primer with 400(wet or dry?) before base coat
And 600 before final coat

Sound ok?

I'm not trying to get it perfect. I just want a significant improvement over how it looks now! It's just a beater

 

Generally after you spread your filler you want to let it dry and sand with at least 80 grit paper. Then after it's shaped you go over it with 150 to smooth it out. A lot of the time you can get away with priming over the 150 scratches depending on who is spraying the primer and how it is being applied. You can use your 120 and 220 to smooth it out in this case, but I recommend going and getting 80 grit to sand the filler to create your shape. As for the primer, sand it with 320, 400, and then finish depending on what color you are spraying. Wet or dry sanding, it's a matter of preference. Sand to 600 before your base color on a basic solid color and 800 on high metallics like silver.

 

OH, and a good point was made. I don't recommend using any paper finer than 150 on bare steel before applying your filler. Your 120 will be fine for this, but any finer than 150 and it starts the polishing process for metal which = poor adhesion of the body filler in some cases.

 

Thx for going into detail for me! I will follow your advice

What should I do about the flame decals down the side?
Would just a blow dryer on high heat work? Just wishful thinking i guess. But I really don't want to make a mess of them. They're not peeling off at all at it is now, but there's paint over them.

Since I'm just doing a quick, cheap, temporary makeover..what would you suggest i do? Is there any way I could get away with just priming and painting over them? I know this is probably not wise, but I have to ask...

Thanks again!

 

I wouldnt paint over them, just go to harbor frieght and get a cheap heat gun. I dont think a blow dryer will get hot enuff. If you are going to prime the whole car just het them up and scapre with a stiff blade tool.