Alright guys well since i'm keepin my car I want to make it not look like a POS haha. Paint//clearcoat faded and peeling, both bumper covers need replaced, theres minor rust on the driver c pilar/sunroof and worst of all theres a monster crease in the driver quarter panel. I knows theres dings n dents all around but nothin major just normal wear. My question is will it be easier/better/more cost effective to fix it or find a clean shell and then repaint?

BEst pics I have atm. Cars not at my house its at my parents lol.

Crease/Paint issues





I'll be doing all the work myself with the help of my dad and some friends. I've never painted a whole car before but i did practice on a couple panels of a f250 dually. Also jw if I want to retain the stock color (Pacific Blue Pearl B-68p) is this a dual stage paint job (base color/cear/pearl) or just a straight color called pearl? Or should I just paint it a dif color? I want a deep blue metalic that in the right lights looks blue and/or black.

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93 S F22A1 SOLD
95 Si G22VTEC R.I.P Cracked Block
Reborn 95 Si H22A

DynoJet: 188whp/168tq
Engine: NGK Plugs, NGK Blue Plug Wires, Hytech Replica Header, Vibrant Hi-Flow Cat, 3" Kteller piping, Vibrant Street Power Exhaust, AEM CAI, Exedy Stage 1 Clutch, F1 Racing 11.5lb Flywheel
External: VIS Carbon Fiber Hood, JUN eyelids, JDM Foggies
Interior: Customer suede interior, JTC wieghted shift knob, JTC short shifter, NRG qwik release hub, NRG Race Wheel

I have 3" exhaust on my lude club. Founder & CEO (PZ Division)

Im in the process right now of helping to prep my buddy's track car (240sx) to paint. It is a lot of work, and it does take time, but its really not as difficult as its made out to be.

That said, i say give the shell you have a new look. It will look good if you are diligent with the prep work.

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that rear quarter might not be worth trying to fix, I would look into a new skin. see what a dent removal guy (paintless) can do with some of the other smaller stuff to save body work on some of the panels, then get the body work done on the more major stuff.

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1990 SI - totaled
1996 SI - engine seized
2001 SH - still tickin.

The qp is what im worried most about. Its the worst spot. Id rather weld in new metal to fill or should i get another qp section from a clean car?

__________________
93 S F22A1 SOLD
95 Si G22VTEC R.I.P Cracked Block
Reborn 95 Si H22A

DynoJet: 188whp/168tq
Engine: NGK Plugs, NGK Blue Plug Wires, Hytech Replica Header, Vibrant Hi-Flow Cat, 3" Kteller piping, Vibrant Street Power Exhaust, AEM CAI, Exedy Stage 1 Clutch, F1 Racing 11.5lb Flywheel
External: VIS Carbon Fiber Hood, JUN eyelids, JDM Foggies
Interior: Customer suede interior, JTC wieghted shift knob, JTC short shifter, NRG qwik release hub, NRG Race Wheel

I have 3" exhaust on my lude club. Founder & CEO (PZ Division)

Bump. Come on guys help me out

__________________
93 S F22A1 SOLD
95 Si G22VTEC R.I.P Cracked Block
Reborn 95 Si H22A

DynoJet: 188whp/168tq
Engine: NGK Plugs, NGK Blue Plug Wires, Hytech Replica Header, Vibrant Hi-Flow Cat, 3" Kteller piping, Vibrant Street Power Exhaust, AEM CAI, Exedy Stage 1 Clutch, F1 Racing 11.5lb Flywheel
External: VIS Carbon Fiber Hood, JUN eyelids, JDM Foggies
Interior: Customer suede interior, JTC wieghted shift knob, JTC short shifter, NRG qwik release hub, NRG Race Wheel

I have 3" exhaust on my lude club. Founder & CEO (PZ Division)

either one of those will cost you up to $500 a side if taken to body shop. Another option is the drift-sloot or drift-missile approach a lot of the S13/AE86 guys take. Basically cut out rust then weld/rivet on some over-fenders. You can paint to match or paint them any color. Not sure if there are any over-fenders for 4th gens...that's the problem. Fabrication would be needed if that's the case.

Easiest thing to do for the dent: sand down general area, apply bondo or evercoat filler then smooth down to the natural contour of the body.

Grab some new bumper covers, sand them down and primer. May as well repaint the car if this is the case.

Sunroof rust is very common. Best thing to do would be convert to a glass sunroof from a 5th gen or find one with out rust.

The c-pillar rust would need to be removed and filled with filler as well.



I'm no expert on this so take what I said with a grain of salt...these are bandaid fixes and you'll need a full paint job after all is done. May be better to drive the car as is and find a cleaner shell so you don't waste your effort/time/money for bandaids that cover wounds such as rust that will just return later.

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1991 SR (RIP)
1995 SR-V
1990 MX-5