Few Questions re my damaged VS Exec

[rancid_b]

Well my car has been sitting around damaged, getting driven occasionally, for about 9 months now, and I think its about time to genuinely start looking for somewhere to fix the body. I've had the car fixed up mechanically: new fuel pump (old one shat itself), trans service, power steering pump, leads, new rear vision mirror (girlfriend broke the old one off doing her makeup hahaha). Getting new rear brakes and discs installed over the weekend probably (old ones were fairly worn and repco has a ripper deal right now).

I just need to know a few basic things:

1. VS Exec sedans are all IRS, right? Need to know before I buy the brakes.
2. Rear muffler has a leak, is it worth getting a whole new decent exhaust system fitted? They seem to be pretty bloody cheap (circa $200) can anybody suggest a reputable place to get them from.
3. Does anybody know a cheap as chips panel beater who will wack a rear quarter panel + 2 small rear panels on? Does anyone on here want to make some cash doing it for me? Doesn't need to be sprayed, I'm gonna call up every panel place in melb and find a set thats close enough in colour to my car.
4. Any suggestions in terms of places to get tyres and rims from for a reasonable price?

I'm so sick of driving my girlfriends lancer, I really want to get Ron back on the road regularly. The lancer is a pre fuel injection model and the carbie is stuffed so its less fuel efficient than the commodore minus the power and with the need to warm it up a bit every morning.

[-ToM-]

1: VS Exec sedans are all live axle, not IRS
2: Yes, $200-$300 will get you a decent catback installed. Just about any workshop will do, just comes to personal brand preferance.
3:Just go to a wreckers and get second hand parts. Shouldnt cost heaps to get a beater to fit them.
4:Car forums like this one are usually the best, or the classifieds in the paper

[ephect]

have u tried ausdent? they should be able to pop it, then the a rear bar from the wreckers.

ebay is also good for tyres.

remember if u find another car, u can swap the motor and cluster..

[rancid_b]

1: VS Exec sedans are all live axle, not IRS
2: Yes, $200-$300 will get you a decent catback installed. Just about any workshop will do, just comes to personal brand preferance.
3:Just go to a wreckers and get second hand parts. Shouldnt cost heaps to get a beater to fit them.
4:Car forums like this one are usually the best, or the classifieds in the paper

Thanks mate! What catback system is your personal preference? I've got a mechanic mate who will fit it for me for next to nix but I've got to buy it first so I need to know brand/model/sizes etc.

Also, any ideas what a reasonable price would be to fit a rear quarter panel?

Ephect, re ausdent or any other paintless dent removers, would be relatively easy to get the big main dent out just above the fuel tank (with a fair possiblity of cracking of the paint or warping of the metal), but its complicated by the damage to the panel on the back end of the panel. around the light fitting. I really had to jam the new light in there, its pretty badly out of whack and its also a tricky place to get into to do any of that stuff.

[Chris E]

Only piece of advice I can give you is to get new panels and get them resprayed. When I stuffed up my front end it took me literally months to find panels again, and they weren't the nicest either. I went to every wrecker with 1.5 hours of brisbane, and to quite a few when I was in melbourne on work. A lot of hassle and it still doesn't quite match and isn't cheap either.

[rancid_b]

Only piece of advice I can give you is to get new panels and get them resprayed. When I stuffed up my front end it took me literally months to find panels again, and they weren't the nicest either. I went to every wrecker with 1.5 hours of brisbane, and to quite a few when I was in melbourne on work. A lot of hassle and it still doesn't quite match and isn't cheap either.

I can pick up that rear quarter for about $150 for one in perfect nick, and most places will throw in the two small back panels for nothing or basically nothing. Colour doesn't have to be spot on...if i feel like getting it resprayed i'll do it later (surely wouldn't cost much more to respray it once fitted rather than before?). Add a rear bumper for $50, already have a new boot...so $200 parts...but does anyone know either how to fit a rear quarter or a panel beater that will?

[ephect]

go have a chat to Chris @ body image prestige on highbury road in burwood, he's done a couple of my panels, real good bloke.

its not so much paint, but most panel beaters will fade the paint past the replaced panel and half onto the next to color blend so u wont notice the panels with new paint.

[rancid_b]

Thanks mate, rang body image prestige and they said don't get a second hand rear quarter panel because in all likeliness they will need to spend a day working on it to clean it up, which will end up costing more than getting a brand new unpainted panel and painting it. Its $347 for a new rear quarter panel from holden + fitting and spraying, should come in under $1k right? Holden recommended cars bodyworks in nunawading, anyone been to them before?

Going to pick up the following items aswell:

$70 for 2 second hand under the lights panels
$110 for a second hand good condition, colour matched rear bumper

Adding in the $347, thats $534 on parts so fingers crossed labour is around $500.

[ephect]

dont know, it'll all depend on the shop u go to and the quality of work they do for the price. good luck with it, n let us know how u go

[rancid_b]

Got it booked for repair in 2 weeks time. $800, working with the old panel and using one of the new small panels under the light but repairing the old one. I'm fitting the boot and bumper myself. Hes a pretty good panel beater, a mate of my girlfriends dad, so hopefully it comes up alright. Pics to follow!

[b.e.a.s.t.]

My VS smashed the other day its bad enough to change the whole front and replace the radiator. Please help if some one knws how to remove a bar as its welded like dots on few spot and there is no way to straigthen up it have to be removed and fit a new one. I got the VR sitting in my garage with all the parts handy if some one could give me some tips and tricks to fix em plz.