How hard is it to change all the panels on a VT?

[zaz96]

My VT Commodore had a lot of dints in it; left and right rear guards both bent in, some hail damage and stone chips at the front. It also has that crap maroon color.

I've found a white VT Commodore wrecking with all the panels in good condition. I'm thinking of making an offer for all the panels, etc. Bonnet, boot lid, doors, roof, guards (everything painted on the exterior).

How hard would this be? I know how to remove the bonnet, boot lid, doors. Not sure about the roof and rear quarters though... Are they easy to remove?

[jay_wr8]

grinder should get the roof and quarters off, good luck refitting then

[zaz96]

grinder should get the roof and quarters off, good luck refitting then

So it would require welding to fit back on? I could take them off, but how much would that cost to be done properly? Would it be cheaper to replace all the panels except the roof, and get that painted separately?

[Fonzie]

Feel free to prove me wrong, But I'm pretty sure the roof isn't a replaceable panel.

[tavas]

You will need to weld the roof and rear quarters back, so unless you're handy with a welder, know how to weld thin sheet metal without warping it, and have all the gear I'd say its probably not worth it. For the cost of a VT, you're probably better off buying another licenced car.

[zaz96]

You will need to weld the roof and rear quarters back, so unless you're handy with a welder, know how to weld thin sheet metal without warping it, and have all the gear I'd say its probably not worth it. For the cost of a VT, you're probably better off buying another licenced car.

I'd replace all the panels other than the roof in that case. I'm really starting to get frustrated with my car, the problem is that I'm a P-plater with not much money and no job.
I've done a engine transplant on my car, the new engine only having done 80,000km. First test of the new engine revealed that the gearbox had lost 4th (not sure how), yet to be fixed. The engine transplant was very costly.
My aftermarket sunroof stopped working (faulty wiring) and my rear power window switches are broken.
To top all that off, my car had been broken into recently; front left window and rear right window smashed, glove box hinges broken, headrest screens, double-din sony head unit gone.

If you were me, with a f&%$d car and not much money... what would you do?
I need a car, it needs to look good and I'm in love with all VT Commodores in general.

[R0d]

why not buy the white one and transfer all your interior motor into that

[jay_wr8]

I'd replace all the panels other than the roof in that case. I'm really starting to get frustrated with my car, the problem is that I'm a P-plater with not much money and no job.
I've done a engine transplant on my car, the new engine only having done 80,000km. First test of the new engine revealed that the gearbox had lost 4th (not sure how), yet to be fixed. The engine transplant was very costly.
My aftermarket sunroof stopped working (faulty wiring) and my rear power window switches are broken.
To top all that off, my car had been broken into recently; front left window and rear right window smashed, glove box hinges broken, headrest screens, double-din sony head unit gone.

If you were me, with a f&%$d car and not much money... what would you do?
I need a car, it needs to look good and I'm in love with all VT Commodores in general.

Get insurance and burn it lol, or as rod says buy the white one and transfer, or see if you can get another rolling shell for cheap, only problem with this is you then have rego and roadworthies to pay for, How bad is the damage? Have you been quoted by a panel beater or paintless dent remover?

[Holdens Rule]

If I were you I'd get rid of the one you have and look for another cause it will end up heaps cheaper.

[Mick1988]

why not buy the white one and transfer all your interior motor into that

This. Much easier to swap a driveline and interior than to muck around with panels. And plus then your whole car will be the correct colour.

[Locksmiff]

If you were me, with a f&%$d car and not much money... what would you do?
I need a car, it needs to look good and I'm in love with all VT Commodores in general.

What would I do..leave it as is and fix the smashed window and get a gearbox. There are a few on ebay from wreckers with warrenty for 200-350 and be patient and not want to have something yesterday, who gives a toss if it looks crap. Its wheels and gets you from point A to Point B.

The VT I own is crap but it gets me from point A to point B and I am not wanting to have it all fixed yesterday but rather buying stuff as I can afford it to get it back to nice. I have had to replace the front discs, bushes (front end) and wheel hubs this weekend. I brought the stuff over a period of 3 weeks. I have the steering rack to go next week for 245 exchange and new shocks front and back the week after and new springs the week after that. I will have a 2 week break and get all the needed bushes for the rear and wheel bearings and new discs and that has the cars stop go and handling back to new or better.

The paints clear is peeling, the interior is crap, the motor is getting old as to the gearbox. I am just gonna buy the needed motor and box from a wreckers and swap them out and rebuild what comes out over a period of a few months a litle at a time, so I don't notice how much it has cost.

How did the rear panels get trashed, is the roof dinted.

[LthlThrt]

the front panels are also an absolute pain in the ass to take off, unless you have really small hands, but like everyone else said, prob would be easier on your wallet if you transfered or bought new vt. just my 2 cents though

[tavas]

Why are they wrecking the white car? If it is not badly damaged you could tranfer the running gear into the white one and get it registered. Alternatively, keep the maroon one, call it a car with character and save up for something better when you get a job. As long as mechanically it works, it should be fine. We've all owned shitty old cars - just part of the cycle of owning a car.

[kym192]

yea ay travis when ya on ya p's ya probably going to end up crashing it anyhow so i wouldnt worry about the thing, just spend more money on the stuff that keeps it moving and get a better one later on down the track, my vt is not much to look at even has some hail damage but i dont care it keeps me of public transport lol