Restoration Questions

[BillR]

I have a '72 240z which needs paint and minor body work. The question I have is concerning Bondo and the effects it has on the value of the car. I understand large areas of Bondo are not good, but is it acceptable to use Bondo on door dings approx. sizes ranging from 1/16" to 1/2" in diameter? The other question I have is: Does anybody know of a trustworthy automotive shop/mechanic in the Houston, TX area that can "refresh" the engine and auto transmission? Any info would be great!

Thanks,

Bill

[EScanlon]

Whether to use Bondo or Red Cap Filler or High Fill primer will depend on how deep and how irregular the surface is around the dent.

Personally, whenever I can access both sides of the sheet metal and I can tap the dent down, using a shrinking hammer or other techniques, I do my darndest to reduce that dent so that the LEAST amount of, again, one of the filler methods mentioned above is required.

If you do the metal work PROPERLY, then the amount of bondo, filler, primer, etc. you use will be MINIMAL, and it shouldn't be noticeable PERIOD. If it is noticeable, then it's less than a good job, in fact, I would rate it a poor job. The reduction in value of a car is usually due to POOR bodywork rather than GOOD body work.

So when it comes to the "acceptability" of using Bondo, it becomes more a question of: if you don't know that Bondo was used .........

Bondo is not the all around "EVIL" that people make it out to be. Do you honestly believe that if a car got a ding in one of the fenders as it is rolling through the assembly line that they would destroy the car? or destroy the fender? Possibly replace the fender, if that can be done, but if it can't, I'll guarantee that there's a small section of the assembly line that does nothing but repair "oopses".

For what it's worth.

[BillR]

Thanks for the info EScanlon. Most of the dents are easy to reach for behind

Bill

[beandip]

I worked for Chevy in '59 at the Van Nuys plant. their was a whole area set aside for body work one for mechanical repair and so on. I worked at the end of the line , right before the gas went in and the engines were started. No start , they were shoved off to the mechanical side body work needed, sent to a parking area to be delt with later. Some times it takes longer for your car when they are dented or damaged. The maker weather it is a Chev. or Lex. is repaired as quickly and as cheeply as can be , sorry but that is the facts. There are a lot of new cars form the factory that have lots of bondo. In '60 I worked at a body shop and we got 6 brand new pontiacs in that were on a transport that overturned and dealer dident want them at there shop. Some were heavely damaged , all were repaired in our shop two with bent frames. I personally drove the repaired cars to the dealer when they were finished. Be careful when you buy a "demo" car.

[zachb55]

bondo bad for resale value? woops, oh well too late now i suppuse, . i put a good bit of body filler on my car, i mean atleat 1/2 of the surface of the car has bondo on it, its smooth and i dont think it could have been nearly as smooth without it... would it be better to have a car with a rolly bumpy surface or lots of bondo but smooth as a baby's bottom?

-Zach