I am having my bumpers and rocker panels painted this week, and the body shop just called me to say that my rocker panels, especially towards the rear, are incredibly rotted - so much so that they couldn't guarantee how long their fibreglass repairs would last. Is it possible for me to cut good rockers out of a donor vehicle and have them grafted onto my car? Or does the design prohibit that?

Needless to say, I am pretty sad about this news.

I am having my bumpers and rocker panels painted this week, and the body shop just called me to say that my rocker panels, especially towards the rear, are incredibly rotted - so much so that they couldn't guarantee how long their fibreglass repairs would last. Is it possible for me to cut good rockers out of a donor vehicle and have them grafted onto my car? Or does the design prohibit that?

Needless to say, I am pretty sad about this news.

Any good body shop could weld in replacements or make replacements if needed. If they are just going to bondo it, then you will be lucky if the new paint lasts a year. Although I have seen some really good putty pounders make bondo jobs last for years. It is all in the prep.

i can't afford the replacements at this juncture, so they are going to fibre it as best they can - even tho there is very little to bond to. I went and took a look at it this afternoon. It's depressing, the rest of the car is perfect.

I am sure they will do a good job, the shop is excellent.

Chopping out as much of the old rust as can will prevent it from respreading under the new body work. Also sealing it with a POR-15 or similar can prevent it from spreading or slow the spreading. The better the job in the prep, the longer it'll last. Unfortunately I have some showing up on mine.

That's what you guys get for living back east and in the snow! I on the other hand don't have to worry about rust.... but all of the mark VIII guys live back east, so I can't hang out with ya! I guess either you have rust and freinds who drive mark VIII's or you live in the desert and your freinds drive hondas and junk like that! Go figure???

Just talk to the guy that is actually going to do the body work. maybe if you let him know that if he does a really good job then you will toss a few bucks his way. Those guys all know how to good body work if they want to. When I need a paint job I always talk to the guy doing the spraying, I figure that an xtra $50 or $100 bucks is worth it to get a better job. Just my 2 cents.

Just talk to the guy that is actually going to do the body work. maybe if you let him know that if he does a really good job then you will toss a few bucks his way. Those guys all know how to good body work if they want to. When I need a paint job I always talk to the guy doing the spraying, I figure that an xtra $50 or $100 bucks is worth it to get a better job. Just my 2 cents.

i understand what you are saying, but I have had work done at the shop before, it's probably the best shop in the city, and they always do flawless work for me - friends with ownership :) We go racing together from time to time, very cool people with some sick cars.