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ANSAracingb Samba Member
Joined: October 29, 2009 Posts: 557 Location: Morgan Hill CA
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Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2010 2:25 pm Post subject: Involved in 5-car wreck today; fender gasket replacement? |
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So...eventful morning: on the way to work, was in some "slow-n-go" traffic on a 4-lane section of Hwy 87n in San Jose. In the lane to my left, cars were stopped, and the next guy locked up his brakes and SLAMMED into the rear of the car in front of him (at full speed), then bounced off and hit me on the left front fender.
I was lucky; the driver started a chain reaction. He hit the Honda in front of him so hard, the Honda hit the Firebird in front of him, and the Firebird hit an SUV in front of him. The SUV and I were the only two vehicles to not be towed away! I thanked my lucky stars I didn't receive more damage than I did...whew!
Anyway, my fender is toast. I have another fender at home from a '71 Standard Beetle, and a fender gasket strip on hold at the local ACVW specialty shop. I've never removed the fender panel before; is there anything I need to do to install the gasket that goes between the fender and body?
TIA! |
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vintagevwbeetles Samba Member
Joined: September 28, 2006 Posts: 5
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Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2010 3:11 pm Post subject: |
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I always attach the fender but leave enough room to get the welding between the body and fender without difficulty. Then at the bottom nearest the body - in your case, rear of the fender near the door) and insert the welding and tighten the first bolt enough to hold it but not real tight. I do this at each bolt and then trim, if needed, at the last one. I then go back and tighten the bolts and I am done. Takes no more than 15 minutes max |
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jugglerkevin Samba Member
Joined: January 15, 2007 Posts: 118 Location: Kokomo, IN
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Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2010 3:19 pm Post subject: |
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Just wanted to mention that you can get access to the back side of most of the fender bolts in the trunk. If things are rusty, it is very helpful to spray the bolts (on both sides) with PB Blaster or whatever penetrating oil you use. It is even better if you do that a day or two ahead of when you plan to remove the fender. (It is easier than dealing with a broken off bolt.) _________________ '68 Beetle
Pink Passion Pearl |
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19super73 Hardcore Stock Nazi
Joined: October 18, 2007 Posts: 4351 Location: Cité Soleil
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ANSAracingb Samba Member
Joined: October 29, 2009 Posts: 557 Location: Morgan Hill CA
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Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2010 4:33 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks everyone for the swift and informative responses!
I will spray the bolts with PB Blaster (love that stuff!) tomorrow on my day off after I make a run to Bugformance to get that sealing strip. Maybe once or twice more between tomorrow and Sunday, and attempt the fender "swap-o-rama" Sunday afternoon.
As far as driving defensively goes, I'd agree...I don't think there was too much space between the Honda and the Pontiac, and the Pontiac and the SUV. The guy in the Toyota who started it all couldn't have been paying attention; everybody in all the lanes was pretty much stopped or crawling. Slick roads due to last night's rain, but he had to be going at least 60mph before he applied the brakes. Too much pressure too late...he locked up all wheels and just headed straight for the Honda then me.
I'm just glad I wasn't where the Honda was. I feel sorry for those guys whose cars were towed...they'll be feeling it tomorrow that's for sure.
Drive safe everyone! |
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EXJAY Samba Member
Joined: October 04, 2009 Posts: 1109 Location: Myrtle Beach, SC
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Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2010 5:35 pm Post subject: |
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any pics of the damage? I tend not to take the bug out in stop/go traffic just for that reason. Good luck with the repairs. _________________ EXJAY
'74 Superbeetle (Family owned since new)
'73 181 Thing (sold) |
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ANSAracingb Samba Member
Joined: October 29, 2009 Posts: 557 Location: Morgan Hill CA
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Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2010 5:46 pm Post subject: |
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EXJAY wrote: |
any pics of the damage? |
I have a cell phone pic. When I get home from work later tonight I can xfer it to my computer and then post it here.
EXJAY wrote: |
Good luck with the repairs. |
Thanks!
Edit: uploaded pic of the fender. It's pushed in farther than the pic shows. And I noticed when I turned on my lights tonight while warming up the car that the left headlamp is now pointed up.
Besides being dirty, this hubcap was unblemished before the wreck:
Oh well. At least hubcaps are cheap, and I have a spare fender. -thumbs up- |
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EXJAY Samba Member
Joined: October 04, 2009 Posts: 1109 Location: Myrtle Beach, SC
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Posted: Wed Jan 13, 2010 5:55 am Post subject: |
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Looks or sounds like it could of been much worse. Thanks for sharing _________________ EXJAY
'74 Superbeetle (Family owned since new)
'73 181 Thing (sold) |
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Mark33563 Samba Member
Joined: November 13, 2005 Posts: 1667 Location: Tampa Bay. FL
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Posted: Wed Jan 13, 2010 7:42 am Post subject: |
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Hell, that will buff right out.... _________________ -—--------—-------
"That's an ultra-rare Dung Beetle... in reverse, it rolls up giant balls of crap. " - Dave24 |
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ineedastudentgetup Samba Member
Joined: February 08, 2008 Posts: 94 Location: Florida
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Posted: Thu Jan 14, 2010 7:16 pm Post subject: |
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I step away from the computer a few days and miss all the excitement
I am sorry to hear about your bug. It doesn't look as bad as I imagined when I read the post in what did you do to your bug today.
At least they didn't get that purdy new muffler tail pipe you just added.
You sound like your handling it well. Much better than I would. Imagine a crazy southern lady with a tire iron running the streets yelling I painted it Safety Yellow what do you mean You didn't see it. |
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jimkeo Samba Member
Joined: November 21, 2009 Posts: 161 Location: edh california
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Posted: Fri Jan 15, 2010 12:57 am Post subject: |
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the good thing is you did not get hurt.
since the accident was not your fault are you going to make an insurance claim?? if so you might want to have the front end looked at for alignment issues since it even bent the hub cap. |
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ANSAracingb Samba Member
Joined: October 29, 2009 Posts: 557 Location: Morgan Hill CA
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Posted: Fri Jan 15, 2010 10:31 am Post subject: |
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jimkeo wrote: |
since the accident was not your fault are you going to make an insurance claim?? |
Yeah, my insurance company is already investigating using the CHP report and they're looking into the other guy's insurance. They told me that whatever I receive, if anything, is dependent on his insurance coverage (the guy in the Toyota). Since he is responsible for creating the wreck and there are 5 vehicles involved (2 of them totaled), there is a lot of money at stake. If he didn't have much insurance coverage at the time, the rest of us involved probably have to pay for repairs ourselves or from our own insurance company.
ineedastudentgetup wrote: |
At least they didn't get that purdy new muffler tail pipe you just added |
I would have been super pissed! I'm taking it well because I realize sh*t happens. I'm just glad I was in the #3 lane, not the #2 lane where he rear-ended that Honda. And I'm glad nobody was hurt.
Thanks for the offer to borrow the repair tools btw. I think on Sunday my friend and I are going to the local pick-n-pull to source another fender. Last time I was there, they had 5 or 6 ACVWs, and at the time I didn't need anything. Of course, now that I need a body part, I'm sure there won't be any ACVWs out there...we'll see. |
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jimkeo Samba Member
Joined: November 21, 2009 Posts: 161 Location: edh california
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Posted: Fri Jan 15, 2010 10:43 am Post subject: |
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if you have uninsured motorist coverage your insurance carrier should cover up to $3,500 in damage and battle it out with the other guys insurance company.
but it sounds like your taking it well and i think most of us rolling around with one or two downer fenders anyways |
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Madtat Samba Member
Joined: September 02, 2009 Posts: 941
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Posted: Fri Jan 15, 2010 11:11 am Post subject: |
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Sorry to hear about the acident! At least you were not hurt, the rest can be replaced no sweat, stay on the insurance vatos don't let 'em slack! |
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