I am in need of some advise in replacing / fixing some body damage in my new car.

It's an AB GSR

The previous owner backed a 4wd into the front of the car. As a result of this, the following panels are damaged:

looking from drivers side view:
-Left front side panel (badly damaged around headlight area)
-Left front headlight (reflector intact but glass/lens broken and it's been pushed in due to accident)
-Front bumper is a bit loose but i think it's ok, the strip above front grille is damaged but the front grille is ok
-Right front side panel (damaged but headlight not smashed)

How is the best way to fix damage to these panels. Can you remove the panels by unbolting them or are they welded onto the frame or something?

If i can unbolt them, i'll be sticking a WTB add in the for sale/wanted area coz if it's a bolt off-bolt on job it's gonna be cheaper to do than panel beating.

Luckily there is no damage on the rear as the entire rear/roof is a single panel from what i can see.

I need this done quick coz i need to get the roadworthy and don't like driving it around looking defectable.

Colour doesn't matter coz im going to fix all body damage first, and then sand it down and respray.

first get a quote from a panel beater, it might be cheaper.

-bumper: easy to tighten, check for hidden damage though

-headlight: find one at a wreckers and do a swap, keep the old reflector and housing for possible future use or chuck it

-strip above grille: not too hard to get off, at first i thought it was welded on, but after my acco i had to pull it off(well...what was left of it) and i found that it was actually bolted in. Take it off, beat it as straight as you can, fill remaining dents with puddy/body filler and sand down till its perfect. then primer/sealer and respray.

-left front side panel: mine got pushed in too, you can unbolt it easily. I wouldnt bother fixing this, but its up to you. Just try and buy another one then repray to color match, or find one of the same color.

good luck.

if im wrong about something, please correct me.

Everything will bolt off, but you've gotta be careful that all the mounting points underneath still align properly. If they've moved, you've either gotta be pretty good to get them straight, or get a panelbeater to do it.

Feel free to have a go yourself (I did/am), but just don't expect it to finish up perfect.

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There is a tricky bolt too. Take it out with the door open, it is near the lower corner of the windscreen, still outside but. Hard to explain.

clayton is referring to the bolts holding the front fender on. 1 bolt is in the door jam near the top of the fender & kinda hard to get at

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yeah, i had a look and see what you mean. So holding the front fender on there is:

4-5 obvious bolts on top (under bonnet)
1 bolt on on door jam
a couple of bolts underneath around wheel guard towards rear of fender.

is that it? Are there any other clips or anything holding the fender on or can i just unbolt those bolts and it comes off?

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now a certified cordia owner....

Yeah, and a couple of screws behind the bumper....

Pretty easy really, what could go wrong?

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‘85 AA Cordia
All in bits!
On the road soon, terrorising your local neighborhood!
http://www.cardomain.com/id/samuel_cordia

1980 EX lancer EX2000 replica.

No it's not that bad, but after 20 years of being on the car it can be stuck on pretty good near the top.
The hard bit is panel beating it back to the same shape, I can't get this dam curve back in mine to match the front of the door.

i figure it's easier and probably cheaper to replace the panels. Colour is a problem, but im planning on respraying it myself later anyway. However my first priority is to get the damn thing roadworthy which i can't do with a smashed headlight.

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now a certified cordia owner....

I recently bought an airless spraypainter on special to paint mine.
Hope it's not crappy??? Some people say they don't do a good job, but they come in all sizes?