| Subject | Date Asked | Expert |
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| 94 GMC Surburban | 2/7/2010 | Bill Milbert |
Q: If the frame is bent on the passenger side front,what might be a general cost for straightening?
A: Randy, For me to give you an accurate estimate on frame repair sight unseen is very difficult to ...
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| removal of chevy surburban barn doors | 2/7/2010 | Bill Milbert |
Q: I have 2 chevy surburban suv's. a '93 and a '94.I see there are 4 bolts holding the angle hinges to ...
A: They should all unbolt at both ends with (3) three 13 mm bolts. Apply a little WD-40 on the hinge ...
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| dent repair | 2/4/2010 | Michael Kakuk |
Q: Can dry ice really take out some small dents? If so, how would you go about using this method? ...
A: Dry ice can be used for small and shallow dings. This method is old and not used in repair shops . ...
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| Paint and clear coat | 2/4/2010 | Michael Kakuk |
Q: I wish to repaint the roof and hood of my 97 ford pickup. My question is that the clear and base ...
A: Chris....by the description of the hood it sounds like the hood will have to be stripped down to ...
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| 1994 Honda Accord | 2/4/2010 | Michael Kakuk |
Q: This past December I was going down a hill and hydroplaned right into a street pole at about ...
A: JOhn.....sounds like you have damaged the bumper reinforcement and core support. The reinforcement ...
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| PAINT/ CLEAR COAT | 2/3/2010 | Gary |
Q: I don't know if this is a question you can answer or not, but I hope you can. I purchased a vehicle ...
A: I am familiar with Transtar clear. In my opinion, do not use it! I have had nothing but bad ...
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| underbody rustproofing | 2/2/2010 | Bill Milbert |
Q: Recently purchased 2001 F250. Truck is in great shape except significant rust on underbody. Looked ...
A: Yes and Not necessarily Phil. If you live on the east coast/Canada, or places where there is a ...
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| Front Shocks/Struts Replacement Affecting Fuel Efficiency Afterwards | 2/1/2010 | Bill Milbert |
Q: I have a 2008 Honda Civic Si Coupe and just last week, I had the front shocks/struts replaced under ...
A: This is kinda like calling a doctor and telling him you have a pain and expecting a cure over the ...
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| 72 mustang roof rust | 1/31/2010 | Bill Milbert |
Q: Should I try to repair the roof or should I cut it off and replace? It is soft/flimsy on the ...
A: Cindy, Thank you so much for the added photo.This helps greatly,and I would say a roof replacement ...
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| How to remove tail light bulb on 1999 Chevy S-10 | 1/30/2010 | Bill Milbert |
Q: I need to replace the left brake light bulb on my 1999 Chevy S-10 pickup. Could you tell me how I go ...
A: Harry. You may have to remove the bedliner, or if possible loosen the rear portion close to your ...
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| Touch Up Paint on 2008 328i BMW | 1/28/2010 | Michael Kakuk |
Q: i recently backed into another car very slowly and it took a line about 1 cm thick and 5 inches long ...
A: J.... NO PROBLEM. OPTION #1. CALL THE DEALER AND GIVE THEM YOUR VEHICLE ID NUMBER LOCATED ON THE ...
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| rear end | 1/28/2010 | Bill Milbert |
Q: I bought a 92 honda civic sedan lx that had been taken into the ditch. It had ripped the passenger ...
A: I believe that this part may be a dealer item,but yes it is available to purchase. You may want ...
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| UNIBODY DAMAGE | 1/27/2010 | Michael Kakuk |
Q: i was about to buy a 2006 Nissan 350Z Conv.with 44.000 miles. the dealer said it was never damaged. ...
A: RAY..... DO YOU REALLY REALLY WANT THIS CAR? WHAT I MEAN IS ARE YOU GETTING A PRICE REDUCTION FOR ...
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| Front Shocks/Struts Replacement Affecting Fuel Efficiency Afterwards | 1/27/2010 | Bill Milbert |
Q: I have a 2008 Honda Civic Si Coupe and just last week, I had the front shocks/struts replaced under ...
A: Fred, The only conclusion I can come up with in your case here would be a wind co-efficient ...
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| acrylic top over urethane base | 1/25/2010 | Gary |
Q: I'm going to paint a replacement bumper pad for my 2001 Tacoma. I don't think my hobby grade detail ...
A: Duplicolor spray cans are typically made with lacquer based products. So it should work over the ...
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| Hyundai rear driver door | 1/19/2010 | Michael Kakuk |
Q: I have recieved three different solutions from three seperate auto body repair shops regarding ...
A: ERICA....MY FIRST QUESTION IS TO ASK IF YOU ARE GOING THRU INSURANCE FOR PAYMENT OR PAYING OUT OF ...
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| Body collision and frame repair | 1/18/2010 | Michael Kakuk |
Q: An accident involving a Suburban and a BMW, colliding while both were backing out of opposite ...
A: WILLIAM.... WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO SEE THE DAMAGES IT IS DIFFICULT TO ACCURATELY DIAGNOSE. THE ...
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| remove/repair roof on lincoln t/c | 1/16/2010 | Michael Kakuk |
Q: how do i obtain information on how to go about replacing the roof on my Lincoln at/c.right now it,S ...
A: CHARLES..... SOUNDS LIKE YOU WANT TO REMOVE THE VINYL TOP FROM THE ROOF OF THE LINCOLN. THIS IS NOT ...
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| Toyota Matrix Drip Rail | 1/14/2010 | Michael Kakuk |
Q: I have a 2004 Toyota Matrix and one of the drip rails is damaged at the rear, just in front of the ...
A: WALTER.....BY DRIP RAIL ARE YOU MEANING THE RUBBER ROOF STRIP? I AM ASSUMING THAT YOU ARE. ON SOME ...
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| Paint swirls in new car | 1/13/2010 | Bob |
Q: but I heard an interesting answer for th car dealer and wanted to check its validitiy. We just ...
A: The swirl marks are from a buffer. The treatment that they gave you covered the swirls by using a ...
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| Repairs on a 2007 Camry after rear end collision | 1/12/2010 | Michael Kakuk |
Q: My 2007 Camry was hit on the left side of the rear end. My driverside rear tire was pushed inward ...
A: NOEL.....THE REAR WHEEL SHOULD NOT BE TOUCHING THE BODY OF THE CAR. ASK THE SHOP FOR A COPY OF YOUR ...
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| car safe after cutting/welding at frame crumple zone/ | 1/11/2010 | Bill Milbert |
Q: Bill, I smashed my 2003 Corolla front end up pretty good. Two body shops said the bent frame could ...
A: Kristine, This is your decision you... are the shot caller.Not the insurance company here.It is ...
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| '84 El Camino Restoration | 1/10/2010 | Bill Milbert |
Q: Recently I had my '84 El Camino repainted to its orginal burgundy color, but the shop did not ...
A: Unfortunately, these would more than likely be a dealer item and you may have to spend a few extra ...
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| prime&block | 1/7/2010 | Mark Haben |
Q: just a quick question in reference to the prime and block operation. i am an insurance appraiser ...
A: Seth- In most shops where I have worked we have always attempted to get additional time for Prime ...
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| 96 Chevy Blazer | 1/6/2010 | Bill Milbert |
Q: I have been having problems with my manual door lock and I've just taken the inside panel off. The ...
A: Dexter. You do notneed to remove the window. Inner door panel, top half. Your lock should be ...
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| New vehicle body repair quality | 1/5/2010 | William Forster |
Q: My new (1 week old) 2010 F150 truck passenger door and (underdoor part) got damaged from slipping ...
A: Mike, don't make a mountain out of a molehill. This is a superficial dent. Insist on a complete new ...
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| painting | 1/5/2010 | Michael Kakuk |
Q: mike,i need help. i have a 2000 grandam gt with dent in door, it is in the middle of the door ,i ...
A: STEVE.........IT ALL DEPENDS ON WHAT TYPE OF PAINT YOU ARE PLANNING TO USE...BASE/CLEAR OR SINGLE ...
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| Painting OEM panels off car | 1/4/2010 | Michael Kakuk |
Q: I need to get my daugthers 98 Toyota back on the road so she can commute to school.... I have ...
A: YES....PRIMER AND WAIT TILL YOU HAVE SUFFICIENT HEAT. YOU WILL HAVE TO SAND DOWN THE PRIMER IN THE ...
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| dented 1994 corolla | 1/3/2010 | William Forster |
Q: on a 1994 toyota corolla the back quarte panel on the driver side is it all one piece that includes ...
A: It's just the quarter panel- the panel is grafted together in a hidden seam near the roof. Most cars ...
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| Painting OEM panels off car | 1/2/2010 | Michael Kakuk |
Q: I need to get my daugthers 98 Toyota back on the road so she can commute to school.... I have ...
A: CRAIG.....IF YOU CAN GET THE GARAGE TO A MINIMUM OF 60 DEGREES YOU CAN USE A 2 PART PRIMER. IF YOU ...
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| need some assessment regarding frame damage | 1/1/2010 | Michael Kakuk |
Q: I am attaching the pics. how likely it is that frame was damaged? insurance has deemed it total and ...
A: I SEE MAJOR DAMAGES TO THE STRUCTURE OF THE VEHICLE BASED ON THE NEW PHOTOS....MY ADVICE TO YOU ...
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| paints and primers for classic motorscooter | 12/31/2009 | Gary |
Q: I am restoring a 1960 Cushman scooter that will be getting a body paint of PPG DCC 14339 cascade ...
A: Yes, DCC can be clear-coated with no problems at all. It can be done 2 ways. 1 way would be to allow ...
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| need some assessment regarding frame damage | 12/31/2009 | Michael Kakuk |
Q: I am attaching the pics. how likely it is that frame was damaged? insurance has deemed it total and ...
A: froogle.....the photo indicates that there is a good possibility of the rt hinge post being in need ...
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| Windshield chrome molding | 12/31/2009 | Bill Milbert |
Q: ...recently high winds literally ripped the chrome molding from my windshield breaking several of ...
A: Lori, This would be a dealer item.However if there is no Jeep Dealership near you. You could ...
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| Old car frame questions/frustration | 12/30/2009 | Bill Milbert |
Q: I am getting extremely frustrated with body shops around Baltimore. I have an old mopar (1970) 2 ...
A: Jerry, You said in the last reply, that the car was never hit? Why then do you feel there is some ...
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| Highlander Frame Kink | 12/30/2009 | William Forster |
Q: Recently, while making a left turn, my brother hit a patch of black ice. The car slipped and hit a ...
A: Find another body shop. DO NOT have him weld a plate over the kink- unibodies are specifically ...
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| Old car frame questions/frustration | 12/30/2009 | Bill Milbert |
Q: I am getting extremely frustrated with body shops around Baltimore. I have an old mopar (1970) 2 ...
A: Jerry, I don't understand either pal. Is this a restoration project? Is the car drivable? In any ...
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| Driver side door not closing | 12/29/2009 | Michael Kakuk |
Q: I have a 03 gti and the driver side door does not close all the way, i don't know exactly how big ...
A: MIKE. .... SOUNDS LIKE YOU HAVE A DOOR LATCH PROBLEM. SLOWLY CLOSE THE DOOR AND SEE IF YOU CAN FEEL ...
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| 1996 and 1999 chevy s10 radiator support replacment | 12/27/2009 | Bill Milbert |
Q: I have two Chevy s10's that have had front end collisions. One is a 1996 and the other is a 1999. ...
A: You may just have to make it fit.Do so by making the very small alterations needed by looking at the ...
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| Driver's Side Door Handle replacement for 2000 Toyota Sienna | 12/27/2009 | William Forster |
Q: Mr. Forster, I have broken the driver's side door handle to my 2000 Toyota Sienna Mini-van. I have ...
A: Randall, I would suggest you have a body shop order, paint, and install the part. They are much more ...
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