Repair / Painting Recommendations on TJ

[2003TJ]

When I bought my TJ, I noted it had, what looked like a BB/Pellet dent near window channel on door. The dent is indented and has caused damage to paint in the area around dent. I had an Auto Body guy look at it yesterday, and he said first of all it would be very hard to match 17 year old paint, if not impossible. He said to repair the dent, and smooth it out would use up a substantial area of the door. He said, if it was his Jeep, he would first repair the dent, and smooth out the area. Then, following the “swish” body line, he would paint that area Matt Black, to include the door handle (not the area around the window). He said this would compliment the mirrors, the fender extenders even the black of the tires! The hardtop on the TJ is Grey in color. He said if that was repainted Black, that again would set everything off color wise.

i mentioned what he said, to a friend of mine. He suggested maybe getting a couple strips of body trim, maybe chrome with black center strip, maybe 2” or so wide, and just covering up dent with that.
i would greatly appreciate input from the Forum on ideas I might consider. Thanks in advance!

 

[SkylinesSuck]

That's a matter of taste. I think stuff like that looks dumb and your body guy is trying to release his pent up creative juices on your rig, not his, but to each his own. Matching that paint perfectly is almost impossible, but getting so close body would notice isn't hard, especially with lighter colored paint like that. I have had it done several times with older metallic paint. I would try somewhere else and see what they say.

 

[2003TJ]

That's a matter of taste. I think stuff like that looks dumb and your body guy is trying to release his pent up creative juices on your rig, not his, but to each his own. Matching that paint perfectly is almost impossible, but getting so close body would notice isn't hard, especially with lighter colored paint like that. I have had it done several times with older metallic paint. I would try somewhere else and see what they say.

Thanks for your input, and you might be exactly right! I did have plans to get other opinions (including here on the Forum). Always good to hear from another Virginian! I’ve been up to Warrenton a few times, even bought a vintage RV from your Mayor a few years back! Beautiful horse country up your way!

 

[qslim]

I think that would give it an older-school look when you saw Jeeps with accents like that, it's a matter of personal opinion. Regardless I think that a black hardtop would compliment that paint a little better.

Maybe find one of those shops that do vinyl wraps & advertising? See if they can make you a couple of black vinyl appliques for those areas and see how you like it?

 

[JEEPCJTJ]

I think the body guy doesn't want to do a 45 minute job so he's trying to sell a repaint of about 1/3 of the Jeep.

I'd patch that dent with JB Weld, file it smooth, add a coat of paint of almost any color then, following the “swish” body line, cover that area with a piece of "carbon fiber" vinyl.

Why JD Weld? Because it just seems to ignore any mistakes from paint, or anything, that would accidentally allow moisture to get to it.

Why "carbon fiber" vinyl? Because you're doors (do both) will then look so light and strong you'll get 2 mpg more and be able to climb steeper hills faster.

Really, you could use any vinyl film. I just added the "Carbon fiber" because I want to be cooler than the body guy.

 

[SkylinesSuck]

Thanks for your input, and you might be exactly right! I did have plans to get other opinions (including here on the Forum). Always good to hear from another Virginian! I’ve been up to Warrenton a few times, even bought a vintage RV from your Mayor a few years back! Beautiful horse country up your way!

We just went for a nice corona-cation drive the other day and enjoyed all the rich people's horse farms and stuff! Lots of money up this way. The new mayor btw? With the hippy hair?

 

[2003TJ]

We just went for a nice corona-cation drive the other day and enjoyed all the rich people's horse farms and stuff! Lots of money up this way. The new mayor btw? With the hippy hair?

Think probably a different Mayor! . Can’t remember hippy hair on that guy! . Nice folks! You’re right, LOTS of $ up in your area!

 

[Chris]

The only thing I would ever do to that is pay 4-5k for a full re-spray in the original color.

And I would only do that if it got to the point where the paint was worn, had lots of chips, scratches, etc.

If I did that, I'd have 5 or more layers of clear coat put on, that way it could be cut and buffed easily in the future.

But of course, for 4-5k (what a good paint job for a TJ should probably cost), you're going to get a damn fine paint job.

 

[qslim]

We just went for a nice corona-cation drive the other day and enjoyed all the rich people's horse farms and stuff! Lots of money up this way. The new mayor btw? With the hippy hair?

What's the name of that super fancy fox hunting town about 40 miles west of D.C. on Rt 50? I used to ride my motorcycles out that way when I was in NOVA, absolutely beautiful country & tons of money. There was always controversy with those folks over their traditional fox hunts, they'd dress up in silly outfits, ride horses, & run hounds. I stopped one day with my girlfriend and we took in a polo match, it was the most waspy thing ever.

 

[2003TJ]

The only thing I would ever do to that is pay 4-5k for a full re-spray in the original color.

And I would only do that if it got to the point where the paint was worn, had lots of chips, scratches, etc.

If I did that, I'd have 5 or more layers of clear coat put on, that way it could be cut and buffed easily in the future.

But of course, for 4-5k (what a good paint job for a TJ should probably cost), you're going to get a damn fine paint job.

Not at that 4-5K price right now. Think I’ll leave that up to Grandson, when HE takes ownership! I’ll keep it up, and even replace a motor, if it comes to that. That darn BB dent just got my attention, and DEFINATELY going to get it fixed!

 

[2003TJ]

What's the name of that super fancy fox hunting town about 40 miles west of D.C. on Rt 50? I used to ride my motorcycles out that way when I was in NOVA, absolutely beautiful country & tons of money. There was always controversy with those folks over their traditional fox hunts, they'd dress up in silly outfits, ride horses, & run hounds. I stopped one day with my girlfriend and we took in a polo match, it was the most waspy thing ever.

Haven’t seen a waspy thing since we moved to VA! . I don’t know that town! Nothing like that around here!

 

[qslim]

Ha

Haven’t seen a waspy thing since we moved to VA! . I don’t know that town! Nothing like that around here!

Middleburg VA

 

[SkylinesSuck]

Middleburg VA

Yup. The Melons (as in the Carnegie-Melons) own/owned huge tracts of land around there, including their own super swanky private airport (2VA9). The Kennedy's had a place they frequented during his presidency too. It is weird to be driving through the super rural country and see stacked stone fences and manicured lawn as far as the eye can see with no houses in sight (because big a$$ front yard). We saw a Maybach out driving the other day.

 

[qslim]

Yup. The Melons (as in the Carnegie-Melons) own/owned huge tracts of land around there, including their own super swanky private airport (2VA9). The Kennedy's had a place they frequented during his presidency too. It is weird to be driving through the super rural country and see stacked stone fences and manicured lawn as far as the eye can see with no houses in sight (because big a$$ front yard). We saw a Maybach out driving the other day.

It's a really beautiful area, some of the best backroads I've ever driven. My aim is to retire back in VA someday, just not NOVA. Middleburg, Sperryville, Washington... I absolutely love that part of this country. Maybe I'll start my own defense company & get into fox hunting.... Get the kids a polo scholarship.