Door Damage

[ptsmith24]

Originally Posted by bikin' Ed

If only the door, and not the frame, is FUBAR, why not get a door from the salvage yard?

The damage is centered on the crack between the door and the front of the car. Sorry if I didn't make that clear. I don't think a new door would work because it wouldn't "match up" with the creases towards the front of the car. Thanks for suggestion, though. I suppose I can get a new door and, while the old door is off, fix the creased damage towards the front of the car. It would be nice so that I can actually roll my driver-side front window down again. Right now, 2 or my 4 windows work which works quite nice for some cross-draft kinda thing.

[dremd]

New Door and Fender then!

I'd bet you can find lots of these in junk yards by now.

[ptsmith24]

Originally Posted by dremd

New Door and Fender then!

I'd bet you can find lots of these in junk yards by now.

Yea, you'd think. However, these cars do seem to run a while. I'm at a little over 196k miles and still running fine.

But, I'm not sure if it's worth the cost for the door/fender replacement. In fact, I don't even know how much that would cost.

[DifferentPointofView]

Depends on whether they pull it off or they have a place where you can do it.

If I remember right, a door assembly if they pull it is between 100-300 bucks

If you pull it, its between 30-50 bucks for a door assembly.

Ya... they charge a lot for them to take it off... still cheaper than 1000 bucks or more for a new painted door.

[ptsmith24]

Sorry for the delay in getting pictures, but here ya go:





Hope those help...

Keep in mind I'm not dead set on fixing/replacing it, but figured it would be a neat project, especially since there may be a possibility of MPG++.

[dremd]

My Vote:

Fix it if it bothers you.

If it doesn't cover up your rear wheels, you will get much much more FE gain (IMHO)

[ptsmith24]

Originally Posted by dremd

My Vote:

Fix it if it bothers you.

If it doesn't cover up your rear wheels, you will get much much more FE gain (IMHO)

Even at top speeds of 55-60, do you think the rear wheel mod is worth it? I imagine any aero mod is more effective at higher speed. Granted, there's a break point where the fuel used is greater than that saved by the mod...if that makes sense.

I did a quick search for used car doors...$400-500 is what I found. I may just hold off until I come across someone parting out their car or what have you. I don't even really care if the paint matches.

[azraelswrd]

Ouch, my guts tell me that is a loss for MPG from that kind of damage.

Even at top speeds of 55-60, do you think the rear wheel mod is worth it? I imagine any aero mod is more effective at higher speed. Granted, there's a break point where the fuel used is greater than that saved by the mod...if that makes sense.

Yeah, could be worth it but you need to test it first. I gave up on my rear skirts but Metro convinced me not to be so hasty because there was some noise reduction. I rarely breech 50mph but even at those speeds, drag is an issue (as evidenced by my own window tests at 45 and 50mph)

[ptsmith24]

I was hoping others with this generation/body style vehicle would chime in as well so that I can get some model-specific feedback for mods. However, I may see what I can do with driving style first (compliments, your sig ) and then when I stop seeing gains from that, move on to aero (hello 2nd pillar!) the only thing in addition to driving style changes i'm doing is tire psi to halfway between what the door says and max sidewall. i don't want to push it on older, less expensive tires.

[DifferentPointofView]

for that door, use like, clear plastic to go on the door, and tape it with artists masking tape about 6 inches from the door on either side. That way you can still open the door because the plastic will do what a band-aid does on an elbow. When you close the door (bend your elbow) the plastic (which really is like a band-aid) stretches and covers the dent (cut) and when you open the door (straighten elbow out) the plastic will do an accordion-esk bend.

That dent is definitely effecting FE, try the plastic thing first and see if you notice a change in sound.