HELP Body shop referrals PLEASE. (Details inside)

[ck80]

I was in an accident today in one of our Mustangs (I know, f*rd, ick, not a gbody, ok that's out of the way) where a woman either ran a stop sign, or just didn't care a car was coming and floored it... whatever.

End result is, wrecked car.

She hit it square perpendicular from the side. Small blessing is she missed the tire. Bad news is there's about $6500 in parts alone if you replace the bent hood, bent fender, tore up punctured front cover, messed up hid headlights, bad fog lights etc. Labor and paint... who knows.

Parts of her car and lights are actually embedded into my panels.

Problem is, our car was ordered with a special factory metallic tricoat paint (gotta have it green) that has a golden flip in the sun. The couple ford dealerships I talked to after leaving the ER said they weren't experienced with that paint color and type and I should go try some other shops.

The companion color from that year, also a metallic tricoat but red instead of green, I found a PPG technical bulletin on that requires painting a bunch of test panels and comparing in the sun before painting the car itself, as well as basically a 5 or 6 layer paint job including the primers and clear. I doubt the Adjuster will accept it because it's for the ruby red and not green, but I can't find one for the green online.

I'm looking for references of a certified body shop that anyone has seen do complicated paint work like that and can duke it out with the insurance rep.

We're just outside atlanta, georgia, but, I'll have the car moved 50 miles if that's what it takes to find the right match.

Anyone know of anything?

 

[pagrunt]

The one thing you will want to do is see what paint type (urathane or water base) is your OE paint, then see which type the shops are using. Keep in mind the plastic panels will not be a 100% match to the metal panels regardless, PPG has a pamphlet explaining that (look at a new car on the lot & you'll see.) A dealers body shop may be where to start but look for techs that have certifcations like ICar. Any good shop should have a variance deck to compare the different formula shades to your good panels to get a base mix to start tinting to match. PPG has a color scanner to take a picture of your paint and makes a fourmula based on what it sees. It may even come up with a single color formula (some tri-coats do have a base/clear version in the variances & could be created with the scanning but it's not too common.) I am not a fan of tri-coats cause of the added headache of matcing two colors for one.

 

[Ribbedroof]

pagrunt pretty much said it all....

Making a letdown panel on tricoats is something any adjuster that has been in the business any length of time should understand (and compensate the repairer for), and here's hoping the insurance involved is not one of the bottom tier insurers

 

[ck80]

pagrunt pretty much said it all....

Making a letdown panel on tricoats is something any adjuster that has been in the business any length of time should understand (and compensate the repairer for), and here's hoping the insurance involved is not one of the bottom tier insurers

I'm going to push it through my insurance first, I figure Amica will be better to deal with than Travellers.

Based on the facts here, including pics of the accident site, etc, it's pretty hard to argue the other driver didn't fail to yield.

Amica pretty much knows it will get back it's payout on the repairs I'd assume, where as travellers will be trying to change that bottom line.

For what it's worth, the mustang drove home. The toyota that hit it was non-drivable/disabled and needed a tow.

 

[Clutch]

These guys pretty much nailed it find yourself a reputable shop that does Collision work all the time and is used to fighting with the insurance companies that's all it comes down to. We do that s*** all day where I work but I'm way too far for you

 

[pontiacgp]

You might want to try this forum, there is a bunch of pros and there may be some in your area who could point you in the right direction. The other thing is you may want to consider a dash cam cause that can save any he said she said arguments. I have a min 0806 that works great and has saved me on a charge trying to run down a cyclist.

https://www.autobody101.com/forums/

 

[ck80]

You might want to try this forum, there is a bunch of pros and there may be some in your area who could point you in the right direction. The other thing is you may want to consider a dash cam cause that can save any he said she said arguments. I have a min 0806 that works great and has saved me on a charge trying to run down a cyclist.

https://www.autobody101.com/forums/

You know, I've been looking at those for my c10 for years now since it's so easy for new cars to do stupid things an old truck can't avoid.

Never thought I'd need one in a car bright enough to serve as a runway beacon.

I'm optimistic things will shake out, and my claims rep seemed to agree. Other car had literally just left a stop sign, I was in right of way with no stop or yield, they plowed into the side, theres puncture holes into the side of my fascia, embedded parts of her car, pics of my car pushed sideways with fluid splatter from hers sprayed towards my car, mine was pushed a foot or two sideways from impact... heck, my front nose shifted a good inch from left to right. And her hood had no damage to the side. As if I had been moving forward or hit her... I actually think I made it to a full stop before being hit.

 

[pontiacgp]

You know, I've been looking at those for my c10 for years now since it's so easy for new cars to do stupid things an old truck can't avoid.

Never thought I'd need one in a car bright enough to serve as a runway beacon.

I'm optimistic things will shake out, and my claims rep seemed to agree. Other car had literally just left a stop sign, I was in right of way with no stop or yield, they plowed into the side, theres puncture holes into the side of my fascia, embedded parts of her car, pics of my car pushed sideways with fluid splatter from hers sprayed towards my car, mine was pushed a foot or two sideways from impact... heck, my front nose shifted a good inch from left to right. And her hood had no damage to the side. As if I had been moving forward or hit her... I actually think I made it to a full stop before being hit.

It sounds like you're ok and that is the most important, cars can always be fixed, we can't

 

[ck80]

It sounds like you're ok and that is the most important, cars can always be fixed, we can't

Could be worse. I'm able to walk (slowly and not far) and there's many who cant. Bones didnt break. ER doc was kinda reserved... said the ct scans weren't horrible, but werent clean. Followups with ortho guys. Gonna be lots and lots of nerve and disc issues in my future.

It kills me that, aside from paint, everything this car needs I could've done myself laborwise.

I say couldve.

I've been forewarned that, eventually, after maybe 6mos, a year or two, I'll be a little active again but to expect a short leash before pain interferes. Either going to have immensely slow projects or have to become more of a bought than built guy...

 

[DROLDS84]

The paint code alone will tell anyone it is a tri-coat color.Additional time is figured into the paint part of the estimate on tri-coats for the let down and the mid coat.I've been doing them since the late 90's.Any good shop should be able to do the job for you.