So I picked this setup today along with other misc. stuff from someone who wrecked and no longer owns an S. It looks like the hardtop consists of the external shell and an inner skeleton that are held together by spot welds. I've never done autobody repairs before, and I don't intend to now, but I'd like to know what the best way to repair this top is, so I know what to look for when I inquire. If an autobody guy tells me insane amounts of bondo, I know to walk haha .

These are the most detailed pics I could take with a crappy camera.

Front view:


Rear view:


front again:


front driver's side corner (where hardtop meets windshield)




shallow dent on the top front and center:


If I were to have a shop drill/cut out the tack-welds, would they be able to pop/massage out the dents and align the front back to it's original shape? thanks in advance

 

thats aluminum, so you have to find a qualified shop. If i were you i'd keep looking unless i traded a 12 pack of beer for this one

 

Very hard to tell from your pics, but fyi my Ht had a this type of ding and it was repaired flawlessly by a paintless dent removal group. Multiply my ding by many times and I'd be up for the challenge to see if yours can be repaired. The whole process "massages" the dent out, so effectively if there is access underneath it can be worked on. I look forward to seeing how yours goes.

before:



after:

 

it was only 2g's, chump change. have you done a repair on a hardtop before or taken the hardtop apart by chance? It looks like I could just remove the inner skeleton and form it to the shape I want. The seals were simply held on with RTV silicone.

 

Yeah, there's access to every corner of the hardtop if you've taken the seals/lining apart before. Especially considering that I don't care if the inner skeleton is removed or not I think it'll be fine haha. i'll be sure to log before/afters

 

yeah I removed the inner lining before taking it in to the repair shop. Do you have your lining as well? I've seen that you can buy it new from Honda, also have seen it in the classifieds fs.

 

Wait, you paid 2g's for a top in that condition?


I need to visit my PDR guy to get a dent removed before I take mine to paint.

 

Yeah, I took them out and aside from missing one of the window seals it has all the seals/lining I need. I was considering re-doing the lining/seals since I have extra hardware from other cars/projects.

I was kidding, the dude who wrecked included everything he pulled off the car prior to handing the car to insurance for a very reasonable price. In the end after I clear the rest of the stuff included out I think it will come out to 200$ for the hardtop + side catchers.

 

I highly doubt a good body shop can bring that back from the dead without tons of bondo

The side catchers off the car are worth $350 though

 

I would agree if it was a rear quarter or another unremovable part of the chassis with limited access, but really it's completely accessible to form/roll/push to shape or as close as possible, then to add to that welding it up to patch it is still an option. I would take welding/grinding over bondo, but that's just me with my experience with hardtops and potholes lol.