bsniffin

Because of severe hail damage, I wondered how difficult it would be to replace my dented top with a top from another SC430?

rpjense

Does PDR work on aluminum? I'd try that first.

DshngDaryl

Does your top go down now? I wonder if you could lift out the whole assembly, hinges and all when it is in the retracted mode.

I would assume you would break the nuts free on the hinges, lower the roof, remove the trunk lid, loosen the nuts the rest of the way and lift the whole thing out.

that it's just a guess though.

ned1

My 2002sc 45k miles. had hail damage as well. The roof and both hoods are aluminum. I was told that aluminum dents cannot be fixed and all flat top surfaces were replaced.., the paint is very expensive. I was left w a salvage title because of this. It was a straight bolt off and bolt on according to body shop. Some tweaking for air seal. Works same as before.

sixonemale

I'm now wondering in this case if the hale damage caused him to get a new hood, roof, and trunk lid: https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sc4...rnia-done.html

"June 2008: Purchased 2002 SC 430, White Gold w/Ecru. 24k miles, Loved that car. 6 years later, it still has only 41k miles and looks as good as 2008.

Any month 2010: Loved the last model year of the SC, but disappointed it is the last year and also disappointed that just a little over 300 were made. I promised myself I had to get one of those but holding out little hope since many dealers did not get even one and the dealers that had them were marking them up.

January 2014: After a 3 year hunt, I came across a 2010 that was matador red with camel interior. It has 27k miles and is still under factory warranty. Price was reduced from $42k to 39.5 through negotiations. Autotrader had plenty of photos-looks good to me along with sales promise that it is pristine. I paid premium price to ship it in enclosed transport.

Two weeks later: Arrives in fancy transport---DIRTY. Before driver leaves I noticed small dents in hood. Upon closer inspection, hail damage is on hood, top, and trunk lid. Driver leaves and I head to car wash. Big mistake not going there prior to driver leaving-Industrial fallout on most of car.

Four Weeks later: My new SC finally goes into the body shop. My insurance is paying $8k for all damages as previously mentioned and I pay two $250 deductables. I then tell body shop to repaint whole car because of other unreported dings and small scratches. Paint job was done with all metal off except roof-interior is masked. Additional $1500 for me! My cost is now $2500."

ShawnOk

iTrader: (1)

I do believe PDR can be done on Aluminium. Long story short, some ghetto fab hoochie jumped up on my hood at the middle of an intersection circa 2003 in KC's Westport, and started booty shakin. Unwanted and unsolicited attention. She wasn't the lightest either. Had the dents knocked out at PDR. So I don't see why an experienced PDR professional can't remove the roof lining and knock them out. Should be cheaper than replacing, painting to match (if needed), and labor.

sixonemale

I agree with your assessment and believe that's what Solman had done. Sorry to hear about your unwanted and unsolicited experience, but glad it's in the past.

texsexlex

iTrader: (3)

.......my Sc has some hail damage & Geico paid for it to be done the PDR method, they also paid a little extra for the hood & top area, so not sure if it's more work or time consuming because it's aluminum. Also the technician thats going to repair it, didn't say anything about not being able to repair the aluminum parts.

bacardi11

iTrader: (1)

Repair the damage and repaint it.

FlopTop04

I had some minor dents on the panel from opening it with a 6-pack of coke in the trunk under the shade. I had paintless dent repair done on it and it looks great. The PDR tech said aluminum is different and harder to do but with experience and skill, good results are possible.

FlopTop04

I had some minor dents on the roof panel from opening it with a 6-pack of coke in the trunk under the shade. I had paintless dent repair done on it and it looks great. The PDR tech said aluminum is different and harder to do but with experience and skill, good results are possible.