Yes I was caught off guard, I prepared as much as I could in 3 minutes time stuffing pillows under my car cover. Unfortuneately, where I was offered very little hard shelter. I've got hail damage, on a nice ride with really nice paint. The little pea size hail didn't get through, but the golf ball stuff did do some damage. About 10 perfectly cyliner shaped dings. Does anyone have any ideas to fix it the best (number 1) and, cheapest (number 2). I've heard of dry ice ect. Give me your best ideas pros! One more plus I should mention, only one hit a crease in the metal. I need help from the smartest of you. I did a search to find no one has post this subject on this site about hail damage yet. Best Regards, all. I look for your reply.

You may try Paintless repair. Mine was bad enuff that I had to do the spot puller on my work car and had to repant. I have seen the guys at Pantless get some bad dings out.

TIM

I had amazing results from a Dent Dr. paintless repair shop. One warning is they had to cut some access holes in the door jambs (this was on our regular car, NOT the Camaro!) to reach some of the dings. Make sure you have them give you the full game plan before proceeding. But the results were terrific and the cost was very low - especially compared to a paint job. Sorry to hear of your misfortune. http://www.camaros.net/forum/frown.gif

We have a paintless dent guy on staff at our bodyshop. He does a pretty good job, if you want to keep the cost down give paintless a try.
I wish the storms would have came just alittle south (we could use the work). :O
Austin

Austin, any recomendations around here? Do you do it?

I don't do the paintless myself (I am a full time painter), but we have a paintless guy working at our shop. Our shop is in Rochester so don't know if you would want to drive that far. I can talk to our guy and see if he has any shop recomendations in your area.
Without talking to him, my advise would be to stay away from the "hail gypsies" (or storm chasers). They show up after hail and leave town after they made their money. They might do a ok job, but its nice to know if you have a problem down the road, the business will still be there to assist you.
Austin

Austin, I just talked to the body shop guy that I usually go to. He says he just does collision and helped me because I was a "local" before so he wont do that now because to do it right requires new skins. And this is why. When the hail hits the skin it causes the metal to stretch, and the paint stretches too. Within 2 years you get rust rings. The second best way is to have them repaired then paint. But...you may get a few swirls in your paint reflection from the stretched metal. It was a sad day yesterday when he told me that, you could've heard my heart drop to the floor. If anyone knows any tricks let me know. And if Austin, your a good painter that knows his **** , let me know if you can do my ride. I may have to do it just to sell it later.

Sorry to hear about the damage baby. I've seen those hail storms back east on TV and often wondered if any nice cars were damaged. I guess some are. Have you ever posted a pic of your car? I'm trying to remember if we've seen it? I hope you can get it fixed O.K.

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Steve
67 SS 396,4-sp
67 RS 327,4-sp
72 RS 350/350
69 4X4 suburban 350,4-sp
73 3/4 ton 454/400
Stevo Camaro's Toy (http://www.geocities.com/stevocamaro)
Our Muscle Cars (http://community.webshots.com/user/steve_lynell)

What your body shop said is true in some cases. Thats one of the reasons you want to stick to a paintless shop that is still going to be there after the storms have passed. Most reputable paintless shops will warranty their work. If your car has been painted a couple of times the paint will have a higher risk of cracking, but I've seen some major hail fixed paintless without side effects over two years later.
Most body shops do not like paintless, because they are taking away potential business. I'm not saying thats the case with your guy, but it is generally true. Depending on the amount of damage, replacing the bolt on panels (hood, trunk) is the general standard for repairing hail in a body shop.
Anyway, our paintless guy said the owner of Anderson paint co. (I wrote down his name, but forgot it on my tool box at work) in Bursville has been in the business for 12 years and started in the twin cities area. He is going to get me the # tomorrow and I will pass it along to you as well as his name in case to decide to look into it.
We are also a collision center, but unless its collision season (winter) we don't turn down much work. We did a '57 chev (black) with hail damage last summer. Let me know if I can be of more help.
Austin

Austin, this is music to my ears. Please get the details...don't forget. And if it all works out, I'll take you to Bench Warmer Bobs in Burnsville with some of my savings.

Anderson Dent Co. (952)890-8530
Jerry Anderson is the owner and the one you will want to work on your ride if you go that route.
He is located in Burnsville.
Hope this helps, good luck whichever route you decide to go.

BTW last night we got hail, both my truck and the wifes car got hit (very minor damage). I have full coverage on both cars so, payday for me.

Ok I'll give em a call, w/your ref. Make sure you remind him and get a discount when I go there. Lunch @ Benchwarmer Bobs on me next time your up (If the price doesn't blow me away on the repairs). Thanx. Chris.