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2003 Prius Body Work

Discussion in 'Generation 1 Prius Discussion' started by KitsuneVoss, Nov 29, 2023.

  1. Josey

    Josey Active Member

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    LOL - yes, looks like the scrap yard just cut it off. Unfortunately it's not jogging my memory in any specific way... But if you get the driver's side in the air, pull that wheel and well cover, you should be able to have better access and view. I think the front plastic pin is just an alignment device, and then the cut bit is just a small 10mm bolt that attaches to the fender and comes out from the bottom.

    On your crushed fender, that connection point is circled in the pic. (Ok, well it won't post in or upload). Look at the new fender and you should see it.
     
    #21 Josey, Dec 21, 2023
    Last edited: Dec 21, 2023
  2. ronlewis

    ronlewis Active Member

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    Sorry for the delay. Been on the road picking up Prii #9.

    I just replaced fenders and bumpers last week. The bumper part that's broken off in that pic is the stud that goes through the "bumper side retainer" in the pic I've linked. A nut goes on it from inside the wheel well that pulls the bumper up tight against the fender. It passes through that part of the apron in your pic that's bent. That's point where the fender, bumper cover and apron meet. It's the only bolt/nut that's hard to get to on the bumper cover. Small hands help a lot, but I can do it with my big mitts. Just peel back the wheel well liner, and reach far inside to the tip of the fender. Helps to leave the other bumper/fender bolts out so the bumper can pull back too. I have a long attachment on a deep 10mm socket and a swivel ratchet that lets me get to it.

    https://ibb.co/gWpvczg
     
  3. KitsuneVoss

    KitsuneVoss Member

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    Not getting any pictures with the link
     
  4. ronlewis

    ronlewis Active Member

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  5. KitsuneVoss

    KitsuneVoss Member

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    Trying to keep people up to speed. I was able to get to the drive side bolt under the headlight by removing the drivers side wheel, peeling the while well guard way back, and finding it by feel. Original bumper cover is removed.

    Ordered a set of LED bulbs from Amazon which I am scheduled to get tomorrow. Figure wait until they are received and the panel and bumper are painted before trying to put it back together.
     
    Josey and ronlewis like this.
  6. KitsuneVoss

    KitsuneVoss Member

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    Replacement parts are painted although not perfect. Did not expect it because first time doing it. May later sand the hood more and redo the front of the hood. With some painters tape, should be able to keep from spraying elsewhere. Polished the headlights because they were really cloudy. Look really nice at the moment. Bent the bent part back mostly to shape by hand. Figure use the new fender to guide it properly into place.

    Hope tomorrow to begin reassembling everything. Need to go to Walmart first thing in the morning for a pair of 7440 amber bulbs. Autozone / O'Reilly's want $25 for LED versions and can get the standards for $7 at Walmart. Have a couple of extra 194 Bubs already although Walmart might have cheap LED versions.

    Planning to install the air intake resonator assembly first, followed by the fender, lights, bumper cover, and finally wheel well guard and engine front guard which I removed one side.. Suppose to rain Tuesday so would be nice to get it done Monday before I have to go to work.
     
  7. ronlewis

    ronlewis Active Member

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    From my experience, there are two levels of headlight restoration. If they've only yellowed, if there aren't tiny cracks or abrasions that penetrate the surface to delete its smooth surface, some of the inexpensive/free solutions work OK. The better solutions use sandpaper to remove the surface area past the corrosion and then re-surface it with new gloss coat. I have some with residue on the inside - not much to do for that that I know of.

    Now that you've swapped in a fender and bumper, you should see how it can be done without actually removing the wheel well liner by just squeezing your hand past it. But, not hard to remove it and does allow you to better see everything. For the entire job, whichever part you're working on, it's just that one nut holding the bumper to the fender that's hard. The rest just comes apart and goes together.

    Good luck! You're now officially a DIY Toyota Tech.
     
    #27 ronlewis, Dec 24, 2023
    Last edited: Dec 24, 2023
  8. Trombone

    Trombone Member

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    What Ron said re: headlight lens. I’ve used toothpaste on a wet sock with lots of elbow grease, and that has made a big improvement.
     
  9. KitsuneVoss

    KitsuneVoss Member

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    Well, I am all done. Drove it for a few miles to make sure nothing falls off but seems okay.

    [​IMG]
     
  10. ronlewis

    ronlewis Active Member

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    did you rattlecan the bumper and fender? Seem to match up well, which is odd since the entire car's paint looks a bit faded, like almost all these 20-year old cars do. I've rattlecanned this color before on one of my car's bumpers but never got the smooth glossy finish like the factory paint. Six months later, it was coming off/fading worse.

    Just rattlecanned my silver car's bumpers last week. You can tell the color is right, but just not faded like the rest of the car.
     
  11. KitsuneVoss

    KitsuneVoss Member

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    I likely could have used a few more cans. Used three and one can of clear coat. The color does look a little different than the "original" but not bad. I also did spray the front of the hood to cover over the worst of the peeling. I may redo the hood again a little later as well. Probably spent 450 in parts and paint so a little tired of spending money. The payout went towards a 2007 Prius.
     
    ronlewis likes this.
  12. Trombone

    Trombone Member

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    That looks just great! Congratulations on a job well done!
     
  13. Josey

    Josey Active Member

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    I second that! Congrats!
     
  14. KitsuneVoss

    KitsuneVoss Member

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    I appreciate the words of support.