I need some tips on what's involved if anyone has done one yet, I still have to paint it so I have a couple of days.

 

I have never done one, but the body manual is available for free to download through tech authority...let me know if you can't find it and I'll see if can get the link.

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Thanks for the info, I'll have a search..

 

I think I can help you out now that I'm on the computer. Try this link...should take you directly to the flip book:

2010-2011 Dodge Ram Truck 2500, 3500 Body Repair Manual PDF

If not, try this one:

2010-2011 Dodge Ram Truck 2500, 3500 Body Repair Manual PDF - Detail Page

and click on the link below the "Body Repair Manual" image.

 

Finally had a few minutes and downloaded it, it's nicer not going in blind, thanks so much.

 

Your welcome. Glad I could help!

What happened to your fender if you don't mind me asking?

How well did it blend in with the door after you painted it, if you were able to get it painted yet?

A couple years a go in San Antonio, TX, I wasn't paying attention while focusing on some guy racing across a mall parking lot to make sure he wasn't going to hit me and and I ended up hitting a concrete light poll base @ about 5mph on the right side...at the cost of trying to make a truck more fuel efficient they used a lot of plastic/carbon material (or whatever it is) to hold everything together from the right headlight to the left and it cracked all the way down. If I remember correctly, it took the body shop about 2 weeks to source that part alone.

Anyhow, I was worried about the body line on the fender getting repaired correctly and I was adamant about them replacing the fender since it was cheaper than the repair (painting was itemized separately). They reassured me that when they are done, no one will be able to tell anything happened...which was exactly the case. They also said that if they replaced the fender, they would have to blend in with the door.

I have zero automotive painting experience, so I don't know how necessary blending is when painting larger areas with the paints available today.

 

Those body repair manuals are a great find, thanks! Too bad that site won't let you download the service manual too .

I had one for my 2003, feel kind of lost with out one.

(sorry for the hijack)

 

The fender is for my son's 2011 truck that hit a deer. I have replaced a number of front fenders over the years as you can buy new primed after market replaceable ones for dirt cheap ($69-$99) then you just have to paint them.

Although way more expensive the new polyester base paints and clear coats are so much easier to use and give a far superior finish than the older paints. I personally only buy white vehicles but my kids are different and I have had no problems matching their colors in the past, this one is silver but I have been too busy to paint it yet, it's on the list for Thursday. I think the hardest part of this particular job is going to be getting the truck into the same shop as the fender at the same time.

I agree and this is the first vehicle I have ever owned without a manual and also feel... in the dark.

 

Ah I see! The Mopar fender was just a little more expensive than that if I remember correctly. One of these days I would like to take a shot a auto painting!

As for the factory service manuals, Chrysler really needs to make them available either by print or like they have done via cd/dvd up until 2009, which replicates Tech Authorities website. There is really no reason to make us pay a ton of money for only temporary access. I hope it bites them in the rear...well maybe it did since I can't access their website now lol. ...oops, never mind, isn't working on Google Chrome, works on IE. But yeah...wish they would.

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I think my son said it was over $300 CD... Auto painting is not as complicated as it seems. One gun can't do everything, I use a pressure pot for completes or where I need to get the gun at an awkward angle or upside down, then I use a selection of 3 HVLP guns, one very small and two the same size. These two are my most used, I keep one for auto paints and one for Tremclad paints. I also have a couple of old style paint guns with the pot on the bottom which I never use anymore. The new style HVLP with a see through paint pot on top are so much better. I'm just waiting for the base to dry before the clear coat.