[jpk]

I got two estimates and saw allstate yesterday, have a final
estimate scheduled today. One place wants to cut in most
of a new front clip. This will involve lots of disassembly, including
engine and interior removal. All fiberglass seams will be worked
on from both bottom and top, and any areas where the frame
to body bonds occur will be rebonded. The frame will be
measured on a laser device, although this persons opinion
after a visual is also that there is no apparent frame damage.
The estimate includes subcontracts for engine removal/replacement,
and full alignment afterwards. This comes in at about
$20K, and 3-4 months, with all the fiberglass work being done by
the person who gave the estimate. The reason this person
gave for replacement over repair was that, given all the stress
cracks, it was less work to replace the clip. He said it could
be repaired, but a significant amount of original glass would
be ground away when dealing with the stress cracks.

The second person insisted that it could be repaired, and that
was less work than replacement. He said all areas of stress
cracks would be taken down to the base of the cracks and
new fabric would be laid. All work would be done from the
outside, with no disassembly. This was a pretty large shop,
and had lots of techs running around. Although the appraiser
had done fiberglass work before, he would not be actually
working on the car. They did have a lot of corvettes in the
shop. He will fax me an estimate today, but his guess was
that it "could get up to $10K", and take 1-2 months.

When I went to allstate, the guy looked at it, said he didn't
even know what he was looking at, and just simply copied
the first estimate as his own. Done deal.

My big issue now is whether to go the repair route or the
replacement route. Which will give me the higher quality
result? Is all of the disassembly involved in the replacement
a good thing or a bad thing? Am I better off with mostly
original glass with the repair, or could other potential issues
go undiscovered since there is no disassembly?

I would value all opinions. I will be posting these questions
in a coulple of other forums as well, and would like to decide
on a course of action by the weekend. I'm hoping to get
Craig to look at it after breakfast on saturday and get his
opinion.

thanks,

joe kennedy