1990 Topaz, replacing the Header Panel

back in November of 2005, I got in a car accident that ended up breaking the right side of my header panel and now, for me to keep the passenger side blinker in, I have to duct tape it in and I can't replace the broken headlight casing with a new headlight.

When I took the car to a bodyshop and explained the only thing I wanted done was to replace the old header panel with the new one I have, I basically got told they didn't want to take the time to do and jacked the price way up there so I could walk away. He wanted like 500 to just replace the panel, even if I managed to take the old off, so that was BS.

I have a friend whose a mechanic (sp?) and he's offered to help but i'm worreid if I take the broken header panel off and realize that we can't put the new one back on then realize we can't put the old one back on, well I won't be able to do any night driving for a little while.

It looks like myself and him still might do it but I was wondering if anyone has already replaced the panel and could tell me or send me to a website that explains how to do it.

Thank you for any help or advice.

I have never done one but i would try to brace the front end so it doesnt flex and the new should just go right in.