Ok, I am stripping the paint off the car along with all the bondo. I have the tools to do the body work correctly. The small dents I will use my stud gun to weld on and pull the dents out. There is one dent in the back where there was at least an inch thick of bondo to fill a whole type dent. Here are a few pictures of the dent.

Next

My question is this, should I try to pull this dent out and fix it? Or seeing the picture below, would you just replace the panel?

Go get a cheap-o hammer and dolly set and hammer it out. It ain't that bad.

Well, I'd hammer it out and see how close you can get it. If that comes out fine...and you only need alittle filler then you are good to go. If it comes out looking like crap...then weld in the new one. So, doesn't hurt to try to hammer it out!

Hammer that dent out. You'll spend more time smoothing out your cut lines after you weld than just working that dent out

I would use a hammer with a crosspeen like in the picture...not the big one, the little one. Back up the outside of the dent with a flat dolly, hit from inside. Take your time...lots of medium blows are better than a few hard ones. you could use the claw end of a carpenters hammer...might have to blunt the tips a bit first.

John www.ghiaspecialties.com

QUOTE (jim912928 @ Mar 9 2005, 01:06 PM)

Well, I'd hammer it out and see how close you can get it.  If that comes out fine...and you only need alittle filler then you are good to go.  If it comes out looking  like crap...then weld in the new one.  So, doesn't hurt to try to hammer it out!

Sounds like a very reasonable direction.

Lisa

Don't Do



Save the panel for your next project.

Well first off, there wont be another project, second off the pictures dont really show you all that is damaged. The entire first picture is a dent or ripple. That whole area is mashed and dented. The original repair, was drilled holes and pulled and filled. I seriously think it would be easier to just cut and patch the new panel in. I can hammer and dolly for a week on this and never get it straight. Maybe I am just impatient. I want it done now. I will try and see how it comes out, but if it doesnt go the way I want, I am taking the body saw to it and just putting the new one on.

heat beat and repeat.......

if you patch/section in a new piece.... let me know how it goes....

QUOTE

skline Posted on Mar 9 2005, 02:23 PM -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Well first off, there wont be another project, second off the pictures dont really show you all that is damaged. The entire first picture is a dent or ripple. That whole area is mashed and dented. The original repair, was drilled holes and pulled and filled. I seriously think it would be easier to just cut and patch the new panel in. I can hammer and dolly for a week on this and never get it straight. Maybe I am just impatient. I want it done now. I will try and see how it comes out, but if it doesnt go the way I want, I am taking the body saw to it and just putting the new one on.

No more projects?

Nope, no more after these are done. This one is really burning me out. My back is aching from stripping paint and now it will be even worse from the hammer and dolly. I am getting to old for this. Maybe I am just out of shape? I am reminded why people pay so much to have this done. It is a lot like work. John, that is one big ass hammer you got there. Is that for really stubborn dents? Maybe I should just flare this car. Hmmm.

Duct Tape Velcro and Super glue.

You can cut out the damaged area like I was telling you last night by doing the Cut and Peel, then weld the Butt joint.

flare it to fit 225's!

you got me thinkin there partner.....

Scott I'll be here till about 5:00 if you still need the metal

I got some company right now, I will call you here shortly.

I have seen the old salts do this trick--heat it to cherry red, then throw a sopping wet towel on it, the metal has a memory to it and will want to return to normal--

I saw this done on a 56 buick with a caved in roof--it took about 4 times and it returned virtually to original...

But I don't have that kinda experience under my belt.

That will work on occasion, but you should never heat sheet metal to red hot unless you are welding or want to shrink and work harden the area. You can, and should shrink using far less heat (blue at the most) only quench when the metal is not red or you will make the metal more dificult to work.

John www.ghiaspecialties.com

The only real problem area for that repair is the fender lip itself, but you should be able to get it to where only a skim layer of bondo is required. You'll need to make some special tooling to support the lip while hammering though.

With most of the other comments. Save that panel for a tub that REEAALY needs it. And in the end, it would be a LOT more work anyway. You oughta be able to get that dent and lip close enough for a driveway paint job.