Can this be repaired or should it be replaced?

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PostPosted: Wed Sep 07, 2016 9:34 pm
I am wondering can this dent be popped out with heat, then some sanding and flexible filler? I know the headlight/bracket is tweaked and will need to be replaced. I'll know more after I remove the bumper cover. As for my experience, I have done some front end rebuilds like radiator support replacements and some simple bodywork and paint previously. Thanks
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PostPosted: Wed Sep 07, 2016 9:45 pm
Yep, heat and pop first.... then determine what's needed. May not need much at all from what I am seeing. If you can try to get it out in the hot sun for awhile before you do it. It can really help. If you are using a heat gun just don't fry your paint with it. Even a hair dryer set on high would probably bring that one out....
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PostPosted: Wed Sep 07, 2016 10:08 pm
DarrelK wrote:Yep, heat and pop first.... then determine what's needed. May not need much at all from what I am seeing. If you can try to get it out in the hot sun for awhile before you do it. It can really help. If you are using a heat gun just don't fry your paint with it. Even a hair dryer set on high would probably bring that one out....


Thanks for taking a look, any recommendations on flexible plastic filler?

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PostPosted: Thu Sep 08, 2016 6:26 am
USC makes their Pro-Flex which used to be called Thin Ice. Stuff is incredibly flexible and is much easier to shape than a lot of other flexy fillers. You can find it everywhere on the net and all of my local paint jobbers carry it.
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PostPosted: Thu Sep 08, 2016 5:30 pm
Any idea on the temperature setting I should use on the heatgun??

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PostPosted: Thu Sep 08, 2016 10:22 pm
Not sure how yours is set up. On mine I have only a high/low switch. I usually go on high but back out a foot or so and keep it moving pretty good. You just want to get enough heat to make it more pliable. Honestly, I've even popped ones like yours in the hot sun without even using a gun.
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PostPosted: Fri Sep 09, 2016 12:11 am
Thanks, I'll give it a try and post some progress pics.



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PostPosted: Fri Sep 09, 2016 6:22 pm
Funny you say that about the sun :). I left it out in the sun and it popped majority of it out by it self. I didn't touch anything.
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PostPosted: Sun Sep 11, 2016 4:20 pm
Yeah, that's really strange isn't it? I had just picked up a rental car at our airport one time and hit the local McDonalds before we got out of town. I'm backing up and don't see the Prius behind me, he's backing up and doesn't see me.... boom, we hit the corner of each others bumpers. He gets out and says, "Oh crap, I just rented this.... and I said "me too." Both our cars were black/dark and had been sitting there for 20 minutes or so. I told him I had some background in autobody, would he let me take a stab at massaging both cars out right there... he said sure.... Both were hot to touch so I started pushing and his popped right out and so did mine... both looked fine.... plastics are some strange stuff....
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