Need some help on body work for an older truck

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PostPosted: Tue Feb 24, 2015 1:51 pm
I have an offroad rig/daily driver that I am restoring, early 70's so the metal is thicker than todays beer cans :) Anyways, after the body work, I will be shooting the vehicle in a two part epoxy primer, and using a type of bedliner for the paint scheme as it is more durable.

I have a few questions, though before I get to this stage. One of the doors has a sizeable, but not bad, dent in it from the previous owner, not really to deep, just pretty large. What would be the best way to get the dent out as much as possible (puller?), and what is the best filler to use to avoid cracks, etc.? I realize that the less filler the better, but not sure how successful I will be due to the thick door metal. Also, the front fenders (flat part that butts up next to hood) has several dimples in it from the previous owner apparently knelling on it to do engine work. The fenders are welded in, so I can't get them off. Any product or method to get the slight dimples out? Thanks for the help.



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PostPosted: Wed Feb 25, 2015 1:07 pm
Try a toilet plunger or one the little locking suction dent pullers from harbor freight for the bigger dent in the door, might work good enough for rig coated in bedliner, I assume u don't plan on gettin it perfect anyway. If u have access or funds for a stud welder and slide hammer it'll take care of the smaller ones and limit the amount of filler work needed.



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PostPosted: Fri Apr 03, 2015 1:07 pm
Thanks. Its also a daily driver, it will go offroad, but I don't plan on beating the **** out of it...

How thick would you go with a body filler? Just finished spraying the inside dash components, will be shooting the outside soon, after body work...

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PostPosted: Fri Apr 03, 2015 1:25 pm
can you get to the back side of the dents.

like the inside of the fender and the door. you might have to take some of the regulator apart to get to the dent but I would try to hammer them out.
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PostPosted: Fri Apr 03, 2015 2:03 pm
How good will I be able to get the dents out using a slide hammer? or is the hammer and dolley going to be a must? I should be able to get my hand back in the door... thanks.



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PostPosted: Fri Apr 03, 2015 2:51 pm
Hammer and Dolley is best second is using a spot stud welder to weld pins on to use to pull from. with slid hammer or puller.

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I used multiple coats of thinned down filler's, Thinned with Plastik Honey from Evercoat.
The amount of filler while it looks like a lot is actually very thin.
Note drilled holes are from some one elses old slid hammer job from the cars past note how panel started in first picture and last I metal finished panel and smoothed the panel out to its original shape. Metal wants to go back to its original shape you just have to help it.
Dennis B.
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PostPosted: Sat Apr 04, 2015 12:23 pm
On large shallow dents (that don't have severe creasing) a regular soft rubber mallet will work wonders, if you don't go wild with it. Just tap it a few times and it should pop out.
If its a pretty deep dent, you want to work from the outside edges toward the center.
Often, a few knocks from a blunt 2x4 or wood block will move the metal enough. I have large body hammers for this, but generally don't need them.
Sometimes it will work the dent into a kink if you start from the center, so its best to work deep dents from the outside - in.

To finish the dent, you want to work the metal "off dolly". Working the metal in the off dolly approach will move the metal without stretching or thinning it further.
You will want to do some searching on YouTube to find people working large dents with the off-dolly method.

Once its close to finished, then you can work on-dolly or 'metal finish' the dent, depending on how nice you want to make the repair.

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