My fiance decided to go back to school and her dad gave her his old junker (1998 Cadillac Seville) to drive. Someone hit the passenger side rear quarter panel. She doesn't have any money to fix it and I don't want to spend money on a car that could die at any time. And even if it doesn't die, I don't see her driving it for more than a year or two.

But I also don't want her driving around in a car that looks like that.

I fixed the part where there was water intrusion into the trunk using some sheet metal for HVAC duct work, self tapping screws and a lot of sealant. (Gutter seam sealant is what I had in the garage). This is going to be hidden by the bumper cover, so no biggie.

The part that's left is maybe about a 4" x 12" area and has up to two inches of depth I have to fill ... and I'm thinking with Bondo. What do you all think about these options:

1. Screwing in some mesh for support and for something for the Bondo to grab on to, and then slapping in the Bondo. Yes, up to two inches worth (in layers, of course). It doesn't have to be perfect, it just has to look halfway okay and has to last for up to a couple of years.

2. Building up the area with some sheet metal first (screwing it in), screwing in some mesh and then slapping in the Bondo.

I'd rather do number one. I have a feeling it would have more stability because there wouldn't be a hollow area. But then again, what does a guy who wants to use 2" of Bondo know?

Again, it doesn't have to be perfect. Just cheap and enough to get by.

Thoughts?

Well, hey, at least you've got it titled right.... and before anybody says anything yet.....how about a pic. or two? Most of us are already trying to resolve "bondo 2 inches thick" and "has to last a couple of years."

Basically everthing from the bottom of the tail light down will be covered by bumper. What I need to do is fix everything above that line.

I was going to put in an "L" bracket along that line to provide some extra support (and to have something to attach the bumper cover to) and then Bondo like crazy.

I am well aware that this is not the right way to do it! I don't need the right way because this car's next trip will probably be the junkyard once the Northstar V-8 dies. At 228,000 miles, it is long past its sell-by date as it is.













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If you're really worried about cost, what you could do is drill some small holes in the metal and stick an old wire coat hanger through the holes. You can then put vice grips on the hanger and very gently pull the metal back out. Or, you can go to your local parts store and get a cheap screw in dent puller, then Bondo in the holes when you're ​done. Hope this helps!

TomButler wrote:If you're really worried about cost, what you could do is drill some small holes in the metal and stick an old wire coat hanger through the holes. You can then put vice grips on the hanger and very gently pull the metal back out. Or, you can go to your local parts store and get a cheap screw in dent puller, then Bondo in the holes when you're ​done. Hope this helps!

That's why I came here--for ideas. Thanks.

why not just bang it out from the back side in the trunk
Jay D.

Yeah, pull it, bang it, anything to get a shallow enough fill to holdout in a pretty terrible area on the car there.... Everything gets slung up under and over that area. I can't see a 2 inch thick fill hanging in there for very long. Now, 1/4 to 1/2 inch, yeah, that might survive meeting your time frame..... It's still pretty hack but I understand your project.....