Re: Body Damage

["T.R.E. Jr." <T_R_E_Jr@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

---OK, I can understand your not wanting to use a slide hammer, they are 
fine for dents where the metal has not been creased. Dent pullers are what 
is needed here. Think of it this way, there are two parts to a dent, there 
is the part that is dented, and there is the part where the other metal has 
moved to.

---This is what you do. Pick up a set of good grade "pull rod" dent pullers 
with T-handles. Here is a pic to give you an idea of what they look like, so 
you can get the idea of how they work, as I explain how to pull the dent 
http://www.tptools.com/eccStoreFront/tip/product_images/medium/GR-21182.jpg 
. Find the weakest point of the dent (the part that acts most like the 
pop-up safety seal [clicker] from a bottle top) and follow it until it feels 
stronger. Drill a 1/8" hole, just big enough for both pullers to be 
inserted, insert the tips of the dent pullers, turn the pointed ends away 
from each other and place both T-handles in one hand. While pulling firmly 
on the dent, have someone tap the point of the dent on the side that is 
sticking out, using a hammer and a flat piece of 2x4 or 4x4... maybe even 
the inside of the tailgate from what I can see. This is what you do to 
prevent stretching the metal and making the dent worse than it is. The metal 
will want to go back to its natural stamped form... unless you stretch the 
metal in the crease that is present (or seems to be from my view) in the 
center, below the upper seam.

---They also make the suction cups for pulling dents like Ryan suggested, a 
single cup with a handle that you stick over the dented area 
http://www.mytoolstore.com/woods/special.html , 
http://www.topoftheline.com/noname35.html 
http://images.auctionworks.com/hi/55/54519/suction_dent_puller.jpg (found 
here http://www.bidoutlet.net/cgi-bin/auct/item.pl?item=32230 )or 
http://www.topoftheline.com/thansuccup.html . If you choose one of these, 
then than you won't have to drill holes. You'll still need someone to hammer 
the protruding portion of the dent (hammer and 2x4 or 4x4) while you pull.

---A lot of tools for auto body repair can be found here 
http://www.tptools.com/prod_list_display.asp?dept_id=L2~171&dept_name_p=Auto+Body+Repair

---Thank you,
-T.R.E.Jr.
-`73 Scout II (StoneThrower)
-`51 Farmall H (Heinz)
-`49 IH fridge (presently unnamed and in need of a compressor)
-`49 Plymouth Special Deluxe 4-door Sedan (Papapalooza)


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Laura Freeman" <freeman_73scout@domain.elided>
To: <ihc-digest@domain.elided>
Sent: Wednesday, July 30, 2003 6:35 PM
Subject: Body Damage


> Digesters-
>
> I noticed several months ago a large dent in the tailgate of my "trailer
> queen." It appears as though it had been done with a rubber mallot as no
> paint was left behind by whatever vehicle had run into it in the parking
> lot; the paint on the area has only recently started to crack. The dent is
> for the most part concentrated, only affecting the small panel adjacent to
> my driver side rear light, and a slightly bowed out portion of the 
> adjacent
> panel towards the center of the tailgate.
>
> I am worried that I will have to replace the entire "otherwise perfect"
> tailgate, and am not looking forward to color matching 7 coats of Corvette
> yellow... Besides slide hammer... What method/s do you think would work
> best?
>
> You can see pictures of the damage on my web page:
> http://www-scf.usc.edu/~lfreeman
>
> Thanks!
> Laura Freeman
> '73 Scout II
> Sonora Desert Scouts
>
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