Well I went a little nuts.

My transmission pan is cracked, and I need to get my mufflers welded now.

That's all easy, cost of $50 maybe.

BUT.. There is a nice dent in my passenger side wheel well now, it's roughly the size of a football? I've needed to get the bondo all fixed up on that side anyway, anyone know of a good body person in the East Coast? Close to Rhode Island if possible and a rough estimate of the price?

 

Steve -

Before you go the bondo route, do a couple of Internet searches for places that can "push out" dents. They generally don't do "football" sized ones, but doesn't cost anything to ask. Not sure how it works with older sheet metal either - but worth a shot. Heck, depending on how much free time you have, might be worth it to "learn a new skill" - no, I'm not kidding

Dude, be careful out there.

Archer

 

Wasn't talking about having it Bondo-ed, there is already bondo that I want to be taken out and have sheet metal welded in and patched. Pushing it out might not do much, any chance I can just cut out the dent, and as you say "Learn a new skill" and patch it with sheet metal if I can form the metal to the shape of the one cut out?

 

Steve -

Generally taking body work advice from me isn't a great idea ... but I think you should be able to rivet or weld a piece of sheet metal in and then bondo over it.

Hopefully guys who know more about this stuff than I do will chime in.

Archer

 

Fender of 1/4?

Fender... just replace it

 

Rear passenger fender, can't really replace that, there are no replacement parts for it.

 

I have been doing body work for a reasonably long time and here is what I would reccomend...

First, If you have access to the panel either from the trunk of the inside of the car, push as much of the dent out as you can. Then, go pick up a simple hammer and dolly set. With the dolly in one hand and on the outside of the car, use the hammer in the other hand and begin to slowly work the smaller dents and ripples. This can be tough in the middle of larger panels, might take a bit of gymnastics.

Once you have the dent about as smooth as you can get it, remove all the paint from the area with a DA, use a good primer and prime the panel, then use a thin, very thin skim coat of bondo to smooth out the final imperfections. Start sanding with 200 grit and work your way up to wet 600-800. Prime again, sand again with 800 grit, then paint.

Jake

 

Thanks, if I can find my camera I'll show you how bad it is, I won't be able to get at it from inside the wheel well, it looks to be right where the passenger seat in the back is

 

http://www.dentwizard.com/

They travel all over southern NH and most of Mass. They do a pretty good job too from what I have seen at the dealerships.