Dent from concrete square colum. How Do I fix it and where do I start?

[trucku]

Hi I have had this dent for over a year now.
I backed up into a square concrete column very slowly as I was trying to turn out of spot. Its still there simply because I have no idea where to start and how to fix it. I can't afford to get it fixed, so I must go the way of self repair.

My thought on it was going to be to try to push/hammer it out from inside. I think I can get to it if i remove the small glove box on the left side or cargo area. I don't have any dent pullers or have access to one. I can buy things I need and keep them as a good investment as long as its not too expensive.

Any help would be appreciated.
i read the 101 repair and will the procedure be similar on such a big dent? Is there any way to "pop" it back out or do I have to bring it out as I work it a section at a time?

I plan to do a writeup with pictures.

Thanks
Vishant

 

[schmidlkofer]

ouch. for something that large i woul have called the insurance company.

 

[trucku]

Did not want any issues with insurance going up after repairs.

 

[RubySlow]

A dent puller will help something like this .....

some bondo more bondo and patients, im sure someone could colormatch the paint pretty well

 

[trucku]

I hope one of the dent gurus give me some words of wisdom.


So I cannot address this from inside the truck? I am not looking forward to drill holes in the truck

 

[Blee1099]

Send a PM to Monmix, I'm sure he could help you with some tips if you want to tackle this yourself.

 

[trucku]

ok thanks will do.

 

[aldive]

If you want it to look good, leave the fix to a pro.

Good luck ....

 

[Blee1099]

Just from what I've been told by Monmix, that thing will definately involve some work. You'll probably need a set of body hammers & dollies, some quality body filler, sand paper, paint, etc.

To be perfectly honest I would consult a professional shop especially since its gonna need to be painted anyways.

 

[trucku]

If you want it to look good, leave the fix to a pro.

Good luck ....

You can send the money via PayPal...


My skills are not laking, just need direction and guidance.

If I had the cash then it would be a no brainer....lol

 

[trucku]

Just from what I've been told by Monmix, that thing will definately involve some work. You'll probably need a set of body hammers & dollies, some quality body filler, sand paper, paint, etc.

To be perfectly honest I would consult a professional shop especially since its gonna need to be painted anyways.

yes I saw a set of hammers and dollies. That will be a good investment. Ok first thing on my list to buy.

I am gonna have to take this on myself. I don't have the money to pay for the fixing. The painting I will look for a someone to do it.

 

[trucku]

You can drill some small holes and use a screw and a 2 x 4 and crowbar to slowly pull it out, make holes in precision spots, then grind it make sure it is even and then fill it in with some bondo. Then sna dbondo to nice finish, then primer it, then find some paint close to yours or matches it and spray it on, blend it in with some nice wax.

P.S

If ypu can get it from behond fender, then tap it out with hammer, small taps of course in precise spots.

I use to drill holes in back but not all the way through body and the take a small pucnh to tap it out, then i would fill in holes afterwards with silicone.

Thanks for the tips.
I think from behind the panel is feasible.

 

[MONMIX]

okay those drill and pull dent pullers make life a huge mess.
For starters there is no reason to drill a hole in those pannels. Besides once the holes are drilled you need to fill them back in and body filler is not a worth wile option for filling holes.

That said the repair to that dent would actually be simular to my write up. There is a fair amount of metal stretch so odds are slim you will get the metal just right. Hammer and dolly sill be the best plan of attack if you attempt to do it your self. To that I will add it is not a difficult dent but it is a huge one. I give it a 5.7 on the difficult scale. I cant really tell if it goes into that body line or not. If it does then you have a 7.3 difficult rating.

If there is no damage at or below that body line, protect it with duct tape. Keep your scratches and espicially your mud (body filler ) out of the body line.

You will meed to remove the tail light and the bumpr cover to do an adaquate and safe repair. I have not touched a lot of third gen's I am not sure what kind of acess there is behind the trim pannel but if you could remove it than I would do so.

Keep me in the loop.

 

[trucku]

The body line has a hint of the end of that bend. Its barely noticeable.
Ok I will go out and buy a hammer and dolly set. I wasn't looking forward to drilling holes, so thats good news to me.

I will see if removing the inside panel reveals much of the dent.

Thanks very much for your advice.

I will keep you posted.

 

[trucku]

I do feel like most of it can be pushed out from the way the truck approached the column.

Yes I don't mind using body filler, but not the whole dent like some places would do. There are quite a few funky repair shops around my way. I can see them putting 5lbs of filler in there and when winter comes it falls off in one chunk...lol

I will definitely attempt to push it out then use the hammer and dollies to flatten and shrink where needed.

I will make a photo project of it, so if I do things wrong it can be noted for others when they try.

 

[MONMIX]

well there is no way to fix it with out filling the whole dent.

You will have mud from about an inch below the glass, to the tail light to the body line. If it remains about 1/8 of an inch or less and you use a quality filler such as Evercoat, you will not have any problems. The key is getting a good grind into the metal and keeping things clean.

 

[tipdrill]

dont use bondo

 

[trucku]

well there is no way to fix it with out filling the whole dent.

You will have mud from about an inch below the glass, to the tail light to the body line. If it remains about 1/8 of an inch or less and you use a quality filler such as Evercoat, you will not have any problems. The key is getting a good grind into the metal and keeping things clean.

Oh when I was talking about the dent I meant that some places around here would not push it out, just fill the whole damn thing...

Ok I see . I will be coating that far past the actual dent...ok
Yes I plan to get all the paint off the filler area,
but what do I use to clean all that paint off? Sandpaper, Or do I need a paint remover wheel?

 

[MONMIX]

I use a 36 grit grinding disc.

 

[trucku]

ok ,

Thanks