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How to fix the rear valence panel without cutting it off? Body men?

Started by Lord Warlock, December 04, 2006, 09:18:05 PM

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Lord Warlock

Yes, its me again...hope you aren't getting sick of all the questions.  I'll be taking some pics in a few minutes and adding them in a subsequent post, but I'm already here on the site and figure I should go ahead and post the question. 

My rear valence has a dent in it, not a big dent but it just happens to be in a place that involves a curve, the dented section is causing the left lower part of the panel to not sit flush with the corner piece.  The car isn't titled, nor insured, and therefore cannot be taken to a body shop at the current time.  I also don't want to have to cut welds on the rear part of the car just to remove the panel.  If this was a bolt on panel, I would replace the panel, but since it is a welded on panel there has to be a different solution.  I don't have a problem buying tools to do the job though.  I've seen a few of the kits that weld on a piece of wire and you use a slide hammer to pull the dent out, then you cut off the wire and rework the surface.  The main goal would be to remove the dent in the curve itself, then figure out how to align the lower panel as well.  I suppose the lower panel could be welded together to hold it in place, but that would involve buying a welder or bribing someone with one to come over and play for an afternoon (a viable option) (I haven't touched a welding machine in 26 years-used on on some pipe welding on oil rigs in the 80s)

I'll get the pictures up so you can see what the issue is and make suggestions.  If i could, and had a shop i trusted within 20 miles I'd probably take it in, I much prefer keeping the body 100% stock though.  Cutting up the car just gives me shivers. 
69 RT/SE Y3 cream yellow w/tan vinyl top and black r/t stripe. non matching 440/375, 3:23, Column shift auto w/buddy seat, tan interior, am/fm w/fr to back fade, Now wears 17" magnum 500 rims and Nitto tires. Fresh repaint, new interior, new wheels and tires.

Lord Warlock

69 RT/SE Y3 cream yellow w/tan vinyl top and black r/t stripe. non matching 440/375, 3:23, Column shift auto w/buddy seat, tan interior, am/fm w/fr to back fade, Now wears 17" magnum 500 rims and Nitto tires. Fresh repaint, new interior, new wheels and tires.

Silver R/T

http://www.cardomain.com/id/mitmaks

1968 silver/black/red striped R/T
My Charger is hybrid, it runs on gas and on tears of ricers
2001 Ram 2500 CTD
1993 Mazda MX-3 GS SE
1995 Ford Cobra SVT#2722

Lord Warlock

I've been wanting one of the stud guns for a few years now.  It would give me an excuse to get one.  I hate to remove a whole panel just for something so small, but I also don't want to repaint the car until this gets fixed either, because it would drive me nuts otherwise.  The entire rest of the valence is in good shape still, if there was more problems with it i'd probably want to replace it. 
69 RT/SE Y3 cream yellow w/tan vinyl top and black r/t stripe. non matching 440/375, 3:23, Column shift auto w/buddy seat, tan interior, am/fm w/fr to back fade, Now wears 17" magnum 500 rims and Nitto tires. Fresh repaint, new interior, new wheels and tires.

Drop Top

I agree a stud gun would make it an easy fix. Start from the lower outside of the dent and work your way into the heavy part of the dent. Once you get to the area of the bend (heavy area). You may have to add a little bit of heat from a small torch. In some cases I dont use the slide hammer at all. Because its to easy to make the metal come up too high. Then you have a hump to deal with. I use a set of locking pliers on the stud and a small piece of angle iron that lays over the dent. Lock onto the stud and useing the angle iron to lay the handle of the pliers on the pry up. This works well when useing heat from a small torch also.

Lord Warlock

If there was rust showing anywhere on the back panel, or around any opening in the valence I'd agree with you.  But as far as I can tell, there is no rust behind the rear valence, there may be some minor surface scale on the inside of the panel that can't be seen.  I've looked from inside the trunk and under the car, and can't find any rust there.  The car has been sitting inside a garage or a quality tent/tarp type structure since i stopped driving it in 82.  I'm sure there is quite a bit of dirt/sand behind the panel though.  I'll get around to a thorough cleaning under there eventually, and most likely when i start working the panel itself.  I still have to order the stud gun kit.  I've been holding off to do xmas shopping for the kids...my own desires can wait till later, the charger just got a permanent garage to sit in this year, figure that is enough for now. 

Lord Warlock
69 RT/SE Y3 cream yellow w/tan vinyl top and black r/t stripe. non matching 440/375, 3:23, Column shift auto w/buddy seat, tan interior, am/fm w/fr to back fade, Now wears 17" magnum 500 rims and Nitto tires. Fresh repaint, new interior, new wheels and tires.