Bill Ball

Thanks, Dan. White should be easy to match (see avatar), if needed. The dent is very shallow but 4-5 inches across, pops out easily but partially but won't stay. I'll have fun later trying these techniques.

G Man

Bill. I got ran off the road shortly after I got my 81'. Among the damaged areas I wound up with a football sized dent about one inch deep on my passanger side fender. The paint was damaged so I was not trying to save it. What I did to fix the dent was to remove the plastic liner from under the fender and place a screw type bottle jack under the fender directly under the dent. I supported the underside of the jack with a 2x4 and just extended the jack. The dent started coming up until...pop, it poped back to its original position. I did have to do some hammer and dolly work on mine to get it perfect, as there was a slight crease around the perimeter of the dent area. Don't know if this method will work for you, but might try if all else fails. Good luck.

heinrich

Hell Bill, I don't remember anyone mentioning THAT as a possible solution, but OK .... we trust you ... if you think circumcision will help ....

Bill Ball

I've requested a mohel to assist me.

heinrich

I see Specialists' new site has a mohel number search option.

Bill Ball

I don't know why the dent expert gave up. With only a 3 foot water pipe with a plastic cap on one end, I pushed 90+% of the dent out. There are areas that still pop back and forth and some high spots, but they are small. I don't have clue what I am doing, but this seems like it should be no problem.

The key was to smack my palm against the outer high spot above the dent as I pushed on the dent from behind with the pipe levered againt the tire. The high spot was preventing the dent from popping far enough to maintain the original contour and not pop back in to a more stable dented shape. The metal seems to have reasonable give as well and will hold shape, so I don't want to overdo it.

Sorry, no before pics, but I can assure you I moved a LOT of dent out, and the angle of this shot emphasizes what is left. You can see it is pushed in at the seam with the lower bumper. I will looseen the bolts there and push it out.

I may start a side business with my water pipe.

Bill Ball

More progress. It has popped out as far as it will and is stable. The rest is careful massaging. Enough for today.

Robert_H

Bill,

That looks great! You outta make copies of that pipe and sell them. Maybe the DP guy just lost his nerve at really going at the dent and was afraid that he would wreck the paint.

Rob

Bill Ball

Rob:

I wasn't even close to hurting the paint. and I did not exert all that much force. The key was reducing the high spot at the same time.

But per your request, I now have the Home Depot Dent Pro Tool for sale.



Sort of durable high gloss black paint over a 3/4 inch high tensile strength pipe designed for easy leverage and with the easy to see bright orange pusher cap threaded on one end - won't fall off in the middle of that big push! Conveniently threaded on the other end to accept easy-grip pusher handle (available separately). Look for it on eBay soon! Only $5.95 plus $30 flat rate shipping (ground). Overnight shipping available for only another $60. Don't let that dent sit there staring at you for another day. Save $100s over professional dent wizards who will say it can't be done! Allow 2 days after order for me to get to Home Depot and assemble your new Home Depot Dent Pro Tool. Carefully wrapped and shipped in USPS express mail boxes pilfered from the local post office and turned inside out so no one except you will know!

Mark87AT

nice work Bill!! I'll take one of those Home Depot dent tools, priority overnight and do have them in Venetian Blue to match my shark? The black is nice but esthetically I think having the bar be the same color will be soothing to sensibilities of the car during such a tramatic process!!
Mark
PS no dents here, thought I would get one just in case!