theasset13 Posted November 13, 2014 Share Posted November 13, 2014 Hi everyone, Working on my project Mk2 Capri. It has some fairly large dents in the front drivers side guard & drivers door. I'm pretty new to panel beating. My experience is limited to a night school restoration course where I learned how to gas weld, basic file & dolly techniques & use of equipment such as an english wheel. I still feel pretty green about the topic though. I was wondering if someone could offer some advice on hammering out my guard. How it looks: I tried to follow the "Fairmount" method & concentrated on the directly damaged area near the top where it's rusted. So far though when I work on the ridge it seems to be smoothing it out but it's also pushing the ridge away from where I work in a downwards direction, like a wave. I'm concerned that if I carry on like this I will distort the panel & ruin the body line you can see 3/4 up the guard. I am wondering if the dent is too big for a hammer & dolly & if I should use a stud welder/hammer to pull out the dent first before using the hammer & dolly? Studs could be placed like so (red dots): Is this sensible or am I talking out of my rear? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rookie Posted November 13, 2014 Share Posted November 13, 2014 Man, that will be stretched to all buggery, there is nothing you can do that will look half legit at home. Get it as good as you can and take it to a panel shop and use the shrinker. Actually you should take it to a panel beater and ask him what his opinion is, because without seeing it in person we are likely to give you shitty advice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rookie Posted November 13, 2014 Share Posted November 13, 2014 Also make a slap stick. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theasset13 Posted November 13, 2014 Author Share Posted November 13, 2014 Already got my slapper (slap stick!). Thanks though. That guy makes some pretty cool vids. I'm pretty keen to have a go myself at repairing the guard. If it ends up totally wasted I'm not too fussed. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rookie Posted November 13, 2014 Share Posted November 13, 2014 You likely won't get it good without a shrinker. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sr1600 Posted November 13, 2014 Share Posted November 13, 2014 Get your wide coal chisel out or similar blunt wide object Take the guard off, stick it in that swage line from the inside an give it the beat till its straight. Guessung you will end up with a straightish swage and a dent either side that would need shrinking then. Shitty advise really be either better or completely rooted haha 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bronze Posted November 13, 2014 Share Posted November 13, 2014 Where did you do the nightschool course, sounds like it could be ok to make sure you're basics are ok? Yeahnah? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danger Posted November 13, 2014 Share Posted November 13, 2014 I'd take it back to steel first and get in behind it with a portapower with a spreader and get the shape kinda ok before dollying it. Then shrink the shit out of it with gas afterwards. I assume the guard is welded on 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theasset13 Posted November 13, 2014 Author Share Posted November 13, 2014 Yep, all Capri's have welded on guards. Thanks for the advice! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theasset13 Posted November 13, 2014 Author Share Posted November 13, 2014 I'd take it back to steel first and get in behind it with a portapower with a spreader and get the shape kinda ok before dollying it. Then shrink the shit out of it with gas afterwards. I assume the guard is welded on I'm intrigued as to how the spreader will push the dent out? I thought the spreader was like two hands together that spread out? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon Posted November 13, 2014 Share Posted November 13, 2014 I've never tried a dent that big but my first thought was slide hammer? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spencer Posted November 13, 2014 Share Posted November 13, 2014 I have a stud gun that you can weld on studs and pull dents with the slide hammer. Not a fan of drilling holes like some folk do. Then shrink disk action to shrink. Can you get behind there sweet to place a dolly? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rookie Posted November 13, 2014 Share Posted November 13, 2014 Like this. Block it with some wood off the chassis or inner guard and then use it to push the dent out. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
downtrail Posted November 13, 2014 Share Posted November 13, 2014 Real name is fanny spreaders lol 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danger Posted November 13, 2014 Share Posted November 13, 2014 Yeah I do so much panelbeating with 4"x2" blocks of wood. So much more forgiving. I'd put some wood on the inside of that guard above or below the swage line and push out on it. You can bash/pull that thing all you like but you'll struggle to get the top corner and the door shut lines back in line 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theasset13 Posted November 14, 2014 Author Share Posted November 14, 2014 Crappy diagram, but do you mean like this?: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rookie Posted November 14, 2014 Share Posted November 14, 2014 Exactly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theasset13 Posted November 14, 2014 Author Share Posted November 14, 2014 Exactly. Sweet, thanks mate. Looks like fun! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rookie Posted November 14, 2014 Share Posted November 14, 2014 Looks like fun! Haha, not really but god speed anyway. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bling Posted November 14, 2014 Share Posted November 14, 2014 Room for a scissor jack in behind? Could help push it out a bit. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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