The Fender Bender Files!!
The Assesment
Even before I bought the car I was aware there was a fairly substantial dent in the rear offside quarter
I had been told when the previous owner bought it from the original farmer owner the farmer had removed it from its resting place with a fork lift
Looking at this first photo that seems plausable.
But either I was told porkies or there was a previous Fender Bender before the car was even lifted?
Because near the Door/B Piller the extent of the dent doesnt look like fork lifting damage?
Though I could be wrong?
As you can see the trim doesnt sit right with the rear quarter trim being lower than that of the door trim.......
I plan on removing this trim at a later date and replacing it with just trim that goes around the side markers like the one below
My car is actually a base model which would of just had basic trim around the markers and these are upgraded trim.
The upgrade was done a the factory as it was a dealer demo when new so probably for upselling purposes?
But either way some are dented,some pitted and its hard and expensive to get a decent set these days
They are also a rust trap so going with the base look would be a cleaner look and easier to do in the long run.
For the purpose of getting everything to line up the trims are staying until the dent has been sorted as I can use them to line it all up
Once they line up the dent is strait in theory
Anyway back to the dent itself!
It looks like it was worse and was roughly beaten out?
I didnt realise until the last few days there was Bondo in there!
Its now started to Crack
Again the trims aid as a guide to where the metalwork should be.
And Luckily I have decent access to the rear of the dents
Question is where do I go from here?
If you look at the photo showing the inside access hole there appears to be some sort of sound deadening in there I thing I may have to remove first?
I have wondered if it needs heat when its beaten out or just do it cold ? that crease looks quite sharp I am worried that might open up and split apart from that everthing else is doable I think?
Near to that crease there is a air flow vent in the B panel if you unscrew that you can get closer to the rear of the Dent/Crease
Plan is once its dry weather to powersand that rear quarter to bare metal to see how bad it is and remove the filler.
I think the dry climate its come from the filler will be dent related rather than rot though its starting to surface rust as the filler cracks..........
Once its bare metal I believe in learning by having a go and have been looking at some old decent used panel beating tools on fleabay rather than new cheap chinese shite.
Would be grateful for advice..............
Do you think this is something I can get better with only need for a thin skim of filler or do I need a bodyshop?
I did think the crease near the door may need a stud welding and pulling but to buy a machine will probably cost as much as a body shop doing it?
Anyway thoughts guys and girls all advice on this dent will be gratefully received