Thoughts on how to fix a depression in the roof
- Thread starter jcolman
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Obviously some precautions with the headliner is required but I found this the other day.
Just keep in mind that if there is a crease of any sort, the only proper fix will be a new skin. If its just a depression that is oil canning you can pop it out and provide some support from underneath and it should be fine.
I dont advise using filler at all on a roof except for around the edges. The roof skin expands and contracts with temp and eventually the filler will come loose.
I dont advise using filler at all on a roof except for around the edges. The roof skin expands and contracts with temp and eventually the filler will come loose.
harrisonm
Well-Known Member
Newfoundland is not a huge province, so I will ask if you know Fitzee who has the welding/body repair YouTube channel.
Professor Fate
Push the button, Max...
The thing that scares me is the fact that a magnet won't stick to it. Unless there's Bondo an inch thick, it should at least stick a little. Makes me wonder what it was patched with... sheet aluminum and pop rivets?
Gotta get a look at it, even if you just detach one edge of the headliner and shine a flashlight in there to get a glimpse of what's going on- or a borescope through the courtesy light opening, as mentioned.
Gotta get a look at it, even if you just detach one edge of the headliner and shine a flashlight in there to get a glimpse of what's going on- or a borescope through the courtesy light opening, as mentioned.
jcolman
Well-Known Member
Good news! I have an industrial magnet that is much stronger than the cheap one I originally used. There is indeed metal under the depression. I used the stronger magnet to pull up on the indention and popped it out! It's interesting that the original magnet (one of those that you use to hold photos on your refrigerator ) would not pick up on the metal in the depression but would stick to the metal around it. Anyway, I still might have to reinforce the roof if it oilcans again on me.
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As mentioned place plywood under headliner, straighten metal some, slap It full of bondo , and call it Good !!
CHEAP !!
CHEAP !!
jcolman
Well-Known Member
Fortunately I was able to fix it easily. I just needed a stronger magnet! While not 100% perfect, the dent is not really noticable anymore
jcolman
Well-Known Member
I also wanted to add.....thanks to everyone for all the suggestions! This forum is a huge help!! Professor Fate's post got me thinking about magnets. I forgot that I had a couple industrial ones stashed away that I had used for a camera car photo rig years ago.
Professor Fate
Push the button, Max...
I would still be tempted to pull the headliner and see what's going on under there, because this could just keep recurring- and one of these times there could be some more permanent damage.
If the support structure under the roof skin is still intact, and just not close enough to support the roof skin; I would go in there with some spray foam insulation and give it a couple of shots between the framework and the roof skin. Not a solid bead, but intermittent shots here and there. It expands so it will support the skin, but won't apply enough pressure to distort the metal or make it bulge. Just make sure you cover everything in your interior, because that stuff is like Anti-Seize- it gets on everything.
If the support structure under the roof skin is still intact, and just not close enough to support the roof skin; I would go in there with some spray foam insulation and give it a couple of shots between the framework and the roof skin. Not a solid bead, but intermittent shots here and there. It expands so it will support the skin, but won't apply enough pressure to distort the metal or make it bulge. Just make sure you cover everything in your interior, because that stuff is like Anti-Seize- it gets on everything.
Seems the, depression is taken care of. Needs some viagra now.
FWIW, I have a dent in my roof as well and I took it to a paintless dent repair shop. He uses the rods and levers to push out dents. He said he only works on cars 10 years old or less as the metal is too thick to do his work. He said a big hammer and dolly "may" help, but I needed and old fashioned body shop to do the job. I don't have a headliner in right now. Not trying to hijack thread but wanted to clarify that our cars may have metal that it too thick for paintless dent repair.
jcolman
Well-Known Member
If you scroll up a bit, you'll see that I was able to pull the dent out with a strong magnet.
I read the entire thread. I agree that with yours that it could just be popped out. Creased panels like mine cannot be manipulated with the rods and levers of Paintless dent repair. I would love to know what kinds of magnets you have. I will try anything not to replace my roof.
FWIW- Just as an aside to your statement (and others) about creases. When I was the Service Manager at a Harley dealership in NJ we had a young guy who learned the Dentless repair trade while working for Mercedes Benz. Cars coming off ships with dents yada yada. He repaired a few Harley gas tanks with custom paint and he only had access though the fuel fill hole. Slow manipulation of different lengths and shapes of rods and thoughtful correct tapping with his hammer performed miracles that if I hadn't seen it, I wouldn't have believed it.
Hell yeah.
Man that's awesome. I'm glad it ended up bein a lot easier fix.
Super-Cuda
MOPAR .. Move Over, Plymouth Approaching Rapidly!
Absoulety Harrisonm!
Fitzee is very well known in the NFLD Car community. He excels at metalwork and panel shaping and innovative solutions to auto body repairs as you can see on his channel. There is also another here , Bill Norris, who usually works closely with Fitz who is also a metal genius.
That's good news. Hopefully it will continue to maintain it's shape. From what little I know about metal stretching I believe yours is a temporary "fix". Good luck.
jcolman
Well-Known Member
I bought mine about 12 years ago but they are similar to these:
Warning Flag 80-lb. Cup Magnet with Hardware
Super-Cuda
MOPAR .. Move Over, Plymouth Approaching Rapidly!
jcolman
Well-Known Member
Thanks. I was surprised to find that there was some good metal there! But, as mentioned, it might be a temporary fix until I can find out why the metal collapsed in the first place.
I wonder if that center support that the dome light mounts to has been pushed down too? It's worth a look with a borescope like we talked about earlier.
jcolman
Well-Known Member
I'm sure that the shop that will be doing the transmission swap will have one. I'll have them take a look.
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