1967 Dodge Dart GT

[hgufrin]

Hi,

I picked up my first Dart last month. Starting a restore. Can an experienced body man tell me if it is good idea to heat this damaged area with a torch and pull it out with a come-along? Surely, I dont have to replace the entire quarter panel because of this right?

 

[joeboy]

I am no the most experienced, but I have tinkered with some body work would say the heat and stretch method is gonna do just that, stretch... I would be worried about tearing it in that corner, and having difficulty getting a good crisp/clean look where all those angles come together.

Looks from the pic like you might have a rusted quarter down low. If so, depending on the extent, it may be easier to do a quarter than several patches and straightening that corner out...

I have a 67 GT too. What a sweet car... show us some more of it.

JOE

 

[67Dart440GT]

I would get a big slide hammer on that, or a come along, and hold the pressure on it, then hit the high spots with a body hammer to relieve the dent... you don't really need to use heat.

 

[67DartGT340]

You might try the slide hammer as mentioned, but I have to agree with joeboy that the gradual curve of this piece of the corner may be hard to fix with such a sharp edge dent being there now. Good luck keep us posted on the 67.

 

[DesertRat]

I had similar damage on my BC left taillight. I cut our the inner structure with my die grinder so I could get a dolly in behind and directly on the panel. Then I took my slide hammer and pulled it out with no heat as close as I could get it. Then I hammer/dollied it back to within specs, using a replacement taillight for a pattern. After getting it as close as I could, I welded the inner structure back in and welded all the holes closed. After grinding, DA & brushing, just mud it up and rock on! Photos on my build thread. I would not use heat in your situation but that is just me. Good luck!
DR

 

[hgufrin]

Maybe a full quarter replace will happen but given what is said below i will try pulling out without heat..