Big Dent removal Question

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Hyper_pak

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I have a pretty good dent in my Dart Sport.
Right behind the passenger side door jam.
Looking for some good ideas on how to get it pushed close to correct.
I saw a video where they put like a basket ball in a truck quarter and inflated it.
I only have a small scissor jack, for some reason "porta-power" is stuck in the idea bank.
I think the door jam is fine, door gap looks close.
Here is a picture.
Underside (12) Dent.JPG
 
I have a pretty good dent in my Dart Sport.
Right behind the passenger side door jam.
Looking for some good ideas on how to get it pushed close to correct.
I saw a video where they put like a basket ball in a truck quarter and inflated it.
I only have a small scissor jack, for some reason "porta-power" is stuck in the idea bank.
I think the door jam is fine, door gap looks close.
Here is a picture.View attachment 1716358117

Can be fixed.

The biggest thing to account for is the fact that the metal stretched out of shape when it was pushed in.

Any repair has to take that into account and to fix the panel properly, you have to effectively reverse what happened when the panel was damaged.

Just pushing it back out will not fix your problem.

A proficient bodyman will use a hammer and dolly to restore the shape and then, use a heat shrink process to eliminate the stretch in the panel to prevent "oil canning".

Worst case scenario is they will use a strategically placed cut in the panel to eliminate the stretch and then reweld the panel back together.

Again, this is the way the panel would be done to do a seamless repair. the only other way is gobs of filler.
 
How long has the dent been there? If its fresh the metal has a memory of its original position. If its been there a while (2-3 months) its taken a set and require different metalwork. I did the basketball thing on a fresh dent on the door of my 70 charger and popped it right back out.
 
Tack weld on a 2" wide x 1/8" thick x aprox 12" long steel at the corner of the quarter gap.

Screenshot_20250125-185941_Gallery.jpg


Drill a 3/4" hole in the center of the strap. With the door open, hook a come-a-long into the steel strap and the other end to the top door hinge.

Giving the come-a-long light pressure, start working the dent out by assisting with a wood block from inside the quarter.

More pressure as you go and things start to move. Hammer and dolly the high points of the quarter using a wood block as a dolly on the inside.

The skill of the professional auto body guy...

The string line theory, when you pull a string between 2 points the string goes straight, just like your quarter panel will.

Being careful not to overwork the area and stretching the metal.

Rough it in, then you will need to grind, fill and paint.

Good Luck

This quarter had extensive work done to it, now it looks factory inside and out.

20200712-020702.jpg



☆☆☆☆☆
 
Football works too depending on the clearance. Just be careful what you are pushing on and take it slow.
 

If you're not a body man, that repair will be very hard to get right. The upper gap on door looks wide & dent is in the upper body crease near the top. (A dent on a tight crease is NOT an easy repair) Some strategic pulling, heat, hammer & dolly work & time is needed. I would let a pro do the repair if you don't have the right tools & want it nice. IMO
 
Twenty years ago, I had a couple of dents removed, on a black vehicle, by a guy using Paintless Dent Removal. I watched him do it and I was amazed. After, I couldn't see any evidence that a dent was ever there.
 
The body line at the top won't just pop out, basketball trick will work on the lower, but the body line will have to be pulled.
 
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I’m guessing unless you remove the window, track and regulator, you won’t be able to get a football or basketball in there without damaging the mechanism.
 
How long has the dent been there? If its fresh the metal has a memory of its original position. If its been there a while (2-3 months) its taken a set and require different metalwork. I did the basketball thing on a fresh dent on the door of my 70 charger and popped it right back out.
The dent has been there, just guessing, for DECADES!
Here is a picture of this car taken by the PO in the late 90's.
Dart Lite 03 s.JPG
 
I can get to the back side of the dent through the rear quarter inner panel.
Not easy, but since it is a pop out window, there is no mechanism in there.
Just Spiders.
 
“All that is missing is the Black Vinyl Top after the door dent repair....”


Thank you for effectively calling me a liar…

Bad angle/lighting in the picture.

Dent had been there for 15 years according to the previous owner and popped out nicely with the help of PDR.
 
there was a company called "sunchasers" that sold a dentless removal kit. It looked like a big flap wheel for a disc grinder. From what I remember from the video, you gring for "X" amount of time and then spray it down with cold water. That was supposed to shrink the metal.
 
“All that is missing is the Black Vinyl Top after the door dent repair....”


Thank you for effectively calling me a liar…

Bad angle/lighting in the picture.

Dent had been there for 15 years according to the previous owner and popped out nicely with the help of PDR.
Damm! You are correct.

Bad lighting for sure

I just noticed the Dodge Fratzhog on the rear sail panel. Only with vinyl roof cars.

I removed my comment.

Sorry!!
 
What about a smaller inertube - like goes on a lawn tractor - think the small size is 4" which you can get at Harbor Freight or maybe WalMart. Harbor frieght also has the electric spot weld gun but that might mess up the paint. I used an old bean bag chair to help out a roof issue caused by a tree along with a tall bottle jack like on an engine hoist and boards on the floor board - that was when I was finally able to buy the car - when the neighbors tree fell one it !
 
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