Technical Tomorrow starts the tail panel repair.

Decided to start the tail panel repair tomorrow. It's got lots of lumps and bumps in it. Plan is to shrink using the shrinking disc and torch and hammer /dolly. For the lows I can't pick up I'll use my stud puller.

 

Great work , keep peckin away . Looking good

 

Looking forward to seeing how this comes out. You sure have got your work cut out there. Good luck with it.

 

Well this is today's work. I tried to hammer dolly some of the lumps and bumps on Sunday but the huge amount on sound deadening made that impossible. No room for me to do from inside plus I have to repair the trunk floor extension. It took a bit to figure out but once started it was out in about an hour and a half. I drilled 1/8" cleco holes in the wheel wells and trunk gutter before anything spot welds were drilled. Next will be stripping the tar getting the tail pan nice and clean for hammer/dolly and english wheel work. Think I'll order a trunk floor extension from EMS. Seems like the smart way to go.
If anyone if thinking of doing the same I can point out the areas where the spot welds were hiding and also where I cut to save time.
Thanks again to all those here who take the time to post their work that help the rest of us learn.
God bless
Leon

 

Cleaned off the tar and hammer/dolly as much of the dents as I could and there were plenty. Big, small, shallow, deep. Then I ran it through the english wheel to smooth of the lumps and ruts that were left. It came out better than I expected but there was a lot of stretching from whoever beat out the original damage. I'll use the shrinking disc on it. The patch will cover enough of the damage that I'm confident I'll pull off a good repair. Plan to recess the license plate and maybe install some 37 or 39 Ford taillights. Biggest lesson learned was before I put the car in the air don't bury the english wheel in the far corner. Had to move a lot of stuff to drag it out to the yard. Now time for a nice kung fu dinner and beer.

 

Looking good.

Chris


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big improvement

 

I see its coming along nicely, did wonder how you were going to straighten out those dents.

 

Looking good, you got mad skills!

 

Looking Good

 

Looks perfect from here. Getting “round” is a real challenge.

 

Ran into the same damage and same problem trying to pound it out on a friend's '35 Plymouth coupe project. Just no way to get to all the places we needed to in order to hammer and dolly it out. Finally just cut it off, and replaced the rotted metal. Then hammered out the crumpled metal, and then welded it back on. We also modified the drop a little as his is a fenderless coupe and he wanted to raise the tail panel drop.

 

View attachment 5039856 Round two. Watched some Wray Schelin shrinking discs videos and went about an hour going at it. I must say that disc is magic. I had galling issues when I used it on the roof but today Wray reminded me to used magic marker as it works like a lubricant. There's a pretty big bulge in the tailpanel right at the upper trunk mount hole. There about 1/2" space from the inner spare mount to the tailpannel. I'm thinking that may be due to tension from the hit. Going to cut it 1" below the cut line. The bent lower body lines seem like they could be holding the tail panel out of a natural position. Tomorrow I hope to find out. I've got to get a new grinder today. My almost 60 year old Black & Decker works fantastic buy man is it kinda heavy. Gonna try a lighter Makita or Boshe. I hammer/dollyed as much as I could then went to the english wheel. Should have used a flatter anvil though as I put some ruts in the panelbut they are easy enough to work out. I think it's starting to look pretty good. Cutting the bottom of the tailpannel is the next step.







Looks like a large long crease across the panels but it's only a light reflection. It's actutally becoming quite smooth.

View attachment 5039856

 

Ding Ding. Really seeing some progress though you can't tell much from the pics. I think it's time to take it off and do some hammer/dolly work around the body line. I've got a gap at the patch where the tailpanel was pushed down my the hit. I tried banging it up from the backside but it wouldn't budge. Hoping when I cut off another inch of the tail panel I can make it move. Worse case is I split it in crease then weld it back. Must say the more I use the shrinking disc the better I understand what and how it does what it does. The dent crease lines are very obvious now. They too will endure some violence from the backside. The darned reflexion makes the panel looked warped but it isn't. Overall I'm thrilled.

 

What exactly does the disc do? It’s looking good!

 

It uses friction to create localized heat which you then quench with water. The sudden change in temperature shrinks the metal. IMO its much easier than using a torch to heat shrink.

 

You're getting really good at colouring in.

Seriously, great save on the panel. Must be statisfying.

 

Remember the metal will always move away from where the disc just was.
running it on the shiny side and the metal goes down aka lowers high spots.
You can run the disc on the back side of the panel , the metal will still move away from where the disc just was. Or aka raise shiny side lows

 

Got it pretty smooth for the most part. . Most dents are done not all. I'll leave some filler to smooth things up. Now I need to repair the trunk floorpanel. Should be easy. Once that tail panel is repaired I can call this done

 

Getting close

 

That is really starting to look good.

 

Man, I'd say you nailed it! That looks great.

 

wow

 

Really nice work.

I like the sharpie substitute for dykem, get all of it off though. Ive had sharpie bleed thru some pretty heavy duty paint, amazed me.

 

I was using Dykem Blue on the roof filler and it gummed up. I ran the disc on bare steel and it galled up the disc. Wray Schelin said using the marker would show results and lubricate the disc. Wray is a master metal worker and was correct. when I'm all done I'll wash it with acetone.

 

Great tutorial!
It’s really looking good.

 

Haven't gotten much done but I believe I'm finished with the dents. Discovered I was beginning to shrink it too much making a flat area so I ran it lightly through the English wheel using the flattest wheel I had with light pressure. Did the flattish side first then the entire panel. Seemed to do the trick. Feels smooth and evenly crowned. A thin coat of filler will cover any sins. Started working out my patch scheme for the trunk floor and was eager to cut some out but discovered I'm out of 18 ga. Thought I had half a sheet left but turns out to be two sheets of 20 ga cut in half. I thought about using the 20 ga to make the patches then add the 14 ga where the body bolts to the frame. I Gonna try to make a trip into Brooklyn to pick up a couple sheets from the steel house. If not I'll have to wait for delivery. Not like I'm in a hurry .

 

Called the steel house today to order some sheet. No stock on 18 ga sheet steel. No date on availability. Never thought I'd see the day. Guess I'll be using 20 ga with some 14 ga re-enforcements.

 

you done nailed it....i say no to recessed plate,,,,