100 series tailgate dent repair (1 Viewer)

[Super77]

How might I approach this:

The hit spared the taillight, and I was able to push the dent out enough to seat the taillight securely. I’m not worried about the bumper but I’d like to get the sheet metal smoothed out. PDR guys don’t want this job since it needs a touch up, and body shop quotes range from $750-2600.

I have experience with 2K paints and light bodywork, but not moving this much metal around. I’d like to give it a shot, I’d be happy with a 8/10 repair.

What do we think: glue and pull with a ratchet strap? Welded stud pull? Hammer from the inside? All the above?

 

[Malleus]

Find a mobile paintless dent repair business and have them take a crack at it. That technology has gotten pretty amzaing. Body shops around here use mobile services, I have no idea why. Although they appear to have a lot of this work, for some reason none of them want to invest in the equipment.

 

[Old Nick]

How might I approach this:

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The hit spared the taillight, and I was able to push the dent out enough to seat the taillight securely. I’m not worried about the bumper but I’d like to get the sheet metal smoothed out. PDR guys don’t want this job since it needs a touch up, and body shop quotes range from $750-2600.

I have experience with 2K paints and light bodywork, but not moving this much metal around. I’d like to give it a shot, I’d be happy with a 8/10 repair.

What do we think: glue and pull with a ratchet strap? Welded stud pull? Hammer from the inside? All the above?

I haven't done it yet myself, but getting ready to on an FJ55 restoration...

Buy a football. Deflate it. Slide it into your tailgate, just behind the dent, and inflate the football. One of the fellows in the Pig forum suggested it. I thought that he was joking... until I started poking around on the 'tube.

 

[Old Nick]

In that vid., the dude uses a football to take out a large tailgate dent.

 

[Super77]

That’s good for pushing out most of a big dent, but it doesn’t apply here. Easy access to the back of the dent through the taillight access panel. The hard part is smoothing and taking the tension out of the metal.

I got as far as I did with a rubber mallet and some shaped wooden dowels pushed from the back. At this point I think I need to smooth with a hammer, spoon, and dolly.

Or leave as-is.