Newbie thinking about first attempt at panel repair

[Cayman Dennis]

I drove my 1985 Land Cruiser (BJ70) off a rock a couple of weeks ago and bashed an egg-sized hole through the bottom of the rear quarter panel, just behind the mud flap. The outer panel sheet metal was weak from rust but the rust had not broken through yet. The inner panel appears to be solid. The area had been previously been repaired and there is a couple small rust bubbles in the area.

4 Wheel Auto has these replacement panels for sale and I bought one. Now I need to decide if I should hand it over to someone who knows what he's doing or if I should try the repair myself.

All I have right now is a big air compressor, average talent with tools, and patience. I also have a dream of doing one or more basketcase-to-showcar restorations in the future, so autobody skills are something that I would like to have down the road.

So, first question: What is the right way to tackle the metal part of this repair? Panel bond adhesive, MIG, or both?

Thanks,
Dennis

 

[belaw]

I just posted this link in another thread: Welding in patch panels - The Garage Journal Board

Look for the posts by MP&C. If you have access to a MIG that would seem to be the way to go.

 

[Cayman Dennis]

Thanks much for the link! Looks like there's some great info in that thread.

Cheers,
Dennis

 

[haryv]

I am doing my own cruiser but..alot more work. Idealy, I would just rather unzip my quarter panel off, and replace it with another one. Much less work then doing the repairs that corrossion has done over the years.

If it is a hole, chances are the sheet metal is stretched. Need to pull out dent, then heat the sheet metal and cook it down with dry ice to shrink the metal. This will pull the dent partially strait. Did the rock punch a hole though it? or is it a big dent? How deep?

What kind of budget do you have? Got a mig welder? A tourch? Die grinder?