Want to fix big dent - what to do?

[Frkens]

Hi guys,

I bought my car with this giant dent in it (which most likely is why the cars status is salvaged). Anyhow I feel like the car deserves to have that dent fixed. I've been trying to find inspiration here on ih8mud, Youtube and Google in general. Most people use a combination of a slidehammer and glue, welding or suction cups. But that's with small dents. I dont think that will work in this case.

The other way I'm considering is do the platework myself and see if I can fix it by cutting off the bad corner and weld some new plates on. But I see that's a big job too, and my skills are probably not good enough for that. However I'm willing to give it a shot. Would be a cool way to learn. I mean... Is it jinxing it to say that it hardly can get any worse? Haha...

The third way is to take off the rear lamp, get some sort of tool in there and bend it back into position.

As I am on the road on my way to Argentina and don't stay the same place for more than three days at top, I don't see it as an option to buy a new screen. Also I'm too cheap

After any of these three options, i will of course fill it up and paint it.

Is there a fourth option I don't know off? Feel free to shoot me down.

Cheers guys.

 

[Trapper50cal]

Compound, fully-creased impact over the corner....that will take more time and cost more
to repair than it would be to acquire donor metal and cut/weld/replace. At least assuming
that you don't want 14 pounds of filler back there.

My 2 cents.

Here's how I received my first FJ60

 

[DFXR]

Compound, fully-creased impact over the corner....that will take more time and cost more
to repair than it would be to acquire donor metal and cut/weld/replace. At least assuming
that you don't want 14 pounds of filler back there.

My 2 cents.

Here's how I received my first FJ60

View attachment 1588194 View attachment 1588195

Excellent use of fender washers there.

 

[Trapper50cal]

Excellent use of fender washers there.

That would be @nuclearlemon 's handiwork there

 

[CaptClose]

I would try and find a donor patch for this entire section in yellow...

Short of that... unless you plan on replacing the tail gate, rear bumper, etc... I’d just drive it.

 

[g-man]

Looks like both quarters. Get donor pieces cut off a junker then take the tail light lens out stuff the light wiring back in there and out of the way. Take off the bumper. Keep the black ends off it and sell it for scrap metal along with the quarter metal you cut out. Cut/weld/body filler to smooth out the seams and repaint the quarter. then put a new to you bumper back on.

 

[gregnash]

With where you are you may be able to find someone locally that will be able to weld in new metal for you at a cheap cost. But that is going to be your more expensive solution. Of course you can do it yourself but that will require time, tools, space, etc.

At this point, with your "walk about" status I would cover up what is rusting badly with some fresh paint (of course prep it properly) and then just leave it as it until you can dedicate a decent block of time to fixing. Like the old adage goes, anything worth fixing is worth fixing right the first time.

 

[g-man]

This guy will sell you the whole shell for 200.00. Maybe you can get him to cut out what you need and ship to you.

Parting Out - UPDATED '84 FJ60 Parts Vehicle - Body and Rolling Chassis

 

[cruisermatt]

Just smash the other side on some rocks and make it symmetrical

 

[stevebradford]

Just smash the other side on some rocks and make it symmetrical

This makes merging onto a highway with these slow cruisers much easier.

 

[LAMBCRUSHER]

Excellent use of fender washers there.

well, it is on a fender...

 

[LAMBCRUSHER]

yeah, that is not a big dent. that is a complex.

 

[FJACS]

Seeing your on the road; Find some white paint. Paint the area that's missing paint. Make sure the lights work. Done.

 

[nuclearlemon]

That would be @nuclearlemon 's handiwork there

Lol! when your fuel pump fails while climbing a rock wall on spring creek, trees jump into the side of your rig