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Mon Oct 28, 2013 9:48 am

Use a 2X4 with a curved end toward the roof and a floor jack on the cargo floor. Watch your headliner to make sure its not pulling to hard and just get the big dents out rock the rest with ar roof rack.

Mon Oct 28, 2013 7:13 pm

http://www.tptools.com/-The-Key-to-Metal-Bumping-Book,1820.html?b=s*key+to+metal
Get this and read before doing anything. At least be informed.
Trust me it is much easier if it is not messed with before following this method. The time saved is incredible compared to rough in and filler work after it is jacked up. But even then bumping is best.
The order of the dent, direction, etc all matter. The size of the dent is not as relevant.
There are no shortcuts or any use at all in cheap tools. Buy the Martin/Fairmount tools if you do it yourself unless there are any better than them.
Best though to find someone that has experience. That dent in your passenger door can be taken out with little or no damage to the paint than it already has by someone that is proficient. Really can't see your roof very well but beware of advice about porta power or any method that stretches the metal, it is hard to undo after being overdone. It doesn't require that kind of pressure. If you get a chance to watch an expert make it happen you will be a believer for sure.
Plenty of you tube stuff on PDR as well.
I am no expert metal wizard at this point but after over 60 hours of practice I can tell you it is worthwhile and and nice to watch metal release the dent and regain tension as it was formed to be.
Do check it out.
Brian

Mon Oct 28, 2013 7:47 pm

66311 wrote: http://www.tptools.com/-The-Key-to-Metal-Bumping-Book,1820.html?b=s*key+to+metal
Brian

Good advice. Better to spend the time and money to do it right then try and half ass it myself and screw something up. Thanks Brian.

Mon Oct 28, 2013 7:57 pm

Also. I got a roof rack today. About a 2/3 length. Suction cup type. Covers up the dents nicely but one of the cups is supposed to sit right in the middle of the largest dent. Has anyone cut one of these up and welded on drip rail feet?

Mon Oct 28, 2013 8:03 pm

You are welcome
Btw
Ask me how I know
I screwed up plenty and caused a whole lot of work undoing it. Blowing up footballs, pounding, prying, torch and you name it I prolly did it.
Nice bus you have there
Thanks for sharing

Mon Oct 28, 2013 8:15 pm

66311 wrote:
Ask me how I know

Ya that's usually my style. Try all the wrong ways first and spend twice the time fixing my own mistakes. But I want to do this right. Can't screw up a bus this good of shape.

Tue Oct 29, 2013 4:58 pm

Roof dents? What roof dents? 8)

My buddy had this laying around so I popped it on and it definitely helps. I eventually want to put legs that sit in the drip rail but instead of suction cups and straps. But for now it works!

Thanks for all the advice guys.

Wed Oct 30, 2013 6:01 am

I have this very repair to do on my 65. I have just ordered the book, thanks for the link 66311.

Here is a pic of mine but its kind of hard to see because of the quality of the photo, I will try to get a better pic of before and I will post an after when I get the book and do the work. Right now I have cleaned all the original paint and have been coating it in wax to hopefully allow the roof to flex back into place without damaging the OG paint.

The dent was caused by a local musician who thought the bus would never see the road again. He claimed it was a good place to sit and take a nip of his favorite beverage. Once he found out I had the bus and my intention to get it back on the road he wants to use it for a photoshoot for his next CD.

The dent starts at the light reflection closest to you and goes out to each edge right before the bend radius gets sharper and about 1/3 of the way foward. It shouldnt be too hard as there doesnt appear to be any creases or a lot of stretching going on, just oil canned it.

Wed Oct 30, 2013 10:57 am

I'm so glad this bus found a good home with you. It made me sad to see it sitting out behind that used car lot and getting snowed in... :cry:

Wed Oct 30, 2013 11:15 am

pondoras box wrote:

That paint cleaned up nice.

Wed Oct 30, 2013 11:54 am

Thanks I am very happy to have it. And thanks Kevin it is exciting to see the shine come back. I will try to post a better pic of the dent with the paint all cleaned.

Mon Nov 04, 2013 3:00 pm

Here are some before and after pics of the roof dent, as you can see the dent was worse than my original pic showed.

I used a suction cup and worked my way in from the outside while using a rubber mallet to work the raised creases on the outside edges to relieve the tension so that the dent would release.

There are still some wrinkles but I will probably leave them as to get it smoother would require body hammers and dolly from the back side of the roof.

Two of my goals were to preserve the OG paint and not damage the OG headliner which is in pretty good shape. To repair this roof further I would be afraid to damage both.

Before:

After:

I have this posted in my thread but put it here also so it would come up if anyone ever searched for info on this type of repair later.

Mon Nov 04, 2013 3:48 pm

That looks great!

Mon Nov 04, 2013 4:10 pm

KevinAlbrecht wrote: That looks great!

X2